DANIEL 4 -page incomplete so please revisit
Self Exaltation
This chapter is a wonderful demonstration of the love and mercy of God. This Babylonian king had attacked Jerusalem, taken many captives (Daniel 1), thrown God’s children alive into a fiery furnace (Daniel 3) and God still sought to save him. The story of King Nebuchadnezzar is our story, hopefully it ends like his avoiding the journey he took to get there. Pride goeth before a fall. God sometimes allows disaster to come to us with the hope that from it we will learn to look to Him. Daniel 4 is a picture of Godʼs love... and the Gospel in prophecy - how God relentlessly pursues this King who was so steeped in the pagan idolatry of self exaltation, even to the point of madness in order to save him. "What is justification by faith? It is the work of God in laying the glory of man in the dust, and doing for man that which it is not in his power to do for himself. When men see their own nothingness, they are prepared to be clothed with the righteousness of Christ" so that we like Nebuchadnezzar can say "Now I Nebuchadnezzar praise and extol and honour the King of heaven, all whose works [are] truth, and his ways judgment: and those that walk in pride he is able to abase." “The once proud monarch had become a humble child of God.”
Daniel Chapter 41 Nebuchadnezzar the king, unto all people, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth; Peace be multiplied unto you.
2 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. 4 I Nebuchadnezzar was at rest in mine house, and flourishing in my palace: 5 I saw a dream which made me afraid, and the thoughts upon my bed and the visions of my head troubled me. 6 Therefore made I a decree to bring in all the wise [men] of Babylon before me, that they might make known unto me the interpretation of the dream. 7 Then came in the magicians, the astrologers, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers: and I told the dream before them; but they did not make known unto me the interpretation thereof. 8 But at the last Daniel came in before me, whose name [was] Belteshazzar, according to the name of my god, and in whom [is] the spirit of the holy gods: and before him I told the dream, [saying], 9 O Belteshazzar, master of the magicians, because I know that the spirit of the holy gods [is] in thee, and no secret troubleth thee, tell me the visions of my dream that I have seen, and the interpretation thereof. 10 Thus [were] the visions of mine head in my bed; I saw, and behold a tree in the midst of the earth, and the height thereof [was] great. 11 The tree grew, and was strong, and the height thereof reached unto heaven, and the sight thereof to the end of all the earth: 12 The leaves thereof [were] fair, and the fruit thereof much, and in it [was] meat for all: the beasts of the field had shadow under it, and the fowls of the heaven dwelt in the boughs thereof, and all flesh was fed of it. 13 I saw in the visions of my head upon my bed, and, behold, a watcher and an holy one came down from heaven; 14 He cried aloud, and said thus, Hew down the tree, and cut off his branches, shake off his leaves, and scatter his fruit: let the beasts get away from under it, and the fowls from his branches: |
15 Nevertheless leave the stump of his roots in the earth, even with a band of iron and brass, in the tender grass of the field; and let it be wet with the dew of heaven, and [let] his portion [be] with the beasts in the grass of the earth:
16 Let his heart be changed from manʼs, and let a beastʼs heart be given unto him; and let seven times pass over him. 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. 18 This dream I king Nebuchadnezzar have seen. Now thou, O Belteshazzar, declare the interpretation thereof, forasmuch as all the wise [men] of my kingdom are not able to make known unto me the interpretation: but thou [art] able; for the spirit of the holy gods [is] in thee. 19 Then Daniel, whose name [was] Belteshazzar, was astonied for one hour, and his thoughts troubled him. The king spake, and said, Belteshazzar, let not the dream, or the interpretation thereof, trouble thee. Belteshazzar answered and said, My lord, the dream [be] to them that hate thee, and the interpretation thereof to thine enemies. 20 The tree that thou sawest, which grew, and was strong, whose height reached unto the heaven, and the sight thereof to all the earth; 21 Whose leaves [were] fair, and the fruit thereof much, and in it [was] meat for all; under which the beasts of the field dwelt, and upon whose branches the fowls of the heaven had their habitation: 22 It [is] thou, O king, that art grown and become strong: for thy greatness is grown, and reacheth unto heaven, and thy dominion to the end of the earth. 23 And whereas the king saw a watcher and an holy one coming down from heaven, and saying, Hew the tree down, and destroy it; yet leave the stump of the roots thereof in the earth, even with a band of iron and brass, in the tender grass of the field; and let it be wet with the dew of heaven, and [let] his portion [be] with the beasts of the field, till seven times pass over him; 24 This [is] the interpretation, O king, and this [is] the decree of the most High, which is come upon my lord the king: |
"Where art thou..."
