Nebuchadnezzar’s Change of Heart
“Nebuchadnezzar the king, unto all people, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth; Peace be multiplied unto you. I thought it good to shew the signs and wonders that the high God hath wrought toward me. How great are his signs! and how mighty are his wonders! his kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and his dominion is from generation to generation.” (Daniel 4:1-3)
The fourth chapter of Daniel opens with Nebuchadnezzar greeting all people of the earth and wishing them peace, and talking of God’s glory and power. This is a far cry from his demand in Daniel 3 for all people, nations, and languages to bow to his gold statue or be cast into a furnace, and his arrogant question to the three Hebrews, “...and who is that God that shall deliver you out of my hands?” (Daniel 3:15) Here is what happened to bring about his change of heart.
Nebuchadnezzar dreamed about a huge, strong tree with beautiful leaves, much fruit, and food for all. Animals sheltered under it and birds lived in it. One day a holy one from heaven called for the tree to be cut down to a stump: its branches cut off, leaves shaken off, fruit scattered, and animals and birds fled. The tree, which represented a man, would be wet with dew and his heart be changed from a man’s, and a beast’s heart given him, and seven times would pass over him.
The magicians, astrologers, Chaldeans, and soothsayers could not interpret the dream. Daniel could. He told the king the tree represented Nebuchadnezzar himself, a very powerful king with a vast domain. Yet he needed to realize God is sovereign, even over him. Daniel warned the king that he would live with animals, eat grass, and be covered with dew for a period of seven times. His kingdom would be restored only after he recognized God’s sovereignty and turned to Him.
Daniel told the king, “…break off thy sins by righteousness, and thine iniquities by shewing mercy to the poor;” (Daniel 4:27) Yet some time later, the king 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?” (Daniel 4:30) As he said these words, a voice came from heaven, saying, “O king Nebuchadnezzar, to thee it is spoken; The kingdom is departed from thee.” (Daniel 4:31)
The same hour, he was driven from men to live with animals. He ate grass and his body was wet with dew, “…till his hairs were grown like eagles’ feathers, and his nails like birds’ claws.” (Daniel 4:33) He lived this way for “seven times,” possibly meaning seven years. Then, “And at the end of the days I Nebuchadnezzar lifted up mine eyes unto heaven,” (Daniel 4:34) The king submitted to God’s sovereignty, he received mercy, and he was restored to his kingdom.
The last verse of the chapter is the king’s testimony: “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)
We see in this story that God is “…not willing that any [not even the king of Babylon] should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” (2 Peter 3:9) It also points out the danger of pride, a sin anyone can have and that Proverbs 6:16-17 calls #1 of the seven deadly sins: “These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: A proud look,…”
Please don’t die without Jesus because of pride. Go to www.clevelandbaptist.org, click “Helpful Links,” then “How Do I Go to Heaven?” to see how to receive Jesus as your personal Saviour.
Brian Miller 3/14/2025