Daniel

Daniel 4: God humbles the proud king

Begin in prayer

Before we read Daniel 4, let us ask God to humble our hearts and to show us that the Most High rules over every kingdom.

A man’s pride brings him low, but one of lowly spirit gains honor.

Proverbs 29:23

Father in heaven, please open our eyes as we read Your Word. Show us that You are the Most High, who humbles the proud, and help us to see Christ. Make us more like Jesus. And please bless our family as we worship You together. In Jesus' name, Amen.

See where we're going

Nebuchadnezzar writes this chapter himself, as a letter to all the peoples, nations and languages. He tells of a dream about a great tree that fed all flesh and was cut down. Daniel says the tree is the king, who will be driven from men until he knows the Most High rules. Daniel urges the king to break off his sins by showing mercy to the poor. A year later the king boasts of great Babylon, and a voice from heaven says his kingdom has departed. He lives like the animals until his understanding returns, and then he blesses the Most High.

As you read Daniel 4, look for the answers:

Reflect together

Key truth

God humbled proud Nebuchadnezzar until he praised the Most High, who rules forever.

Nebuchadnezzar tells this chapter himself, as a letter to all the peoples, nations and languages (verses 1 to 3). He was at rest in his house and flourishing in his palace when a dream made him afraid (verses 4 and 5). Daniel said the tree was the king, and the Most High would drive him from men (verses 20 to 25). Daniel urged him to break off his sins by righteousness, and his iniquities by showing mercy to the poor (verse 27). A year later the king boasted of great Babylon, built “by the might of my power” (verses 29 and 30). The voice from heaven said the kingdom had departed from him, and it was fulfilled the same hour (verses 31 to 33). When his understanding returned, he blessed the Most High, “for his dominion is an everlasting dominion” (verse 34). The Most High “gives it to whomever he will,” so no king can boast that his kingdom is his own (verse 32).

How does Daniel 4 show us that God humbled proud Nebuchadnezzar until he praised the Most High, who rules forever?

God warned Nebuchadnezzar through a dream and through Daniel.

The king saw a tree that fed all flesh, and a holy one ordered it cut down (verses 10 to 14). This was so “the Most High rules in the kingdom of men” would be known (verse 17). Daniel told the king that the tree was the king himself (verse 22). Then Daniel urged him to break off his sins by showing mercy to the poor (verse 27).

The Most High humbled the king's pride.

A year later the king boasted that he built Babylon “by the might of my power” (verses 29 and 30). While the word was in his mouth, a voice came from heaven (verse 31). The kingdom departed from him, and he was driven from men and ate grass as oxen (verses 31 to 33). It was fulfilled the same hour, until his hair grew like eagles' feathers (verse 33).

Nebuchadnezzar lifted his eyes to heaven and blessed the Most High.

At the end of the days the king lifted up his eyes to heaven, and his understanding returned to him (verse 34). He blessed the Most High, and praised and honored Him who lives forever (verse 34). He called the King of heaven just in all His ways, and able to abase those who walk in pride (verse 37). Jesus humbled Himself and became obedient to death on a cross, and God highly exalted Him (Philippians 2 verses 8 and 9).

Memorise

I blessed the Most High, and I praised and honored him who lives forever; for his dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom from generation to generation.

Daniel 4:34

Looking to Jesus in my life

Ask yourself in your heart, am I proud before God, and do I need Jesus to forgive me?

Nebuchadnezzar boasted, “by the might of my power,” and God humbled him. Jesus is the King above every king, and He humbled Himself to save sinners.

Pride is sin against the Most High, and we have no way to pay for it. So Jesus bore the punishment for His people on the cross, and all that was needed was done. After three days He rose from the grave.

So humble yourself before Him and come to Jesus. Turn from your sin and put your trust in Jesus. He lifts up the humble who trust Him, and He forgives their sin.

Parent's note

Tell your children that God humbled a proud king, and that the Most High rules over every kingdom. Please do not tell them they are saved just because they grew up in a Christian home. Call each child to turn from sin and trust Jesus, and pray that God would give them a new heart. Parents, verses 32 and 33 describe the king eating grass like oxen, so please tell it plainly and gently.

Pray together

Now please close your time together in prayer. Thank God that the Most High rules over every king, and bring the heart question to Him. Every child can pray, so let each one say a short prayer if they want to.

Whoever therefore humbles himself as this little child, the same is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven.

Matthew 18:4

Most High God, thank You that Your kingdom lasts forever and that You humble the proud. Thank You for sending Jesus, who humbled Himself. Please lead us away from pride and sin, and teach us to trust Him. Amen.