From Pride to Praise: When God Humbles a King”

From Pride to Praise: When God Humbles a King” • Sermon • Submitted 15 days ago • Presented 15 days ago

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Daniel 4:37 ESV

37 Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the King of heaven, for all his works are right and his ways are just; and those who walk in pride he is able to humble.

Over the past few weeks, we’ve journeyed through the early chapters of Daniel—a book that shows us what it looks like to stand firm in a fallen world.

In Daniel 1, we met four young Hebrew men taken from their homeland, forced into Babylonian culture, and given new names. Yet, Daniel resolved in his heart not to defile himself—and God honored that resolve with wisdom, favor, and influence.

In Daniel 2, we saw God reveal a prophetic dream to Nebuchadnezzar about a statue representing the rise and fall of world empires. Only Daniel, by God’s power, could interpret it. The message? God is sovereign over history, and only His kingdom will last forever.

In Daniel 3, we witnessed one of the boldest moments of faith in Scripture—Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego refusing to bow to the king’s golden image. When thrown into the fiery furnace, they weren’t burned… because Jesus met them in the fire.

Now, tonight in Daniel 4, the spotlight is back on King Nebuchadnezzar. He’s seen the power of God, he’s heard the truth from God’s people, but he’s still battling something that ruins kingdoms, breaks leaders, and cripples hearts: pride.

This chapter is not a lesson about Daniel—it’s a personal testimony from a pagan king who was humbled by God, lost everything, and found that the only true kingdom is the one ruled by the Most High.

Daniel 4:4–27 ESV

4 I, Nebuchadnezzar, was at ease in my house and prospering in my palace. 5 I saw a dream that made me afraid. As I lay in bed the fancies and the visions of my head alarmed me. 6 So I made a decree that all the wise men of Babylon should be brought before me, that they might make known to me the interpretation of the dream. 7 Then the magicians, the enchanters, the Chaldeans, and the astrologers came in, and I told them the dream, but they could not make known to me its interpretation. 8 At last Daniel came in before me—he who was named Belteshazzar after the name of my god, and in whom is the spirit of the holy gods—and I told him the dream, saying, 9 “O Belteshazzar, chief of the magicians, because I know that the spirit of the holy gods is in you and that no mystery is too difficult for you, tell me the visions of my dream that I saw and their interpretation. 10 The visions of my head as I lay in bed were these: I saw, and behold, a tree in the midst of the earth, and its height was great. 11 The tree grew and became strong, and its top reached to heaven, and it was visible to the end of the whole earth. 12 Its leaves were beautiful and its fruit abundant, and in it was food for all. The beasts of the field found shade under it, and the birds of the heavens lived in its branches, and all flesh was fed from it. 13 “I saw in the visions of my head as I lay in bed, and behold, a watcher, a holy one, came down from heaven. 14 He proclaimed aloud and said thus: ‘Chop down the tree and lop off its branches, strip off its leaves and scatter its fruit. Let the beasts flee from under it and the birds from its branches. 15 But leave the stump of its roots in the earth, bound with a band of iron and bronze, amid the tender grass of the field. Let him be wet with the dew of heaven. Let his portion be with the beasts in the grass of the earth. 16 Let his mind be changed from a man’s, and let a beast’s mind be given to him; and let seven periods of time pass over him. 17 The sentence is by the decree of the watchers, the decision by the word of the holy ones, to the end that the living may know that the Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he will and sets over it the lowliest of men.’ 18 This dream I, King Nebuchadnezzar, saw. And you, O Belteshazzar, tell me the interpretation, because all the wise men of my kingdom are not able to make known to me the interpretation, but you are able, for the spirit of the holy gods is in you.” 19 Then Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, was dismayed for a while, and his thoughts alarmed him. The king answered and said, “Belteshazzar, let not the dream or the interpretation alarm you.” Belteshazzar answered and said, “My lord, may the dream be for those who hate you and its interpretation for your enemies! 20 The tree you saw, which grew and became strong, so that its top reached to heaven, and it was visible to the end of the whole earth, 21 whose leaves were beautiful and its fruit abundant, and in which was food for all, under which beasts of the field found shade, and in whose branches the birds of the heavens lived— 22 it is you, O king, who have grown and become strong. Your greatness has grown and reaches to heaven, and your dominion to the ends of the earth. 23 And because the king saw a watcher, a holy one, coming down from heaven and saying, ‘Chop down the tree and destroy it, but leave the stump of its roots in the earth, bound with a band of iron and bronze, in the tender grass of the field, and let him be wet with the dew of heaven, and let his portion be with the beasts of the field, till seven periods of time pass over him,’ 24 this is the interpretation, O king: It is a decree of the Most High, which has come upon my lord the king, 25 that you shall be driven from among men, and your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field. You shall be made to eat grass like an ox, and you shall be wet with the dew of heaven, and seven periods of time shall pass over you, till you know that the Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he will. 26 And as it was commanded to leave the stump of the roots of the tree, your kingdom shall be confirmed for you from the time that you know that Heaven rules. 27 Therefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable to you: break off your sins by practicing righteousness, and your iniquities by showing mercy to the oppressed, that there may perhaps be a lengthening of your prosperity.”

