• The Explore the Bible lesson for Feb. 6 focuses on Daniel 4:28-37.
It often has been said at the heart of every sin is, first, the sin of pride. Indeed, the fall narrative of Genesis 3 places humanity’s pride as a key instrument in Satan’s arsenal of getting Adam and Eve to reject God’s goodness and provision for the self-deception that they could do better. This truth makes it all the more troubling when our culture today seems to relish and reward arrogance as a prized character trait.
The opposite of pride is humility. Biblically speaking, humility is having a proper appreciation for who we are and for who God is. It holds a distinctive place in the attributes Christians are called on to possess. It alone is an attitude we can do ourselves. The fruit of the Spirit—love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control—as well as faith, all grow out of the work of God transforming our lives. Humility, on the other hand, always is expressed as a call for us to pursue. Humble yourselves is a plea or command found throughout Scripture.
With the two poles of pride and humility so much at the center of the human condition and relationship with God, it isn’t surprising the central story of the Daniel narratives is focused on this issue. The story is one of the three in the first part of Daniel focused on the matter of where true wisdom resides. The other two are found in chapters 2 and 5 and also highlight how pride gets in the way of seeing things the way they really are. Of the three, this central story is the most dramatic and includes a humbling by God of King Nebuchadnezzar, but still includes a demand that the king come to his senses about his true standing in the world.
Pride Declared (Daniel 4:28-30)
Like many encounters of prideful people with God in the Bible, the narrative begins with a warning from God about Nebuchadnezzar’s journey to humility through a dream God gave him. Daniel interprets the dream for Nebuchadnezzar and concludes with a warning and a wish the king might change direction on his own (Daniel 4:27).
This call and challenge from Daniel is essential to seeing that the path, though predicted in a vision, was not set in stone, but could be averted if Nebuchadnezzar would humble himself. God’s judgment is certain, but he is in relationship with mankind and amenable to a sincere repentance from sin (cf. Jeremiah 18:1-10).
Nebuchadnezzar’s pride grows out of the massive palace and city he ruled from within. A trip back to Daniel 1, however, reminds us all he had had been given to him by God. In the midst of our successes, it is vital to remember, ultimately, success comes from God. Nebuchadnezzar’s forgetting of that truth was about to cost him dearly.
Reality Defined (Daniel 4:31-33)
The swiftness of God’s judgment is highlighted in the phrase, “while the words were still on his lips.” Still, we should not miss the fact that a year has passed since the initial warning. While God’s judgment is swift and clear, the encouragement Daniel offered to pursue humility also reaped its rewards for a time.
The exact nature of what happened to Nebuchadnezzar is a matter of some debate. While many scholars attempt to link the description of his condition to a specific psychological issue, more and more scholars are arguing Nebuchadnezzar encountered exile. This explanation fits the description given in the text, explains his recognition of God’s position taking place before the removal of the curse and explains why there wouldn’t be any threat of losing his kingdom to a usurper who most certainly would have stepped forward if the king was suffering from insanity. Indeed, there is a known example of another king, Nabonidus, experiencing exile later in the empire, yet maintaining his power. Regardless of its actual nature, Nebuchadnezzar’s experience was a humbling journey of discovering his true nature and position.
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Honor Given (Daniel 4:34-37)
The swiftness of God’s judgment is matched by the speed of his restoration of Nebuchadnezzar once the king acknowledged God’s position and power. This is the last time we encounter Nebuchadnezzar in the Daniel narratives. It is fitting the journey we have seen him on is one of discovery of who God is.
There are lessons for the believer both in Nebuchadnezzar and Daniel, and ultimately they are the same lesson. Reliance on God is the only way forward. Daniel took a risk at the beginning of the narrative in sharing the bad news of the meaning of Nebuchadnezzar’s dream with him. Nebuchadnezzar came to discover arrogance leads to ruin. Both learned humility is required for success.
Timothy Pierce, Ph.D., is associate professor of Christian studies at East Texas Baptist University.
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