Dan 4:1-2 | KingComments | STEP | In Daniel 4 we don’t hear anything about the faithful remnant. This chapter is about the ruler of the world empire. It connects to Daniel 3, where, in those things that happened to Daniel’s three friends, we see the fates of the remnant. A ‘faithful remnant’ is that in which God finds true faith. The characteristics of the whole people are found there. Together with Daniel 3, this chapter describes the fates of the two main actors in the end time, the faithful remnants and the world ruler. As already mentioned, with the inauguration of Nebuchadnezzar there has come a turning point in God’s actions with His people and the nations. God has placed the dominion of the world, which He initially ascribed to Israel, in the hands of a gentile King and a gentile empire. This is the start of “the times of the Gentiles” ( ). These times of the Gentiles come to an end with the liberation of Jerusalem. That liberation comes because of the reconciliation through and the coming of the Messiah. We will see that in Daniel 9. The fact that God has placed the dominion in the hands of a gentile ruler and withdrawn His hands from His people does not mean that He leaves the world to itself. In a certain sense, He does, because the world is following its own course and with it, its own downfall. At the same time, God keeps the supreme government. We can see that in what happens to Nebuchadnezzar. The subject of Daniel 4 is the pride of the ruler and how God acts upon it. Pride is the primeval sin ( ). Any other sin results from that. Warnings against this sin are often given, and we too must have an eye in our lives upon the danger of pride ( ; ; ). It is remarkable that the testimony of Nebuchadnezzar’s humiliation does not come from Daniel’s mouth, but from Nebuchadnezzar’s own mouth. Just as remarkable is the fact that he doesn’t confide his experiences to a few confidants somewhere in an inner room, but that he communicates what happened to him to all the peoples. We have here an example of a pagan man who, under the action of God’s Spirit, communicates things he would never naturally tell. But if God wants this mighty king to testify to the whole world that He is the Supreme One and that Nebuchadnezzar, as a mighty king, cannot argue with Him, it happens exactly as He wants it. This will also happen in the end time. All nations, and especially their kings, will bow before the Lord Jesus. He, the Messiah, is the Most High God ( ). This will be recognized by all “who live on all the earth”. Those who “live in all the earth” are those who have connected their souls and their whole life to the earth. They look no further than the earth and live only for it ( ). By “all the earth” is meant the part of the earth that is known and ruled by Nebuchadnezzar (cf. ; ). It is not clear when Nebuchadnezzar made this proclamation. It seems that he is at the height of his power, and peace reigns in his empire ( ). As a good ruler and governor he wishes for all his subjects an increase in peace. Even people who do not take God into account often see the great blessing of peace and wish others will have that peace.

‏ Daniel 4:1-2

Introduction

In Daniel 4 we don’t hear anything about the faithful remnant. This chapter is about the ruler of the world empire. It connects to Daniel 3, where, in those things that happened to Daniel’s three friends, we see the fates of the remnant. A ‘faithful remnant’ is that in which God finds true faith. The characteristics of the whole people are found there. Together with Daniel 3, this chapter describes the fates of the two main actors in the end time, the faithful remnants and the world ruler.

As already mentioned, with the inauguration of Nebuchadnezzar there has come a turning point in God’s actions with His people and the nations. God has placed the dominion of the world, which He initially ascribed to Israel, in the hands of a gentile King and a gentile empire. This is the start of “the times of the Gentiles” (Lk 21:24). These times of the Gentiles come to an end with the liberation of Jerusalem. That liberation comes because of the reconciliation through and the coming of the Messiah. We will see that in Daniel 9.

The fact that God has placed the dominion in the hands of a gentile ruler and withdrawn His hands from His people does not mean that He leaves the world to itself. In a certain sense, He does, because the world is following its own course and with it, its own downfall. At the same time, God keeps the supreme government. We can see that in what happens to Nebuchadnezzar.

The subject of Daniel 4 is the pride of the ruler and how God acts upon it. Pride is the primeval sin (1Tim 3:6). Any other sin results from that. Warnings against this sin are often given, and we too must have an eye in our lives upon the danger of pride (Jam 4:6; 1Pet 5:5; Pro 3:34 ; Pro 16:18 ; Pro 18:12).

