The Kingdom of God Versus the Kingdoms of Man (15): Nebuchadnezzar’s Confession That the Most High Rules (Daniel 4:1-3, 34-37)
This video includes the congregational prayer, etc., before the sermon
I. A Rich Confession
II. A Public Confession
III. A Saving Confession?
Homer C. Hoeksema's arguments that Nebuchadnezzar was not regenerate and saved in Daniel 4:
1) Nebuchadnezzar personally was “the head of gold” in the dream-image of Daniel 2 which represents the antichristian world-power, which shall be broken in pieces by “the stone cut out of the mountain without hands.” To me it is unthinkable that this antichristian “head of gold” was nevertheless a regenerated child of God.
2) Nebuchadnezzar made similar admissions on other occasions, after which it became plain that he was not a child of God. Cf. Daniel 2:47 and especially Daniel 3:28.
3) Such language comes from the mouth of wicked kings more frequently. Think of Pharaoh’s admissions in Exodus 9:27 and Exodus 10:16-17. Think, too, of the language of Cyrus’s decree in Ezra 1. All such language does not imply faith and regeneration, but simply means that the wicked, to their own condemnation, must acknowledge that God is GOD.
4) Not only is there no personal confession of sin and of trust in the Lord in the king’s acknowledgement, but one can still detect a good deal of “I” in the king’s account. Moreover, there is absolutely no evidence that this ‘confession’ was followed by a life of conversion. For example, would not a converted king have ended the captivity of God’s people? And would he not have instituted radical reform in his own kingdom?
5) What took place in Nebuchadnezzar is quite consistent with the purpose twice stated by Daniel: “till thou know that the most high ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will.” In undeniable fashion the Lord had caused Nebuchadnezzar to know this; and in unmistakable language Nebuchadnezzar, though he hates God and opposes God’s everlasting kingdom, must acknowledge this. Only then is his kingdom restored.