Daniel 4:37 - Lessons In Humility and Salvation.
Dan.4:37: Lessons In Humility and Salvation.
CONTENT; What's in the verse; Translations; Paraphrase; Word
Study:
Daniel 4:37 (KJV) Now I Nebuchadnezzar praise and extol and
honour the King of heaven, all whose works are truth, and his ways
judgment: and those that walk in pride he is able to abase.
Daniel 4:37 (NIV) Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and exalt and
glorify the King of heaven, because everything he does is right and all
his ways are just. And those who walk in pride he is able to
humble.
Daniel 4:37 (NLT) "Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and glorify
and honor the King of heaven. All his acts are just and true, and he
is able to humble those who are proud."
Daniel 4:37 (CWR) So now I, Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon,
praise and honor the God of heaven and glorify the King of kings, whose
ways are right and just toward everyone, but who also humbles those
who are lifted up by pride and power."
CONTEXT; What's around the verse; Overview; Topic:
Overview
Daniel interpreted a dream portending disaster to Nebuchadnezzar
(4:1-27), and witnessed its fulfillment (vv. 28-37). As an old man Daniel
interpreted a sign indicating the fall of the Babylonian Empire (5:1-30),
and became a valued administrator of the Persian Empire which
succeeded it (6:1-3). God thwarted the plan of Daniel's enemies and
miraculously delivered him from a den of hungry lions (vv. 4-28). [The
365-Day Devotional Commentary]
4:28-37 The King Is Restored
Nebuchadnezzar had every reason to take pride in Babylon. The
building of this famous city, with its hanging gardens, massive walls,
and many temples, was one of his greatest accomplishments. However
he failed to acknowledge that none of this would have been possible
apart from God's sovereign will. Nebuchadnezzar suffered from a known
form of mental illness called "zoanthropy," which is the delusion
that one has become an animal. Nebuchadnezzar learned his lesson
concerning God's judgment on pride. Many believe that he was genuinely
converted and became a believer in God. [New Bible Companion]
SECTION HEADINGS
A Letter From Nebuchadnezzar About His Insanity (4:1-37)
Nebuchadnezzar's Second Dream, its Interpretation and
Consequences. (4:1-37)
The dream comes true (4:28-37)
The Loss and Regaining of a Mind and a Kingdom (4:28-37)
Nebuchadnezzar Restored (4:34-37)
Nebuchadnezzar Praises God.
CROSS REFERENCES; What's in verses elsewhere.
Proverbs 3:34 Surely he scorneth the scorners: but he giveth
grace unto the lowly.
Proverbs 16:18 Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty
spirit before a fall.
Psalm 33:4-5 (KJV) For the word of the Lord is right; and all
his works are done in truth. [5] He loveth righteousness and
judgment: the earth is full of the goodness of the Lord.
Psalm 119:75 (KJV) I know, O Lord, that thy judgments are
right, and that thou in faithfulness hast afflicted me.
Psalm 145:17-18 (KJV) The Lord is righteous in all his ways,
and holy in all his works. [18] The Lord is nigh unto all them that
call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth.
Daniel 4:34 (KJV) And at the end of the days I Nebuchadnezzar
lifted up mine eyes unto heaven, and mine understanding returned unto
me, and I blessed the most High, and I praised and honoured him that
liveth for ever, whose dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his
kingdom is from generation to generation:
Matthew 11:25 (KJV) At that time Jesus answered and said, I
thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid
these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto
babes.
James 4:6 (KJV) But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith,
God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.
1 Peter 2:9 (KJV) But ye are a chosen generation, a royal
priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the
praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous
light:
1 Peter 5:5-6 (KJV) Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves
unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be
clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to
the humble. [6] Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of
God, that he may exalt you in due time:
Rev. 15:3 (KJV) And they sing the song of Moses the servant of
God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvellous are thy
works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of
saints.
Rev. 16:7 (KJV) And I heard another out of the altar say, Even
so, Lord God Almighty, true and righteous are thy judgments.
Rev. 19:1-2 (KJV) And after these things I heard a great voice
of much people in heaven, saying, Alleluia; Salvation, and glory,
and honour, and power, unto the Lord our God: [2] For true and
righteous are his judgments: for he hath judged the great whore, which did
corrupt the earth with her fornication, and hath avenged the blood of
his servants at her hand.
COMMENTARY / APPLICATION: Moving From The Head To The Heart
What is God teaching here? What does it teach about Jesus?
This is Nebuchadnezzar's conclusion to his proclamation, in
which, as a converted sinner, he recognized the righteousness of God.
His confession that God is "King of heaven" expressed his reverence
toward his newfound God. The healed monarch of Babylon had learned well
his lesson. [SDA Commentary]
The once proud monarch had become a humble child of God; the
tyrannical, overbearing ruler, a wise and compassionate king. He who had
defied and blasphemed the God of heaven, now acknowledged the power of
the Most High and earnestly sought to promote the fear of Jehovah
and the happiness of his subjects. Under the rebuke of Him who is
King of kings and Lord of lords, Nebuchadnezzar had learned at last
the lesson which all rulers need to learn--that true greatness
consists in true goodness. He acknowledged Jehovah as the living God,
saying, "I Nebuchadnezzar praise and extol and honor the King of heaven,
all whose works are truth, and His ways judgment: and those that
walk in pride He is able to abase." God's purpose that the greatest
kingdom in the world should show forth His praise was now fulfilled.
This public proclamation, in which Nebuchadnezzar acknowledged the
mercy and goodness and authority of God, was the last act of his life
recorded in sacred history. {PK 521}
Sooner or later we must acknowledge that God is sovereign.
Nebuchadnezzar's pilgrimage with God is one of the themes of
this book. In Daniel
2:47, he acknowledged that God revealed mysteries to Daniel. In Daniel
3:28-29 he praised the God who rescued the three Hebrews. Despite
Nebuchadnezzar's recognition that God exists and works great
miracles, in Daniel
4:30 we see that he still did not acknowledge God as his Lord. We may
recognize that God exists and does wonderful miracles, but God is not
going to change us until we acknowledge him as Lord. [Life Application
SB]
God had twice shown Nebuchadnezzar His power, and the Babylonian
ruler had been deeply impressed. However, he apparently thought of God
as God of the Hebrews, and not a God sovereign over him. Arrogant
people have this tendency. "Religion's all right for you," they'll say
condescendingly. "Some people need God." Even those who think that God exists
often fail to take the logical step of seeking a personal relationship
with Him.
This was certainly the case with Nebuchadnezzar. He was too
great a man to need God. Why, see all he'd accomplished!
The dream warned Nebuchadnezzar of his need to personally submit
to the LORD. Daniel himself urged the king to repent, knowing that
God's announcements of judgment are contingent. But within a year the
king, his heart swelling with pride, was struck with madness.
Perhaps the greatest miracle here is that for "seven times," a
period which typically indicates seven years, the throne of Babylon
remained empty. Finally, after months or years of living like a beast in
open fields, the king's sanity was restored, and he at last praised,
honored, and glorified the Most High.
Many, perhaps rightly, view this as Nebuchadnezzar's conversion.
At last the mighty ruler humbled himself, and took his place as a
simple worshiper of the LORD of heaven and earth.
How often it takes just this--some disaster--to humble a person
before he or she is ready to seek God. I suspect that Nebuchadnezzar
would agree: If that's what it takes, the disaster is a blessing in
disguise. [The 365-Day Devotional Commentary]
Those who walk in pride God is able to humble. [NIV SB]
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