Daniel 4: Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream of a Tree and Nebuchadnezzar’s Testimony.
·
Setting
o This chapter occurs around 567 BC, about 30 years after Daniel had been
taken captive to Babylon.
o This chapter is an autobiographical document of King Nebuchadnezzar.
There are many statements that state ‘I, Nebuchadnezzar’ which indicate
this was prepared by the King and then distributed throughout his kingdom.
Nebuchadnezzar openly admits his pride, his temporary insanity, and
he finally gives glory to the God of Israel.
o Nebuchadnezzar had built a large and strong empire. It
provided shelter to many nations. Its domain had reached to the
ends of the earth.
o Nebuchadnezzar was at the peak of his monarchy. He had felt
confident with life, he had plenty of wealth, there were no threats of war, and
he was proud of his accomplishments including the Hanging Gardens of Babylon,
which was a gift of love to his wife.
·
Overview
o The King had seen in his first dream that his kingdom would fall.
In the fiery furnace he witnessed a miracle of 3 faithful Hebrew
men. In both cases he praised the living God of Israel.
o This chapter describes how the King was taking credit for his
achievements and his heart was becoming proud. As a result of the King’s
pride, he was about to receive discipline from the hand of God.
o The main focus of this chapter describes another dream of King
Nebuchadnezzar which shows him about his future. In this dream he
tells of a very large tree he sees with beautiful leaves and it is full of
fruit. This tree also provides food and shelter to the animal and
birds. This tree is cut down but the stump is allowed to remain.
Next a voice of an Angel proclaims a certain man shall live like a beast
of the field for 7 years.
o Daniel interprets the dream for the King and 1 year after this dream
occurs, the King suffers from a rare mental illness called boanthropy.
God punishes Nebuchadnezzar for his pride and for the King taking
credit for his power and majesty. Nebuchadnezzar lives as a beast
of the field for 7 years per Daniel’s interpretation of the dream. (Daniel
4:28-30)
§ Boanthropy is a psychological disorder in which a human being believes
himself to be a Bovine (Cattle).
o After 7 years, Nebuchadnezzar realizes and subsequently acknowledges the
living God of the Hebrews as the Most High and he also recognizes God’s
sovereignty over the nations. Nebuchadnezzar praised, glorified,
and honored the Living God. Once Nebuchadnezzar repented, his
kingdom was immediately restored to him.
o We see the personal testimony of King Nebuchadnezzar. We see
how God took him from where he was to where God wanted him to be.
The King gives a documented account of how the living God dealt
with him. The King was given several warnings and he was exposed to
spiritual matters, but he was not ready to bow down to God earlier.
§ His testimony about God was a proclamation and it was to be heard by
everyone. He wanted everyone to hear what the living God did for
him.
o Pride is the basis for all sin. It is the exaggerated and
self-evaluation of a person.
·
Breakdown of the Verses.
o Verses 1 - 3: Nebuchadnezzar Gives Witness to the God of
Israel.
§ These verses begin the autobiography of King Nebuchadnezzar.
He starts his document out with his witness and testimony to the
God of Israel. He is setting the stage for the rest of his story.
§ God has restored the King’s reasoning and removed his beastly heart.
God had also restored him to his kingdom after living in the fields for 7
years as a beast of the fields.
§ The King was now no longer boastful of his own accomplishments.
(Romans 5:20, Daniel 4:37)
§ The King closes his statement with a warning found in verse 37.
§ The world does not see pride as wicked or dangerous. The
world tends to exalt successful people who lack moral character.
§ One day the LORD will come in Judgment. (Isaiah 13:11)
o Verses 4 - 18: Stage 1 - The Agitation - The Kings Dream.
§ It is estimated that over 20 years had now elapsed since the Statue of
the King and the Fiery Furnace of chapter 3 in the book of Daniel.
Nebuchadnezzar was now enjoying a time of peace and security within
his kingdom and he was now taking time and delighting in his kingdom and his
accomplishments. The King saw himself as the ‘Builder of Babylon
the Great” as well as the architect of its peace and prosperity. He
had no knowledge that this was all permitted through the will of the Living God.
§ God uses another dream to communicate to the King about his future.
The King sees a huge and flourishing tree. It provides food
and shelter to many animals. He then hears a voice of an Angel who
commands the tree be cut down, its branches and leaves removed, its fruit is
scattered, and the stump is to be bound up. This same voice then
announces that a person would live like a beast for 7 times (or 7 years) and
then be restored. This dream terrifies the King, so he first calls
for his wise men who are unable to interpret his dream. He next
calls for Daniel after his wise men fail.
