Psalm 41:7-12, Daniel 4:1-37, Revelation 21:1-8 - Lectionary for 11/24/11

Today's readings are Psalm 41:7-12, Daniel 4:1-37, and Revelation 21:1-8. People have often made a lot of Nebuchadnezzar's vision and his humiliation. But I fear we tend to focus on whether or not it can be documented that he went through this humiliation. We look for evidence of any form of insanity or disease that could drive someone to act as he did. This is missing the forest by looking at the trees. What's the big picture of the passage? Nebuchadnezzar exalted himself as the great ruler over things of this world. He was confronted with the fact that those things are temporary and that he himself is also bound by time. His realm will pass away. Whose reign will never pass away? As we read in Revelation 21 it is the reign of Christ the Lord. His realm is eternal and imperishable. Rather than look to the things all around us, often very good things, works that we and others we love have created, let us look to the eternity of God. There we find true wonders.