
The British Museum has some of the most valuable artifacts of the ancient world, many on display and many in storage. I have looked at the relief sculptures of Assyrians in battle and mighty kings designed to inflict terror. Assyrians especially used psychological warfare tactics in their monumental sculptures. It has been an interesting and valuable historical experience to visit museums in several places where art relating to Biblical events is on display, and none more interesting than one particular day and one particular display in the British Library. Unfortunately, I don’t have the picture for you.
Scripture records the intersection of King Nebuchadnezzar with the Jews. It was he who led Judah into captivity in three increments in 597, 590 and 586. In the final incursion he had the holy temple of Solomon destroyed. Nebuchadnezzar built on the terror tactics of the Assyrians, but he enlarged the size and scope of everything he did. Recall the famous hanging gardens of Babylon that he built, one of the seven wonders of the ancient world.
Recall how he was carried away with his egotism into vain and outrageous boasting. He claimed he had built Babylon and was a god who should be worshipped. Yet what he did was the outworking of God’s plan, according to the prophet Jeremiah. Nebuchadnezzar was the agent of God used to punish the Jews for their sins, particularly for idolatry.
Yet Nebuchadnezzar’s arrogance and self-deification was a guilt for which he had to pay. Daniel records the event of his demand for worship and the refusal of three Hebrew princes (Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego) to do so. Subsequently, Nebuchadnezzar went mad and grazed for grass like a cow until he repented. Daniel records his words of repentance and acknowledgement of the one true God:
“At the end of the days I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted my eyes to 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;
Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the King of heaven, for all his works are right and his ways are just; and those who walk in pride he is able to humble” (Dan. 4:34-37).
On the memorable visit to the British library I saw a stele, attributed to Nebuchadnezzar, with words translated that essentially carried the same meaning as the above citation from Daniel. Danny Hale, who was with me, witnessed this same exhibit. We did not have our cameras handy; thus, we went back the next day to record this amazing confirmation of the Biblical account, and the exhibit was removed. I have never been able to find a picture or further reference, and yet Danny and I can bear witness to having seen it. (I include a picture of a stele of Nebuchadnezzar on display in the British Library, but not the one I reference.)
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