DANIEL 4
"Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and
for his wonderful works to the children of men" Ps. 107:8
The most magnificent trees were transplanted to the hanging gardens of Babylon which was why
it was one of the seven man made wonders of the ancient world.
DAN 4:1 Nebuchadnezzar the king, unto all people, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth; Peace be multiplied unto you.
DAN 4:2 I thought it good to show the signs and wonders that the high God hath wrought toward me.
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.
DAN 4:4 I Nebuchadnezzar was at rest in mine house, and flourishing in my palace:
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.
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.
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,
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.
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.
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:
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.
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;
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:
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:
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.
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.
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.
How soon he, like us, forgot the lessons that God had tried to teach him. So again our patient and
merciful Creator demonstrates the wisdom of trusting in God and the weakness of human
wisdom.
DAN 4:19 Then Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, was astonished 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.
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;
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.
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.
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.
A time. Many of the more liberal Bible translations like the Living Bible and the NIV translate a
TIME as a Year. Josephus, a reliable Jewish historian that lived just after the time of Christ, also
says that a time is a year (See Josephus' History - Book 10 chapter 10 section 6) Also see Rev.
12:6,14.
The brass and iron band. Iron has always denoted strength "As strong as iron". (See Prov. 27:17 Ps. 2:9 Ps. 107:16 Job 41:27 Rev. 2:27; 12:5) "Thou hast broken the yokes of wood; but thou shalt make for them yokes of iron. For thus saith the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel; I have put a yoke of Iron upon the neck of all these nations, that they may serve Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon; and they shall serve him: and I have given him the beasts of the field also." Jer. 28:13,14
Brass was used extensively in the Sanctuary and its religious objects. The feet of Jesus are symbolized by brass (sure foundation and holy Rev. 1:15; 2:18) some believe that sin is also symbolized by brass because of the brass serpent of Moses (Num. 21:9), though it also symbolized the Saviour. In Daniel two, the political power of Greece was symbolized by brass and Rome by iron legs, but those symbols are used because they fit that political power (The Greek armies used brass and the Romans, iron) The meaning of the brass & iron band is that God was guaranteeing the preservation of the Kingdom for Nebuchadnezzar by his strength as most all texts that refer to brass are referring to God's holiness or power, and iron represents strength.
"And I will make thee unto this people a fenced brazen wall: and they shall fight against thee, but they shall not prevail against thee: for I am with thee to save thee and to deliver thee saith the Lord. Jer. 15:20
"Thy shoes shall be iron and brass; and as thy days, so shall thy strength be." Deut. 33:25 or sure
footed and strong by the grace of God.
A Tree is the symbol of a giver of fruit or a provider and is used in the Bible as a figure of a person or a nation. "..The word of the Lord came unto me, saying, Son of man, speak unto Pharaoh king of Egypt, and to his multitude; Whom art thou like in thy greatness? Behold, the Assyrian was a cedar in Lebanon with fair branches, ... Therefore his height was exalted above all the trees of the field,... and under his shadow dwelt all great nations... Therefore thus saith the Lord God; "Because thou hast lifted up thyself in height, and he hath shot up his top among the thick boughs, and his heart is lifted up in his height;....To the end that none of all the trees by the waters exalt themselves ... Thus saith the Lord God; In the day when he ...and all the trees of the field fainted for him. I made the nations to shake at the sound of his fall, ... yet shalt thou be brought down with the trees of Eden...This is Pharaoh and all his multitude, saith the Lord God." Ezek. 31:1-18
"The trees went forth on a time to anoint a king over them; and they said unto the olive tree, Reign thou over us." Judges 9:8
"And he shall be like a tree" Ps. 1:3 (Also see Ps. 37:35, Ps. 92:12, Rom. 11:17, Ezek. 17)
The watchers are obviously the angels that God has set over these matters. (Heb. 1:13,14)
To Nebuchadnezzar the king the true object of national government was represented under the figure of a great tree, whose height "reached unto heaven, and the sight thereof to the end of all the earth: the leaves thereof were fair, and the fruit thereof much, and in it was meat for all;" under its shadow the beasts of the field dwelt, and among its branches the birds of the air had their habitation. Dan 4:11,12. This representation shows the character of a government that fulfills God's purpose, a government that protects and upbuilds the nation.
God exalted Babylon that it might fulfill His purpose. Prosperity attended the nation until it reached a height of wealth and power that has never since been equalled. Fitly represented in the Scriptures by the inspired symbol, a "head of gold" Dan 2:38.
Instead of being the protector of men, Babylon became a proud and cruel oppressor. The words
of Inspiration picturing the cruelty and greed of rulers in Israel reveal the secret of Babylon's fall
and of the fall of many another kingdom since the world began: "Ye eat the fat, and ye clothe you
with wool, ye kill them that are fed: but ye feed not the flock. The diseased have ye not
strengthened, neither have ye healed that which was sick, neither have ye bound up that which
was broken, neither have ye brought again that which was driven away, neither have ye sought
that which was lost; but with force and with cruelty have ye ruled them." Ezek. 34:3,4
DAN 4:28 All this came upon the king Nebuchadnezzar.
All this came Thus this prophecy was fulfilled and if we believe this verse we will not try to make it unfulfilled and apply it to another time.
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 honor of my majesty?
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.
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 verses were inserted by Daniel in order to complete the story; other than that, this is the only part of the Bible written by a non-prophet.
The technical name for this disease is Lycanthrapy, living like a beast and not concerned about personal hygiene so that the hair and nails grew like feathers and claws.
All true grass and ferns are edible (make sure it has white roots) . This vegetarian, high fiber, truly natural, diet kept him not only alive but cleared his mind. Man, like animals, can live healthfully on "Pulse" (See Dan 1:5, 8-21).
