Mighty God
Dan 4:1 Nebuchadnezzar the king, unto all people, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth; Peace be multiplied unto you.
Nebuchadnezzar’s decree, begins as a friendly greeting, from the king who ruled all nations; peace. The world's peace is all that this king had to offer. Jesus offers a peace from God.
John 14:27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
Dan 4:2 I thought it good to show the signs and wonders that the high God hath wrought toward me.
The king gives witness to the Most High God. He wrought signs and wonders. The three Hebrew men were saved from the fiery furnace.
Dan 4:3 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.
Heb 2:3 How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him;
Heb 2:4 God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will?
Psa 145:13 Thy kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and thy dominion endureth throughout all generations.
The king knew the miracles and the power of God, but he did not yet make him God of his life. We must make Jesus Lord, this means obeying him in all of his known will.
Another Vision
Dan 4:4 I Nebuchadnezzar was at rest in mine house, and flourishing in my palace:
The king was lounging in his palace, supposedly at peace, the devil not interrupting his indulgence. Then he saw a vision, a new vision, not the one of the statue.
Dan 4:5 I saw a dream which made me afraid, and the thoughts upon my bed and the visions of my head troubled me.
Fear and troubling thoughts interrupted his peace. There is no peace for the world's people. The lifestyles of the rich and famous do not bring God's peace.
Dan 4:6 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.
Dan 4:7 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.
Once again, not one of the king's worldly or occultic seers would interpret the dream.
Dan 4:8 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,
Why was Daniel the last choice to be heard from? Possibly, because the world seeks answers from the world first. Only if there is no answer do they seek the one who has access to God.
John 3:19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
John 3:20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.
John 3:21 But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.
Dan 4:9 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.
The king sees Daniel with pagan eyes. Daniel had the Holy Spirit of the one supreme God not the gods. Daniel was not a magician, delving in black magic and tricks. The king asks for the interrpretation of the dream. There is much interest even today in consulting psychics from the darkness to see the future or ones fortune. Sometimes there is no discernment in those who seek to know their future. They want to have their ears tickled, but not to receive truth enough to change their behavior and to only worship the one true God.
2 Tim 4:3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;
2 Tim 4:4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.
The king wanted the truth and only Daniel could give him the meaning of the vision.Would he receive the truth?
The Dream
Dan 4:10 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.
A dream often is symbolic. It is interpreted by what the symbols represent. A great tree, majestic strength.
Dan 4:11 The tree grew, and was strong, and the height thereof reached unto heaven, and the sight thereof to the end of all the earth:
The mighty tree was known and seen by all.
Dan 4:12 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.
Peace and provision were provided by the tree.
Dan 4:13 I saw in the visions of my head upon my bed, and, behold, a watcher and an holy one came down from heaven;
An angel?
Dan 4:14 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:
Heavens angel was ordered to fell the tree.
Dan 4:15 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:
What was left was bound or in bondage.
Dan 4:16 Let his heart be changed from man's, and let a beast's heart be given unto him: and let seven times pass over him.
The tree was with a man's heart, that was given a beasts heart for seven years. The tree was the king.
Dan 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.
God was to be glorified and the king humbled. The interpretation of Daniel follows.
The Interpretation
Dan 4:18 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.
The king knew that Daniel would have the interpretation, he trusted him. He knew he had a special spirit from (the gods). Though he himself had not given himself to the God of Daniel.
Dan 4:19 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.
Daniel was astonied, startled and alarmed, for one hour. He was troubled by his thoughts, then he said to the one who would be affected, do not be troubled. Good advice for one who is trusting God, but for the King? We can apply God's promises because we have faith in Jesus; we know we need not be troubled.
Psa 10:4 The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God: God is not in all his thoughts.
My king? Those who hate you would like this dream. This sounds like trouble.
Dan 4:20 The tree that thou sawest, which grew, and was strong, whose height reached unto the heaven, and the sight thereof to all the earth;
Dan 4:21 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:
Dan 4:22 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.
Dan 4:23 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;
Daniel saw a watcher, an angel, perhaps not a holy angel, and a holy one, a holy angel. Perhaps the watcher would give a bad spirit to the king, but the holy angel would restrain the bad one to a certain time period as a judgment from God.
Dan 4:24 This is the interpretation, O king, and this is the decree of the most High, which is come upon my lord the king:
Dan 4:25 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.
The king who was lifted up and would not receive God for himself, would be humbled as a beast of the field for seven years until he repented and came to his senses.
Rom 1:17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.
Rom 1:18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;
Dan 4:26 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.
As the roots of Israel are still alive until they receive their Messiah. The promise of God is for the salvation of Israel by the return of their king, the messiah. So too, God had promised to the king his kingdom to be restored.
