“And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou?”
My Notes
What Does Daniel 4:35 Mean?
Nebuchadnezzar, restored from madness, makes a theological declaration that rivals anything in the Psalms: all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing. God does according to his will in heaven and on earth. None can stay his hand or question his actions.
This comes from a pagan king — the most powerful human being on the planet — who learned sovereignty the hard way. Seven years of living as an animal taught him what a lifetime of power could not: God does what he wants, and no one stops him.
"None can stay his hand" means no force can restrain God's action. "None say unto him, What doest thou?" means no one has the standing to question his decisions. The sovereignty is absolute.
The remarkable thing is who is speaking. Not an Israelite prophet. A Babylonian emperor. God's sovereignty was so overwhelming that it forced recognition from the last person you would expect.
Reflection Questions
- 1.What does it mean that this theology comes from a pagan king rather than an Israelite prophet?
- 2.How does 'none can stay his hand' sit with your desire for control?
- 3.What did it take for Nebuchadnezzar to learn what he could not learn through power?
- 4.Where are you questioning God's actions that this verse addresses?
Devotional
All the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing. That is Nebuchadnezzar talking — the man who built Babylon, who conquered nations, who thought he was the most important person alive. After seven years of eating grass, his assessment of human significance has changed.
He doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth. God does what he wants. In heaven and on earth. His will is not subject to approval. His actions are not reviewed by a committee.
None can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou? No force can stop him. No voice can question him. Not because he is a tyrant, but because he is God — and his wisdom is so far beyond ours that questioning him is like an ant questioning the architect.
This testimony comes from a king who had to lose his mind to find his theology. The smartest, most powerful man in the world could not learn sovereignty through success. He learned it through madness.
What will it take for you to arrive at what Nebuchadnezzar finally saw? Hopefully not seven years of eating grass. But the truth is the same: God does what he will. And the sooner you stop fighting that, the sooner you find peace.
Commentary
Trusted original commentary from respected historical Bible scholars and theologians.
And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing - Are regarded as nothing in comparison with him. Compare…
We have here Nebuchadnezzar's recovery from his distraction, and his return to his right mind, at the end of the days…
are reputed as nothing better, are as persons of no account (Bevan). The expression is in part, no doubt, suggested by…
Cross References
Related passages throughout Scripture