Does God Speak Through Dreams? Then and Now

Dreams were a recognized and often used form of divine communication throughout the Old and New Testaments.

Old Testament Examples:

Jacob saw a ladder reaching to heaven (Genesis 28:10–17)

Joseph (son of Jacob) had prophetic dreams and interpreted Pharaoh’s (Genesis 37; 40–41)

Nebuchadnezzar received two prophetic dreams (Daniel 2, 4), interpreted by Daniel

Solomon received wisdom from God in a dream (1 Kings 3:5–15)

New Testament Examples:

Joseph (husband of Mary) was guided by four dreams (Matthew 1:20; 2:13, 19, 22)

Wise men were warned in a dream not to return to Herod (Matthew 2:12)

Pilate’s wife was troubled in a dream about Jesus’ innocence (Matthew 27:19)

Key Truth:

In Scripture, dreams were often used:

To warn

To reveal future events

To confirm God’s will

To speak to unbelievers, like Pharaoh and Nebuchadnezzar

2. God Can Still Use Dreams Today

We are no longer in the age of open canon, so any dream today does not carry the same authority as Scripture. However, the Bible never says God has stopped using dreams as a personal means of guidance or conviction—especially in places where the gospel is not easily accessible.

Biblical Support:

Joel 2:28 (quoted in Acts 2:17) — “Your old men shall dream dreams, and your young men shall see visions.” This points to the age of the Spirit, which began at Pentecost and continues now.Job 33:14–16 — “For God speaks in one way, and in two, though man does not perceive it… in a dream, in a vision of the night…” This shows that God may use dreams to speak to the heart, often when we're most still and unguarded.

Today’s Reality:

Many Muslims, for example, have come to Christ through dreams about Jesus—especially in closed nations.

Pastors and missionaries report dreams that confirm callings, offer warnings, or bring conviction.

Key Truth:

If God does use a dream today, it will:

Never contradict Scripture

Always glorify Christ

Often confirm what God is already speaking in His Word

Always require testing (1 Thess. 5:21; 1 John 4:1)

3. Cautions and Clarifications

Not every dream is from God.

The Bible also shows:

Dreams can be from the flesh (Ecclesiastes 5:3 – “a dream comes with much business”)

Dreams can be from false prophets (Jeremiah 23:25–32)

Satan can use counterfeit signs (2 Corinthians 11:14)

Discernment Checklist:

Ask:

Does this dream align with God’s Word?

Does it lead to greater faith, repentance, or obedience?

Does it point to Christ as Lord, or self-centered goals?

Has it been confirmed through prayer and counsel?

What Should We Teach?

Yes, God spoke through dreams then, and He can still do so now.

Scripture is the final authority—all dreams must be tested by it.

Dreams may confirm, warn, or stir—but they are not replacements for the Bible.

Teach people to be Spirit-sensitive and Scripture-grounded: open to how God may speak, but anchored in truth.

Back to the text: Let’s break this down verse by verse.

Daniel 4:4–5

"I, Nebuchadnezzar, was at ease in my house and prospering in my palace. I saw a dream that made me afraid..."

The king is in a time of peace and prosperity—comfortable, confident, and self-assured. That’s when God disrupts his ease with a dream.

God often speaks not in crisis, but in comfort, because pride grows best when we feel secure.

Daniel 4:6–7

“I made a decree that all the wise men... should make known to me the interpretation... but they could not.”

Once again, the Babylonian magicians fail—just like in Daniel 2. Human wisdom has limits.

The world can diagnose problems but can’t deliver divine answers. Only God can reveal the truth behind our struggles.

Daniel 4:8–9

“At last Daniel came in before me... I know that the spirit of the holy gods is in you...”

Even though Daniel had previously interpreted a dream, Nebuchadnezzar still turns to worldly sources first. But Daniel is recognized as uniquely Spirit-filled.

Do people know you as someone filled with the Spirit? In chaotic times, they will turn to those who walk closely with God.

