Now I, Nebuchadnezzar,
Nebuchadnezzar was the king of Babylon, a powerful empire in the ancient Near East. His reign is historically significant, marked by the conquest of Jerusalem and the subsequent Babylonian Exile of the Jewish people. This personal declaration indicates a transformation in Nebuchadnezzar's understanding of God, following a period of divine judgment and restoration.

praise and exalt and glorify the King of heaven,
This phrase reflects a shift from polytheism to acknowledging the sovereignty of the God of Israel. The "King of heaven" is a title emphasizing God's supreme authority over all earthly rulers. This acknowledgment is significant given Nebuchadnezzar's previous pride and self-glorification, as seen earlier in the chapter.

for all His works are true and all His ways are just.
This statement underscores the reliability and righteousness of God's actions and decisions. It echoes themes found throughout the Bible, such as in Deuteronomy 32:4, which describes God as a "God of truth" and "just and right." It highlights the consistency of God's character and His moral governance of the world.

And He is able to humble those who walk in pride.
This conclusion serves as a personal testimony to Nebuchadnezzar's experience of being humbled by God. It aligns with biblical principles found in Proverbs 16:18, "Pride goes before destruction," and James 4:6, "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble." Nebuchadnezzar's humbling is a type of Christ's teaching on humility and the reversal of worldly power structures, as seen in the Beatitudes.

1. Nebuchadnezzar
The king of Babylon who experienced a humbling transformation after a period of pride and madness. His acknowledgment of God's sovereignty marks a significant turning point in his life.

2. Babylon
The empire over which Nebuchadnezzar reigned, known for its grandeur and power, but also for its king's pride before his humbling experience.

3. The King of Heaven
A title used by Nebuchadnezzar to refer to the God of Israel, acknowledging His supreme authority and justice.

4. Humbling of Nebuchadnezzar
The event where God humbled Nebuchadnezzar by causing him to live like an animal until he recognized God's sovereignty.

5. Daniel
A prophet and advisor to Nebuchadnezzar who interpreted the king's dreams and played a crucial role in the events leading to the king's transformation.The Danger of Pride
Pride can lead to a downfall, as seen in Nebuchadnezzar's life. We must be vigilant against allowing pride to take root in our hearts.

God's Sovereignty
God is sovereign over all nations and rulers. Recognizing His authority is crucial for living a life that honors Him.

The Power of Humility
Humility is a virtue that God values. When we humble ourselves, we open the door to God's grace and transformation.

Acknowledging God's Justice
God's ways are just and true. Trusting in His justice can bring peace and understanding, even in difficult circumstances.

Transformation through Repentance
True transformation begins with repentance and acknowledgment of God's authority, as demonstrated by Nebuchadnezzar.Top 10 Lessons from Daniel 4

What are the main themes in the Book of Daniel?

How does pride lead to downfall?

How does pride lead to downfall?

What does 'God gives grace to the humble' mean?(37) The King of heaven.--How far the king arrived at a belief in one God is not clear. There may be noticed, however, a progress in his spiritual character, effected by the grace of God, after each of the interviews which he held with the prophet. At first (Daniel 2:26) his belief was no higher than that which a heathen has in his own superstitions. This develops (Daniel 2:47) into a belief that Daniel's God is "a God of gods, a Lord of kings, and a revealer of secrets." But even at that time he had not arrived at anything like a belief that Jehovah was equal to his own gods. The story of the three holy children shows how little depth there was in his former profession, for in Daniel 3:15 he is represented as setting himself above all gods. After the miracle wrought in their behalf he acknowledges Jehovah to be "the most high God," though he continued to regard Him as only on a level with his own Bel-Merodach. This chapter represents him as recognising "the Most High" to be the cause of his recovery, and as praising the "King of heaven." Holding, as he did, the Babylonian theory of sickness, he must have supposed himself to have been under the influence of some evil spirit; and, with a view to his recovery, his magicians must have treated his disease with charms, amulets, exorcisms, and by placing before him images of his gods. This thanksgiving makes it possible to suppose that he had relinquished much of his belief in his former superstitions, and that he was advancing towards, if not actually in possession of, the truth.

