Palace, Pasture, Praise (Part 1)

Those who enjoy U.S. History have had the privilege of seeing some of the original letters and writings of some of the founding men of this nation. We have a book in our personal library that has copies of letters which John Adams sent to his beloved wife. It’s always fascinating to get inside the head of someone whom we consider to be of great importance.

Today, in Daniel 4, we get to experience getting to know the king of Babylon even better. This chapter was an actual document which King Nebuchadnezzar wrote. It was probably written seven years after the dream itself. If we understand this time gap, then verses 1-3, and 37 make a bit more sense to us. Those particular verses are the king’s testimony about what God did to him and for him.

In Daniel 4, we are privileged to see how God got ahold of a pagan king who, on multiple occasions, elevated himself above everything and everyone. In this chapter, we’ll see that God caused King Nebuchadnezzar to turn from his false gods and turn to the one, true, living God, Jehovah.

Humanity tends to think of ourselves more highly than we ought. Millions of people around the world are living their lives as if God doesn’t exist; and if He does, what’s He going to do, anyway? I’m reminded of the comment by an unknown crew member about the Titanic as passengers were boarding: God Himself could not sink this ship. We all know the ending to that story.

As I’ve studied Daniel chapter 4, there are thoughts that keep coming to me that I’ve been unable to shake. For example, When does God finally give up, allowing a person to spend eternity in hell? How many chances does God provide before He says, “enough”? What will it take for some people to understand that without God, there is no hope? How terrible does it have to get before people will humble themselves, surrender their lives to Jesus Christ, and recognize that He is God?

In light of those questions in conjunction with this chapter, I am convinced of this: Knowing that God is sovereign, I can live my life in full obedience to Him. That does several things of great importance. First, it causes me to be to want to be obedient to Him, while recognizing that He is God alone. This causes me to see Him for Who He is and for what He does. Knowing that God is sovereign also enables me to be a more effective witness for Him to a lost and dying world. Therefore, I don’t need to confuse the issue. I don’t have to play Holy Spirit, Junior.

Today, we’re going to look at a story that leaves fairy tales in the dust; it has the happiest ending of all; plus it’s true. We’ll be studying the journey from the Palace, to the Pasture, then finally onward to Praise.

Peace before Distress - 4:1-18

Daniel 4.1-4 “Nebuchadnezzar the king to all the peoples, nations, and men of every language that live in all the earth: “May your peace abound! “It has seemed good to me to declare the signs and wonders which the Most High God has done for me. “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. “I, Nebuchadnezzar, was at ease in my house and flourishing in my palace.”

Everything seemed to be going well in the Babylonian kingdom. It was a time of prosperity; there were no wars going on at the time. It was as if the king could sit back, put his feet up and relax. Life was good. He had showed people who was in charge. His kingdom was looking pretty good. The most powerful nation on earth was there to stay, so he may have thought.

However, when one thinks that everything is just fine and there is nothing to be concerned about, they’re usually just looking at the surface. You see, this earth and the people on it cannot offer true peace. The only place where one can find true peace and rest in in Jesus Christ.

Once again, God speaks to Nebuchadnezzar in a dream. It was not a pleasant dream, for God was sending the king a wake-up call. Daniel 4.5 “I saw a dream and it made me fearful; and these fantasies as I lay on my bed and the visions in my mind kept alarming me.”

This dream caused the king to call in his usual staff of interpreters of dreams. But none could come up with any explanation. Interestingly, this time, the king actually told them the dream. Earlier, they had stated that if the king would tell them his first dream, they would explain it to him. Yet, this time when the king told them his dream, they were still completely baffled. This reminds us of what Paul says in 1 Corinthians 2:14: But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised. It doesn’t matter how smart people in this world think they are; only those who are in God understands the things of God.

As a result of receiving no help from his own people, Nebuchadnezzar calls for Daniel. Daniel 4.8 “But finally Daniel came in before me, whose name is Belteshazzar according to the name of my god, and in whom is a spirit of the holy gods; and I related the dream to him, saying . . .” The king specifically states that Daniel’s name had been changed to honor the king’s false god. The king also realizes that Daniel is the only one able to interpret the dream. The king knows that Daniel has a supernatural ability to do this.

Look at the explanation of what the king had seen in his dream in verse 17. This sentence is by the decree of the angelic watchers and the decision is a command of the holy ones, in order that the living may know that the Most High is ruler over the realm of mankind, and bestows it on whom He wishes and sets over it the lowliest of men.

What a reminder that God can place into a nation’s leadership some of the lowliest individuals, as He chooses! It is not the best or the most qualified person who is the leader of a nation, but the one whom God appoints. Historically, it has been pointed out that sometimes God’s choice is dependent upon the moral condition of the people to be ruled over. What a sobering thought that is!

Let’s see what message God has for King Nebuchadnezzar.

Perplexed by Description - 4:19-27

Verse 19 begins with a heartfelt response from our friend, Daniel. He seemed to have a genuine concern and care for King Nebuchadnezzar. “Then Daniel, whose name is Belteshazzar, was appalled for a while as his thoughts alarmed him. The king responded and said, ‘Belteshazzar, do not let the dream or its interpretation alarm you.’ Belteshazzar replied, ‘My lord, if only the dream applied to those who hate you and its interpretation to your adversaries!

