Daniel 4:17 “This matter is by the decree of the watchers, and the demand by the word of the holy ones: to the intent that the living may know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will, and setteth up over it the basest of men.”
After Daniel interpreted Nebuchadnezzar’s dream/vision, he wrote this letter “unto all people, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth” (Daniel 4:1). He explained the reason for the letter this way: “I thought it good to shew the signs and wonders that the high God hath wrought toward me. 3 How great are his signs! and how mighty are his wonders! his kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and his dominion is from generation to generation.” (Daniel 4:2-3). In his letter, three times he tells us that “the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will, and setteth up over it the basest of men” (Daniel 4:17, 25,32); for, he had learned the hard way that he and all rulers are subject to the Sovereign Power and Authority of the Almighty God. The “basest of men” refers to men of low estate, not very wealthy, not renown among the mighty men, men with a humble and meek disposition, not well honored among the elite; but, they ruled well because they received their wisdom and strength from the Lord. Let us pray that our Merciful and Gracious “King of kings” (I Timothy 6:15) will raise up such faithful men to rule over us; men who are not ashamed to honor God, to privately and publicly refer to the Word of God, to lead according to the Word of God, and openly go to the Lord in prayer!