The king began to think that he was it, number one, and God in his mercy humbled him. "For whosoever exalteth himself, shall be abased" Luke 14:11. Our own wisdom is as nothing compared to God's. "For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself" Gal. 6:3. God works to abase the pride of men, to lay human glory in the dust for: "Pride goeth before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall. Better it is to be of a humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide the spoil with the proud." Prov. 16:18,19 "The fear of the Lord is to hate evil: pride, and arrogance, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate." Prov. 8:13.
Nebuchadnezzar was proud of his wealth, but God says: "And thou say in thine heart, my power and the might of mine hand hath gotten me this wealth. But thou shalt remember the Lord thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth," Deut. 8:17,18
Though God had blessed and put him in charge he treated others like animals. He, like an insane man, failed to recognize his need of God, for without God we are but brute beasts, so God let him realize this. "Man that is in honor, and understandeth not, is like the beasts that perish." Ps. 49:20 "So foolish was I, and ignorant: I was as a beast before thee." Ps. 73:22 "For in him we live, and move, and have our being;" Acts 17:28
This lesson is for us. We are to:"Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others." Philippians 2:3,4. Self-glory causes doubt of the word of God. "How can ye believe, which receive honor one of another, and seek not the honor that cometh from God only?" John 5:44. Something is only worth what someone is willing to pay for it. It is not worth anything just because you say it is. Our value comes not from what we think we are worth but from what God has willing to payed for us.
Let us be careful of all this talk of more SELF-esteem. We need to be like the publican and pray "Lord be merciful to me a sinner" Luke 18:9-14. Today their is much talk of loving ourselves more as if our greatest need is to esteem ourselves more "but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves." Philippians 2:3. We are not to concentrate on self but others, people naturally love themselves. "So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself. For no man ever yet hated his own flesh;" Eph. 5:28,29. Christ did not forget that "we must love ourselves" when He told us our duty (Mark 12:28-31) The Problem is that we love ourselves too much.
We shouldn't be satisfied with our condition. We cannot save ourselves with self help, self esteem,
or acceptance of our condition. The purpose of the gospel is to create a new heart in us, to make
us a new creature (Jer. 31:31-33, Ezek. 36:25-27, Gal. 6:15, Eph. 4:22-25, Phil. 2:5, 2 Cor.
5:17). Christ has promised "him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out" John 6:37. He
receives us as we are since that is the only way we can come to Him but God does not accept our
sinning condition. When we look in the mirror and say "You're O.K., You're beautiful", as many
Psychologists tell us to, we reject our need of God's help. We must be like Paul and Isaiah
accepting that we are sinners (1 Tim. 1:15, Isa. 6:5) and deny self not encourage it "And He said
to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and
follow me." Luke 9:23 (Matt. 16:24, Mark 8:34) "A new commandment I give unto you, That ye
love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another." John 14:34 And He loved
us more than His own life, lowering Himself for us. (Phil. 2:6-8). We need this emptying of
self-love (Prov.25:27, Rom 12:3, Rev.12:11).
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 honored him that liveth for ever, whose dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom is from generation to generation:
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?
DAN 4:36 At the same time my reason returned unto me; and for the glory of my kingdom, mine honor 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.
DAN 4:37 Now I Nebuchadnezzar praise and extol and honor the King of heaven, all whose
works are truth, and his ways judgment: and those that walk in pride he is able to abase.
We too must learn the lesson. Self must be subdued, we must learn our helplessness without God's grace. We need more meekness, putting others before ourselves (Rom. 12:10; Phil. 2:3; Eph. 4:2)
"It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes." Ps. 119:71 "For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal." 2 Cor. 4:18
This lesson is for us too, for when we look only to the earthly material things they are foolish and beastly. Indulging in the desire for self-exaltation was Nebuchadnezzar's problem. Many today say that people's greatest need is more self-esteem. But in truth most people esteem themselves too much. We need to learn to distrust self and humbly learn from God. We must learn to distrust our own power and trust in the power of our Redeemer.
The principles that underlie all true prosperity for both nations and individuals are revealed in the law of God. "This (the law of God) is your wisdom and your understanding" Deut. 4:6 (Deut. 32:47). The blessings that God promised Israel are likewise to every nation and individual that will comply with the conditions.
How individuals or rulers use the powers entrusted them by God will determine their success. The lesson of life is to "Break off thy sins with righteousness...it may be a lengthening of thy tranquillity" verse 27. The philosophy of history is seeing that God "removeth kings, and setteth up kings" Dan 2:21 on the basis that "righteousness exalteth a nation;" Prov. 14:34 "the throne is established by righteousness" Prov. 16:12 "Mercy and truth preserve the king: and his throne is upholden by mercy." Prov. 20:28. Only God is "the faithful and true witness" Rev. 1:14. The truth is that the strength of nations, as of individuals, is not found in the opportunities or facilities that appear to make them invincible; it is not found in their boasted greatness. It is measured by the fidelity with which they fulfill God's purpose. Even to the unbeliever the word of the divine watcher is, "I girded thee, though thou hast not known Me." Isa. 45:5.
Every nation that has come upon the stage of action has been permitted to occupy its place on the earth, that it might be seen whether it would fulfill the purpose of "the Watcher and the Holy One." Prophecy has traced the rise and fall of the world's great empires-Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece, and Rome. With each of these, as with nations of less power, history repeated itself. Each had its period of test, each failed, its glory faded, its power departed, and its place was occupied by another.
While the nations rejected God's principles, and in this rejection wrought their own ruin, it was still manifested that the divine, overruling purpose was working through all their movements.
