Daniel 4:34-37

6. Nebuchadnezzar’s restoration 4:34-37

The narrative resumes in the first person, adding the force of personal testimony to the story that the king had been telling. "Raising his eyes to heaven" implies that Nebuchadnezzar finally came to the end of himself-and sought divine help from Yahweh.

"Sanity begins with a realistic self-appraisal." [Note: Baldwin, p. 116.]

"The ability to recognize God is the fundamental difference between beasts and men. In any age, the glory of man is to recognize God and to take his place relative to the Sovereign of the universe." [Note: Feinberg, p. 58.]

"Nothing is more insane than human pride. Nothing is more sober and sensible than to praise God." [Note: Culver, "Daniel," p. 785.]

The king described the Lord as "the Most High," "He who lives forever," and "the King of heaven" in these verses. It is difficult to prove conclusively from the text that the monarch placed saving faith in Yahweh, but that is a distinct possibility in view of these titles and his accompanying praise. [Note: See Young, pp. 113-14; Walvoord, p. 112; Whitcomb, pp. 68-69; Campbell, pp. 53-54; and Ironside, p. 60.] Some interpreters held that Nebuchadnezzar did not become a believer in Yahweh in a saving sense. [Note: E.g., Leupold, p. 204, Archer, "Daniel," p. 58, and Baldwin, p. 116.] Only God knows for sure.

"In chapter 4 Nebuchadnezzar reaches a new spiritual perspicacity. Prior to his experience of insanity, his confessions were those of a pagan whose polytheism permitted the addition of new gods, as illustrated in Daniel 2:47; Daniel 3:28-29. Now Nebuchadnezzar apparently worships the King of heaven only. For this reason, his autobiography is truly remarkable and reflects the fruitfulness of Daniel’s influence upon him and probably of Daniel’s daily prayers for him. Certainly God is no respecter of persons and can save the high and mighty in this world as well as the lowly." [Note: Walvoord, p. 112.]

What we can say certainly is that Nebuchadnezzar moved from acknowledging the sovereignty of no one but himself-to acknowledging Yahweh’s sovereignty over him.