At the end of that time, I, Nebuchadnezzar, raised my eyes toward heaven, and my sanity was restored. Then I praised the Most High; I honored and glorified him who lives forever. His dominion is an eternal dominion; his kingdom endures from generation to generation. 35All the peoples of the earth are regarded as nothing. He does as he pleases with the power of heaven and the peoples of the earth. No one can hold back his hand or say to him: “What have you done?” 36At the same time that my sanity was restored, my honor and splendor were returned to me for the glory of my kingdom. My advisers and nobles sought me out, and I was restored to my throne and became even greater than before. 37Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and exalt and glorify the King of heaven, because everything he does is right and all his ways are just. And those who walk in pride he is able to humble.
At the end of the time set by God, human consciousness returned to Nebuchadnezzar. God gave the humbled king enough understanding to raise his eyes to heaven and pray a prayer acknowledging the Most High. When he did that, he was permitted to return to normalcy.
The first thing Nebuchadnezzar did after his sanity was restored was to acknowledge the greatness of Israel’s God. In contrast to earthly rulers, who come and go, God’s dominion is eternal. In comparison to God, the nations of the earth, including Babylon, are as nothing. No one can hold back God’s hand. Not even earth’s most powerful king can interfere with a plan of action that God has put into effect.
After the king’s sanity returned, his royal advisers sought him out for advice and consultation. He was restored to his throne and became even greater than before.
Some have asked, “Does Nebuchadnezzar’s prayer indicate that this heathen king had come to faith in the true God? Was Nebuchadnezzar converted by this humbling experience?” Although varying answers are given to this question, the words the king spoke say nothing about trust in God’s mercy, which is the very essence of saving faith. Acknowledging the sovereignty of God and affirming the justice of God are surely not the same as trusting the mercy of God for forgiveness.
Chapter 4 is another mighty demonstration of how the Lord has reached out with a message to the heathen. The ancient Babylonians heard from their king’s own lips what God had told him. Whether it brought them to faith or not is beside the point. In the first chapter of the epistle to the Romans, Saint Paul speaks about heathen people who “suppress the truth.” He writes, “Since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse” (verse 20). If ancient heathens—or, for that matter, modern heathens—reject God’s message and continue in their self-destructive ways, we cannot blame God for that.