“After this time had passed, I, Nebuchadnezzar, looked up to heaven. My sanity returned, and I praised and worshiped the Most High and honored the one who lives forever.
His rule is everlasting,
and his kingdom is eternal.
All the people of the earth
are nothing compared to him.
He does as he pleases
among the angels of heaven
and among the people of the earth.
No one can stop him or say to him,
‘What do you mean by doing these things?’
“When my sanity returned to me, so did my honor and glory and kingdom. My advisers and nobles sought me out, and I was restored as head of my kingdom, with even greater honor than before.
Daniel 4:34-37 New Living Translation
Twelve months after he had the dream, God’s judgment came down on Nebuchadnezzar. He was stricken with a mental illness that caused him to live like an animal, away from the city he had built. After the time of his judgment had passed, though, he recognized that he needed to humble himself before God. He looked up to heaven and regained his sanity. With his sanity returning, Nebuchadnezzar was returned to his place ruling over the kingdom of Babylon. He regained his position in society with a different attitude now.
The restoration of Nebuchadnezzar’s sanity brought about a time of worship in his heart. He acknowledged the greatness of the God of heaven and God’s ultimate control over his own destiny. Nebuchadnezzar may have built a great city for himself but God ultimately controlled his ability to enjoy it.
Nebuchadnezzar’s words of praise are a warning for the proud and powerful but they can also be words of comfort for the oppressed. When we find ourselves in a place where others are seeking to rule over us with an unjust agenda, we can rest assured that God will bring things back into balance. He is committed to justice and no human being will be able to resist His justice forever.
Prayer:
God, help us to remember that you will always bring about justice in the end. Help us to keep our hearts humble before you.
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