Daniel 4- The Second Dream

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Intro- Last week we looked at the fiery furnace with Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. We discussed their faith, their reasons to believe that God would perhaps allow them to be burned, and ultimately God’s deliverance.
At the end of this chapter we find Nebuchadnezzar praising God. However, he still wasn’t quite converted. He still held on to his pagan beliefs, and practices as we will see in this chapter.
“Overview of the events”- He had another dream about a large tree that provided for all the animals and people. A command came from heaven to cut the tree down and to band it with bronze and iron to preserve it. Daniel informed him that he was that tree, he was great and powerful and it was time for him to be cut down, He ended up losing his mind and behaving like an animal until he turned to God, and God restored his mind and his kingdom to him.”
The most unusual chapter in all the Bible.
Daniel 4:1–3 ESV
King Nebuchadnezzar to all peoples, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth: Peace be multiplied to you! It has seemed good to me to show the signs and wonders that the Most High God has done for me. How great are his signs, how mighty his wonders! His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and his dominion endures from generation to generation.
This is the only chapter of scripture that issues from a pagan king.
The events of chapter 4 likely took place in the eighteenth year of Nebuchadnezzar’s reign which would have made these events almost immediately follow what we read in chapter 3.
Nebuchadnezzar sent out an official letter/statement throughout his kingdom detailing these events.
This statement begins with the conclusion- “Most High God, Everlasting kingdom”
If you look at Verses 1-27 it seems to be written in the 1st person from King Nebuchadnezzar. V. 28-33 are written in 3rd person. V.34-37 are back to 1st person.
I think it was likely the case that Daniel simply recorded writings of the king and added details that the king left out.
The Babylonian chronicles : (Show image) was more than likely where the king recorded this record.
In any event, this chapter primarily comes to us from a once pagan king.
The sin that brought down a king
Daniel 4:4 ESV
I, Nebuchadnezzar, was at ease in my house and prospering in my palace.
Nebuchadnezzar was a world renowned builder. He conquered many nations and expanded the boarders of his empire more than anyone else in ancient times.
He was the builder of what is known as the “Hanging gardens” which was one of the 7 wonders of the ancient world.
He states that he was at ease and prospering. It would be the equivalent of a man who has retired well-off
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Daniel 4:
Daniel 4:30–31 ESV
and the king answered and said, “Is not this great Babylon, which I have built by my mighty power as a royal residence and for the glory of my majesty?” While the words were still in the king’s mouth, there fell a voice from heaven, “O King Nebuchadnezzar, to you it is spoken: The kingdom has departed from you,
The sin that ultimately brought down this king was pride.
Some would jokingly say, “it’s not bragging if it’s true”
I don’t think we can overstate in our Bible study the emphasis on humility and the disdain that God has for the proud.
In his book, “The cost of discipleship” Dietrich Bonhoeffer wrote, “When Christ calls a man, He bids him to come and die .”
Luke 9:23 ESV
And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.
This wasn’t only a new testament teaching, any person who wanted to follow God must kill the pride that lived in them.
in 2000 USA today surveyed 2000 millionaires and asked them to spell out what the key to success was. 99% said hard work, 97% said intelligence and good sense, 32% cited luck. No one credited God. Granted some of them probably believed in God, but it does speak to some degree to the state of the human heart.
The King’s Humiliation
Daniel 4:33 ESV
Immediately the word was fulfilled against Nebuchadnezzar. He was driven from among men and ate grass like an ox, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven till his hair grew as long as eagles’ feathers, and his nails were like birds’ claws.
It is almost as if God took this man who viewed himself as mightier and an of more value than any person, and he placed him beneath all people, like an animal.
It is interesting to note that there is a such thing as clinical lycanthropy. Which is a rare mental disorder that makes people behave like animals, and believe they have become an animal.
It has been recorded as afflicting England’s King George III
It is likely that God simply made this disorder fall on King Nebuchadnezzar and last until the time was right.
Daniel 4:23 ESV
And because the king saw a watcher, a holy one, coming down from heaven and saying, ‘Chop down the tree and destroy it, but leave the stump of its roots in the earth, bound with a band of iron and bronze, in the tender grass of the field, and let him be wet with the dew of heaven, and let his portion be with the beasts of the field, till seven periods of time pass over him,’
7 periods of time, likely symbolic of completeness. Meaning, he would be in that condition until it pleased God to remove it from him
Historically speaking we do not know much about Nebuchadnezzar’s final 30 years of life.
We do know that his son Amel- Murdak reigned in his absence. When King Nebuchadnezzar returned he threw his son in prison and when Nebuchadnezzar died, his son mutilated his father’s corpse and had his body drug through the street… not the best relationship.
Big Picture:
Pride will destroy anyone who doesn’t destroy it.
Proverbs 16:18 ESV
Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.
God is in control of governing authorities
Daniel 4:17 ESV
The sentence is by the decree of the watchers, the decision by the word of the holy ones, to the end that the living may know that the Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he will and sets over it the lowliest of men.’
Luke 1:52 ESV
he has brought down the mighty from their thrones and exalted those of humble estate;
Psalm 113:7–8 ESV
He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap, to make them sit with princes, with the princes of his people.
1 Samuel 2:8 ESV
He raises up the poor from the dust; he lifts the needy from the ash heap to make them sit with princes and inherit a seat of honor. For the pillars of the earth are the Lord’s, and on them he has set the world.
Romans 13:1 ESV
Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God.
Does not mean God approves of all authority, and government, He did not approve of many in Bible times and i’m quite certain He does not approve of many now. However, we must not lose sight of the fact that our God is in control.
There is only one true King and kingdom.
Daniel 4:37 ESV
Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the King of heaven, for all his works are right and his ways are just; and those who walk in pride he is able to humble.
This once proud king seems to finally grasp that it is not the kingdoms of the world that matter. Do we struggle with grasping this today?
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