Daniel Chapter 4
(Daniel 4:1)Nebuchadnezzar the king, unto all people, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth; Peace be multiplied unto you.
- This chapter was written by King Nebuchadnezzar himself
- His kingdom was throughout his known world but, because it is now Scripture, it is to the whole world
- It further is in all major and most minor languages as well
- Peter said "Peace be multiplied unto you" also.
- Jesus said nearly the identical thing
Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord,
(John 20:19)
Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.
(John 20:21)
Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.
(John 20:26)
And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you.
(Daniel 4:2)
I thought it good to shew the signs and wonders that the high God hath wrought toward me.
- He is a testimony and a witness for God now, at least for the time being
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.
- This is literally the same as the Psalms of David
- Nebuchadnezzar here is speaking Christianese
- This is in Chaldean, not in Hebrew, so it was translated-How Accurate is it then?
I Nebuchadnezzar was at rest in mine house, and flourishing in my palace:
- I was minding my own business, as king, being a king, not looking for God (this is previous to the writing and the dream)
I saw a dream which made me afraid, and the thoughts upon my bed and the visions of my head troubled me.
- This is not just a dream; it is is a nightmare
Therefore made I a decree to bring in all the wise men of Babylon before me, that they might make known unto me the interpretation of the dream.
- This time he is not even requiring the dream be told him because either he remembers it or he knows full well that they cannot tell him the dream
Then came in the magicians, the astrologers, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers: and I told the dream before them; but they did not make known unto me the interpretation thereof.
- Now they even know the dream without Daniel even being there, and they still cannot tell the interpretation of the dream
- What does this say about ungodly pagan divination?
- This time he did not threatened to kill them, why is that?
But at the last Daniel came in before me, whose name was Belteshazzar, according to the name of my god, and in whom is the spirit of the holy gods: and before him I told the dream, saying,
- Five seconds later, Nebuchadnezzar refers to God as "the holy gods" and refers to Daniel by his pagan god's name, Bel
- What does this tell us about the heart of all of man, even believers?
- Because he still holds on to "the name of my god" and still mentions "the spirit of holy gods", it is clear he is confused
- Have you met someone who one second you think they are saved, the next, they appear unsaved? Same mouth?
O Belteshazzar, master of the magicians, because I know that the spirit of the holy gods is in thee, and no secret troubleth thee, tell me the visions of my dream that I have seen, and the interpretation thereof.
- He told the soothsayers, astrologers, magicians, Chaldeans, and not Daniel
- He knows that this can be revealed to him by God Himself, but proceeds to tell him now, afterwards, anyways
Thus were the visions of mine head in my bed; I saw, and behold a tree in the midst of the earth, and the height thereof was great. The tree grew, and was strong, and the height thereof reached unto heaven, and the sight thereof to the end of all the earth: The leaves thereof were fair, and the fruit thereof much, and in it was meat for all: the beasts of the field had shadow under it, and the fowls of the heaven dwelt in the boughs thereof, and all flesh was fed of it. I saw in the visions of my head upon my bed, and, behold, a watcher and an holy one came down from heaven;
- This is an indication of how big the kingdom was to Nebuchadnezzar: Worldwide, reaching the world with his Babyolnian religion (to the heavens), richness, powerful over all
- This is all temporal though, as all kingdoms are. All it takes is God moving His Hand to the left or right one millimeter
He cried aloud, and said thus, Hew down the tree, and cut off his branches, shake off his leaves, and scatter his fruit: let the beasts get away from under it, and the fowls from his branches:
- It takes hundreds of years sometimes for an old growth tree to mature, but seconds for a chainsaw or even a handsaw to cut it down, forever
- This is true no matter the greatness of the tree, or the type.
Nevertheless leave the stump of his roots 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 in the grass of the earth:
- This stump is Belshazzar his son, who will shortly reign, shortly after this time
Let his heart be changed from man's, and let a beast's heart be given unto him; and let seven times pass over him.
- A time in Daniel is a year, as in Revelation:
And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent.
(Daniel 4:17)
This matter is by the decree of the watchers, and the demand by the word of the holy ones: to the intent that the living may know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will, and setteth up over it the basest of men.
- This is a verse on the clear Sovereignty of God, who controls all kingdoms
- Again, this goes against the cyclical nature of mankind, making history His Story, and on His time line, not mans.
This dream I king Nebuchadnezzar have seen. Now thou, O Belteshazzar, declare the interpretation thereof, forasmuch as all the wise men of my kingdom are not able to make known unto me the interpretation: but thou art able; for the spirit of the holy gods is in thee.
- Nebuchadnezzar does not even ask if Daniel can do this; he simply commands him to
- He again acknowledges the uselessness of the "seers" who cannot see in his kingdom
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.
