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Dan 4:19-37  Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall

[Study Aired March 14, 2024]

In this fourth chapter of Daniel we learn about this second dream that parallels the first dream in chapter 2. Both dream images represent Nebuchadnezzar, the statue in the first dream and then the tree of great height in the second dream. The all gold statue that Nebuchadnezzar made in chapter 3 is based on the dream of the statue in the second chapter. The dream is one (Gen 41:25), and both of these dreams are demonstrating what is within every human being. There are progressive steps that need to be taken in order to bring us to see the beast on the throne (Ecc 3:18-19, Deu 7:22) of our own hearts, and the Lord uses these dreams, and the resultant effect of them in Nebuchadnezzar’s life, to teach us something about ourselves (1Pe 1:12, 1Co 10:11). 

Ecc 3:18  I said in mine heart concerning the estate of the sons of men, that God might manifest them, and that they might see that they themselves are beasts. 
Ecc 3:19  For that which befalleth the sons of men befalleth beasts [Dan 2:31-34, Dan 7:3-8]; even one thing befalleth them: as the one dieth, so dieth the other; yea, they have all one breath; so that a man hath no preeminence above a beast: for all is vanity [Gen 2:17].

Deu 7:22  And the LORD thy God will put out those nations [“they themselves are beasts“] before thee by little and little: thou mayest not consume them at once, lest the beasts of the field increase upon thee [progressive judgment of the land which our bodies represent].

1Pe 1:12  Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into. 

1Co 10:11  Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.

Nebuchadnezzar’s dream of the statue being hit on the feet with a stone inwardly represents the beginning of judgment in the life of God’s elect (1Pe 4:17, Paul struck down Act 9:3-4, process of judgment expressed by three days of blindness Act 9:8-9) where all those empires are judged as a result of Christ and His Christ coming into our lives to hit this statue on its feet that stands on a faulty carnal foundation as opposed to the only true foundation Jesus Christ (Mat 16:18). After this happens, the kingdom of God flourishes in our heavens and fills all the earth within us (Dan 2:35). We also make an idol of gold to ourselves, which represents the statue of chapter two, or the beast being healed of its deadly wound of Revelation 13:12.

At the first, when we come into an awareness of our own sinfulness as a result of our feet being hit by the stone on our feet, the beasts of the field do increase upon us. Like Israel fleeing from Egypt, our sinful nature is in hot pursuit of us like the armies of Pharaoh’s day wanting to put us back into bondage. The dispensational view of these statues tell the same story when applied to the unconverted world that the elect will begin to judge when the kingdoms of this world become the kingdoms of our Lord and His Christ (Rev 11:15, Dan 2:34).

Mat 16:18  And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

Dan 2:35  Then was the iron, the clay, the brass, the silver, and the gold, broken to pieces together, and became like the chaff of the summer threshingfloors; and the wind carried them away, that no place was found for them: and the stone that smote the image became a great mountain, and filled the whole earth. [We fill up what is behind of the afflictions of Christ today (Col 1:24). That is what fills our whole earth today within us, as all the nations within us are judged so that the elect in turn will be prepared to judge all the nations of the world in the future (Rev 11:15)]

The interpretation of this second dream in chapter 4 reveals to us what must happen to Nebuchadnezzar and to each of us, to have the statue of all gold destroyed in our heavens (Dan 3:1). We are told this of the judgment that comes upon Nebuchadnezzar: “Seven times shall pass over thee, till thou know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will.” The “seven times passing over thee” represents the seven last plagues that must be poured out, or passed over us, in order to enter into the fullness of the kingdom of God in the first resurrection. God causes those seven times passing over us to destroy our old man and bring us to be convinced that we are His future rulers who now know (“till thou know“) “that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will” (1Co 1:26, Eph 1:1-6, 2Pe 1:10, Eph 1:18). God has promised we will inherit His kingdom as a result of going through the afflictions, persecutions, tribulation and suffering of this life (Mat 19:29), conditions that are symbolized by those “seven times shall pass over thee” [“seven last plagues”], and it is His good pleasure to give us that kingdom, so God won’t fail in administering to us the judgments we must go through (Rev 15:8, Luk 12:32, Act 14:22, 1Pe 4:17).

