The Return of Reason
“But at the end of that period, I, Nebuchadnezzar, raised my eyes toward heaven and my reason returned to me, and I blessed the Most High and praised and honored Him who lives forever; For His dominion is an everlasting dominion, And His kingdom endures from generation to generation.” Daniel 4:34 NASB
Returned – Nebuchadnezzar experienced a degradation of life that we can only imagine in some sort of science-fiction movie. He became like an animal in the field. After God’s chastisement, he made a statement that reveals just how typical the reality of his experience really is. “My reason returned,” says the king. But we should not think of this as the return of rationality. The words are not Greek. They are Aramaic (mandei yetuv). We are familiar with the verb in Hebrew (shuv), meaning “to turn around, to return.” But what is it that returns to Nebuchadnezzar? It is manda, not reasoning ability but rather knowledge and understanding. The word is derived from yada’, “to know.” In fact, the ancient Mandaeans who were Aramaic Gnostics got their name from this word. So it is not about the ability to think logically. It is about understanding the true foundation of life. Nebuchadnezzar’s understanding of the sovereignty of God returned to him and he saw how the world really is. That’s why the result of this return is his declaration of praise! “I blessed the Most High,” says Nebuchadnezzar, because when he understood, he knew who God is – the Sovereign of the Universe.
It took animal existence for Nebuchadnezzar to come to his senses. It appears to me that most of the world’s population is still waiting for that day. Most of the world’s population are grass-eaters. They just don’t know it because their “reason” has not returned. They don’t understand that there is only One True God – YHWH – melech ha’olam. They are still mindlessly chewing like cattle, consuming the earth without acknowledging its Creator. It’s pretty much what Paul said in Romans 1. Failure to acknowledge sovereignty results in darkened minds. The fact is that very few return to reason in spite of the fact that most claim to be thinkers.
Nebuchadnezzar’s insight is important for each of us. He had to become an animal in order to understand what it means to be human. So do we. We might not spend seven years in the field, but we can easily spend a lifetime chewing. To be human is to be able to praise the Creator and to praise the Creator requires manda – yada’. Don’t be fooled by thinking. Thinking is not the sign of being human. Submission to the King is the sign of being human. Choose your Sovereign today. Start by praising His benevolence and grace. Your mind will improve.
Topical Index: mind, reason, manda, yada’, return, shuv, Daniel 4:34
Animal, vegetable or mineral? ~ What is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him? ~ (Psalm 8.4)
~ What is man, that You think so highly of him and pay so much attention to him? ~ (Job 7.17)
David and Job “both” were basically asking the same question of God,- Why do You care?
Moses inquired of God also and said, “reveal Yourself to me” – (boldly) asking,- “show me Who You are..”
And Elohim answered him.
~ The LORD passed in front of Moses, calling out, “YHWH! The LORD! The God of compassion and mercy!
I am slow to anger and filled with unfailing love (chesed) and faithfulness. I lavish unfailing love to a thousand generations. I forgive iniquity, rebellion, and sin. (This is the “good news”)
But…
“I do not excuse the guilty. I lay the sins of the parents upon their children and grandchildren;
the entire family is affected— even children in the third and fourth generations.” (Not good news)
God not only revealed His person unto Moses, BUT.. He also revealed a problem unto man.
~I lay the sins of the parents upon their children and grandchildren: the entire family is affected- even children in the third and fourth generations.”
What “I” do affects my children and my grandchildren- even children in the third and fourth generations..
God spoke unto Moses and revealed Himself (as He is) unto him, as a God of compassion and mercy!
This is such “good news!” I will rejoice because our God is compassionate and merciful and yes, most assuredly “Sovereign.” Our God (most assuredly) “reigns” as King of the universes. But what causes my heart to “rejoice evermore” is our God is compassionate, merciful and full of unfailing (covenant) love and faithfulness.
But we (all) still have a problem that needs a solution or a fix. That “problem” has been revealed also unto Moses (and consequently) unto us, as “sin.”
What is the solution to the “pollution” of sin? No one talks much about sin these days, -maybe if we ignore it- it will go away. Or call it by a different name, such as “mistakes” or “errors in judgment” or “maladjusted behavioral syndrome” or “whatever.”
