Mercy

 Therefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable to you: break off your sins by practicing righteousness, and your iniquities by showing mercy to the oppressed, that there may perhaps be a lengthening of your prosperity."
Daniel 4:27 ESV
https://bible.com/bible/59/dan.4.27.ESV

Nebuchadnezzar was one of the most powerful men who ever lived: so much so that the likes of Biden, Putin and Xi pale into insignificance. His Babylonian Empire stretched from India to Ethiopia: the entirety of the 'civilised' world of the time. Power hungry people could look up to him enviously.

God's verdict of Nebuchadnezzar was very different to the world's however. Daniel, the Jewish exile, had the bravery to tell Nebuchadnezzar like it was: no sugarcoating the truth for him! Nebuchadnezzar was a sinner before the Holy God.

Daniel called Nebuchadnezzar by breaking off his sins by doing what was right. Easier said than done: Nebuchadnezzar had got where he was by sinfully trampling on all before him- hard to break the habit of a lifetime! God was going to humble him, Daniel hoped he'd go along with it, but he was going to learn the hard way.

The world measures greatness by how many people we trample on to get to the top. God measures greatness by how we treat the oppressed. Our selfishness stains our record before the Righteous One- we need to clean up our acts.

'Sovereign Father, please humble us before Your Majesty. May we submit to Your will for our lives and not just live selfishly. In Jesus' name, amen'

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