For you see your calling, brethren:

1Co 1:26  For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called:

Eph 1:1  Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus: 
Eph 1:2  Grace be to you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ. 
Eph 1:3  Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: 
Eph 1:4  According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:
Eph 1:5  Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, 
Eph 1:6  To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. 

2Pe 1:10  Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:

Eph 1:18  The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,

Mat 19:29  And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name’s sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life.

Luk 12:32  Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.

Act 14:22  Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.

Dan 4:19   Then Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, was astonied for one hour, and his thoughts troubled him. The king spake, and said, Belteshazzar, let not the dream, or the interpretation thereof, trouble thee. Belteshazzar answered and said, My lord, the dream be to them that hate thee, and the interpretation thereof to thine enemies. 

Nebuchadnezzar represents the carnal first-man Adam, and when [we] Daniel begins to interpret the dream he has, we are troubled and astonished [astonied^H8075] because we know that there is judgment involved in this interpretation, which happens when we fall into the hands of the Lord (Heb 10:31-33). Nebuchadnezzar, our old man, says, “Don’t let the dream bother you, (let not the dream, or the interpretation thereof, trouble thee.)” Nebuchadnezzar is not troubled because he does not realize what is going to come upon him at this stage, and even with the dream interpreted, it does not change him, but rather witnesses against him at first (Luk 12:19). The dream should bother us greatly and move us to have a Godly fear. However, Nebuchadnezzar has no such Godly fear, which is the problem, just a dream that needs interpreting from God at this stage, and the intent of the dream will not be understood until he goes through God’s wrath, which will come in the form of his having “his portion be with the beasts of the field, till seven times pass over him.“

H8075 shemam shem-am’

(Chaldee); corresponding to H8074: – be astonied.

Total KJV occurrences: 1

H8074 shâmêm shaw-mame’

A primitive root; to stun (or intransitively grow numb), that is, devastate or (figuratively) stupefy (both usually in a passive sense): – make amazed, be astonied, (be an) astonish (-ment), (be, bring into, unto, lay, lie, make) desolate (-ion, places), be destitute, destroy (self), (lay, lie, make) waste, wonder.

Total KJV occurrences: 89

Heb 10:31  It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. 
Heb 10:32  But call to remembrance the former days, in which, after ye were illuminated, ye endured a great fight of afflictions; 
Heb 10:33  Partly, whilst ye were made a gazingstock both by reproaches and afflictions; and partly, whilst ye became companions of them that were so used. 

Luk 12:19  And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry. “The king spake, and said, Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for the house of the kingdom by the might of my power, and for the honour of my majesty?“

Being ‘astonied’ for one hour is a symbol of the day of the Lord, “Then Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, was astonied for one hour, and his thoughts troubled him“, which is what this event in Nebuchadnezzar’s life typifies for us. Daniel is troubled because he has been shown that there will be enemies come up against the king. “Belteshazzar answered and said, My lord, the dream be to them that hate thee, and the interpretation thereof to thine enemies.” Those enemies of Nebuchadnezzar represent his own iniquities that are going to chasten and scourge him (Jer 2:19), symbolized by both the cutting down of the tree of great height that represents Nebuchadnezzar, and then having “his portion be with the beasts of the field, till seven times pass over him.“

Jer 2:19  Thine own wickedness shall correct thee, and thy backslidings shall reprove thee: know therefore and see that it is an evil thing and bitter, that thou hast forsaken the LORD thy God, and that my fear is not in thee, saith the Lord GOD of hosts. 