But…
What do the scriptures say concerning sin? How does “any man” know this, but unless God (Himself) reveals it unto him? Did Adam and Eve sin (even in Paradise?), even in a “perfect place?” Yes, and were promptly escorted out, with nothing left but a memory. What about (even) Moses? Did he ever sin? Yes, and was forbidden to “cross over” into the Promised Land of Canaan. What about David, the singing shepherd-king? Did he also sin? What about every man from Adam on down to every man on this green planet? Have “ALL” sinned and fallen short of the glory of God? ~What do the scriptures say? ~
“ALL” (y’all) have sinned and have come up short (missed the mark!). Romans 3.23
Houston, “we” (all) have a problem, and we “all” stand in need of a Nathan to come before us and to convict and to convince each and every one of us- “You (sir or m’am) are the one.” We “all” are one who is a sinner in need of One who is a Savior.
Yeshua has taught us to pray and to say, ~Our Father..”holy” is Your Name. God has revealed Himself (in the Book He has inspired) to be not only holy, but “thrice-holy.” Not only are we “all” revealed to be sinners, but also God has revealed Himself to be “wholly” holy.
So what do we do now? There is a God who is holy and then there are we who are sinful men and women.
I wonder.
I wonder if “any adam” knows, (as it is written) ~ the wages of sin is death, BUT the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our LORD? ~ (Romans 6.23)
Why did The Messiah die? -and what do the scriptures say? ~ in Adam (the first adam) all die, BUT *in Christ* (the second Adam) “all” shall be made alive! ~ (1 Corinthians 15.22)
and ~ if “any adam” be *in Christ* (the second Adam) he is a new creation! ~ (2 Corinthians 5.17)
Why did Yeshua say unto a very religious, very moral, very educated, very “well-placed”, very respected and respectable man, one whose very name is “superior?” “You sir, MUST be born from above?” Why this “second birth?” What’s wrong with the first one? And how do we or could we return again to our mother’s womb?
Born once, -die twice. Born twice- die once.
Yeshua said these words unto Martha, ~ And everyone who lives and believes in Me shall never die ~ (and then asked her) ~ Do you believe this? ~ (John 11.26)
My answer? ~ LORD, I believe.. please help my unbelief..
His answer? ~ Ask, and you will receive. Seek, and you will find. Knock, (patiently and persistently) and it shall be opened (revealed) unto you ~
A question still remains though.. (not a doubt, but a simple inquiry..) Is “eternal life” (merely) a quantity or is it (also) a quality?
What were the words of our ADONAI?
~ I AM come that you might have life and have it “more abundantly” or as the singing-shepherd king once said, – “my cup runneth over!”
~ and I will make them a blessing round about my hill: and I will send down the rain in its season, there shall be showers of blessing ~ (Ezekiel 34.26)
There shall be showers of blessing:
This is the promise of Love;
There shall be seasons refreshing,
Sent from our Savior above.
Showers of blessing,
Showers of blessing we need:
Mercy-drops round us are falling,
But for the showers we plead.
There shall be showers of blessing,
Precious reviving again;
Over the hills and the valleys,
Sound of abundance of rain.
Showers of blessing,
Showers of blessing we need:
Mercy-drops round us are falling,
But for the showers we plead.
There shall be showers of blessing;
Send them upon us, O LORD;
Grant to us now a refreshing,
Come, and now honor Thy Word.
Showers of blessing,
Showers of blessing we need:
Mercy-drops round us are falling,
But for the showers we plead.
There shall be showers of blessing:
Oh, that today they might fall,
Now as to God we’re confessing,
Now as on Jesus we call!
Showers of blessing,
Showers of blessing we need:
Mercy-drops round us are falling,
But for the showers we plead.
There shall be showers of blessing,
If we but trust and obey;
There shall be seasons refreshing,
If we let God have His way.
Showers of blessing,
Showers of blessing we need:
Mercy-drops round us are falling,
But for the showers we plead.
~ The LORD is near to all them that call on Him, to all that call on Him in truth ~ (Psalm 145:18)
I would guess that 90+% of the people in this country acknowledge that there is a god, or a supreme being. Probably 75% would profess to believe in God, but they only have a superficial belief lacking in substance. I think only a small number truly trust God and are in submission to Him.
Yes, a VERY SMALL number, but then, the road is narrow.
What bothers me most about my disobedience, is not the IMpossibility of obedience — but the sense that it is more possible than I ever imagined.
