Daniel 4:34 - Meaning and Application

Here we see Nebuchadnezzar restored from his madness and brought back to his right mind at the end of the set time, that is, after the seven years were over. For that long he stood as a display of God’s justice and as a witness to God’s victory over proud people. In a way, it was a greater lesson to be struck insane than to be killed at once by lightning. Yet it was mercy that he stayed alive, because while life remains, there is hope that we may still praise God, as he did here.

“At the end of the days,” he says, “I lifted up my eyes to heaven” (Daniel 4:34). He no longer looked down at the earth like a beast, but began to look up like a man. There was more here than the change of posture. He looked up as a devout man, as one turning from sin, and as a humble seeker of mercy, perhaps feeling his misery for the first time.

Now he had his reason back enough to glorify God and humble himself under God’s strong hand. He had been told that he would remain in that miserable condition until he knew that the Most High rules. Here we see him brought to that knowledge: “My understanding returned to me, and I blessed the Most High.” People may rightly be called without understanding if they do not bless and praise God. A person does not truly use reason until he begins to live in reverence toward God.

Reason is the foundation on which religion stands, since creatures without reason cannot be religious. But religion is the crown and beauty of reason. We have our reason in vain, and will one day wish we never had it, if we do not use it to glorify God. This was the first act of Nebuchadnezzar’s restored mind. Only when reason was used this way was he fit for every other good use of it. For a long time he had been unable to use his mind in other matters, and only then was he brought to use it for the main purpose for which God gave it.

His folly was the means by which he became wise. He was not restored by his dream about this judgment, for that was soon forgotten like a dream. Instead, he had to feel the judgment, and then his ear was opened to instruction. To bring him back to himself, he first had to be beside himself. This also shows that whatever good thoughts were now in his mind, and whatever good work was done there, did not come from himself. He was not in his right mind before, and this change was the gift of God.

Let us see what Nebuchadnezzar is at last brought to confess, and learn from it what we should believe about God. First, the Most High God lives forever. His being never changes and has no end, because he exists by himself. His flatterers often said to him, “O king, live forever.” But he is now convinced that no king lives forever. Only the God of Israel does, and he is always the same.

Second, God’s kingdom is like himself, everlasting, and his rule continues from generation to generation. There is no break, no succession, and no revolution in his kingdom. As he lives, so he reigns forever, and his rule never ends.

Third, all nations before him are as nothing. He has no need of them, and he does not count them as much. The greatest people, compared with him, are less than nothing. Those who think highly of God think humbly of themselves.

Fourth, his kingdom is universal. The armies of heaven and the people of earth are both under his rule and control. Angels and human beings are both used by him and answer to him. The highest angel is not beyond his command, and the least person is not outside his notice. The angels of heaven are his armies, and the people of earth are his subjects.

Fifth, his power cannot be resisted, and his rule cannot be challenged. He does according to his will, according to his plan and purpose, according to his decree and counsel. Whatever he wants, he does. Whatever he appoints, he carries out. No one can stop his will, change his counsel, or hold back his hand, or say to him, “What are you doing?” No one can bring charges against his actions, question their meaning, or demand an explanation from him. Woe to the person who argues with his Maker and says, “What are you doing?” or “Why are you doing that?”

Sixth, everything God does is right. His works are truth, because they all agree with his word. His ways are judgment, meaning they are wise and right, fully in line with both prudence and fairness. Nothing can be found wrong with them.

Seventh, he has power to humble the proudest of his enemies, even those who oppose him or try to rival him. “Those who walk in pride he is able to humble” (Daniel 4:37). He can deal with those who are most sure of their own strength in resisting him.

Then we see Nebuchadnezzar with his reason restored enough to enjoy himself again and to recover the pleasures of his restored prosperity (Daniel 4:36). He says again that his reason returned, and he repeats it because the use of our reason is a mercy for which we can never be thankful enough. Then his nobles sought him out. He did not need to seek them. They quickly saw not only that he had regained his reason and was fit to rule, but that he had been restored with greater fitness than before.

It is likely that the dream and its meaning had been well known at court and often discussed. Since the first part of the prediction had come true, that he would become insane, they had no doubt that, according to the prediction, he would regain his mind after seven years. So when the time came, they were ready to receive him. Then his honor and splendor returned to him, the same honor he had before madness seized him. He was established in his kingdom as firmly as if nothing had interrupted him.

He became a fool so that he might become wise, wiser than before. The man who had lately been in deep disgrace and shame now received greater majesty than he had when he went from kingdom to kingdom conquering all before him. When people are brought to honor God, especially by humble confession of sin and a believing acknowledgment of his rule, then, and only then, may they expect God to put honor on them. He will not only restore what was lost through the sin of the first Adam, but add greater glory through the righteousness and grace of the second Adam.

Afflictions last no longer than the work for which they were sent. When this king was brought to own God’s rule over himself, the lesson was done. And all the accounts we give of God’s dealings with us should end in praise to him.

When Nebuchadnezzar was restored to his kingdom, he praised, honored, and glorified the King of heaven (Daniel 4:37) before turning back to his royal work. This reminds us why God gives us understanding and prosperity: so we may be able to praise him, and so we may have good reason to praise him. Not long after this, Nebuchadnezzar died and his reign ended.

Abydenus, as quoted by Eusebius (Prap. Evang. 1.9), says, from Chaldean tradition, that on his deathbed Nebuchadnezzar foretold that Cyrus would take Babylon. We are not told whether he stayed in this humble and godly frame of mind, and nothing is said to suggest otherwise. If he did continue that way, then even such a proud blasphemer and persecutor found mercy, and he was not the last.

If we are willing to hope this was so, then we must marvel at free grace, God’s unearned favor. Nebuchadnezzar lost his mind for a time so that he might save his soul forever.