Dan 4:20  The tree that thou sawest, which grew, and was strong, whose height reached unto the heaven, and the sight thereof to all the earth; 
Dan 4:21  Whose leaves were fair, and the fruit thereof much, and in it was meat for all; under which the beasts of the field dwelt, and upon whose branches the fowls of the heaven had their habitation: 
Dan 4:22  It is thou, O king, that art grown and become strong: for thy greatness is grown, and reacheth unto heaven, and thy dominion to the end of the earth. 
Dan 4:23  And whereas the king saw a watcher and an holy one coming down from heaven, and saying, Hew the tree down, and destroy it; yet leave the stump of the roots thereof in the earth, even with a band of iron and brass, in the tender grass of the field; and let it be wet with the dew of heaven, and let his portion be with the beasts of the field, till seven times pass over him; 

Before we are judged by the Lord, He witnesses against us and shows us who we are (Rev 3:17) and then sends an angel of God (that represents the body of Christ) who has the power to hew down the tree [second dream] and the empires within us, typified by the statue [first dream] (Jer 51:20).

Rev 3:17  Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: 

Jer 51:20  Thou art my battle axe and weapons of war: for with thee will I break in pieces the nations, and with thee will I destroy kingdoms; 

Nebuchadnezzar is being counseled by Daniel, and all of these words, “Whose leaves were fair, and the fruit thereof much, and in it was meat for all; under which the beasts of the field dwelt, and upon whose branches the fowls of the heaven had their habitation: It is thou, O king, that art grown and become strong: for thy greatness is grown, and reacheth unto heaven, and thy dominion to the end of the earth” are summed up by saying, “Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked.“

The solution to overcoming this high-minded spirit of Nebuchadnezzar is to bring judgment upon him, which is what is going to happen as described with these verses, “And whereas the king saw a watcher and an holy one coming down from heaven, and saying, Hew the tree down, and destroy it; (Jer 51:20) yet leave the stump of the roots thereof in the earth, even with a band of iron and brass, in the tender grass of the field; and let it be wet with the dew of heaven, and let his portion be with the beasts of the field, till seven times pass over him.“

The “watcher” in the king’s life is Daniel, who by God’s grace has been faithful to stand on the word of God and interpret the dream to king Nebuchadnezzar, revealing in type and shadow these verses which must also occur in order for us to be brought to repentance, and in this parable for his/our high-mindedness, “I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see. As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent” (Rev 3:18-19, Heb 12:6).

The progression of judgment is also shown in the king’s life as the wood, hay and stubble are gotten out of the way in type and shadow with the hewing down of the tree (wood, hay, stubble 1Co 3:12), but there is more judgment to come for Nebuchadnezzar. The roots and the stump that has the iron band and copper band must also be destroyed in order for Nebuchadnezzar to ‘go on to perfection on the third day’ in type and shadow (gold, silver, costly stones 1Co 3:12), which only occurs after the king has “his portion be with the beasts of the field, till seven times pass over him.“

To put this story in other terms, let’s consider all the wealthy and powerful people of the world throughout history whose lives have had “dominion to the end of the earth” just like the rulers of all the empires that make up the statue of Daniel in the first dream. The way Daniel interacts with Nebuchadnezzar demonstrates the humility that must be formed within the body of Christ and the firmness to not shun to declare the whole counsel of God’s will to all the world during the reign of the saints and in the lake of fire, great white throne judgment (Act 20:26-28). God is preparing His people today to do just that (1Co 6:1-3).

Act 20:26  Wherefore I testify unto you this day, that I am pure from the blood of all men.
Act 20:27  For I shrank not from declaring unto you the whole counsel of God.
Act 20:28  Take heed unto yourselves, and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit hath made you bishops, to feed the church of the Lord which he purchased with his own blood. 

1Co 6:1  Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unjust, and not before the saints? 
1Co 6:2  Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters? 
1Co 6:3  Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life?

Dan 4:24  This is the interpretation, O king, and this is the decree of the most High, which is come upon my lord the king: 
Dan 4:25  That they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field, and they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and they shall wet thee with the dew of heaven, and seven times shall pass over thee, till thou know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will. 

