Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
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Daniel
Book: Daniel
Chapter: 4
Overview:
Nebuchadnezzar acknowledges the power of
Jehovah.
(1-18)
Daniel interprets his
Dream.
(19-27) The fulfilment of it.
(28-37)
1-18 The beginning and
End of this
Chapter lead us to
Hope,
that
Nebuchadnezzar was a monument of the power of Divine
Grace,
and of the riches of Divine
Mercy. After he was recovered from
his
Madness, he told to distant places, and wrote down for
future ages, how
God had justly humbled and graciously restored
him. When a sinner comes to himself, he will promote the welfare
of others,
By making known the wondrous
Mercy of
God.
Nebuchadnezzar, before he related the Divine judgments upon him
for his pride, told the warnings he had in a
Dream or
Vision.
The meaning was explained to him. The person signified, was to
be
Put down from honour, and to be deprived of the use of his
reason
Seven years. This is surely the sorest of all temporal
judgments. Whatever outward affliction
God is pleased to lay
upon us, we have cause to
Bear it patiently, and to be thankful
that he continues the use of our reason, and the peace of our
consciences. Yet if the
Lord should see fit
By such means to
keep a sinner from multiplying crimes, or a believer from
dishonouring his name, even the dreadful prevention would be far
preferable to the evil conduct.
God has determined it, as a
righteous
Judge, and the angels in
Heaven applaud. Not that the
great
God needs the counsel or concurrence of the angels, but it
denotes the solemnity of this sentence. The demand is
By the
Word of the holy ones,
God's suffering people: when the
oppressed cry to
God, he will hear. Let us diligently seek
blessings which can never be taken from us, and especially
beware of pride and forgetfulness of
God.
19-27 Daniel was struck with amazement and terror at
So heavy a
Judgment coming upon
So great a
Prince, and gives advice with
tenderness and respect. It is necessary, in
Repentance, that we
not only cease to do evil, but learn to do good. Though it might
not wholly prevent the
Judgment, yet the trouble may be longer
before it comes, or shorter when it does come. And
Everlasting
misery will be escaped
By all who repent and turn to
God.
28-37 Pride and self-conceit are sins that beset great men.
They are apt 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 ought to be, not to do any thing which may
provoke
God to
Put us out of our senses!
God resists the proud.
Nebuchadnezzar would be more than a
Man, but
God justly makes
him less than a
Man. We may learn to believe concerning
God,
that the most high
God lives for ever, and that his kingdom is
like himself,
Everlasting, and universal. His power cannot be
resisted. When men are brought to honour
God,
By Confession of
Sin and acknowledging his
Sovereignty, then, and not till then,
they may expect that
God will honour them; not only restore them
to the dignity they lost
By the
Sin of the first
Adam, but add
excellent majesty to them, from the
Righteousness and
Grace of
the Second
Adam.
Afflictions shall last
No longer than till they
have done 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 that walk in pride, but gives
Grace and consolation to the
humble, broken-hearted sinner who calls upon Him.