Rom 11:16 For if the firstfruit be holy, the lump is also holy: and if the root be holy, so are the branches.
Rom 11:24 For if thou wert cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and wert grafted contrary to nature into a good olive tree: how much more shall these, which be the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree?
Rom 11:25 For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.
Rom 11:26 And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob:
Rom 11:27 For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins.
Dan 4:27 Wherefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable unto thee, and break off thy sins by righteousness, and thine iniquities by showing mercy to the poor; if it may be a lengthening of thy tranquillity.
Daniel in love asks the king to repent and do the works of God, so that his judgment would be halted and he could live in peace. Do we need to repent of willful neglect of God's plan for us? Repent, ask God to forgive you and continue in his plans for you.
The Judgment
Dan 4:28 All this came upon the king Nebuchadnezzar.
Dan 4:29 At the end of twelve months he walked in the palace of the kingdom of Babylon.
Dan 4:30 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?
The king was warned by Daniel to repent and to do the works of God. He was to give God glory and not himself. A year had passed with no judgment, for our LORD is long suffering and gives each a chance to repent.
His pride was as King Herod before his fall.
Acts 12:21 And upon a set day Herod, arrayed in royal apparel, sat upon his throne, and made an oration unto them.
Acts 12:22 And the people gave a shout, saying, It is the voice of a god, and not of a man.
Acts 12:23 And immediately the angel of the Lord smote him, because he gave not God the glory: and he was eaten of worms, and gave up the ghost.
Dan 4:31 While the word was in the king's mouth, there fell a voice from heaven, saying, O king Nebuchadnezzar, to thee it is spoken; The kingdom is departed from thee.
The warning from Daniel that was not followed, came to pass.
Prov 16:18 Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.
Dan 4:32 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.
Dan 4:33 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 eagles' feathers, and his nails like birds' claws.
Some dismiss this account of Nebuchadnezzar’s madness as unhistorical, but there is no historical record of his governmental activity between 582 b.c. and 575 b.c. This silence is deafening, especially when we keep in mind how Near Eastern leaders liked to egotistically trumpet their achievements - and hide their embarrassments (Guzik)
It happened just as God had warned. Eating grass as oxen, another provision of God was for him to be able to digest this grass. God's hand kept him from perishing. When we turn from God, we bring ourselves temporary madness, yet God will protect those who are his chosen, not allowing them to perish.
2 Pet 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
To be chosen of God is a great honor, not to be taken lightly. We must choose to follow him, lest we bring upon ourselves temporary madness in our rebellion.
The foolish and rebellious run into satan's web of confusion and bondage. Obey God in all things and see the blessings of God on your life. The king would have seven years of wasted life to learn this lesson.
Nebuchadnezzar restored
Dan 4:34 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 everlasting dominion, and his kingdom is from generation to generation:
The seven years were finished and the king looks unto heaven. Our LORD was waiting to receive the king and to restore him. His understanding returned to him and new understanding of the majesty of God; he praised and honoured He that lives forever. The king knew he was weak in the sight of the LORD, he had been humbled by the evil spirit that took him over, he saw the goodness of our LORD. No longer would he act as if he were a god and be lifted up with self pride, when God is to be lifted up and it is He, who gives good things unto men. His dominioin, his authority and rule as the everlasting king is in all places for all time.The LORD is God almighty, praise His name.
Dan 4:35 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?
Psa 37:1 A Psalm of David. Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity.
Psa 37:2 For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb.
Psa 37:3 Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed.
Psa 37:4 Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.
Psa 37:5 Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.
The LORD of host is sovereign over his creation.
Psa 8:9 O LORD our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth!
We do not control God, nor tell him what to do.
Rom 9:21 Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour?
Rom 9:22 What if God, willing to show his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction:
Rom 9:23 And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory,
Rom 9:24 Even us, whom he hath called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles?
Dan 4:36 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.
When the restores, he blesses abundantly, as with Job.
Job 42:12 So the LORD blessed the latter end of Job more than his beginning: for he had fourteen thousand sheep, and six thousand camels, and a thousand yoke of oxen, and a thousand she asses.
Job 42:13 He had also seven sons and three daughters.
Dan 4:37 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.
The king shares with us his learned wisdom. We are to praise, honor and glorify the LORD of truth. He is just and the judge, all must answer to him. He will bring down every high thing that does not respect the authority of the Most High God. No man can glory in his presence, the LORD shall be glorified.
Lam 3:22 It is of the LORD'S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.
Lam 3:23 They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.
Lam 3:24 The LORD is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him.
Lam 3:25 The LORD is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him.
Lam 3:26 It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the LORD.
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