These verses in Galatians (Gal 4:1-6) best describe what is happening  to Nebuchadnezzar with “the decree of the most High, which is come upon my lord the king“. Like Nebuchadnezzar, we go into Babylon by being driven away from the world, “they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field, and they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and they shall wet thee with the dew of heaven.” We think we have come out of the world when in reality we are still abiding “with the beasts of the field.” It is the decree of God that is dragging us (Joh 6:44) so that our dwelling place will be with the churches of Babylon where “they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and they shall wet thee with the dew of heaven“. This eating of grass and being wet with the dew of heaven represents the word of God but it is not the strong meat of God’s word. Nevertheless, this stage is critical, and we must go through it and Lord willing, get beyond it if He permits (Heb 6:3). The only thing that can free us from being a bondservant to the schoolmaster is the “seven times shall pass over thee, till thou know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will.” Nebuchadnezzar going through this chastening process is a type of the kingdoms of the world, all the empires on the statue, that will one day be purified in the lake of fire, called the great white throne judgment (Dan 4:37). 

Gal 4:1  But I say that so long as the heir is a child, he differeth nothing from a bondservant though he is lord of all; 
Gal 4:2  but is under guardians and stewards until the day appointed of the father. 
Gal 4:3  So we also, when we were children, were held in bondage under the rudiments of the world: 
Gal 4:4  but when the fulness of the time came, God sent forth his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, 
Gal 4:5  that he might redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. 
Gal 4:6  And because ye are sons, God sent forth the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, Abba, Father.

Heb 6:3  And this will we do, if God permit.

Dan 4:26  And whereas they commanded to leave the stump of the tree roots; thy kingdom shall be sure unto thee, after that thou shalt have known that the heavens do rule. 
Dan 4:27  Wherefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable unto thee, and break off thy sins by righteousness, and thine iniquities by shewing mercy to the poor; if it may be a lengthening of thy tranquillity. 

Daniel further confirms that this eating of grass and being wet with the dew of heaven represents the word of God. However, it is not the strong meat of God’s word, and that is because the churches of Babylon have not been given to go beyond (Heb 6:3), symbolized by the band of iron and brass and the stump of the tree roots being left. The whole stay of bread and water is not being received with a beastly heart that wraps God’s word around the idol of our carnal hearts, and therefore it is taken away (Isa 3:1). Unless we are crushed under the stone (Mat 21:44), which is symbolized by the process of “till seven times pass over him“, we would remain a nēpios^G3516 (Gal 4:1) and not a mature son of God, a uihos ^G5207(Eph 4:13), who has been blessed to go unto maturity in this life, not hiding our talent in the earth (Heb 6:3, Mat 25:25). The stone falling on us of Matthew 21:44 is what destroys “the stump of the tree roots“, leaving us with the mind of Christ that does not boast against the spiritual root and vine, Jesus Christ, who is doing the work within the body of Christ (Rom 11:18-21, Joh 15:5).

Another way to look at this is that during the reign of the saints we will always be provoking people to love and good works regardless of the fact that we know there will be no conversion, which is another reason Daniel says these words, “let my counsel be acceptable unto thee, and break off thy sins by righteousness, and thine iniquities by shewing mercy to the poor; if it may be a lengthening of thy tranquillity.“

Rom 11:18  Boast not against the branches. But if thou boast, thou bearest not the root, but the root thee. 

Joh 15:5  I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

The churches of this world are “commanded to leave the stump of the tree roots“, and it is by God’s decree that it must be that way for now. Daniel, all in type and shadow language, goes on to point to how the king can become a mature son of God with these words, “Wherefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable unto thee, and break off thy sins by righteousness, and thine iniquities by shewing mercy to the poor; if it may be a lengthening of thy tranquillity.” The command to “leave the stump of the tree roots” is needful and necessary in order that “thy kingdom shall be sure unto thee, after that thou shalt have known that the heavens do rule.“

It always comes back to the sin of iniquity, which is self-righteousness, that when it is burned out of us, will produce the works within us which will give us Christ’s peace (“a lengthening of thy tranquillity“) in knowing that these are His works within us that we have worked out in fear and trembling by His power (Php 2:12-13). Daniel’s type and shadow counsel will be acceptable to those who are accepted in Christ, of which counsel Nebuchadnezzar is only hearing at this point, demonstrating that he is not a ‘disciple indeed’ in type (Joh 8:31-32). The fruit of our life, as a result of Christ abiding in us, is captured with the statement, “shewing mercy to the poor; if it may be a lengthening of thy tranquillity.” The fruit of pure religion will have us visiting the fatherless and widow in their affliction, the fatherless and widow representing the body of Christ whose assembling we don’t forsake, being careful to maintain good works, “may be a lengthening of thy tranquillity” (Jas 1:27, Heb 10:25, Tit 3:8).

