Deeper ReflectionWhen Nebuchadnezzar walked on the roof of his palace,
he was awestruck by the sight of the Babylon that he had
built: “Is this not Babylon the great?” (v.30). What was the
greatness of Babylon like? The Hanging Gardens of Babylon was one
of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. But there were more. Old
Testament scholar John Goldingay makes this comment: “The sense of
achievement that Nebuchadnezzar here expresses [Dan 4:30] is severely
understated compared with that expressed in his successive building
inscriptions in Babylon.”
49 To give perspective to Goldingay’s comment:
Nebuchadnezzar’s building inscriptions in Babylon “occupy 126 pages of
text and translation” in Professor S. Langdon’s edition of them in his book,
Building Inscriptions of the Neo-Babylonian Empire.
50Perhaps, there is no better statement of pride and egotism in the Bible
than that of Nebuchadnezzar: “
I myself have built…
by the might of
my
power and
for the honor of
my majesty” (v.30). It is so personal and
concrete, that we can use it to check ourselves if that is how we think and
feel about our achievements.We must see the pride in us, which is not easy. I am a person with passion
for truth. Some years ago, God made me aware of a reality in me: My
passion for truth can subtly shift to become pride of heart. I find it
impossible to see the line that divides the two. The feelings of both are the
same. All that I can do is to bring my heart before God for Him to judge,
saying, “Lord, You know my heart.”
49 John E. Goldingay, Daniel, Word Biblical Commentary (Word Books, 1989), 89
50 John E. Goldingay, 89
