Offensive words from Nebuchadnezzar, Herod, and Perry Noble

Let's compare some statements of kings in the Bible who spoke offensively.

and the king answered and said, "Is not this great Babylon, which I have built by my mighty power as a royal residence and for the glory of my majesty?" ~ King Nebuchadnezzar, Daniel 4:30.

Grabbing God's glory is never good. In Nebuchadnezzar's case, the Lord gave him a declaration that his sovereignty had already been stripped from him even as Nebuchadnezzar's words were still in his mouth. God said Nebuchadnezzar would be driven from mankind and live like a beast eating grass for 7 years. God was gracious to Nebuchadnezzar, because the time of beast-like living and insanity only lasted 7 years and when Nebuchadnezzar came out of it, he repented and gave God the glory for everything under the sun.

This next one is King Herod.

On the appointed day, Herod donned his royal robes, sat on his throne, and addressed the people. And they began to shout, "This is the voice of a god, not a man!" Immediately, because Herod did not give glory to God, an angel of the Lord struck him down, and he was eaten by worms and died. (Acts 12:21-23).

In this second case where someone was stealing God's glory, God employed His perfect judgment upon Herod, and did not allow him to repent. Herod was killed immediately for speaking like a god in God's place. Grabbing His glory is never good.

This third case is a modern one. It's Perry Noble. Noble was the pastor of the largest church in the Southern Baptist Convention, NewSpring Church, located in Anderson, SC. He was fired for alcohol abuse, Perry's posture towards marriage, other unnamed behaviors, and a refusal to be corrected.  Since his firing, it turns out in news this week that Noble has decided to become a church consultant. He issued a letter explaining this, and in the letter he outlined his skills.
"What separates you from other church consultants," you ask.
Simple - I’ve actually planted and built a great church
The Bible says something about planting and growing-

So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth. (1 Corinthians 3:7).

God surely is gracious. Noble is receiving a reprieve so far, because he has not been turned into a grass eating beast nor has he become a worm-eaten sack of flesh. But remember, grabbing God's glory is never a good thing.

For, "In just a very while little, He who is coming will come and will not delay." (Hebrews 10:37)

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Further Reading

Perry Noble fired from NewSpring Church

Comments

  1. Thanks for the post. I actually read Daniel 4 today, so it was good to have some commentary.

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