Joh 8:31  Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;
Joh 8:32  And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

Tit 3:8  Faithful is the saying, and concerning these things I desire that thou affirm confidently, to the end that they who have believed God may be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men:

Dan 4:28  All this came upon the king Nebuchadnezzar. 
Dan 4:29  At the end of twelve months he walked in the palace of the kingdom of Babylon. 
Dan 4:30  The king spake, and said, Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for the house of the kingdom by the might of my power, and for the honour of my majesty? 
Dan 4:31  While the word was in the king’s mouth, there fell a voice from heaven, saying, O king Nebuchadnezzar, to thee it is spoken; The kingdom is departed from thee. 
Dan 4:32  And they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field: they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and seven times shall pass over thee, until thou know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will. 

All this came upon king Nebuchadnezzar and set the stage for the destruction of his old foundation which is why it was “at the end of twelve months [number for foundations positive or negative] he walked in the palace of the kingdom of Babylon.”  While walking in his own palace, with the beast on the throne of his heart, the king spoke these words, “Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for the house of the kingdom by the might of my power, and for the honour of my majesty?” This is the iniquity that has manifested, the pride of life in full bloom, which is now going to be judged by God. Nebuchadnezzar cannot acknowledge God’s sovereignty, and so, instead of saying “Except the LORD build the house, (Php 2:12-13) they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain” (Psa 127:1), he says, “I have built for the house of the kingdom by the might of my power, and for the honour of my majesty.

Psa 127:1  A Song of degrees for Solomon. Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain. 

God does a quick work in the lives of those in whom He is working, and so it is worded this way to remind us of this truth, “While the word was in the king’s mouth, there fell a voice from heaven, saying, O king Nebuchadnezzar, to thee it is spoken; The kingdom is departed from thee” (Pro 16:18-19, Luk 19:22, Pro 16:4-5).

Pro 16:18  Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall. 
Pro 16:19  Better it is to be of an humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide the spoil with the proud. 

Luk 19:22  And he saith unto him, Out of thine own mouth will I judge thee, thou wicked servant. Thou knewest that I was an austere man, taking up that I laid not down, and reaping that I did not sow:

Pro 16:4  The LORD hath made all things for himself: yea, even the wicked for the day of evil. 
Pro 16:5  Every one that is proud in heart is an abomination to the LORD: though hand join in hand, he shall not be unpunished. 

God has hardened the king’s heart and caused him to err, no one else did it (Isa 63:17). This is the decree of the Lord through the watchers who represent the elect (Dan 4:17), “And they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field: they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and seven times shall pass over thee, until thou know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will” (Eph 1:11). So, not only has this decree gone forth for the elect in this age in our own hearts and minds, but it will also go out to all men, in time, who will, each in their own order, come to the knowledge of the truth of God’s plan of salvation, which requires that we humble ourselves under His mighty hand, which is only possible through Christ (“seven times shall pass over thee).“

Dan 4:33  The same hour was the thing fulfilled upon Nebuchadnezzar: and he was driven from men, and did eat grass as oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven, till his hairs were grown like eagles’ feathers, and his nails like birds’ claws.
Dan 4:34  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 honoured him that liveth for ever, whose dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom is from generation to generation: 

The events we are reading now regarding the king’s life being “driven from men, and did eat grass as oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven, till his hairs were grown like eagles’ feathers, and his nails like birds’ claws“, parallel with the prodigal son who is brought to his senses only after he has been brought very low (Luk 15:17-20). This eagle is the negative one that is bound to the earth, and not soaring in the heavens as John represents in his gospels, and Nebuchadnezzar’s nails are like birds’, again connecting him to an unkempt beast that eats and forages things in the earth with his over-emphasized beastly condition.

