Remaining Holy in a Hostile World: Proclaimation Against the King

Introduction

Today, we return to book of Daniel. When we last left off Daniel was about to tell King Nebuchadnezzar the meaning of his dream. If you recall from a few weeks back, King Nebuchadnezzar is writing a letter to his kingdom as he recounts what has happened to him. In the beginning of his letter his tone is very different from when we have seen him in previous chapters. Daniel 4:2-3 “I thought it good to declare the signs and wonders that the Most High God has worked for me. How great are His signs, And how mighty His wonders! His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, And His dominion is from generation to generation.” What event is he going to tell of that changed him so dramatically? We find out he had a dream and no one was able to tell him what it meant and then Daniel comes in. The dream the King tells him is about a giant tree and a watcher bringing a proclamation against this tree. The tree is cut down.

Let us re-read it this morning before we go into the meaning

Daniel 4:10–16 NKJV

These were the visions of my head while on my bed: I was looking, and behold, A tree in the midst of the earth, And its height was great. The tree grew and became strong; Its height reached to the heavens, And it could be seen to the ends of all the earth. Its leaves were lovely, Its fruit abundant, And in it was food for all. The beasts of the field found shade under it, The birds of the heavens dwelt in its branches, And all flesh was fed from it. “I saw in the visions of my head while on my bed, and there was a watcher, a holy one, coming down from heaven. He cried aloud and said thus: ‘Chop down the tree and cut off its branches, Strip off its leaves and scatter its fruit. Let the beasts get out from under it, And the birds from its branches. Nevertheless leave the stump and roots in the earth, Bound with a band of iron and bronze, In the tender grass of the field. Let it be wet with the dew of heaven, And let him graze with the beasts On the grass of the earth. Let his heart be changed from that of a man, Let him be given the heart of a beast, And let seven times pass over him.

Daniel 4:17-18 “‘This decision is by the decree of the watchers, And the sentence by the word of the holy ones, In order that the living may know That the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, Gives it to whomever He will, And sets over it the lowest of men.’ “This dream I, King Nebuchadnezzar, have seen. Now you, Belteshazzar, declare its interpretation, since all the wise men of my kingdom are not able to make known to me the interpretation; but you are able, for the Spirit of the Holy God is in you.”” This was the dream, but what does it mean? That is where we left off three weeks ago. Now we turn back to King Nebuchadnezzar and Daniel as Daniel is about to tell the meaning of the dream.

Redundant Daniel (Daniel 4:19)

Daniel 4:19 NKJV

Then Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, was astonished for a time, and his thoughts troubled him. So the king spoke, and said, “Belteshazzar, do not let the dream or its interpretation trouble you.” Belteshazzar answered and said, “My lord, may the dream concern those who hate you, and its interpretation concern your enemies!

Daniel / named Belteshazzar was astonished or dismayed by this dream that we just re-read. His thoughts troubled him or as the ESV says “alarmed him.”

Have you ever had to tell someone really bad news and all you really wish to do is stay silent? Have you ever had to tell someone that someone is very ill or that someone has died? It can feel overwhelming. Daniel has heard this dream and the meaning was given to him from God. We do not know how much time has passed between the King’s first dream and this dream. Yet, I think there was a respect/honor/friendship that had developed between Daniel and the King despite the King’s many flaws and the bad news he was going to deliver didn’t sit well with him. It appears that it caused him to pause for a period of time and I am sure the appearance of his face must have revealed something to the King from his next line.

English Standard Version Chapter 4

Belteshazzar, let not the dream or the interpretation alarm you

Daniel begins his interpretation saying that he wished that this dream had something with those who hate you and his enemies. Knowing full well that this was for the King. So what does it mean?

The Tree

Daniel 4:20–22 NKJV

“The tree that you saw, which grew and became strong, whose height reached to the heavens and which could be seen by all the earth, whose leaves were lovely and its fruit abundant, in which was food for all, under which the beasts of the field dwelt, and in whose branches the birds of the heaven had their home—it is you, O king, who have grown and become strong; for your greatness has grown and reaches to the heavens, and your dominion to the end of the earth.

He looks at the tree. That massive tree. It grew. It was mighty and reaches into the heavens. Abundance from it for the animals and birds.

This tree represents the King.

You have grown and become strong!

English Standard Version Chapter 4

it is you, O king, who have grown and become strong. Your greatness has grown and reaches to heaven, and your dominion to the ends of the earth.

Sounds pretty good at this point. Then things change, because his dream had taken a change.

The Watcher

Daniel 4:23–25 NKJV

“And inasmuch as the king saw a watcher, a holy one, coming down from heaven and saying, ‘Chop down the tree and destroy it, but leave its stump and roots in the earth, bound with a band of iron and bronze in the tender grass of the field; let it be wet with the dew of heaven, and let him graze with the beasts of the field, till seven times pass over him’; this is the interpretation, O king, and this is the decree of the Most High, which has come upon my lord the king: They shall drive you from men, your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field, and they shall make you eat grass like oxen. They shall wet you with the dew of heaven, and seven times shall pass over you, till you know that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whomever He chooses.

We move onto the Watcher. This Heavenly Being. The decree to cut down the tree and destroy it.

7 times pass over him (we are not told long this 7 times. Is it seven days? Most likely not. 7 months or 7 years. The text doesn’t say.

Counsel and Wisdom from Daniel

Daniel 4:26–27 NKJV

“And inasmuch as they gave the command to leave the stump and roots of the tree, your kingdom shall be assured to you, after you come to know that Heaven rules. Therefore, O king, let my advice be acceptable to you; break off your sins by being righteous, and your iniquities by showing mercy to the poor. Perhaps there may be a lengthening of your prosperity.”

Micah 6:8 NKJV

He has shown you, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of you But to do justly, To love mercy, And to walk humbly with your God?

How does this apply to us as we seek to remain Holy?

Sometimes we will have to tell people bad news. Part of the Gospel message is bad news. We are sinners. We are doomed to hell, but God.

As Daniel counseled Nebuchadnezzar to break off your sins by practicing righteousness, and your iniquities by showing mercy to the oppressed

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016. Print.

The Church in Babylon: Heeding the Call to Be a Light in the Darkness 9. Taking the Cross into the World: Shamelessly Sharing the One Message That Can Save Us

grace is so contrary to the way we think because it is bestowed without any reference to merit. In fact, grace is most clearly seen when there is absolutely no merit at all. Grace is unlimited to those who receive it.

Sometimes we have to be humbled and destroyed so that we turn to holiness.

John 15:1–8 (NKJV)

“I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He lifts up; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.

Maybe use these verses

John 12:20–26 NKJV

Now there were certain Greeks among those who came up to worship at the feast. Then they came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida of Galilee, and asked him, saying, “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.” Philip came and told Andrew, and in turn Andrew and Philip told Jesus. But Jesus answered them, saying, “The hour has come that the Son of Man should be glorified. Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain. He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also. If anyone serves Me, him My Father will honor.

Conclusion

Next week: When Beauty Becomes a Beast