Boanthropy - The result of pride?

Have you ever heard of the word boanthropy? I had not heard of this word until I was doing some study in Daniel chapter 4. The condition that king Nebuchadnezzar experienced was something similar to a condition known as boanthropy. The un-technical definition of this term is to think and act as an ox. Have you ever experienced it?

King Nebuchadnezzar experienced his second dream in Daniel chapter 4. In this dream he saw a great tree that was tall, strong, and beneficial to all who were around it. A "watcher" then appeared and ordered the tree to be cut down. The stump and the roots were to be protected but the individual whom it represented would have a mind and heart as that of a beast. As a result he would graze in the fields for a period of time.

The king not knowing what this meant summoned the wise men to interpret the dream. However, they could not give the king the meaning. Daniel then was given the opportunity to give the king the interpretation and he told the king that the tree was the king himself. The Holy One would then remove him from power and give him the heart of a beast and he would be removed from his throne and graze in the fields with the other wild animals. At the end of the interpretation, Daniel tells the king "break off your sins by being righteous, and your iniquities by showing mercy to the poor. Perhaps there may be a lengthening of your prosperity". [The New King James Version. (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982).]

Daniel essentially told the king that if he did not shape up and acknowledge the true reason the king had been given power then he would suffer the consequences. The king seemed to heed Daniel's words for a period of time. However, one year later the king spoke words that were driven by the pride in his heart. He said "Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for a royal dwelling by my mighty power and for the honor of my majesty?" [The New King James Version. (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982).] This was a picture of pride. He obviously forgot the words of Daniel, just like Adam and Eve forgot the words of God in Genesis.

Pride is a terrible thing. In the case of the king it resulted in immediate expulsion from the throne and he thought himself an animal, grazing in the fields. Why is pride such a big deal? It is because it is a sin. Look at these verses dealing with the subject:

Proverbs 6:16-20

These six things the LORD hates,
Yes, seven are an abomination to Him:
A proud look,
A lying tongue,
Hands that shed innocent blood,
A heart that devises wicked plans,
Feet that are swift in running to evil,
A false witness who speaks lies,
And one who sows discord among brethren.

Proverbs 16:18-19
Pride goes before destruction,
And a haughty spirit before a fall.
Better to be of a humble spirit with the lowly,
Than to divide the spoil with the proud.

Obviously God does not like pride, especially when He is the reason behind everything you have. When we point our success to our own hands and not to God's blessing then we take on an element of pride. God made king Nebuchadnezzar graze with the wild animals for that very reason; however, he was restored when he lifted up his head to heaven and acknowledged and praised God the Father. This is a great example of placing God where he ought to be in our lives.

So the next time pride gets in the way consider the taste of pond water and grass.

In Christ,
Doug
http://www.dougjohnson.net/

Do I really have to read this stuff?

I hear the comments all of the time that say "I don't want to read this stuff about evolution or Darwinism". I am asked why people are forced to read this material and accept it as fact when it is nothing more than theory. It is an interesting question on where we are to draw our lines. My last blog entry was about the topic of compromise and I feel this fits in line with that subject.

As I have been studying the book of Daniel I have found interesting information concerning Daniel's challenges. Let's take a quick look at it. Daniel chapter 1 verse 5 says "the king appointed for them a daily provision of the king’s delicacies and of the wine which he drank, and three years of training for them, so that at the end of that time they might serve before the king." [The New King James Version. (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982)] The king begins a three year program of feeding and training for Daniel and his three friends. Of course we know that Daniel stands up against taking anything from the table of the king; but the Scriptures in this chapter say nothing of them rejecting the three years of training.

This training was for the purpose of motivating them to "understand, agree, and lead" others to follow the ways of the king. A modern day term for this would be brainwashing. Instead of forcing the Israelites to follow, the king would develop the minds of the captive's leaders who would hopefully lead their people to follow the king.

Today we are faced with similar challenges. Our schools are teaching Naturalism, Darwinism, and other theories pressing students to embrace them as facts. Immediate reactions include statements such as:

• Do I really have to read this stuff?   
• I don't believe in these theories therefore I don't want to take these classes.
• Why are these theories taught as if they were facts?

We can take a few lessons from Daniel on this issue. Daniel stood firm when faced with the compromise of breaking one of God's laws but he did not challenge the system on the training. He understood the heart and desire of God; therefore, he was blessed in his actions. Daniel knew God's law and made it a priority in his life. God granted Daniel and his friend's wisdom and understanding because of their obedience to God.

As for these four young men, God gave them knowledge and skill in all literature and wisdom; and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams. Now at the end of the days, when the king had said that they should be brought in, the chief of the eunuchs brought them in before Nebuchadnezzar. Then the king interviewed them, and among them all none was found like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah; therefore they served before the king. And in all matters of wisdom and understanding about which the king examined them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers who were in all his realm. [Daniel 1:17-21 The New King James Version. (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982).]

If a person is founded in God's Word and is seeking Him daily in his life, then the challenges presented can be easily overcome. Instead of running from the opposition, use these times to learn and grow in understanding of God's wisdom. When faced with a question that is difficult to answer or understand, then dive deeper into God's Word. Just like Daniel, God can supply you in knowledge and skill in all literature and wisdom to debate the opposition, but we must seek Him first.
 
In Christ,
Doug
http://www.dougjohnson.net/