#1204 Daniel 4 Part 1 Lumber Jacks

 

King Nebuchadnezzar to all peoples, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth: Peace be multiplied to you! 2 It has seemed good to me to show the signs and wonders that the Most High God has done for me.

3 How great are his signs,

how mighty his wonders!

His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,

and his dominion endures from generation to generation.

Nebuchadnezzar's Second Dream

4  I, Nebuchadnezzar, was at ease in my house and prospering in my palace. 5 I saw a dream that made me afraid. As I lay in bed the fancies and the visions of my head alarmed me. 6 So I made a decree that all the wise men of Babylon should be brought before me, that they might make known to me the interpretation of the dream. 7 Then the magicians, the enchanters, the Chaldeans, and the astrologers came in, and I told them the dream, but they could not make known to me its interpretation. 8 At last Daniel came in before me—he who was named Belteshazzar after the name of my god, and in whom is the spirit of the holy gods—and I told him the dream, saying, 9 “O Belteshazzar, chief of the magicians, because I know that the spirit of the holy gods is in you and that no mystery is too difficult for you, tell me the visions of my dream that I saw and their interpretation. 10 The visions of my head as I lay in bed were these: I saw, and behold, a tree in the midst of the earth, and its height was great. 11 The tree grew and became strong, and its top reached to heaven, and it was visible to the end of the whole earth. 12 Its leaves were beautiful and its fruit abundant, and in it was food for all. The beasts of the field found shade under it, and the birds of the heavens lived in its branches, and all flesh was fed from it.

13 “I saw in the visions of my head as I lay in bed, and behold, a watcher, a holy one, came down from heaven. 14 He proclaimed aloud and said thus: ‘Chop down the tree and lop off its branches, strip off its leaves and scatter its fruit. Let the beasts flee from under it and the birds from its branches. 15 But leave the stump of its roots in the earth, bound with a band of iron and bronze, amid the tender grass of the field. Let him be wet with the dew of heaven. Let his portion be with the beasts in the grass of the earth. 16 Let his mind be changed from a man's, and let a beast's mind be given to him; and let seven periods of time pass over him. 17 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.’ 18 This dream I, King Nebuchadnezzar, saw. And you, O Belteshazzar, tell me the interpretation, because 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 gods is in you.”

Daniel Interprets the Second Dream

19 Then Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, was dismayed for a while, and his thoughts alarmed him. The king answered and said, “Belteshazzar, let not the dream or the interpretation alarm you.” Belteshazzar answered and said, “My lord, may the dream be for those who hate you and its interpretation for your enemies! 20 The tree you saw, which grew and became strong, so that its top reached to heaven, and it was visible to the end of the whole earth, 21 whose leaves were beautiful and its fruit abundant, and in which was food for all, under which beasts of the field found shade, and in whose branches the birds of the heavens lived— 22 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. 23 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,’ 24 this is the interpretation, O king: It is a decree of the Most High, which has come upon my lord the king, 25 that you shall be driven from among men, and your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field. You shall be made to eat grass like an ox, and you shall be wet with the dew of heaven, and seven periods of time shall pass over you, till you know that the Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he will. 26 And as it was commanded to leave the stump of the roots of the tree, your kingdom shall be confirmed for you from the time that you know that Heaven rules. 27 Therefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable to you: break off your sins by practicing righteousness, and your iniquities by showing mercy to the oppressed, that there may perhaps be a lengthening of your prosperity.”

Nebuchadnezzar's Humiliation

28 All this came upon King Nebuchadnezzar. 29 At the end of twelve months he was walking on the roof of the royal palace of Babylon, 30 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?” 31 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, 32 and you shall be driven from among men, and your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field. And you shall be made to eat grass like an ox, and seven periods of time shall pass over you, until you know that the Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he will.” 33 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.

Nebuchadnezzar Restored

34 At the end of the days I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted my eyes to heaven, and my reason returned to me, and I blessed the Most High, and praised and honored him who lives forever,

for his dominion is an everlasting dominion,

and his kingdom endures from generation to generation;

35 all the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing,

and he does according to his will among the host of heaven

and among the inhabitants of the earth;

and none can stay his hand

or say to him, “What have you done?”

36 At the same time my reason returned to me, and for the glory of my kingdom, my majesty and splendor returned to me. My counselors and my lords sought me, and I was established in my kingdom, and still more greatness was added to me. 37 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. Daniel 4 

Daniel 4: 1-27 Neb's Second Dream

…24Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” 25When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and asked, “Who then can be saved?” 26Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”… Matthew 19: 24-26

1-3 King Nebuchadnezzar to all peoples - This is the recorded testimony of the ruler of all the world known to  him at that time. To all the peoples in his kingdom, this is his personal testimony of his encounter with the living God, an account that Daniel has included in the book that bares his name. Remember, he is the first ruler of the time of the gentiles, the golden head of the statue from his first dream.

