Daniel 4:34-37

g. SOVEREIGN'S SURRENDER

TEXT: Daniel 4:34-37

34

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 honored him that liveth for ever; for his dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom from generation to generation;

35

and all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing; and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth; and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou?

36

At the same time mine understanding returned unto me; and for the glory of my kingdom, and my majesty and brightness returned unto me; and my counsellors and my lords sought unto me; and I was established in my kingdom, and excellent greatness was added unto me.

37

Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the King of heaven; for all his works are truth, and his ways justice; and those that walk in pride he is able to abase.

QUERIES

a.

To what extent did Nebuchadnezzar's worship of God go?

b.

How did the king's understanding return to him?

PARAPHRASE

At the end of the days appointed by the Most High God I, Nebuchadnezzar, surrendered to the sovereignty of the God of Heaven, and my sanity returned to me. Then I praised and worshiped the Most High God and honored The Eternal One. His dominion is everlasting and His rule is sovereign in every age of man to the end of time. All the power of mankind is as nothing when compared to Him. He does whatever He desires and executes His will among heavenly beings and earthly beings alike and no one can stop Him or challenge Him, saying, What do You mean by doing these things? As soon as my reason had returned to me, then my honor and renown also returned to me as also the glory of my kingdom. My counsellors and court officers sought my leadership again and I was reestablished as head of my kingdom, with even greater honor than before. Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and glorify and honor the King of Heaven, the Judge of all, Whose every act is right and just; for He is able to take those who walk proudly and punish them into the dust!

COMMENT

Daniel 4:34-35. I BLESSED THE MOST HIGH. The mighty potentate seems to have learned well the lesson God wanted him to learn. There is no reason at all to question the statement of facts made here. The sincerity of his motive will have to await the final judgment when all the secrets of men will be revealed. One thing seems almost certain, Nebuchadnezzar is convinced of the omnipotence of Daniel's God! He admits to God's sovereignty in both the unseen and seen worldand that universally so! There is no potentate among mortals or immortals to be compared with Him, as far as the king is concerned.

It also seems certain that the king is thanking Daniel's God for the restoration of his sanity and his kingdom. This, in itself, is a great condescension on Nebuchadnezzar's part.

Daniel 4:36-37. NOW I. PRAISE AND EXTOL AND HONOR THE KING OF HEAVEN. Nebuchadnezzar was not only restored to full control of the government and so acknowledged by his men of state, but excellent greatness was added unto me. One is reminded of JobAnd the Lord blessed the latter days of Job more than his beginning. (Job 42:12). Does this act of God indicate some acceptable manifestation of faith by this pagan king? Could we say the pagan king had been converted? We do not know! It would seem proper to believe that God was pleased with the faith of Nebuchadnezzar, however immature and limited it may be. Edward J. Young lists the following in favor of Nebuchadnezzar:

(a)

There is discernable a progress in his knowledge of God (cf. Daniel 2:47 with Daniel 3:28 and finally with Daniel 4:34-35).

(b)

The king acknowledges the utter sovereignty of God with respect to his own experience (Daniel 4:37 b).

(c)

The king utters true statements concerning the omnipotence of the true God (Daniel 4:34-35).

(d)

The king would worship this God, whom he identifies as King of heaven (Daniel 4:37 a). These reasons lead me to believe that, although the faith of Neb. may indeed have been weak and his knowledge meagre, yet his faith was saving faith, and his knowledge true.

Compared with the advantages Pharaoh enjoyed and the utter rejection he made of God's will, Nebuchadnezzar had a conversion experience. Certainly Nebuchadnezzar was equally receptive and responsive to the will of God as the King of Nineveh at the preaching of Jonah. To what extent God will accuse or excuse Nebuchadnezzar at the judgment is solely God's prerogative. It is now our blessed privilege to preach the Good News of salvation by faith in Christ. Let us bless God that we do not live in the pagan darkness of the days of Nebuchadnezzar. Perhaps the major purpose served in this incident was to bolster the hope of that faithful remnant of Jews down in Babylon that their God could, and would, overcome and carry out His redemptive, messianic purpose in them soon.

QUIZ

1.

Did Nebuchadnezzar really praise the name of Jehovah?

2.

Out of what kind of motive did he do so?

3.

Was Nebuchadnezzar converted to faith in Daniel's God?

4.

What other person would it be interesting to use as a comparison with Nebuchadnezzar?

5.

What might be the major purpose of God's acting thus with Nebuchadnezzar?