Daniel (Greek) 4:33-37: a reflection

33This was fulfilled the same hour on Nebuchadnezzar. He was driven from men, and ate grass as oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of the sky, until his hair had grown like eagles’ feathers, and his nails like birds’ claws. 34At the end of the days I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted up my eyes to heaven, and my understanding returned to me, and 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. 35All the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing; and he does according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth; and no one can stop his hand, or ask him, “What are you doing?” 36At the same time my understanding returned to me; and for the glory of my kingdom, my majesty and brightness returned to me. My counselors and my lords sought me; and I was established in my kingdom, and excellent greatness was added to me. 37Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the King of heaven; for all his works are right and his ways just; and those who walk in pride he is able to humble.

The proud king Nebuchadnezzar, who had boasted in his own greatness, is brought low, driven from human society into a season of humbling that strips him of his majesty and his mind. It is a hard picture, the greatest king of his age reduced to living like an animal. But the turning point comes with a simple act: at the end of the days, he lifts up his eyes to heaven, and his understanding returns to him. The moment he looks up to God, he is restored.

What Nebuchadnezzar says upon his restoration is remarkable. He blesses and honors the Most High, confessing that God's dominion is everlasting, that he does as he wills among the powers of heaven and the peoples of earth, and that no one can stay his hand. And he ends with the lesson his whole ordeal had taught him: those who walk in pride, God is able to humble. The king who had exalted himself now exalts God, having learned through hard experience that God alone is truly great.

There is both a warning and a hope in this story. The warning: God is able to humble those who walk in pride, and human greatness that forgets him is fragile indeed. The hope: the way back is to lift up your eyes to heaven, to acknowledge God's rule and your own dependence. Nebuchadnezzar's understanding returned when he looked up to God. If pride has brought you low, or if you sense it growing in you, do what he did: lift your eyes to heaven, humble yourself before the God who reigns forever, and find that he restores the humble.

Lord, the proud king was humbled until he lifted his eyes to heaven, and then his understanding returned and he confessed that you rule forever and are able to humble the proud. Guard me from the pride that forgets you, and where I have been brought low, teach me to look up to you. Humble me under your everlasting rule, and restore me as one who acknowledges that you alone are great. To you, the King of heaven, be all honor. Amen.