28 All this came upon King Nebuchadnezzar. 29 At the end of twelve months he was walking on the roof of the royal palace of Babylon, 30 and the king answered and said, “Is not this great Babylon, which I have built by my mighty power as a royal residence and for the glory of my majesty?” 31 While the words were still in the king’s mouth, there fell a voice from heaven, “O King Nebuchadnezzar, to you it is spoken: The kingdom has departed from you, 32 and you shall be driven from among men, and your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field. And you shall be made to eat grass like an ox, and seven periods of time shall pass over you, until you know that the Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he will.” 33 Immediately the word was fulfilled against Nebuchadnezzar. He was driven from among men and ate grass like an ox, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven till his hair grew as long as eagles’ feathers, and his nails were like birds’ claws.
34 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;
35 all the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing,
and he does according to his will among the host of heaven
and among the inhabitants of the earth;
and none can stay his hand
or say to him, “What have you done?”
36 At the same time my reason returned to me, and for the glory of my kingdom, my majesty and splendor returned to me. My counselors and my lords sought me, and I was established in my kingdom, and still more greatness was added to me. 37 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.
(ESV)
STOP! Think a little 🤔 What is God saying to you?
- What is the writer saying?
- How do I apply this to my life?
But the king did not heed Daniel’s advice. Twelve months later he was walking on the roof of his royal palace in Babylon when he spoke words of great pride, saying “Is not this great Babylon, which I have built by my mighty power as a royal residence and for the glory of my majesty?” While the words were still on his lips, God spoke from heaven and declared that his kingdom had been taken from him and as previously predicted, he would be driven away from men to eat grass in the fields for seven years until he was ready to confess that God is sovereign over the kingdom of men and establishes their rulers according to His will. King Nebuchadnezzar’s sanity left him and he lived like an animal exposed to the elements and his hair grew long like eagles’ feathers and his nails grew like birds’ claws. Daniel later added that the king lived with wild donkeys, Dan 5:21).
Seven years later, at the end of the days, Nebuchadnezzar lifted his eyes to heaven and his sanity was restored to him and he gave praise and honour to God, the Most High. He acknowledged that God’s kingdom is an eternal kingdom and by comparison, the people of earth are as nothing. God does what He wills both in heaven and on earth. No one can stop God and no one has any right to question Him (Job 33:12-13; Rom 9:19-20).
Because Nebuchadnezzar acknowledged God’s right to rule, his sanity and his throne were restored. He was more blessed and received greater honour than he had experienced when he walked in pride. As a result, he praised and glorified and exalted God, the King of Heaven. He acknowledged that God is right and just in all He does and that He humbles those who walk in pride. The description of Nebuchadnezzar’s praise and honour of God suggests an ongoing habitual attitude towards God from that point on. There is a strong indication that Nebuchadnezzar had been humbled and his attitude towards God changed such that we can expect to see Him one day in heaven.
God chose to use Gentile nations as His instruments in judging Israel. But He didn’t leave them to their own devices. Even though the nations of the earth continue to rebel against God, He will humble them and bring them into subjection to Christ’s authority. One day “the kingdom of the world [will] become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign forever and ever.” (Rev 11:15).
Major Stories of the Bible Reading Plan
The Plagues Part Two: Exodus 9-10