Daniel 4:28

Daniel 4:28 says, All this came upon the king Nebuchadnezzar.  Evidently Nebuchadnezzar did not take the council of Daniel, just like many lost people will not accept the gospel today when it is presented to them.  When they don't, they will suffer the judgment of God, just as Nebuchadnezzar did.  Verse twenty-nine adds, At the end of twelve months he walked in the palace of the kingdom of Babylon.  It was a year before this dream, or prophecy from God, was fulfilled.  This was time for Nebuchadnezzar to repent.  God will never act in haste to destroy those who will not acknowledge Him.  Nebuchadnezzar may have even begun to feel that Daniel was wrong.  As the return of Christ lingers, there are those who die thinking this is proof that it this is not going to happen, but as followers of Christ we know it will.  Verse thirty continues, 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?  Nebuchadnezzar was walking in his palace and bragging on his accomplishments.  He did not acknowledge God.  There are people today who like to boast of their accomplishments and attempt to bring credit to themselves and not God.  Verse thirty-one declares, 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.  Even as Nebuchadnezzar was boasting of his greatness, God overruled him.  As Daniel had foretold, God said the kingdom was departed from Nebuchadnezzar.  We may boast of our own accomplishments without acknowledging God, but those things we do without honoring God will certainly pass away.  Verse thirty-two adds, And they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field: they shall make thee 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 fulfillment of the prophecy, or the dream, was to come to pass, just as Daniel had interpreted it.  We can likewise be certain that God's prophecy for the end of the world will come to pass, when God deems the time to be right.  Verse thirty-three continues, 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 hairs were grown like eagles’ feathers, and his nails like birds’ claws.  God had waited a year from the fulfillment of the dream, but now judgment had come.  No matter how long God waits, His judgment is sure.  We can never afford to delay our acceptance of Christ as Savior and Lord, because God may not wait for us forever to make that decision.  Verse thirty-four states,  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:  This was Nebuchadnezzar's personal testimony that what God had said would happen did happen.  When Nebuchadnezzar returned to his senses, he praised God.  He acknowledged the everlasting nature of God and His kingdom.  No matter where we are at in life, when we return to our senses we will acknowledge God.  The Bible tells us that the fool has said in his heart there is no God, so we must turn to a true knowledge of God to be sensible.  Then, we need to praise God and share that knowledge with the world.  Verse thirty-five adds, 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?  Nebuchadnezzar simply stated the superiority of God over all His creation.  God has not changed.  He still sustains the world.  Verse thirty-six continues, At the same time my reason returned unto me; and for the glory of my kingdom, mine honour and brightness returned unto me; and my counsellers and my lords sought unto me; and I was established in my kingdom, and excellent majesty was added unto me.  Nebuchadnezzar said that he was returned to his former glory as a ruler.  When we acknowledge Christ as our Savior and Lord, things on earth may not become a lot better materially, but we will be restored to a right relationship with God and become a part of His everlasting kingdom.  Verse thirty-seven concludes, 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.  Nebuchadnezzar said he would praise and extol God instead of himself.  Like Nebuchadnezzar, we must come humbly before God.