Here, in this verse, we see Daniel in a state of speechlessness. We observe a picture of a righteous man of God, who serves a pagan ruler, living in a state of total idolatry and denial of the One True God, yet with a deep-hearted concern for the welfare of the king. Daniel was astounded by how horrifying this dream was.

As the king, you are waiting for some form of relief from the anxiety which was caused by the dream. This was probably the most difficult time period for Daniel and the king. Daniel could have been weighing how to present the meaning of the dream in a way that was exactly what God wanted without being harsh or careless.

My friends, have you noticed that sometimes, we who are Christians, seem a bit too eager to pronounce judgment on the unsaved? It can sometimes appear that we almost look forward to it with a sense of self-righteous glee. Yet, throughout the Bible, the prophets and Jesus and the apostles, approached their hearers with sympathy and compassion. Sometimes the message God has may be one of darkness and sorrow. Other times, God’s message provides joy and peace. Here, Daniel had a very difficult message.

Daniel 4.20-22 ‘The tree that you saw, which became large and grew strong, whose height reached to the sky and was visible to all the earth and whose foliage was beautiful and its fruit abundant, and in which was food for all, under which the beasts of the field dwelt and in whose branches the birds of the sky lodged— it is you, O king; for you have become great and grown strong, and your majesty has become great and reached to the sky and your dominion to the end of the earth.” We gather that the tree represented King Nebuchadnezzar and the great Babylonian kingdom. We see this from how God uses the image of the tree throughout the Bible to represent a kingdom. A tree shows an earthly kingdom since it is rooted in the earth and depends upon the earth for its survival. The beasts and birds which are seen in and around and under the tree are other nations that look towards Babylon for protection and other things.

Does this sound a bit like our nation? I have heard some great preachers make mention that the U.S. might actually be the Babylon which is seen in the book of Revelation. I don’t know this, nor would I want to conjecture this. However, the similarities are mind-boggling. We have been looked upon by many nations over the years as their protectors and suppliers of all kinds of goods, etc.

It was obvious that Babylon, at that time, was the world’s superpower. However, it wasn’t because of Nebuchadnezzar. It was because God put him into power. It was because God had blessed the nation of Babylon.

As we come to Daniel 4.23, we read: ‘In that the king saw an angelic watcher, a holy one, descending from heaven and saying, “Chop down the tree and destroy it; yet leave the stump with its roots in the ground, but with a band of iron and bronze around it in the new grass of the field, and let him be drenched with the dew of heaven, and let him share with the beasts of the field until seven periods of time pass over him . . . ” Notice an interesting phrase--an angelic watcher. The NIV translates this as a holy one, a messenger. This was an angel that God had in charge of oversight of the Babylonian kingdom. We will see later in this sermon series, in Daniel 10, how God has angels that are intimately involved in the affairs and activities of the world’s nations.

So what was meant by the angel’s comments? Simply this; the great King Nebuchadnezzar was to be removed from his throne. The nation was no longer going to keep on growing. King Nebuchadnezzar, who had every luxury that could be afforded any earthly man, was no longer going to be allowed to live like a normal man. He was going to live like an animal, a beast. Fortunately, it was not going to be permanent. It would last for seven years before Nebuchadnezzar would become like a normal human again. Not only would the king stop looking and behaving like a man, he would also basically lose his mental faculties, since we’re told that his reason would return to him after the seven year period.

People try to suggest that this is impossible. However, this is a real mental condition. There are people who think they are animals, yet go about their jobs in a normal manner. The whole werewolf superstition came from this psychological phenomenon. It is known as lycanthropy. Here, it would be boanthropy. Often, during this delusional time, a person is able to reason quite well in many areas, even though they’re acting like an animal.

We might wonder why God would go through all this with Nebuchadnezzar. God could have just had him captured or killed by another kingdom. We should recall that God had gotten the king’s attention twice prior to this. Once, the king had an incredible dream back in chapter 2. He recognized that Daniel’s God was the One who gave insight. Then in chapter 3, when the king had taunted the three Hebrew men, stating that not even their God could save them, he saw firsthand that their God did save them. However, that still didn’t fully turn the king’s heart.

It appears that God was giving the king another chance to repent during this time. In fact, we are given an encouragement to that effect from Daniel 4.26: “‘And in that it was commanded to leave the stump with the roots of the tree, your kingdom will be assured to you after you recognize that it is Heaven that rules.” This strongly suggests that because the stump and roots are still left, if the king repents, he’ll be restored.

Even in verse 27, we hear Daniel pleading with the King: ‘Therefore, O king, may my advice be pleasing to you: break away now from your sins by doing righteousness and from your iniquities by showing mercy to the poor, in case there may be a prolonging of your prosperity.’ Daniel could possibly have been suggesting that the king could experience a real life change, if he would turn his life over to God.

Well, I’m going to stop here for today. I want to encourage you to come back next week and see what actually happens in Palace, Pasture, Praise (Part 2).