Matthew Henry Commentary Daniel 4:28-37

"All this came upon the king Nebuchadnezzar. At the end of twelve months he was walking in the royal palace of Babylon. The king spake and said, Is not this great Babylon, which I have built for the royal dwelling-place, by the might of my power and for the glory of my majesty? While the word was in the king`s mouth, there fell a voice from heaven, [saying], O king Nebuchadnezzar, to thee it is spoken: The kingdom is departed from thee: and thou shalt be driven from men; and they dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field; thou shalt be made to eat grass as oxen; and seven times shall pass over thee; until thou know that the Most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will. The same hour was the thing fulfilled upon Nebuchadnezzar: and he was driven from men, and did eat grass as oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven, till his hair was grown like eagles` [feathers], and his nails like birds` [claws]. 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 honored him that liveth for ever; for his dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom from generation to generation. And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing; and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth; and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou? At the same time mine understanding returned unto me; and for the glory of my kingdom, my majesty and brightness returned unto me; and my counsellors and my lords sought unto me; and I was established in my kingdom, and excellent greatness was added unto me. Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the King of heaven; for all his works are truth, and his ways justice; and those that walk in pride he is able to abase." — Daniel 4:28-37 (ASV)

Pride and self-conceit are sins that beset great men. They tend to take that glory to themselves which is due to God only. While the proud word was in the king's mouth, the powerful word came from God. His understanding and his memory were gone, and all the powers of the rational soul were broken.

How careful we should be not to do anything that may provoke God to make us lose our senses! God resists the proud. Nebuchadnezzar sought to be more than a man, but God justly made him less than a man. We may learn to believe about God that the Most High God lives forever, and that His kingdom is like Himself—everlasting and universal.

His power cannot be resisted. When people are brought to honor God by confessing their sin and acknowledging His sovereignty, then, and not until then, they may expect that God will honor them; He will not only restore them to the dignity they lost by the sin of the first Adam, but also add excellent majesty to them, from the righteousness and grace of the Second Adam. Afflictions will last no longer than until they have accomplished the work for which they were sent.

There can be no reasonable doubt that Nebuchadnezzar was a true penitent and an accepted believer. It is thought that he did not live more than a year after his restoration. Thus the Lord knows how to abase those who walk in pride, but gives grace and consolation to the humble, broken-hearted sinner who calls upon Him.