Daniel 4:37 — The King Who Learned Humility

“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

Daniel 4:37 concludes the remarkable account of King Nebuchadnezzar's pride, humbling, restoration, and acknowledgment of God.

Nebuchadnezzar had looked upon Babylon and credited its greatness to his own power. His heart became lifted up in pride. God humbled him until he learned that earthly authority is ultimately subject to the King of heaven.

Although this verse primarily concerns humility and God's sovereignty, it contains an important lesson about love. Pride focuses attention upon self—my accomplishments, my position, my ability, my greatness. Love moves the heart away from self-exaltation and toward honoring God and properly valuing others.

God's correction of Nebuchadnezzar was not the end of his story. After being humbled, his understanding returned, his kingdom was restored, and he finished his testimony by praising, extolling, and honoring God.

Sometimes loving correction confronts the very thing that is destroying us. God can expose pride so that humility, gratitude, and proper acknowledgment of Him can take its place.

Personal Application

Daniel 4:37 challenges us to examine who receives the glory for what we have accomplished. Success can become spiritually dangerous when we begin believing that everything we possess exists solely because of our own strength.

We can practice this truth by remaining grateful when God blesses us, treating others with humility regardless of our position, receiving correction rather than resisting it, and remembering that our abilities and opportunities should never become reasons for self-exaltation.

Love does not require us to deny the gifts God has given us. Instead, man recognizes the gift while giving God the glory.

Key Thought

Pride says, “Look what I have accomplished.” Humility says, “Look what God has allowed me to accomplish.” Love flourishes where the heart no longer needs to exalt itself above God or others.