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വ്യാഖ്യാനം നിലവിൽ ഇംഗ്ലീഷിൽ മാത്രമേ ലഭ്യമാകൂ. മലയാള പരിഭാഷ പുരോഗമിക്കുകയാണ്.

Major Prophets · Daniel

Daniel 4 — Those That Walk in Pride He Is Able to Abase

Summary

Nebuchadnezzar — Peace be multiplied unto you. I saw a dream which made me afraid. A tree in the midst of the earth, the height thereof reached unto heaven. A holy one came down — Hew down the tree. Daniel — the tree, O king, that art grown and become strong, that thou art the man. Twelve months later — Is not this great Babylon, that I have built? He was driven from men, did eat grass as oxen. At the end of the days I lifted up mine eyes unto heaven, and mine understanding returned. Those that walk in pride he is able to abase.

Key verse

“Now I Nebuchadnezzar praise and extol and honour the King of heaven, all whose works are truth, and his ways judgment: and those that walk in pride he is able to abase.”

— Daniel 4:37

Outline
  1. v.1-18 The dream of the tree
  2. v.19-27 Daniel's interpretation
  3. v.28-33 Nebuchadnezzar humbled
  4. v.34-37 His restoration and praise
Verse-by-verse
30 The king spake, 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 honour of my majesty?

The exact words. I have built... my power... my majesty. Four personal pronouns in one sentence. Pride that takes credit God will not share.

The verse should be read by every successful person. The temptation to credit oneself for what God has given is universal.

Cross-references Proverbs 16:18 · Isaiah 14:13-14 · Acts 12:21-23 · James 4:6
34 And at the end of the days I Nebuchadnezzar lifted up mine eyes unto heaven, and mine understanding returned unto me, and I blessed the most High, and I praised and honoured him that liveth for ever, whose dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom is from generation to generation:

Lifted up mine eyes unto heaven, and mine understanding returned. The order matters. Looking up cured the madness; the man who had refused God's sky finally saw it.

A pattern for repentance. Sanity returns when the eyes turn toward heaven. Hold the look until the understanding returns.

Cross-references Psalm 121:1-2 · Luke 15:18 · Psalm 145:13 · Daniel 7:14
37 Now I Nebuchadnezzar praise and extol and honour the King of heaven, all whose works are truth, and his ways judgment: and those that walk in pride he is able to abase.

The world's greatest king's closing testimony. Those that walk in pride he is able to abase. Spoken from experience.

A theology drawn from a humbled life. The verse is more credible because of who said it after what he endured.

Cross-references 1 Peter 5:5-6 · Luke 1:51-52 · Psalm 18:27 · James 4:10
Key doctrines
Pride That Claims What Belongs to God
Daniel 4:30 · Proverbs 16:18 · Acts 12:21-23
Lifting Eyes to Heaven for the Return of Understanding
Daniel 4:34 · Psalm 121:1-2 · Luke 15:18
God's Ability to Abase the Proud
Daniel 4:37 · 1 Peter 5:5-6 · James 4:10
Application

Verse 30 is a self-test. Listen to your own sentences after a success. How many Is and mys appear? The cure is verse 34 — look up before you fall.

Christ in this chapter

The King of heaven who humbles the proud is the same Lord who came in humility Himself (Philippians 2:6-8). The God who abases the proud exalts the humble — including, in this chapter, the humbled king.

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