This chapter covers Nebuchadnezzar’s dream and also subsequently his greater appreciation of the God of Israel when his dream came true and he became mad for failing to take heed to the warning in the dream and recognising that his kingdom was in fact God’s gift rather than his own human achievement. His praising of the God of Israel materialised after he recovered from his insanity.
The king was deeply troubled by his dream and it was Daniel who interpreted the dream and advised the king to correct his ways to prevent the dream from taking place. However, the advice and warning were ignored by the king and he took credit for his achievements and kingdom and suffered the consequences.
This chapter reveals and confirms God’s sovereignty over history and His desire also to relate with non-Israelites. It renounces arrogance and pride that exalt human achievement at the expense of praise and appreciation of God who gives the power to achieve in the first place. Daniel told king Nebuchadnezzar that the latter must acknowledge that God alone gives kings power or he will become like an unknowing beast – this took place subsequently and only when the king confessed that God lives forever (4:34), rules forever (4:34) and rules justly (4:37) that he regained his senses.
The chapter also confirms that God who sustains, reveals and delivers is also the God who humbles the proud. God rules kings as well as exiles, wise men and commoners. Everyone lives under the Lord’s scrutiny and no one escapes from HIs knowledge and judgement. Every human being is totally dependent on the one Nebuchadnezzar calls the Most High and King of heaven.
Knowing that the God in heaven is our father, as believers, should increase our joy, wonder and appreciation of our privilege at being His children. Though God is Lord over all, He always has time for us; He always give HIs full attention whenever we call on Him or cry out to Him in our prayers. Isaiah reminds us that God dwells in the high and holy place and also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit (Isaiah 57:15); this same God chose to become the Father of insignificant and sinful creatures like us, sinners who are contrite in repentance and humble in fleeing by faith to Jesus for refuge. We see here how important humility is for those who seek to know God and how God hates and disregards the proud as seen in Daniel 4.
Pride and arrogance lead to self-worship a form of idolatry seen in king Nebuchadnezzar who attributed his achievements to his greatness and glory. God would judge kings and nations and also individuals who exalt themselves as if God had not given them what they possess. It is God who creates, who gives breath, delivers, is holy, is sovereign, is just and lives forever. No idol or king or individual or even spiritual being has the characteristics of the only one true God and so none deserves worship. In Daniel, the exile makes God’s universal reign more evident due to the witness of Daniel, his three friends and the remnant. The book of Daniel also teaches that no matter how careful the faithful may be, they will still suffer for being who they are and believing as they do. This danger forces the faithful to trust God as they wait for final deliverances from the exile that sin has caused.
The deepest problems of individuals always involve: the meaning of life and death, the mastery of self, the quest for value and worthwhileness and freedom within, the transcending of loneliness, the longing for love and a sense of significance and peace. In seeking these, many have pursued the path of self-achievement, believing in yourself, getting recognition, status and ultimately self-worship, a form of dangerous idolatry.
In contrast, Jesus said, “Peace (shalom) I leave with you, my peace I give to you” (John 14:27). Shalom indicates total wellbeing and happiness: it starts with peace with God, sin forgiven, guilt gone, person accepted. It also means peace with yourself if God has forgiven you the terrible things you have done – you can have peace with yourself now that you have peace with God. You can also have peace with your circumstances: if the Lord of circumstances is at peace with you, you can therefore be sure that He orders and controls circumstances for your good.
However, the peace Jesus offers is only for those who are humble enough to repent and to fall before Him in contriteness – it is for those who realise that God does not need your wisdom and self-achievement to receive His gospel message; the cross appears foolish to man, yet it is the wisdom of God for those who humble themselves to receive the peace of God. King Nebuchadnezzar had to eat grass and become like a beast to humble himself before he acknowledged the God of Israel. In his self-worship, he missed seeing that it is only God who rules and gives dominion to whom He pleases.
Pride and arrogance would not bring you to God and Christ; the devil, in his pride, desires to be God, Those who follow him also seek to build their own kingdoms. Only the kingdom of God will last forever; only the meek and humble can approach the great and mighty God and enter into the kingdom of God.
The book of Daniel stresses that God’s sovereignty over history includes an ability to know and rule the future. God is involved with human events that occur in time, yet he is in no way bound by time. God is the One who will guide history to a just conclusion and the One who rewards and punishes persons after death as well as before death.
We can take heart that even though we may not see justice here on earth, God, the great and high judge would just righteously and justly ultimately. He would bring down the proud and arrogant and give grace to those who humble themselves before Him. Humility and contriteness must continue to be nurtured in the lives of believers throughout their pilgrimage on earth; spiritual pride can destroy our relationships with God and His people. If there is only one thing you can take away from Daniel 4, it is “Humble yourself continually before the great and mighty God and cling to His perfect love and goodness throughout your walk and service on earth” – this is the path to ‘shalom’ and this is the way to total wellbeing before God and men.