2006-12-31 - Daniel

Installment 34

Let's have Nebuchadnezzar speak for himself, which is what he does in this chapter.

Verses 1-3: What we have here is a proclamation from Nebuchadnezzar. And that's what makes this one of the more interesting chapters in scripture. As Archer notes:

"Verse 1, a proclamation issued by Nebuchadnezzar, introduces the chapter ... the feature that makes this chapter unique is that it is the only chapter in Scripture composed under the authority of a pagan. To be sure, Nebuchadnezzar spoke as one intellectually convinced of the sovereignty and omniscience of the one true God; yet he can hardly be said to have had a genuine heart conversion, however intellectually convinced he may have been." ³

What I find interesting about this proclamation is that in it, he not only praises God, but he acknowledges his own failures and how he created his own troubles. He addresses this proclamation to all the nations etc. It is going out to everyone who is under the authority of the Babylonian empire.

Next, Nebuchadnezzar opens though with praises for God. The praise encompass three areas. First, he praises God for the miracles done in his own life. Then he acknowledges the eternal authority of God, that His kingdom is eternal, and that His authority is also eternal.

³ Archer, Jr., Gleason L., The Expositor's Bible Commentary, "Daniel," Zondervan Interactive Publishing House, Grand Rapids, MI, 1990

To be continued.

Comments or Questions,
Geoff

gkragen@aol.com
http://www.cfdevotionals.org