25 That they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field, and they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and they shall wet thee with the dew of heaven, and seven times shall pass over thee, till thou know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will.
26 And whereas they commanded to leave the stump of the tree roots; thy kingdom shall be sure unto thee, after that thou shalt have known that the heavens do rule.
27 Wherefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable unto thee, and break off thy sins by righteousness, and thine iniquities by shewing mercy to the poor; if it may be a lengthening of thy tranquillity.
28 All this came upon the king Nebuchadnezzar.
29 At the end of twelve months he walked in the palace of the kingdom of Babylon.
30 The king spake, and said, Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for the house of the kingdom by the might of my power, and for the honour of my majesty?
31 While the word [was] in the kingʼs mouth, there fell a voice from heaven, [saying], O king Nebuchadnezzar, to thee it is spoken; The kingdom is departed from thee.
32 And they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling [shall be] with the beasts of the field: they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and seven times shall pass over thee, until thou know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will.
33 The same hour was the thing fulfilled upon Nebuchadnezzar: and he was driven from men, and did eat grass as oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven, till his hairs were grown like eaglesʼ [feathers], and his nails like birdsʼ [claws].
34 And at the end of the days I Nebuchadnezzar lifted up mine eyes unto heaven, and mine understanding returned unto me, and I blessed the most High, and I praised and honoured him that liveth for ever, whose dominion [is] an ev- erlasting dominion, and his kingdom [is] from generation to generation:
35 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?
36 At the same time my reason returned unto me; and for the glory of my kingdom, mine honour and brightness returned unto me; and my counsellors and my lords sought unto me; and I was established in my kingdom, and excellent majesty was added unto me.
37 Now I Nebuchadnezzar praise and extol and honour the King of heaven, all whose works [are] truth, and his ways judgment: and those that walk in pride he is able to abase.
26 And whereas they commanded to leave the stump of the tree roots; thy kingdom shall be sure unto thee, after that thou shalt have known that the heavens do rule.
27 Wherefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable unto thee, and break off thy sins by righteousness, and thine iniquities by shewing mercy to the poor; if it may be a lengthening of thy tranquillity.
28 All this came upon the king Nebuchadnezzar.
29 At the end of twelve months he walked in the palace of the kingdom of Babylon.
30 The king spake, and said, Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for the house of the kingdom by the might of my power, and for the honour of my majesty?
31 While the word [was] in the kingʼs mouth, there fell a voice from heaven, [saying], O king Nebuchadnezzar, to thee it is spoken; The kingdom is departed from thee.
32 And they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling [shall be] with the beasts of the field: they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and seven times shall pass over thee, until thou know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will.
33 The same hour was the thing fulfilled upon Nebuchadnezzar: and he was driven from men, and did eat grass as oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven, till his hairs were grown like eaglesʼ [feathers], and his nails like birdsʼ [claws].
34 And at the end of the days I Nebuchadnezzar lifted up mine eyes unto heaven, and mine understanding returned unto me, and I blessed the most High, and I praised and honoured him that liveth for ever, whose dominion [is] an ev- erlasting dominion, and his kingdom [is] from generation to generation:
35 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?
36 At the same time my reason returned unto me; and for the glory of my kingdom, mine honour and brightness returned unto me; and my counsellors and my lords sought unto me; and I was established in my kingdom, and excellent majesty was added unto me.
37 Now I Nebuchadnezzar praise and extol and honour the King of heaven, all whose works [are] truth, and his ways judgment: and those that walk in pride he is able to abase.
Daniel 4
OVERVIEW
The King of Babylon is humbled and becomes a follower of God.
verses 1-31 - Conversion
Nebuchadnezzar built much of Babylon, as bricks bearing his name show. He became proud. Self-worship is the root of evil (see Isa 14:13, 14). Under the symbol of a felled tree God foretold the king that he would be humbled for seven years. Afterward he became a believer in the true God.
verse 17 - The Watcher
(a) There is more than one Watcher (v 17).
(b) The Watchers can pass decrees (v 17) and demand the humbling of men - the felling of the tree.
(c) The Watchersʼ decree is the decree of the Most High:
“the DECREE OF THE WATCHERS...to the intent that the living may know that the MOST HIGH ruleth.” (v 17).
“the DECREE OF THE MOST HIGH... till thou know that the most High ruleth.” (v 23-24).