This may narrow the road even more, but not because of God’s impossible standards — more because of the common condition of schizophrenic Christianity. The more God’s ways are shown to be possible and a matter of choice, the more I must divorce ‘trust’ and ‘submission’ from tangible everyday actions.
I have never believed that what God asks of me cannot be done. I have simply decided not to do it and comforted myself with the myth that He will continue to forgive.
Skip
Amen! You nailed the circumstance where I find myself too often. I try to avoid examining my true condition. I think I must live in a fantasy of my own construction.
~I have never believed that what God asks of me cannot be done. I have simply decided not to do it and comforted myself with the myth that He will continue to forgive ~
Or made the excuse, “oh well.. -I’m only human!..” Well, my, my! So you’re human, and so was Jesus. And He (also) was tempted in all points like as we are YET without sin. Would God be so cruel as to issue an order or directive or command, “be holy” and then not give us what we need in order to fulfill His own demands/commands/requests? Is God “unreasonable?” No, He is not. Not at all.
I believe (warning: a private opinion about to occur!) And I’m not the first (nor the last) to repeat this, but there is no “cheap-easy-lazy-way to serve God.” Most good things, (at least the ones that I am familiar with) don’t come easy and this also includes our “daily walk” with The Master. Surprisingly ( at least to some) the word “discipline” and “disciple” are close cousins. Or as another has spoken it so well: ~ God does business with those who mean business ~ .
My recommendation to all who “will.” Do it. Actually, “do” what He says to do and voila!- In a word, “it works!” (sorry.. – two words, then).
~ Whoever is willing to do His will (~ to be doers of the Word and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves~) Whoever is willing to do His will understands my teaching, whether it is from God or whether I speak for my own pleasure ~
As succinctly as I know how, – what is the will of God? May I ask you sir or m’am, what is the will of any parent towards their children? When you pray (children) say “Father..” ~ Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we will be (1 John 3.2) ~ What else?
~ He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them His way ~ (Psalm 25.9) ~ The LORD confides in those who fear Him; He makes His covenant known to them ~ (Psalm 25.14) ~ The LORD detests those whose hearts are perverse, but He delights in those whose ways are blameless ~(Proverbs 11:20)
Now, shall we continue in sin that “grace” may abound? And Rabbi Sha’uls clear and clarion communication should flow freely from our mouths also. His answer? (or have we conveniently forgotten?) “God forbid.”
Surely, (shirley) we have by now “learned” about sin. Budro, I’m scarred all over! Wanna see my scars? (I’d be willing to say you sir, or m’am have a few of your own!) What does sin do? Write on people.. sin “separates.” Sin separates between God and man and also man and man. God is all about reconciliation, and bringing folks together, even inviting his errant children to be part of His family table once again. Said the errant son, as he was feasting on “fatted calf,” – “it sure is good to be home again!” Yes, my brothers, yes, my sisters, – it is!
~ “I, even I, am He who blots out your transgressions, for My own sake, and remembers your sins no more ~ (Isaiah 43:25)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kvHY1dWhQG0
mene, mene, tekel, parsin
Daniel 5:25
The Handwriting is on the wall
What Color Are You?
http://www.vantageseminars.com/what_color.html
Daniel 7:4
The first was like a lion, and it had the wings of an eagle. I watched until its wings were torn off and it was lifted from the ground so that it stood on two feet like a man, and the heart of a man was given to it.
Daniel 7:13
In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence.
mene, mene, tekel, parsin (The writing on the wall)
Yud Heh Vav Heh (The Tetragrammaton)
Hmmm
It is interesting to me that the writing on the wall that Daniel interprets
Takes a curiously similar form to God’s name in Hebrew
God “measures” twice, but “weighs” once, then “divides” the Kingdom for Medes and Persians once
Heh Heh Yud Vav
1 (God) that is 3 (Father/Son/Holy Spirit)
On the one hand, we can see the Catholic cross and the Holy Trinity
And on the other hand, the Androgynous soul
Of Nathaniel Hawthorne’s hero Hester Prynne
Yud means “me,” Heh means “her,” and Vav means “him”
I (or me) am “her and him” (masculine and feminine)
My favorite French movie, Directed by Jean-Luc Godard
Is called “Masculin féminin” (1966)