Luk 15:17  But when he came to himself he said, How many hired servants of my father’s have bread enough and to spare, and I perish here with hunger!
Luk 15:18  I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight:
Luk 15:19  I am no more worthy to be called your son: make me as one of thy hired servants.
Luk 15:20  And he arose, and came to his father. But while he was yet afar off, his father saw him, and was moved with compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.

Nebuchadnezzar’s experience is typical of what every man will experience. The details will be different for each person whose stripes will be as many or as few as God has predestined (Luk 12:47-48). However the end result will be the same as they were for Nebuchadnezzar who declared the end result of his chastening from God with these words that acknowledge His might and power as he blessed and honored Him that lives forever, “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“. This acknowledgement of God’s greatness is a far cry from the earlier verses where Nebuchadnezzar has not yet even rightly identified God working in Daniel’s life but rather refers to Daniel’s God as one of “the holy gods” (Dan 4:8-9). The statement “from generation to generation” reminds us that we are all the beast being spoken of here in this story and that it is those who are judged first (1Pe 4:17) who will come to their senses, after they identify with all the beasts of the field as the generation who is guilty of all the blood of the prophets from Abel to Zacharias (Luk 11:50).

Luk 11:50  that the blood of all the prophets, which was shed from the foundation of the world, may be required of this generation;

Dan 4:35  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? 
Dan 4:36  At the same time my reason returned unto me; and for the glory of my kingdom, mine honour and brightness returned unto me; and my counsellors and my lords sought unto me; and I was established in my kingdom, and excellent majesty was added unto me. 

If God is working with us in this age, what we will learn after we have been humbled in our flesh is that “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?” (Eph 1:11, Isa 46:10, Rev 3:7).

Eph 1:11  in whom also we were made a heritage, having been foreordained according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his will; 

Isa 46:10  declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things that are not yet done; saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure; 

Rev 3:7  And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth and none shall shut, and that shutteth and none openeth:

It is at this same time that we are humbled and brought to our senses by God’s chastening that we are told,  “At the same time my reason returned unto me; and for the glory of my kingdom, mine honour and brightness returned unto me; and my counsellors and my lords sought unto me; and I was established in my kingdom, and excellent majesty was added unto me.” In other words, God will restore that which He takes away if we are granted to endure His chastening (Heb 12:7). When we are converted through that experience we will be able to save ourselves and those who hear us, both in this life and in that which is to come (1Ti 4:16), “and my counsellors and my lords sought unto me; and I was established in my kingdom, and excellent majesty was added unto me.“

Heb 12:7  If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? 
Heb 12:8  But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.

1Ti 4:16  Take heed to thyself, and to thy teaching. Continue in these things; for in doing this thou shalt save both thyself and them that hear thee.

Dan 4:37  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.

Nebuchadnezzar clearly identifies “the King of heaven” whom he is now praising, extolling and giving honor to, acknowledging Him with these words, “all whose works are truth, and his ways judgment: and those that walk in pride he is able to abase.” These words typify for us the end result of the elects’ own sojourn in this life where we’ve been given to lose our life by having the pride of life burned out of us, as was the case with Nebuchadnezzar, in a type and shadow manner, who states of God, “those that walk in pride he is able to abase” (Rev 4:9-11). 

Rev 4:9  And when the living creatures shall give glory and honor and thanks to him that sitteth on the throne, to him that liveth for ever and ever, 
Rev 4:10  the four and twenty elders shall fall down before him that sitteth on the throne, and shall worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and shall cast their crowns before the throne, saying, 
Rev 4:11  Worthy art thou, our Lord and our God, to receive the glory and the honor and the power: for thou didst create all things, and because of thy will they were, and were created.

It’s also interesting to note that there are a couple of other mentions of Nebuchadnezzar in chapter 5, but that’s it. The new king has come on the scene, whose name is Belshazzar, the son of Nebuchadnezzar, who, unlike his father, did not learn from his idolatrous ways and ends up being slain (Dan 5:30). Lord willing, we will look at that next week.