Peace be multiplied to you - This has a very Pauline feel to it, but I think it comes from a genuine place.

…6And you also are among those who are called to belong to Jesus Christ. 7To all in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints: Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 8First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is being proclaimed all over the world.… Romans 1: 6-8

It has seemed good to me - A response of one pardoned, healed, saved. The desire is there to share what God has done for me, and we will see that it is much. Paul gives a wonderful testimony in Acts 22.

…17O God, You have taught me from my youth, and to this day I proclaim Your marvelous deeds. 18Even when I am old and gray, do not forsake me, O God, until I proclaim Your power to the next generation, Your might to all who are to come. 19Your righteousness reaches to the heavens, O God, You who have done great things. Who, O God, is like You?… Psalm 71: 17-19

28 Then, leaving her water jar, the woman went back to the town and said to the people, 29 “Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did. Could this be the Messiah?” 30 They came out of the town and made their way toward him. John 4: 28-30

…24So a second time they called for the man who had been blind and said, “Give glory to God! We know that this man is a sinner.” 25 He answered, “Whether He is a sinner I do not know. There is one thing I do know: I was blind, but now I see!” 26“What did He do to you?” they asked. “How did He open your eyes?”…

…27He replied, “I already told you, and you did not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you also want to become His disciples?” 28Then they heaped insults on him and said, “You are His disciple; we are disciples of Moses. 29We know that God spoke to Moses, but we do not know where this man is from.”… John 9: 24-29

How mighty his wonders - Everything that they attributed to other gods was based upon their assumptions. We won a battle, praise the god of war, or whichever idol or flag we carried or flew. Often, if you listen to men, especially those that claim no idols, believe there is no God, yet they assign the miracle of creation to something, intricate design to something, and it is more based on preference than that they have been so compelled by evidence. It more boils down to anything but the God, a Holy God, a sovereign God. At last they say, "I just haven't seen enough evidence, or I don't believe in anything really, it doesn't matter, just enjoy your life."

His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom - The eternality of God, that He is not created, not called into being as all else, self existing, beyond the comprehension of even our brightest.

…32He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David, 33and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever. His kingdom will never end!” 34“How can this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?”… Luke 1: 32-34

…16But for this very reason I was shown mercy, so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display His perfect patience as an example to those who would believe in Him for eternal life. 17Now to the King eternal, immortal, and invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen. 1 Timothy 1: 16-17

Afraid...alarmed me - Fear is the beginning of wisdom, and this time he is quick and upfront with this, not something that most world leaders, military geniuses would admit to.

But they could not make known to me it's interpretation - It's funny, last time they just needed him to tell them, and then they would plug it into their dream board, consult their books, possibly try to conjure a spirit or two, and give him the interpretation. I think they have a new problem now, and that is Daniel. If they give an interpretation now, and then Daniel comes in behind them with a different interpretation, well, the king has already seen Daniel's superior wisdom, and he is the one that revealed and interpreted the kings prior dream. Daniel has set the bar so high with wisdom and integrity, and Neb is no slouch when it comes to IQ, so it is very likely that if he has to choose between the multitude and one man, if that one man is Daniel, Neb will go against the crowd. They will all look like idiots again, so they aren't even going to try. Imagine walking in Daniel's shadow. The king could have gone straight to Daniel in the first place, but this is the way his people have conducted business for years.

…9But as for you, do not listen to your prophets, your diviners, your interpreters of dreams, your mediums, or your sorcerers who declare, ‘You will not serve the king of Babylon.’ 10For they prophesy to you a lie that will serve to remove you from your land; I will banish you and you will perish. 11But the nation that will put its neck under the yoke of the king of Babylon and serve him, I will leave in its own land, to cultivate it and reside in it, declares the LORD.”… Jeremiah 27: 9-11

…15Such wisdom does not come from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. 16For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every evil practice. 17But the wisdom from above is first of all pure, then peace-loving, gentle, accommodating, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial, and sincere.… James 3: 15-17

At last, Daniel came in before me - Daniel is over these guys, but he is separate from these guys. We are called to go out into the world and preach the gospel, but at the same time not be conformed to this world's image. He lives a very different life than that of his pagan neighbors, for which and by which they have attacked his friends and will come after him again.

