| Subject: Dan. Chap. 4 vss. 34-37 Post #23 |
Author:
Hillbilly
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Date Posted: 20:41:21 08/28/09 Fri
Daniel 4:34-37 And at the end of the days I Nebuchadnezzar lifted up mine eyes unto heaven, and mine understanding returned unto me, and I blessed the most High, and I praised and honoured him that liveth for ever, whose dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom is from generation to generation: 35 And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou? 36 At the same time my reason returned unto me; and for the glory of my kingdom, mine honour and brightness returned unto me; and my counsellors and my lords sought unto me; and I was established in my kingdom, and excellent majesty was added unto me. 37 Now I Nebuchadnezzar praise and extol and honour the King of heaven, all whose works are truth, and his ways judgment: and those that walk in pride he is able to abase.
The "end of the days" are the "seven times" (verses 16,23,25, 32) that were decreed for the punishment of Nebuchadnezzar to last. As stated in an earlier lesson seven is the number of completion. The week of creation was 7 days. Six for work and one for rest. Jacob served 7 years for Rachel, wound up with Leah and served 7 more years for Rachel (Gen 29:18-30). When Jacob met his brother Esau whom he thought would kill him for his treachery, he bowed 7 times before him showing complete repentance and submission before his brother ( Gen 33:3). When God elevated Joseph to second in command under Pharaoh he sent a dream to Pharaoh showing 7 good fertile years followed by 7 years of dearth and drought. Joseph by interpreting the dream and advising Pharaoh on what to do gained his confidence and favor (Gen. 41) There are literally dozens of passages that bear witness to 7 as not only being a number pointing to completion but also an important number concerning prophecy and the end times. Naaman was to dip 7 times in the river Jordan in order to be clean from his leprosy. This ended his leprosy which is a picture of the filth of sin. The seven years of the trib. will leave Israel clean. Any time 7 shows up alone it is good to look at the context and look for similarities to events prophesied in the end times.
Concerning the "seven times" of Nebuchadnezzar's "insanity" we can see God's complete judgment on him for his pride. Miriam had to suffer separation without the camp as a leper for chiding Moses. Her length of punishment was seven days (Num. 12:15). Her leprosy typified her act as sin. Again Israel is to be punished extraordinarily for 7 years for her sin. In Leviticus 26 Israel is warned that God will punish them in increments of 7 times. Four times God warns them that the punishment will be increased by seven times as they remain obstinate. (Lev. 26:18,21,24,28)
In Dan. 3:19 Nebuchadnezzar commanded the furnace to be heated 7 times hotter than normal showing again tribulation implications Compare Dan. 3:19 with Isaiah 30:26 and Rev. 16:8-9.
At any rate we see at the end of the allotted time Nebuchadnezzar sanity is restored to him and he learns his lesson. At the end of the tribulation those who are left will have learned their lesson. When God's punishment is complete it will accomplish what He has intended. The God Nebuchadnezzar once rejected, then recognized as a god instead of The God, he now honors and worships.
In verse 35 he recognizes the sovereignty of God. He sums it up as "man is nothing". Isaiah likened the inhabitants of the earth as grasshoppers in comparison to God (Isa. 40:22). God does according to His will in heaven and earth and none can stop Him nor legitimately question what He is doing. God does according to His will. He did so with Nebuchadnezzar and He will do so with us.
When God restored Nebuchadnezzar He did so in much the same way He restored Job. Nebuchadnezzar had everything restored materially and authoritatively but also note that "excellent majesty was added unto me." Whereas previously Nebuchadnezzar had been a despotic Monarch he now ruled with the acknowledgment that the God of Heaven and earth was actually in control. Where previously he had ruled with a prideful heart and a arrogant attitude he now rules through humility and I suspect justice.
Much of the lesson learned by Nebuchadnezzar can be applied to our own lives. God can break you if He has to but isn't it much better to do it ourselves rather than have God do it? James 4:10 tells us to "Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up." It is far better for us to obey this verse than have God do it for us.
One other lesson is this. You cannot truly worship God until you realize who He is. Until Nebuchadnezzar came face to face with the reality of the one true God of eternity he could not honor Him as God deserved. When Nebuchadnezzar came up against the reality of God he was left with the truth of his worth in comparison to the worth of God. Truly it was a humbling experience for this mighty king.
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