Introduction

Nebuchadnezzar II, the king of Babylon, is a prominent figure in the Bible, particularly in the Book of Daniel. His reign, which lasted from approximately 605 to 562 BC, is marked by significant achievements, including the construction of the Hanging Gardens of Babylon and the expansion of the Babylonian Empire. However, his account in the biblical narrative is also a cautionary tale of self-exaltation and the consequences of pride.

Biblical Account

The Book of Daniel provides a detailed account of Nebuchadnezzar's interactions with the God of Israel. One of the most notable episodes illustrating his self-exaltation is found in Daniel 4. In this chapter, Nebuchadnezzar has a dream that none of his wise men can interpret, prompting Daniel, also known as Belteshazzar, to provide the interpretation. The dream is a divine warning against Nebuchadnezzar's pride.

Daniel 4:30 records Nebuchadnezzar's boastful words: "Is this not Babylon the Great, which I myself have built by the might of my power and for the glory of my majesty?" This statement reflects his self-exaltation, attributing the grandeur of Babylon solely to his own achievements, without acknowledging God's sovereignty.

Divine Judgment

In response to Nebuchadnezzar's pride, God delivers a judgment that serves as a humbling experience for the king. As prophesied in his dream, Nebuchadnezzar is driven away from human society and lives like an animal for a period of seven times, which is often interpreted as seven years. During this time, he eats grass like an ox, and his body is drenched with the dew of heaven (Daniel 4:33).

This period of humiliation is a direct consequence of his self-exaltation, demonstrating that God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. It serves as a powerful reminder of God's ultimate authority over the kingdoms of men.

Restoration and Acknowledgment of God's Sovereignty

After the appointed time, Nebuchadnezzar's sanity is restored, and he acknowledges the sovereignty of God. Daniel 4:34-35 captures his transformation: "But at the end of those days, I, Nebuchadnezzar, raised my eyes toward heaven, and my sanity was restored. Then I blessed the Most High and praised and glorified Him who lives forever: 'His dominion is an everlasting dominion, and His kingdom endures from generation to generation. All the peoples of the earth are counted as nothing, and He does as He pleases with the army of heaven and the peoples of the earth. There is no one who can restrain His hand or say to Him, ‘What have You done?’'"

Nebuchadnezzar's acknowledgment of God's eternal dominion and his own previous folly marks a significant turning point in his life. It illustrates the biblical principle that true greatness and wisdom come from recognizing and submitting to God's authority.

Lessons on Self-Exaltation

The account of Nebuchadnezzar serves as a timeless lesson on the dangers of self-exaltation. It underscores the biblical truth that pride precedes a fall (Proverbs 16:18) and that God is able to humble those who walk in pride (Daniel 4:37). Nebuchadnezzar's experience is a vivid reminder that all human achievements are ultimately subject to God's will and that humility before God is essential for true wisdom and understanding.Daniel 4:30
The king spoke, and said, Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for the house of the kingdom by the might of my power, and for the honor of my majesty?
Nave's Topical Index

Daniel 5:20
But when his heart was lifted up, and his mind hardened in pride, he was deposed from his kingly throne, and they took his glory from him:
Nave's Topical Index

The Fiery Furnace
... a time afterward, Nebuchadnezzar was influenced by the fear of God; but his heart
was not yet cleansed from worldly ambition and a desire for self-exaltation. ...
/.../white/the story of prophets and kings/chapter 41 the fiery furnace.htm

In Him: Like Him
... We read of the image in Nebuchadnezzar's dream, that it had a head of ... You never detect
in the Lord Jesus Christ any tendency towards pride or self-exaltation. ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 29 1883/in him like him.htm

A Traveler's Note-Book
... To the reader who has inherited the ethical ideal of Christianity, Plato's love
will seem like the image in Nebuchadnezzar's vision,"the head of gold, the ...
/.../merriam/the chief end of man/iii a travelers note-book.htm

part ii
... by a heathen and not a Christian spirit, by the spirit of the denial of the Divine
inspiration of the Holy Scriptures, by the spirit of self-exaltation, of the ...
//christianbookshelf.org/calvin/my life in christ/part ii.htm

What is the role of the Holy Spirit in our lives today? | GotQuestions.org

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What is the god of self? | GotQuestions.org

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