“...in every place, at every hour in the day, there is a holy Watcher, who balances every account, whose eye takes in the whole situation, whether it is one of fidelity, or one of disloyalty and deception. We are never alone. We have a Companion, whether we choose him or not. Remember, young men and young women, that wherever you are, whatever you are doing, God is there. To your every word and action you have a witness, - the holy, sin-hating God.” E.G. White, Youth Istructor, 26 May, 1898.
Zec 4:10 “...the eyes of the LORD, which run to and fro through the whole earth.” Rev 5:6 “...a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth.”
verses 32-33 - Eating grass like an Ox
Modern psychiatry recognizes a condition of animal-like behaviour in human beings. The ancients believed that the gods made people insane and that if one killed someone who was insane the insanity would come upon the murderer. No one would kill such a person so in this way Nebuchadnezzar was protected during his madness. Godʼs mercy is seen in afflicting the king this way.
verse 34 - Seven times
A time is clearly a long period, long enough for the kingʼs nails and hair to grow long.
A “time” symbolizes a year.
WHAT CAN WE LEARN?
God will humble us in order to help us find salvation.
We hear no more of Nebuchadnezzar after this chapter. From being the most powerful king of his time to becoming a humble follower we leave him rejoicing in salvation.
In every crisis in our lives we too can learn that self does not have all the answers. Problems that expose our weaknesses should point us to the One who is longing to help by giving us the strength we need.
When suffering comes and you cry out, “Where is God?...” remember that He is just where He was when He watched His Son being crucified to save us.
God hates suffering, but sometimes He allows suffering because it is the only way He has left to make us see our need of Him.
*"What is justification by faith? It is the work of God in laying the glory of man in the dust, and doing for man that which it is not in his power to do for himself. When men see their own nothingness, they are prepared to be clothed with the righteousness of Christ"
The King of Babylon is humbled and becomes a follower of God.
verses 1-31 - Conversion
Nebuchadnezzar built much of Babylon, as bricks bearing his name show. He became proud. Self-worship is the root of evil (see Isa 14:13, 14). Under the symbol of a felled tree God foretold the king that he would be humbled for seven years. Afterward he became a believer in the true God.
verse 17 - The Watcher
(a) There is more than one Watcher (v 17).
(b) The Watchers can pass decrees (v 17) and demand the humbling of men - the felling of the tree.
(c) The Watchersʼ decree is the decree of the Most High:
“the DECREE OF THE WATCHERS...to the intent that the living may know that the MOST HIGH ruleth.” (v 17).
“the DECREE OF THE MOST HIGH... till thou know that the most High ruleth.” (v 23-24).
“...in every place, at every hour in the day, there is a holy Watcher, who balances every account, whose eye takes in the whole situation, whether it is one of fidelity, or one of disloyalty and deception. We are never alone. We have a Companion, whether we choose him or not. Remember, young men and young women, that wherever you are, whatever you are doing, God is there. To your every word and action you have a witness, - the holy, sin-hating God.” E.G. White, Youth Istructor, 26 May, 1898.
Zec 4:10 “...the eyes of the LORD, which run to and fro through the whole earth.” Rev 5:6 “...a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth.”
verses 32-33 - Eating grass like an Ox
Modern psychiatry recognizes a condition of animal-like behaviour in human beings. The ancients believed that the gods made people insane and that if one killed someone who was insane the insanity would come upon the murderer. No one would kill such a person so in this way Nebuchadnezzar was protected during his madness. Godʼs mercy is seen in afflicting the king this way.
verse 34 - Seven times
A time is clearly a long period, long enough for the kingʼs nails and hair to grow long.
A “time” symbolizes a year.
WHAT CAN WE LEARN?
God will humble us in order to help us find salvation.
We hear no more of Nebuchadnezzar after this chapter. From being the most powerful king of his time to becoming a humble follower we leave him rejoicing in salvation.
In every crisis in our lives we too can learn that self does not have all the answers. Problems that expose our weaknesses should point us to the One who is longing to help by giving us the strength we need.
When suffering comes and you cry out, “Where is God?...” remember that He is just where He was when He watched His Son being crucified to save us.
God hates suffering, but sometimes He allows suffering because it is the only way He has left to make us see our need of Him.
*"What is justification by faith? It is the work of God in laying the glory of man in the dust, and doing for man that which it is not in his power to do for himself. When men see their own nothingness, they are prepared to be clothed with the righteousness of Christ"