§ Verse 9 - Daniel is referred to as the Master of the Magicians.
§ Why would the King not turn to Daniel first to interpret his dream,
since Daniel did successfully tell and interpret the King’s dream in chapter 2?
§ King Nebuchadnezzar had changed the name of Daniel to Belteshazzar,
which means ‘Bel protected his life’. Bel (or Marduk) was one of
the favorite gods of Nebuchadnezzar. Notice how the King uses both names
of Daniel in verse 8. The King must have grown fond for Daniel over
the years and he did not treat Daniel like an ordinary exile. The
King recognizes ‘the spirit of the gods’ was in Daniel and they had given
Daniel wisdom and insight.
§ The King describes his dream in great detail to Daniel. This
dream was given to the King to teach him a lesson (verse 17). God
saw the great pride in the King’s heart and God was prepared to deal with it.
The King could issue all his decrees, but it is God’s decrees that
rule the events of the earth. (Psalm 103:19).
o Verses 19 - 26: Stage 2 - The Interpretation - The King’s Danger.
§ The King notices Daniel’s reaction and facial expressions to the dream,
as Daniel appears stunned and troubled. God enabled Daniel to see
what lay ahead of the successful King. Daniel once again was
tactful by preparing the King for the bad news which lay ahead by wishing the
dream would happen to the King’s enemies instead of the King. (2
Samuel 18:32)
§ Some theologians believe Daniel had a personal concern for
Nebuchadnezzar and that he sought to introduce the King to the one and only
true living God.
§ Daniel proclaims the King is the tree which was seen in the dream.
§ Trees are often used as symbols of political authorities such as kings,
nations, and empires in the Bible. (Ezekiel 17:22-24, Hosea 14,
Zechariah 11:1-2, Luke 23:31)
§ Nebuchadnezzar's kingdom had grown strong as well as large and its
domain was said to reach the ends of the world. He was providing shelter
to many nations. The King had achieved greatness as well.
§ Daniels states the cutting down of the tree and its trimming to
symbolize Nebuchadnezzar’s disgrace and removal from the throne.
The remaining stump was a promise that Nebuchadnezzar would return
back to his throne. The banding of the stump symbolized that the
King was marked by God and he would be protected until the King’s purpose was
fulfilled.
§ Daniel them tells the King that for 7 years (or 7 times) that the King
would live like a beast of the field, eating grass, and feeling the forces of
nature against the King’s body. After the 7 years the King
would be restored to his kingdom after he acknowledges the true living God of
Israel.
§ Years later, Daniel would tell Nebuchadnezzar’s grandson that King
Nebuchadnezzar lived among the donkeys. (Daniel 5:21)
o Verse 27: Stage 3 - Exhortation - The King’s Decision.
§ Daniel finishes the dream interpretation by asking the King to turn from
his sins and humble himself before the LORD. Daniel was speaking
truth and responsibility to the King. He was offering a practical
and person application. (James 1:22-27)
§ Daniel knew the King had a bad temper and he probably realized he was
possibly walking down a dangerous path when he confronted the King with his
sins. He knew the King exercised supreme authority and the King was
the earthly master of life and death. Daniel also knew he must be
faithful to the living God and proclaim God’s word.
§ Eastern Monarchs typically only heard the good news of the kingdom and
lived in isolation.
§ In Daniel’s position, he saw the needs and concerns of the poor, he also
saw how mercy should be shown to those in need. He may have
realized how the King exploited others while pursuing his extensive building
operations, using his wealth to gratify his selfish appetites instead of
helping the poor. (Proverbs 29:14)
§ Daniel was calling for repentance. He wanted the King to
change his ways, to acknowledge his sins, and to turn from them. He
wanted the King to place his trust in the living God. Nebuchadnezzar was
familiar with Daniel’s God and he knew Daniel spoke the truth, but yet the King
chose to do nothing about it. The King was passing up on an
opportunity of Grace.
o Verse 28 - 33: Stage 4 - Humiliation - The King’s Discipline.
§ God graciously gave Nebuchadnezzar 1 year to repent but the King refused
(verse 28). Pride had taken over the King’s heart and he did not
want to submit to God after Daniel’s warning. (Ecclesiastes 8:11)
§ One year after Daniel’s interpretation of Nebuchadnezzar’s dream of the
fallen tree, while the King was overlooking his kingdom from the rooftop of his
castle, he began to speak in pride of his accomplishments and his kingdom.
