“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.” Daniel 4:34
Seven years. The length of time between a baby’s birth and second grade –1/3 of the time between birth and graduating college. That’s the length of time Nebuchadnezzar lived in the elements believing he was a cow – the length of time that God granted him to make a decision about God. Some may think this is harsh until we realize that the king faced eternal hell if he died without faith in God. In reality this is a great act of mercy by a loving God who desires Nebuchadnezzar to spend eternity with Him.
At the end of the days Finally seven years are over. One cannot read the book of Daniel without noticing how precise God is when He specifies times. For One who is not bound by time, God numbers man’s time to the days and hours and minutes. He knows the exact
amount of time we have on this earth before we pass into eternity. God said seven times (years) would pass and they did. God used those seven years to show this arrogant king that He alone is sovereign and in control. Nebuchadnezzar learns the truth about who God is and who the king is. Now he has a decision to make. Will he humble himself and exalt God or will he retain his pride and react with anger to a God who rules over him?
I, Nebuchadnezzar Remember that chapter 4 is King Nebuchadnezzar’s testimony. This is his first-hand account of what God has done in his life. Here he describes his conversion for all in the land to read.
Lifted my eyes to heaven The time of the king’s humbling is over and God restores the king’s sanity. Scripture tells us the king’s first action is to lift or raise his eyes. The Aramaic word for eyes is related to the Hebrew which means eyesight. It indicates having one’s eyes opened to something true. The phrase reminds us of Psalm 123:1, “To you I lift up my eyes, O you who are enthroned in the heavens!” The king sees what has happened to him. He now realizes who God is and what He is doing in his life. All the pain and discomfort the king suffered was for a reason – God used the time to soften his heart – that the king might know God.
My reason returned to me He looks at his circumstances and begins to comprehend the situation from God’s perspective. The word reason means knowledge or understanding. This is a critical step in breaking one’s pride and humbling himself to turn to God. This king who had everything and could order any man in the world to do anything turns from his view of the world to God’s. The word returned is interesting. The first time the word is used is in Genesis 3:19, “and to dust you shall return”. Nebuchadnezzar is telling us that his understanding returned to the core – God is at the center of the universe, not man. Suddenly it dawns on the king that the God of Daniel is the true, living and only God. He is not a fable or myth or another idol, He is the creator God, sovereign over all the earth which includes the king of Babylon.
I blessed the Most High Nebuchadnezzar tells us his reaction to God’s punishment. The word blessed refers to kneeling – worship of God.
And praised and honored him Nebuchadnezzar knelt then he praised (adored) and then honored (glorified) God. We see Nebuchadnezzar practice the truth of Romans 10:9 “If you will confess with your mouth” – this great king is not embarrassed to worship the one true God
Who lives forever Nebuchadnezzar acknowledges Daniel’s God is eternal, not made by man but He is the living eternal God.
What can we learn? God’s word says God “resists the proud but gives grace to the humble”. In Daniel 4 God deals with a proud arrogant king and brings into his life a situation that will either humble him or enrage him. Nebuchadnezzar’s heart is transformed. He now knows who the living and true God is. This earthly king then takes three important steps. First he confesses God with his mouth. Second, he worships and glorifies Him and third, He tells all he knows about the living and true God. It took seven years of punishment but God answered Daniel’s prayers that the king become a believer. Nebuchadnezzar will be thankful to God (and Daniel) for all eternity for those seven years of pain and humiliation that is what it took for him to know the living and true God.