- This is a very serious, disturbing dream, the fulfillment of which is not good for the king, and Daniel now sees it
- He only wishes it on Nebuchadnezzar's enemies
The tree that thou sawest, which grew, and was strong, whose height reached unto the heaven, and the sight thereof to all the earth;
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:
- Repetition of the dream shows Daniel got it all down, remembered it and it was so vivid in his mind that he can regurgitate it back to Nebuchadnezzar exactly and with all of the details
- This is pretty much the perfect tree
- Strong
- Seen of God
- Seen of men
- Pretty
- Fruitful
- Food
- Shade for animals
- A roost for birds
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. 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;
- He repeats this part again in total detail, so that Nebuchadnezzar will know that he is not making up an interpretation without knowing the dream fully, in detail
- All kingdoms but one are temporal, some die, some are cut down in their prime, unawares
This is the interpretation, O king, and this is the decree of the most High, which is come upon my lord the king:
- The interpretation is also a decree from God-it has to and will most certainly come to pass!
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.
- Seven years of abject humility below all men,
- Not even as a meat eating hunter/predator, but as prey.
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.
- His kingdom would remain for a time, and that would be sure. Then, after that, Belshazzar his son would rule for a short time (seven years?)
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 tranquillity.
- Nebuchadnezzar was given a chance to repent, be generous, righteous
- Mercilessness to the poor is not something God likes at all
- Jesus said we would always have the poor, but abusing them is not an excuse
He that oppresseth the poor reproacheth his Maker: but he that honoureth him hath mercy on the poor.
(Daniel 4:28)
All this came upon the king Nebuchadnezzar.
- 100% fulfillment, at once
- Fulfillment is always 100%, but not always at the same time, but it is, however, always, eventually 100%
At the end of twelve months he walked in the palace of the kingdom of Babylon.
- He was given a total of one year to repent, and did not.
- Ancient Babylon was known for its hanging gardens
The king spake, and said, Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for the house of the kingdom by the might of my power, and for the honour of my majesty?
- Pride, the first sin
- Daniel told him that God build kingdoms, not kings, and not Nebuchadnezzar
When pride cometh, then cometh shame: but with the lowly is wisdom.
(Proverbs 16:18)
Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.
(Ezekiel 28:15)
Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee.
(Daniel 4:31)
While the word was in the king's mouth, there fell a voice from heaven, saying, O king Nebuchadnezzar, to thee it is spoken; The kingdom is departed from thee.
- He was still speaking as this occurred
- God allows things to happen quickly sometimes , after so many repeated warnings and so much time
- God spoke this to him directly, saying, in essence, "It is fulfilled in your ears"
- The Flood came in an instant, after 120 years
- Job's calamities came one after another, while the previous ones were still being related the next was related
- They happened all in one day as well
SUDDEN DESTRUCTION UPON ISRAEL
(Psalms 78:27-31)
He rained flesh also upon them as dust, and feathered fowls like as the sand of the sea: And he let it fall in the midst of their camp, round about their habitations. So they did eat, and were well filled: for he gave them their own desire; They were not estranged from their lust. But while their meat was yet in their mouths, The wrath of God came upon them, and slew the fattest of them, and smote down the chosen men of Israel.
SUDDEN DESTRUCTION AT THE RAPTURE
(Matthew 24:38-39)For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
SUDDEN DESTRUCTION FOR JOB
(Job 1:16-18)While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The fire of God is fallen from heaven, and hath burned up the sheep, and the servants, and consumed them; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee. While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The Chaldeans made out three bands, and fell upon the camels, and have carried them away, yea, and slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee. While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, Thy sons and thy daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother's house: And, behold, there came a great wind from the wilderness, and smote the four corners of the house, and it fell upon the young men, and they are dead; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.
(Daniel 4:32)
And they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field: they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and seven times shall pass over thee, until thou know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will.
- As if the kingdom being removed is not bad enough, he also is humbled, humiliated visibly, publicly, loudly and probably in the same manner as how he ran his kingdom
The same hour was the thing fulfilled upon Nebuchadnezzar: and he was driven from men, and did eat grass as oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven, till his hairs were grown like eagles' feathers, and his nails like birds' claws.
- This is utter humiliation and exactly what the king who said, "ye shall be cut in pieces, and your houses shall be made a dunghill.", twice to his own religious advisers for failing to complete an impossible task, gets from God who has already revealed so much to him
And at the end of the days I Nebuchadnezzar lifted up mine eyes unto heaven, and mine understanding returned unto me, and I blessed the most High, and I praised and honoured him that liveth for ever, whose dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom is from generation to generation:
- It should be noted that Nebuchadnezzar is still writing the fourth chapter of Daniel
- Only God can abase and only God can lift up and exalt
- Nebuchadnezzar would not humble himself on his own, so God had to do it.
- Having been humbled, Nebuchadnezzar is exalting God, putting God in His rightful place-the place of praise
Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:
(Daniel 4:35)
And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou?
- No one can add to, subtract from, alter or thwart God's ultimate plan for makind
- All one can say here is AMEN!
At the same time my reason returned unto me; and for the glory of my kingdom, mine honour and brightness returned unto me; and my counsellors and my lords sought unto me; and I was established in my kingdom, and excellent majesty was added unto me.
- People like to say that Christianity is "unreasonable" and "blind faith" and "something that you have to remove your brain" in order to practice, but reason was restored to Nebuchadnezzar, and he praised God
Now I Nebuchadnezzar praise and extol and honour the King of heaven, all whose works are truth, and his ways judgment: and those that walk in pride he is able to abase.
- This could almost be a Psalm. Do we have to go through such a thing in order to praise God like this?
Daniel Chapter 5