1Therefore I urge you, brothers, on account of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. 2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God. 3For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but think of yourself with sober judgment, according to the measure of faith God has given you.… Romans 12: 1-3

After the name of my god - Belteshazzar means most probably "Bel protect his life". It is funny and I think not lost on Neb, that Daniel and his friends were all given new names to make them more Babylonian, even the name of Neb's god. It is suppose to feel like some sort of honor, they are part of some great team, being influenced towards a different identity, hmmm.

The name of my god - Bel was Nebuchadnezzar's God, despite the fact that he has seen signs and wonders of the Most High God in Daniel 2 and Daniel 3. At the time he is relating the story, Bel would seem to still be his personal god. But by the end of the story, after the period of humbling, the only name on his lips is the Most High God and His praiseworthy attributes. - Precept Austin

And in whom is the spirit of the holy gods - He knows that Daniel's, Shadrach's, Meshach's and Abednego's God is different than his pagan gods. He says, "holy", for there is no such call to righteousness from his own, and there is no pretense for such with Daniel. He doesn't just talk differently, he lives differently, and we will see that Neb has known him for some time now. It is when our words and our way are one, when inward conviction is stronger than outside pressures, that is light. Daniel is different because His God is different, and it is no mere moral code or row of boxes that he checks off, no, Daniel is sincere, he worships in spirit and in truth. He worships a Holy God.

When Henry Stanley found David Livingstone in the heart of Africa, he stayed with him for four months. Stanley was a professed skeptic when he found Livingstone, but came away a Christian. Asked what Livingstone said that converted him, Stanley replied that it was what Livingstone was that brought him to Christ. According to Stanley's report Livingstone never asked him if he was a Christian, never preached to him, and never appeared to pray for his conversion. But Livingstone was so thoroughly a Christian that it dawned on Stanley that one who was not a Christian was something less than a Christian. Livingstone was a man of God who permitted the Lord to live through him. Consequently his life was one of victory and blessing. By the sheer influence and impact of his virtue Livingstone brought Stanley to Christ (see Henry Stanley's How I Found Livingstone, 1913]). Precept Austin, also told by J Mac in exposition of Daniel 4

A tree in the midst of the earth - Now this would be Babylon, and Nebuchadnezzar was the head in the first image, he represents Babylon as an absolute monarch. Trees are used symbolically to describe kingdoms and kings in the Bible. It is interesting too, that archeologist have found where these kings would take the forest and or orchards, cut them down in a siege, and then build up massive fires around city walls. The fire would get so hot that it would cause the stone to be compromised. They found the ashes at these sites to be really deep and contain, in some, the burnt up pits of olives.

…33Behold, the Lord GOD of Hosts will lop off the branches with terrifying power. The tall trees will be cut down, the lofty ones will be felled. 34He will clear the forest thickets with an axe, and Lebanon will fall before the Mighty One. Isaiah 10: 33-34

…12For the Day of the LORD of Hosts will come against all the proud and lofty, against all that is exalted—it will be humbled— 13against all the cedars of Lebanon, lofty and lifted up, against all the oaks of Bashan, 14against all the tall mountains, against all the high hills,… Isaiah 2: 12-14

…17They too descended with it to Sheol, to those slain by the sword. As its allies they had lived in its shade among the nations. 18 Who then is like you in glory and greatness among the trees of Eden? You also will be brought down to the depths of the earth to be with the trees of Eden. You will lie among the uncircumcised, with those slain by the sword. This is Pharaoh and all his multitude, declares the Lord GOD.’” Ezekiel 31: 17-18

Daniel...was dismayed for a while - I am going to skip down to here because Daniel will give the rest of the interpretation in these paragraphs after the kings telling, but there is a beautiful and important transition here. 

And his thoughts alarmed him - Daniel is shocked by what he sees, but lets recall, this is a forthright man, a man who has laid it on the line to keep to his Hebrew dietary laws, so he is not afraid to tell the king. It isn't fear, and this is really marvelous, because he is standing in front of the man that destroyed his country, home, family, had him gelded, and is a violent, arrogant pagan king. What is it?

