Deeper Reflection
Daniel 4 is about God dealing with “those who walk in pride” (Dan 4:37). In a way, pride is concretely defined by “I myself have built…by the might of my power and for the glory of my majesty” (Dan 4:30). Pride “locates the self at the centre of the universe, glorifying in its own achievements and putting everyone else in second place. Its eyes are always directed sideways and downwards, comparing ourselves with others, and endlessly trying to outdo them. In its very nature, pride has to be cleverer than someone else or more attractive than other people.”⁵¹Pride has to do with where our eyes are looking. The “eyes of pride are always fixed on myself and my performance, in a way that leaves no room for looking upwards to God”⁵² . God is gracious when He deals with our pride, because pride blinds us and we cannot see it in us by ourselves. God has to show us our pride, and oftentimes, by tearing down our ego, as He did to Nebuchadnezzar. God will do so until we “raised my eyes toward heaven” (v.34) – until we see God. We can see our pride only when we see God. And especially, when we look “toward heaven”, we see the One “who although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself… He humbled Himself…even [to] death on a cross” (Phil 2:6-8). As we see Him, we know Him and walk with Him in the Spirit of “Jesus of Nazareth” (Jn 1:45-46).

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⁵¹ Iain M. Duguid, Daniel, Reformed Expository Commentary (P&R, 2008), 70 ⁵² Iain M. Duguid, 70