Good morning,
Daniel 4 deals with the Nebuchadnezzar’s pride. He dreams about a great tree. Daniel interprets the dream. Nebuchadnezzar is deposed, humbled, made to live as an animal, and then his kingdom is restored.
Daniel 4
Nebuchadnezzar’s Pride
Daniel interprets Nebuchadnezzar’s dream (4:19-27)
19 Then Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, was astonied 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.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;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: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.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;24 This is the interpretation, O king, and this is the decree of the most High, which is come upon my lord the king: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.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.27 Wherefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable unto thee, and break off thy sins by righteousness, and thine iniquities by shewing mercy to the poor; if it may be a lengthening of thy tranquility.
Having been told all the details of the dream, the king asked Daniel to interpret them (v. 19). Daniel understood the meanings of the dream but because of the severe judgment that was about to come to the king, he dreaded telling him and just stood speechless for one whole hour. Despite all his faults, Nebuchadnezzar had been kind to Daniel.
Daniel indicated to the king that he would rather see the judgment of this dream fall on his enemies than to come to Nebuchadnezzar himself (v. 19). Upon the insistence of the king Daniel proceeded by repeating the description of the greatness of the tree and then explained that the tree represented Nebuchadnezzar himself (vv. 20-22). He went on to explain how the falling of the tree meant that the king would be driven from his throne and made to dwell among the beasts of the field for seven years (vv. 23-25). He would actually go insane and become as an animal for a set period of time. No matter how powerful a person may become, self-centered pride will push God from his or her life and cause them to forget God.
Nebuchadnezzar in his pride and self confidence had come to believe that it was his own strength and ability that had gotten him his high position. He had to be humbled until he was willing to confess that he was nothing and God was all. Even today God cannot and will not use any person to the fullest until he is ready to make this same confession. Daniel concludes with some sound spiritual counsel by exhorting the king to renounce his sins. This points out the principle that any announced judgment may be averted if there is genuine repentance (vv. 26-27).
(https://www.family-times.net/commentary/daniel-explains-nebuchadnezzars-second-dream/)
Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001 chaplain@alaskaseniors.com
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