Verse 37. - 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. The Septuagint Version has all the appearance of an original composition by a scribe, not impossibly in imitation of the Song of the Three Holy Children, taking as its theme the subject of the verse before us, "I confess and praise the Highest, who created the heaven and the earth and the sea. He is God of gods, and Lord of lords, and King of kings, because he doeth signs and wonders, and changeth seasons and times, taking away the kingdoms of kings and setting up others instead of them. Now from this time I shall worship him, and from fear of him trembling hath taken hold of me, and all the holy ones I praise, for the gods of the nations have not power in themselves to turn away the kingdom of a king to another king, and to kill and to make alive, and to do signs and marvels great and fearful; and to change very great matters according as the God of heaven did to me, and charged to me great things. I will offer sacrifices to the Highest every day of nay reign for my life, for a savour of sweet smell before the Lord, and what is pleasing before him I shall do, and the people and my nation and the countries which are in my dominion. And as many as shall speak against the God of heaven, and as many as shall be taken saying anything, these shall I condemn to death." Several of the phrases in this short hymn - for that it rather is than a version of an Aramaic original - are derived from other portions of Scripture; e.g. "for a savour of a sweet smell before the Lord." There are traces also of the familiar phenomenon of "doublets." Theodotion and the Peshitta agree with the Massoretic text. So far as the Massoretic text represents the original Daniel, there is no evidence that Nebuchadnezzar had ceased to be a worshipper of Bel-Marduk and Nebo and Nergal. Certainly he recognizes that Jehovah is to be worshipped also. Further, it is to be admitted that Nebuchadnezzar carries his adoration very near the point of true and exclusive worship. In what he came short it may be that he yielded to the political necessities of his situation - as Naaman bowing in the temple of Rimmon. Even an autocrat like Nebuchadnezzar would be conditioned by those who served him, and after his madness he would be specially under the power of those officials who had restored him to his place. Excursus on Nebuchadnezzar's Madness. The events of the fourth chapter of Daniel are full of elements that have caused question from the days of Porphyry downwards. Many of these have been discussed as they occurred in the narrative. The question of the madness of Nebuchadnezzar has several features which cause it to be of interest. Some of these have been passingly treated in reference to the passages in which they are mentioned. But to a thorough understanding of the matter it is well to collect these features together and discuss it as a whole. To do so effectively, we shall have to consider

(1) the nature of the disease under which Nebuchadnezzar suffered;

(2) the length of time during which he was under it;

(3) what evidence there is in the narrative, or on the monuments, of political changes during the time he was incapacitated. . . .

Parallel Commentaries ...

Now
כְּעַ֞ן (kə·‘an)
Adverb
Strong's 3705: Now

I,
אֲנָ֣ה (’ă·nāh)
Pronoun - first person common singular
Strong's 576: I

Nebuchadnezzar,
נְבוּכַדְנֶצַּ֗ר (nə·ḇū·ḵaḏ·neṣ·ṣar)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 5020: Nebuchadnezzar -- a Babylonian king

praise
מְשַׁבַּ֨ח (mə·šab·baḥ)
Verb - Piel - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 7624: To adulate, adore

and exalt
וּמְרוֹמֵ֤ם (ū·mə·rō·w·mêm)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 7313: To be high, to rise, raise

and glorify
וּמְהַדַּר֙ (ū·mə·had·dar)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 1922: To glorify (God)

the King
לְמֶ֣לֶךְ (lə·me·leḵ)
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 4430: A king

of heaven,
שְׁמַיָּ֔א (šə·may·yā)
Noun - mdd
Strong's 8065: The sky

for
דִּ֤י (dî)
Pronoun - relative
Strong's 1768: Who, which, that, because

all
כָל־ (ḵāl)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3606: The whole, all, any, every

His works
מַעֲבָד֙וֹהִי֙ (ma·‘ă·ḇā·ḏō·w·hî)
Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 4567: An act

are true,
קְשֹׁ֔ט (qə·šōṭ)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 7187: Fidelity

and all His ways
וְאֹרְחָתֵ֖הּ (wə·’ō·rə·ḥā·ṯêh)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine plural construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 735: A road

are just.
דִּ֑ין (dîn)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 1780: Judgement, strife

And those
וְדִי֙ (wə·ḏî)
Conjunctive waw | Pronoun - relative
Strong's 1768: Who, which, that, because

who walk
מַהְלְכִ֣ין (mah·lə·ḵîn)
Verb - Hifil - Participle - masculine plural
Strong's 1981: To walk

in pride
בְּגֵוָ֔ה (bə·ḡê·wāh)
Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 1467: Exaltation, arrogance

He is able
יָכִ֖ל (yā·ḵil)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 3202: To be able

to humble.
לְהַשְׁפָּלָֽה׃ (lə·haš·pā·lāh)
Preposition-l | Verb - Hifil - Infinitive construct
Strong's 8214: To depress, sink


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OT Prophets: Daniel 4:37 Now I Nebuchadnezzar praise and extol (Dan. Da Dn)