Daniel 4:10–12 – The Dream: A Great Tree

“I saw a tree in the midst of the earth, and its height was great. The tree grew and became strong... under it the beasts of the field found shade...”

Imagery Explained:

Tree = Nebuchadnezzar and his empire

It’s in the “midst of the earth” – symbolizing its central dominance.

Its size, strength, and provision = Babylon’s reach and influence

Beasts and birds = the peoples and nations dependent on him

Biblical Parallel: Trees often symbolize great rulers (cf. Ezekiel 31:3–9 – Assyria as a cedar). Also compare Jesus’ parable in Matthew 13:31–32.

Application: God may bless you with reach and influence—but the test is whether you recognize it came from Him.

Daniel 4:13–15 – The Watcher’s Decree

“A watcher, a holy one, came down from heaven. He proclaimed aloud... Chop down the tree...”

Imagery Explained:

Watcher = Angelic messenger (likely a class of angels tasked with executing judgment)

Chop it down = Nebuchadnezzar’s impending fall from power

Leave the stump = God’s mercy—a chance for restoration remains

Bound with iron and bronze = God’s sovereign restraint—he won’t be destroyed, only disciplined

Application: Even in judgment, God leaves a remnant of grace. God may prune you, but He doesn’t forsake you.

Daniel 4:16–17 – From Man to Beast

“Let his mind be changed from a man’s, and let a beast’s mind be given to him... till he knows that the Most High rules the kingdom of men.”

Imagery Explained:

Nebuchadnezzar will lose his reason, descending into a state like an animal

This will last until he acknowledges God’s sovereignty

Theological Insight:This is a direct reversal of Genesis 1—man was made above the animals. Now, in pride, he will be brought below them.

Application:Pride dehumanizes us. It leads to a fall that isn’t just emotional—it’s spiritual, mental, and moral. But humility restores us to who we were created to be.

Daniel 4:18 – The Call for Interpretation

“This dream I, King Nebuchadnezzar, saw. And you, O Belteshazzar, tell me the interpretation...”

Insight: Nebuchadnezzar trusts Daniel, even if he doesn’t fully follow his God. Daniel’s consistent faithfulness earned credibility.

Application: Your witness over time builds the kind of trust that opens doors to speak truth—even to people of power.

Daniel 4:19 – Daniel is Troubled

“Then Daniel... was dismayed for a while, and his thoughts alarmed him...”

Insight: Daniel cares for the king, even though Nebuchadnezzar is a pagan ruler. His heart isn’t vengeful—it’s compassionate and pastoral.

Application: Truth without love is harsh. Love without truth is hollow. Daniel models speaking truth in love.

Daniel 4:20–22 – Interpretation Begins

“It is you, O king, who have grown and become strong...”

Insight: The tree is Nebuchadnezzar—Daniel doesn’t sugarcoat it. He affirms God’s blessing, but transitions to God’s warning.

Application: When someone is headed for a fall, don’t just affirm their strengths—warn them in truth and grace.

Daniel 4:23–25 – The Consequences

“You shall be driven from among men... and you shall eat grass like an ox...”

Insight: The king will literally lose his sanity and live like a beast—for seven “periods of time” (likely seven years). The point is clear: God is sovereign.

Application: Pride makes us think we’re in control—until we’re not. God may remove what we rely on to reveal what we need most: Him.

Daniel 4:26 – The Stump of Hope

“Your kingdom shall be confirmed for you from the time that you know that Heaven rules.”

Insight: There is a path back—but it starts with humility. God’s discipline is always redemptive.

Application: No matter how far you fall, God leaves the door open for return when you bow to His authority.

Daniel 4:27 – Daniel’s Plea

“Break off your sins... practice righteousness... that there may perhaps be a lengthening of your prosperity.”

Insight: This is an altar call in Babylon. Daniel calls the king to repentance and righteousness.

Hebrew Wordplay: “Break off” literally means to “tear away”—Daniel’s calling the king to radical change.

Application: Repentance is not passive—it’s active obedience. And it can delay or even prevent judgment.

Conclusion: God Warns Before He Wounds

Daniel 4 isn’t about God being cruel—it’s about Him being merciful enough to warn before He humbles. He’s not trying to destroy the king. He’s trying to save him from himself.

Daniel 4:28–30 – Pride Speaks Loudest Before the Fall

“All this came upon King Nebuchadnezzar. At the end of twelve months... he said, ‘Is not this great Babylon, which I have built by my mighty power and for the glory of my majesty?’”

Insight:

God gave him 12 months to repent after the warning through Daniel. A full year.

Nebuchadnezzar walks on the roof of his palace—surveying his success, boasting in his own strength, and claiming the glory for himself.

