Big Idea: The Most High God blesses and judges even the most powerful rulers of this world regarding their belief in him and their treatment of those they govern.

Understanding the Text

See the unit on 4:1–18 for a discussion of the larger context, structure, and comparisons of this literary unit. Against this backdrop, 4:19–27 forms the center of this narrative, shifting the story line from the telling of the dream to its interpretation and at the same time changing from first person to third when speaking of Nebuchadnezzar (continuing through 4:33).1It also presents Daniel the sage in his new role as prophet. Moreover, he functions in the classical sense of earlier Hebrew prophets in the Old Testament who confront persons on behalf of God and sometimes predict divine consequences if re…