Beginning of the Proclamation

It is remarkable that the testimony of Nebuchadnezzar’s humiliation does not come from Daniel’s mouth, but from Nebuchadnezzar’s own mouth. Just as remarkable is the fact that he doesn’t confide his experiences to a few confidants somewhere in an inner room, but that he communicates what happened to him to all the peoples.

We have here an example of a pagan man who, under the action of God’s Spirit, communicates things he would never naturally tell. But if God wants this mighty king to testify to the whole world that He is the Supreme One and that Nebuchadnezzar, as a mighty king, cannot argue with Him, it happens exactly as He wants it.

This will also happen in the end time. All nations, and especially their kings, will bow before the Lord Jesus. He, the Messiah, is the Most High God (Dan 4:2). This will be recognized by all “who live on all the earth”. Those who “live in all the earth” are those who have connected their souls and their whole life to the earth. They look no further than the earth and live only for it (Rev 3:10 ; Rev 6:10 ; Rev 8:13 ; Rev 11:10 ; Rev 13:8 ; 12 ; 14 ; Rev 14:6 ; Rev 17:2 ; 8). By “all the earth” is meant the part of the earth that is known and ruled by Nebuchadnezzar (cf. Dan 2:39; Lk 2:1).

It is not clear when Nebuchadnezzar made this proclamation. It seems that he is at the height of his power, and peace reigns in his empire (Dan 4:4). As a good ruler and governor he wishes for all his subjects an increase in peace. Even people who do not take God into account often see the great blessing of peace and wish others will have that peace.

Nebuchadnezzar Honors God

By starting with saying “it has seemed good to me”, he makes it clear that as head of his kingdom he does not act on the orders of anyone else. He does not say that he gives his testimony because God has commanded him to do so. He thinks it’s good to do that and that’s why he does it. He is not aware that God is urging him to do so.

But he does speak of God as the One Who dealt with him through “His signs” and “His wonders”. Signs and wonders are often mentioned together in Scripture (Exo 7:3; Deu 4:34 ; Deu 13:1 ; Deu 34:11; Isa 8:18; Jer 32:20). Not every sign is a wonder, but every wonder is a sign. Signs are events or things with a certain meaning.

A sign does not have to be something extraordinary or supernatural. When the Lord Jesus was born, the shepherds were told that this will be “the sign” for them: “You will find a baby wrapped in clothes and lying in a manger” (Lk 2:12). A baby in a manger and wrapped in clothes is no wonder, it is nothing extraordinary. But this Baby and the way He came into the world is a sign. His coming to earth has a deep meaning.

In a sign God shows His presence and power. A wonder is something that causes great amazement, because it is incomprehensible and inimitable for man. A wonder shows God’s presence and power in a supernatural action with the intention that man recognizes that God is acting.

Nebuchadnezzar calls God here “the Most High God”. In so doing, he acknowledges that God is above all things and also above His own gods. This is the conclusion he comes to, after being humbled by God in the deepest sense. A person only recognizes God’s exaltation above all things, when he has experienced how small he is himself. This experience is to be given by God to man because he exalts himself and boasts of his own person and works.

Nebuchadnezzar is deeply impressed by the signs and wonders the Most High has done to him. He expresses his amazement by talking about “how great” and “how mighty” they are. This means that he sees these signs and wonders as incomprehensible or indescribable or unexplainable. They are unique and incomparable. In the life of Nebuchadnezzar, this has become visible both in his humiliation to the state of a beast and in his restoration, in which he receives even more greatness and glory than he had before his humiliation (Dan 4:36).

His confession is remarkable in that the kingdom of God is “an everlasting kingdom” (Dan 2:44 ; Dan 7:14 ; 27; Psa 145:13). It means that he sees his own kingdom as passing by. His high mind is gone and he gives God all honor, both in His Person and in His kingdom. With that kingdom Nebuchadnezzar connects a dominion that is “from generation to generation”. This means that he recognizes the supreme authority of God through the ages, from the beginning of creation thus far and also further.

It is also important for us to stick to this. The dominion of the Lord Jesus throughout the history of mankind may encourage us by remembering that He also has complete dominion in our personal lives. Nothing gets out of hand for Him. Nebuchadnezzar is forced to acknowledge this. Sometimes that has to happen in our lives. But the result of this acknowledgment is that we entrust our lives to Him with peace of mind and with joy.