Historical Note: Babylon was an architectural marvel—hanging gardens, double walls, gates of gold. It was easy to feel self-made there.

Application:

God’s patience is not permission. Delayed judgment is still judgment.

When you think you’ve built your life “by your own hand,” you are forgetting the very breath in your lungs is a gift.

Daniel 4:31–33 – The Fall is Instant

“While the words were still in the king’s mouth... a voice from heaven said, ‘The kingdom has departed from you!’... He was driven from among men and ate grass like an ox...”

Insight:

Judgment falls immediately—not after more warnings.

He literally loses his mind—a condition scholars call boanthropy, believing oneself to be an animal.

The once-glorious king is now crawling in a field, soaking wet, covered in dirt and hair and madness.

Theological Connection: This is Genesis in reverse: man made to rule over beasts is now acting like one, because of sin.

💬 Application:

God will remove anything that replaces Him in our hearts.

Pride doesn't just remove power—it distorts your identity.

If you won't voluntarily bow before God, He may let life bring you to your knees.

Daniel 4:34 – Lifting Eyes to Heaven

“At the end of the days I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted my eyes to heaven, and my reason returned to me...”

Insight:

Restoration began not with a ritual, but with a glance—he “lifted his eyes to heaven.” That’s the posture of repentance.

This is the turning point of the chapter. God doesn’t leave him broken—He brings him back.

Application:

Restoration starts not when your situation changes, but when your heart changes direction.

Lifting your eyes to heaven means: “I am not God. I am not in control. I need You.”

Daniel 4:34–35 – The Praise of a New Man

“I blessed the Most High, and praised and honored Him who lives forever... all the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing...”

Insight:

Nebuchadnezzar’s pride is replaced with awe and worship.

He acknowledges God’s eternity, sovereignty, and unmatched authority.

Application:

The clearest sign of a restored heart is praise. Not for what you’ve built—but for who God is.

Daniel 4:36 – Restoration with Revelation

“At the same time my reason returned to me, and for the glory of my kingdom, my majesty and splendor returned...”

Insight:

God restores what was lost—but now, Nebuchadnezzar holds it differently.

The king gets back influence, honor, and glory—but now he sees it as a gift, not a right.

Application:

God can restore what pride ruined, but He’ll do it after pride is gone.

Sometimes you don’t need new circumstances—you need a new view of the same blessings.

Daniel 4:37 – The Final Word of a Humbled King

“Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the King of heaven... those who walk in pride He is able to humble.”

Insight:

This is a personal declaration and a warning to the world.

He is not just praising God—he’s admitting his failure and testifying to God's mercy.

Application:

Your deepest pain may become your loudest praise when it leads you back to God.

If Nebuchadnezzar—the pagan king of the most powerful empire—can say, “I was wrong, and God is right,” so can anyone.

Takeaways from Daniel 4:28–37

Pride is deceptive—it grows silently and speaks loudly just before the fall.

God gives time to repent, but judgment will come if we don’t turn.

God’s discipline is redemptive—not meant to destroy but to humble and heal.

Lifting your eyes to heaven is the first step in every restoration.

God is sovereign over every king, nation, business, church, and life. He is still on the throne.

Sources

Primary Biblical References

Dreams

Old Testament Examples of God Speaking Through Dreams:

Genesis 20:3–7 – God warns Abimelech in a dream.

Genesis 28:10–17 – Jacob dreams of a ladder to heaven.

Genesis 37:5–11 – Joseph’s dreams about his future authority.

Genesis 40–41 – Joseph interprets the dreams of Pharaoh’s cupbearer, baker, and Pharaoh himself.

Numbers 12:6 – “If there is a prophet among you, I the LORD make Myself known to him in a vision; I speak with him in a dream.”

1 Kings 3:5–15 – Solomon receives wisdom in a dream.

Daniel 2 & 4 – Nebuchadnezzar’s prophetic dreams interpreted by Daniel.

Joel 2:28 – Prophecy of the outpouring of the Spirit: “Your old men shall dream dreams…”

New Testament Examples:

Matthew 1:20 – Angel appears to Joseph in a dream.

Matthew 2:12–13, 19–22 – Dreams guide the wise men and Joseph multiple times.

Matthew 27:19 – Pilate’s wife warns him due to a dream.

Acts 2:17 – Peter quotes Joel: “In the last days… your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams.”

Theological and Scholarly Support

1. Systematic Theology by Wayne Grudem

Grudem affirms that God may still speak today through dreams and impressions, but all such experiences must be tested against Scripture.