Belteshazzar, let not the dream or the interpretation alarm you - Now the king can see Daniel's distress, and he is comforting him, this is what friends do, there is a deep mutual respect. God has given Daniel favor with the king, but God has also placed in Daniel a love for this king. He is not afraid of him, but for him; he has compassion. You can have a million people that kiss your butt, but imagine being Neb, it's millions that fear him and want his favor, his fortune, his blessing. Oh, but there is this one guy, 4 that are respectable, so Neb is still blessed compared to most, to me if you have one good friend in life that is a blessing. And what kind of friend is Daniel? He is the one that always tells you the truth, and not just what he thinks, but he is more concerned with what God says, the kind of friend that walks in a way that honors God. The person that will point me to, and want me right with the living God, the One Who created all things and owns all things, Who has deemed some things sin, the person that guides me away from sin to repentance, that confronts me, but loves me, that is my friend.

…11For you know that we treated each of you as a father treats his own children— 12encouraging you, comforting you, and urging you to walk in a manner worthy of God, who calls you into His own kingdom and glory. 13And we continually thank God because, when you received the word of God that you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but as the true word of God—the word which is now at work in you who believe.… 1 Thessalonians 2: 11-13

May the dream be for those who hate you - Not for my friend. I am sure young Daniel never would have imagined such a friendship, yet we should all be more invested in those God brings in our path. Just for the sake of His glory, that these men and women were made in His image, that we did not save ourselves, but in every way depended upon the righteousness of another. He condescended to men of low estate, but we are already there, or are we just to proud to see it?

…6By loving devotion and faithfulness iniquity is atoned for, and by the fear of the LORD one turns aside from evil. 7When a man’s ways please the LORD, He makes even the man’s enemies live at peace with him. 8Better a little with righteousness than great gain with injustice.… Proverbs 16: 6-8

9What then? Are we any better? Not at all. For we have already made the charge that Jews and Greeks alike are all under sin. 10As it is written: “There is no one righteous, not even one. 11There is no one who understands, no one who seeks God.… Romans 3: 9-11

A watcher, a holy one - He saw an angel, a messenger of God. Remember, Neb is the tree and his kingdom has grown. Many have and make a living in Babylon, and are under the protection of the king. There is some peace, as is kept by his armies and their swords. It is like the Pax Romana under Roman rule. The military kept the peace, put down uprisings and kept nations within and under the rule of their kingdom at peace with each other. For this they pay a tribute or tax to Neb, and he doesn't kill them if they pay, and he won't allow others to harm them. 

Chop down the tree - The angel is saying to cut Nebuchadnezzar down, and this is not speaking just of the kingdom, but more directly him, which will affect the whole of the kingdom because he is the head, the absolute monarch, the guy calling the shots. If you look at the birds that were nesting in His tree, the beasts that used his shade, well that protection was gone for 7 years, and so they scattered. The mighty tree has fallen.

But leave the stump of its root in the earth - A humbled remnant of the former, not dead, but definitely humbled. 

It is a decree of the Most High - This is from God, and so it is certain. The Lord resist the proud.

You shall be made to eat grass like an ox - Even more humbling, a mad man, reduced to a very base living. A man of incredible genius, made to act like a beasts. The further men go from God, the more they exalt themselves, the more delusional they become, and the less like the men they were intended.

…19At Horeb they made a calf and worshiped a molten image. 20They exchanged their Glory for the image of a grass-eating ox. 21They forgot God their Savior, who did great things in Egypt,… Psalm 106: 19-21

And seven periods of time shall pass - For seven years he will be in this condition, and no longer running his kingdom.

Till you know that the Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom He will - You didn't make yourself, God raised up Babylon for His purpose, and He doesn't owe you any of this, but what a kindness, you are already delusional about yourself, and yet He is going to chop you down so you can see. This is the most beautiful of mercies, to be shown for what you are, to be made to see the truth, to be brought low. He resists the proud but gives grace to the humble.

2and He began to teach them, saying: 3“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 4Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.… Matthew 5: 2-4

Your kingdom shall be confirmed for you - That only God could do, for they will look weak without Neb, yet God will keep his kingdom for him till he comes to his senses.

…9Grieve, mourn, and weep. Turn your laughter to mourning, and your joy to gloom. 10Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will exalt you. 11Brothers, do not slander one another. Anyone who speaks against his brother or judges him speaks against the law and judges it. And if you judge the law, you are not a practitioner of the law, but a judge of it.… James 4: 9-11

Break off your sins by practicing righteousness - Daniel is the truest of friends, for compassion would not fail to warn of judgment and the path you are on, he gives the call to repentance. 

By showing mercy to the oppressed - He is basically telling him to deny his ego and follow God, exalt God above himself, hate that which God hates. Do works fitting of repentance, love the poor, see everyone as belonging to God.

…30Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ 31The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ No other commandment is greater than these.” 32“Right, Teacher,” the scribe replied. “You have stated correctly that God is One and there is no other but Him,… Mark 12: 30-32