As soon as the words of the King left his lips announcing his greatness,
a voice from heaven announced the judgment was to begin and the King’s
“probationary” period had ended. As the words were upon his lips,
his heart was changed to that of an animal. He was driven from the palace
and placed in the fields to live like an animal.
§ The King was like a beast at heart so God allowed the King to live that
way. The King was forced to live with the wild donkeys.
(Daniel 5:21)
§ It is likely that Daniel and the others remained in charge during the
King’s absence to insure the King would return to his kingdom and find
everything in good order.
§ God could have destroyed Nebuchadnezzar and his kingdom as well, but
instead he had a purpose for the King and Daniel to further fulfill.
God also wanted Nebuchadnezzar to repent in front of his people and
to tell them about the living God. God had chosen to use a pagan
King to glorify his name where Israel had fallen short through the years.
(Isaiah 42:6, Isaiah 49:5-6)
o Verses 34 - 37: Stage 5 - Restoration - The King’s
Deliverance.
§ As God had promised, Nebuchadnezzar was delivered from his affliction
and restored back to sanity after 7 years. The King had lifted his
eyes to God, which was a sign of faith and submission. (Psalm 123:1-2)
§ There is nothing to record what happened during the 7 years to the
King while living as a beast of the fields.
§ 7 years earlier, the King saw himself as a great man with a great
kingdom. He now had a change in heart and a new viewpoint.
(Verse 35, Isaiah 40:15-23)
§ The King finally acknowledges the sovereignty of the living God, which
is the lesson God wanted Nebuchadnezzar to learn.
§ Understanding God’s sovereignty brings believers assurance, strength,
comfort, and surrender.
§ To ignore God’s sovereignty is to exalt man's responsibility and to make
man his own savior. To deny responsibility removes accountability
from man.
§ Because of God’s sovereignty, he can accomplish his will even if we have
the freedom to make decisions and disobey God’s will for us.
§ By conforming to God’s sovereignty, Nebuchadnezzar was transformed from
living like a beast to living like a man.
§ Nebuchadnezzar’s sanity was restored as fast as he had lost it.
·
Conclusion
o It is hard to imagine how Nebuchadnezzar's Kingdom would remain intact
during the 7 years of his absence. This is also the last time we
will hear from Nebuchadnezzar in the Book of Daniel.
o Pride. (Proverbs 6:16-20, Proverbs 11:2, James 4:6, Proverbs
3:34, I Peter 5:5, Proverbs 16:5, Proverbs 8:13, )
§ God does see the true motives of our heart. (Luke 16:15)
§ Being humble is the opposite of being prideful. (Matthew
23:12)
§ Pride and selfishness begins the moment we are born. We
develop a “Me, Me” attitude.
§ Pride is what brought Lucifer (Satan/the Devil) down.
(Isaiah 14:9-14). Pride is also what brought King
Uzziah down. (2 Chronicles 26:16-21)
§ Our example to live in humility is Jesus’s servant-like attitude.
(Mark 10:45, Philippians 2:5-8, John 13:5-14)
§ King Nebuchadnezzar had learned an important lesson the hard way.
(Proverbs 16:18)
§ The rebellion of Pharaoh brought ruin to his country.
(Exodus 5:2 parallels Daniel 3:13-15)
o God wants to remind us that the wisdom of this world is futile and that
only he can give a true understanding of the future.
o The main lesson God wanted to teach the King, and a lesson we should
also learn as well, God alone is sovereign and God will not let man take credit
for their works or to remove God from his throne in heaven.
§ We are all creatures created by God and we are all created in his image.
§ We are subject to the King of Kings.
§ If we do not submit to God, we can be in danger of descending to the
level of animals.
§ It is interesting to note that God uses animals to describe the future
events of the world (Daniel 7). The last great dictator is called
the ‘Beast’. (Revelation 11:7, Revelation 13:1, Revelation 14:9-11,
Psalm 32:9)
§ God does warn us before he does send judgment.
o Telling the truth hurts sometimes as Daniel shows when he interprets the
King’s dream. We avoid telling the ones we love the sin in our
lives.
o Nebuchadnezzar’s testimony should be a political message for all rulers,
that God is sovereign and God rules from his throne in heaven.
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