Nebuchadnezzar’s testimony to the glory of God… continues Dan. 4:1-37. Key: 4:17, 25
“Nebuchadnezzar had every opportunity in the presence of Daniel and his three friends to experience the miraculous manifestation of God. He failed to respond to true faith, and thus he had to reap the consequences of refusing to take the advantage of the opportunity of faith.” Roger E. Dickson
- Dan. 4:28-30 “All this came upon the king Nebuchadnezzar. At the end of twelve months he walked in the palace of the kingdom of Babylon. The king spake, and said, Is not this great Babylon, that I have built… by the might of my power, and for the honour of my majesty?
a. “All these came upon…” “He spake and it was done; he commanded, and it stood fast.” Ps. 33:9, Nu. 23:19. Pr. 10:24. Zec. 1:6. Mat. 24:35.
b. ‘At the end of twelve months…’ “This respite was granted to him to leave him without excuse. So, the hundred twenty years granted before the flood (Ge 6:3). At the first announcement of the coming judgment he was alarmed, as Ahab (1Ki 21:27), but did not thoroughly repent; so when judgment was not executed at once, he thought it would never come, and so returned to his former pride.” JFB Ec 8:11, 1Pe. 3:20. 2Pe. 3:9, 10, 15.
c. in the palace—rather, upon the (flat) palace roof, whence he could contemplate the splendor of Babylon. The palace roof was the scene of the fall of another king (2Sa 11:2). JFB
d. Babylon that I have built. The “I” is emphatic, by which he puts himself in the place of God; so the “my … my.”…” JFB Is not. ch. 5:20. Ps. 73:8. Pr. 16:18. Hab. 1:15, 16; 2:4, 5. Lu. 12:19, 20; 14:11. 1Pe. 5:5.
e. God resist the proud 1Pet. 5:5. It was pride that turned angels into demons. “Do you wish to rise? Begin by descending! You plan a tower that will pierce the clouds? Lay first the foundation of humility”-St. Augustine. The humble will:
I. Refuse to blow his trumpet after a great success and will rather shut up.
II. Refuse to accept praise after doing a good thing.
III. Accept his errors and be the first to apologise in every quarrel.
IV. Forgive others even before they apologise.
V. Listen to others instead of being the talker, and he obeys orders.
VI. Be willing to learn even from a child, and serve others even when they are meant to serve him and do even odd jobs for others