"In places where the Bible is not readily available, God may speak through dreams. But even then, it will always point back to the truth of His Word." (Grudem, Systematic Theology, Chapter 53 – “Prophecy”)

2. The Moody Handbook of Theology by Paul Enns

Describes dreams as a form of “special revelation” in biblical times and affirms that God may choose to speak through them, though not in a normative, authoritative way today.

3. ESV Study Bible Notes – Joel 2:28 & Acts 2:17

Commentary on Joel’s prophecy: affirms that dreams and visions are characteristic of the church age, but the normative, guiding authority is still the Word of God.

4. John Piper, Desiring God Ministries

Piper affirms the possibility of God using dreams today, especially in unreached people groups, but with strong caution:

“The Bible is our authority, not dreams. But let’s not box God out from how He might awaken someone to seek Him.”

5. Gordon Fee & Douglas Stuart, How to Read the Bible for All Its Worth

Warns against over-spiritualizing dreams but explains how God used them in Scripture, always with clear meaning and often followed by interpretation or confirmation.

Practical Ministry Resources

Global Missions Reports (IMB, Frontiers, Open Doors)

Many testimonies in closed Islamic nations describe people receiving dreams of Jesus, prompting them to seek out believers or Scripture.

GotQuestions.org article: “Does God Still Speak to Us in Dreams and Visions?”

Balanced, conservative view that affirms God can but that we must test all things by the Word.

Danial Study Sources

Trusted Sources for the Study of Daniel (Chapters 1–4)

Primary Biblical References

These verses serve as your core texts for the study:

Daniel 1:8 – Daniel's resolve not to defile himself

Daniel 2:21–22 – God reveals deep and hidden things

Daniel 2:44–45 – The stone not cut by human hands (God’s eternal kingdom)

Daniel 3:17–18 – “But if not…” faith in the furnace

Daniel 4:17 – “The Most High rules the kingdom of men”

Daniel 4:37 – “Those who walk in pride He is able to humble”

Commentaries on Daniel

The New American Commentary: Daniel – Stephen R. Miller

Solid conservative, evangelical interpretation. Great for pastors.

Provides historical background, linguistic insight, and Christ-centered connections.

ESV Expository Commentary: Daniel–Malachi (Volume 7)

Clear and accessible, with gospel integration throughout the text.

Excellent for teaching and cross-referencing Scripture with NT themes.

The Bible Knowledge Commentary (Old Testament) – John Walvoord & Roy Zuck

Great for outlining and clear explanation of prophecy and narrative elements.

Walvoord is also known for his premillennial view of Daniel’s prophecies.

Daniel: The Gospel According to Daniel (Preaching the Word) – Dale Ralph Davis

Rich in application and pastorally engaging. Davis is known for making the Old Testament come alive.

The Message of Daniel (Bible Speaks Today) – Dale Ralph Davis

Practical and faithful to Scripture. Brings out God’s sovereignty and Daniel’s integrity.

Theological & Scholarly Works

Systematic Theology – Wayne Grudem

For theological categories like God’s sovereignty, providence, and revelation in dreams and visions (Chapters 13–17).

Evangelical Dictionary of Theology – Walter A. Elwell (ed.)

Great for quick reference on terms like: sovereignty, eschatology, kingdom of God, visions, exile, etc.

How to Read the Bible Book by Book – Gordon Fee & Douglas Stuart

Offers concise background, theme, and purpose of Daniel, as well as a chapter-by-chapter overview.

Historical & Cultural Context

The IVP Bible Background Commentary: Old Testament – John H. Walton

Explains Babylonian customs, ancient dream interpretation practices, and symbolism (like the statue, the fiery furnace, and Nebuchadnezzar’s madness).

NIV Archaeological Study Bible

Provides archaeological insights into Babylonian structures, kings, and culture—including Nebuchadnezzar’s palace and the Ishtar Gate.

Study Bibles with Strong Notes on Daniel

ESV Study Bible

MacArthur Study Bible

CSB Ancient Faith Study Bible

Reformation Study Bible (Ligonier)

Sermon Helps and Devotionals

John MacArthur Sermons on Daniel (Grace to You)

Deep, verse-by-verse exegesis with theological clarity.

Charles Spurgeon (Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit Series)

Devotional and Christ-centered treatment of Daniel’s courage and God’s rule.

Daniel Series by Alistair Begg (Truth for Life)

Balanced, accessible, expository teaching with modern application.

ChatGPT (OpenAI). “Verse-by-Verse Exegetical Study and Theological Overview of Daniel 1–4.” Assisted Study for Pastoral Teaching, accessed April 23, 2025. https://chat.openai.com/

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