ACKNOWLEDGE THE LIVING GOD

Daniel 4:19-37  

Monday, 04 August 2025

At the end of that time, I, Nebuchadnezzar, raised my eyes toward heaven, and my sanity was restored. Then I praised the Most High; I honored and glorified him who lives forever.-Daniel 4:34

The Book of Daniel is important historically and prophetically. The sovereignty of God unravels in every era as we see God working out His purposes in history. Babylon was one of the most powerful nations of the 6^th & 7^th centuries, with its King Nebuchadnezzar subduing nations, including Israel which led Daniel and his friends to be divinely placed in the courts of the king. God had dealt with Nebuchadnezzar previously through a dream and His intervention in saving Daniel’s friends from the fiery furnace leading to recognizing the true God of Israel. Yet pride got the better of him, that caused God to bring him to a low state that finally led him to acknowledge God for who He is! 

Part of our text today is Nebuchadnezzar’s testimony of the way God dealt with him. Called in to interpret another dream, Daniel clearly warned the king about what God would do to him if he didn’t repent of his pride and wicked deeds. Sometime later the king uttered: “Is not this the great Babylon I have built as the royal residence, by my mighty power and for the glory of my majesty?” (V.30) All that God spoke through Daniel came to pass in the king’s life until he acknowledged God and then was reinstated to the throne.

Even today, God’s identity is revealed to each of us as reflected in Daniel 4:34-37:

• God lives and reigns forever (V.34): Nebuchadnezzar realized his kingdom (which he thought to be glorious) was no match before the everlasting Kingdom of God and His dominion. Ps.90:2 says: “…from everlasting to everlasting you are God.” And Ps.103:19: “The LORD has established his throne in heaven, and his kingdom rules over all.” It is an enduring Kingdom unlike the earthly ones that last only for a time. So then where comes boasting from man? 

• God is sovereign (Vs.35-36): Nebuchadnezzar also realized that God does as he pleases with the powers of heaven and the peoples of the earth. Daniel rightly said that wisdom and power belongs to God and “He changes times and seasons; he deposes kings and raises up others.” (Dan.2:21). It is foolish for man to question on what God does because He does it out of His infinite wisdom and sovereignty. Job stated: “Can anyone teach knowledge to God, since he judges even the highest?” (Job 21:22)

• God is just & right (V.37) reads: “Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and exalt and glorify the King of heaven, because everything he does is right and all his ways are just.” That realization took time to come to this once proud king! Moses once spoke to the children to Israel that God’s works are perfect and all His ways are just (Deut.32:4).Righteousness and justice is the character of God that man can trust Him. 

• God hates pride (V.37): In the one moment of his great pride, Nebuchadnezzar lost it all- he lost his sanity and his kingdom and was driven away to live like an animal (V.33) until he looked up to God in heaven in right acknowledgment of who He is! Psalm 138:6 says: “Though the LORD is on high, Yet He regards the lowly; But the proud He knows from afar.” The “I-know-it-all” attitude of a person, allows the self to dominate instead of a dependence and trust in God.

Brethren, the lessons we learn from this once proud king should stay with us for a lifetime. If we fail to understand God’s sovereignty and reign over everything, we will fail to make sense of our lives and all that happens around us. In His love, God has made a way for us to be connected to Him—Jesus Christ. If we invite Him into our lives in all humility, He will work His plan in each of us who acknowledge Him as Lord and Saviour!

Prayer: LORD Almighty, I acknowledge You as the Living One. May Your reign be in me through Christ Jesus, Amen.

Listen: 'Reign in me'