Understanding Daniel's Interpretation of King Nebuchadnezzar's Dream

The Most High God rules over the kingdoms of the world and appoints anyone he desires to rule over them. (Dan 5:21b NLT) To Download this lesson go to: http://www.purifiedbyfaith.com/Daniel/Daniel.htm https://subsplash.com/charis/media/ms/+b72rmnj

Daniel Interprets the Dream (4:1927) 4:19 Then Daniel (also called Belteshazzar) was greatly perplexed for a time, and his thoughts terrified him. So the king said, Belteshazzar, do not let the dream or its meaning alarm you. Belteshazzar answered, My lord, if only the dream applied to your enemies and its meaning to your adversaries! 20 The tree you saw, which grew large and strong, with its top touching the sky, visible to the whole earth, 21 with beautiful leaves and abundant fruit, providing food for all, giving shelter to the beasts of the field, and having nesting places in its branches for the birds of the air-- 22 you, O king, are that tree! You have become great and strong; your greatness has grown until it reaches the sky, and your dominion extends to distant parts of the earth.

Daniel Interprets the Dream (4:1927) 4:23 You, O king, saw a messenger, a holy one, coming down from heaven and saying, Cut down the tree and destroy it, but leave the stump, bound with iron and bronze, in the grass of the field, while its roots remain in the ground. Let him be drenched with the dew of heaven; let him live like the wild animals, until seven times pass by for him. 24 This is the interpretation, O king, and this is the decree the Most High has issued against my lord the king: 25 You will be driven away from people and will live with the wild animals; you will eat grass like cattle and be drenched with the dew of heaven. Seven times will pass by for you until you acknowledge that the Most High is sovereign over the kingdoms of men and gives them to anyone he wishes. 26 The command to leave the stump of the tree with its roots means that your kingdom will be restored to you when you acknowledge that Heaven rules. 27 Therefore, O king, be pleased to accept my advice: Renounce your sins by doing what is right, and your wickedness by being kind to the oppressed. It may be that then your prosperity will continue. (NIV)

4:19 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! (ESV) Having an immediate understanding of what the dream meant, Daniel was so dismayed that for a while he was speechless. He was alarmed because he wished for things to go well for Nebuchadnezzar, but instead he had to announce a weighty judgment upon him from God. It is not likelythat Daniel s hesitation to speak was due to any fear of possible consequences that he might suffer for making the announcement the courtesy and respect with which Nebuchadnezzar speaks to him gives ample evidence that Daniel has won the confidence and respect of the king. Nebuchadnezzar sincerely desires that, whatever the interpretation of the dream may be, Daniel should explain it. With equal grace and courtesy, because the dream is unfavorable to the king, Daniel expresses his wish that the dream applied insteadto the king s enemies. Young, Edward J.; The Prophecy of Daniel: A Commentary); (p. 106)

4:20 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. (ESV) So, here we see Daniel begins to interpret the dream for Nebuchadnezzar. He explains that the great tree represents Nebuchadnezzar and his vast kingdom, which had afforded prosperity ( abundant fruit and food ) and protection ( shade ) to the peoples of the earth. This is not the only place in the Old Testament where a tree is used to figuratively speak of man in his pride (cf. Isaiah 2:12 13; 10:34; Ezek 31:3- 17). Many commentators have noted the similarity between the phrase it is you, O king and Nathan s words to David, You are the man! (2 Sam 12:7). Miller, Stephen R., Daniel, vol. 18, The New American Commentary (p. 137)

4:23 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, (ESV) Here Daniel repeats and summarizes the portion of Nebuchadnezzar s dream previously given in verses 13 17 where he describes thedecree of the watchers . He then interprets this portion of the dream by explaining that the thedecree of the watchers (in verse 17) was the ultimately a decree of the Most High God issued against the king. Miller, Stephen R., Daniel, vol. 18, The New American Commentary (p. 137)

4:25 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. (ESV) Daniel tells Nebuchadnezzar that he will be driven from among men because of his strange behavior and be forced to live with with the beasts of the field and eat grass like an ox . The king s diet, while in this state, may not have consisted solely of grass, since the Aramaic word here could also include vegetables and other herbs. At night Nebuchadnezzar would not come inside like a man but would remain in the open field. Consequently in the mornings he would be wet with the dew of heaven. Such insane behavior would continue for seven periods (probably seven years) until the king repented of his pride and acknowledged that the Most High God is sovereign till you know that the Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he will Miller, Stephen R., Daniel, vol. 18, The New American Commentary (pp. 137-138)

4:26 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." (ESV) There was one ray of hope in this horrifying prediction. Daniel explained that the stump and roots being spared meant that Nebuchadnezzar will one day repentof his pride and will come to know (i.e. recognize) that it is the God of "Heaven [who] rules at which time his sanity and his kingdom will be restored. And so Daniel even now encourages the king to repent of his sins. Nebuchadnezzar should break off his sins and his iniquities , demonstrating his repentance by practicing righteousness (i.e., doing good deeds) and showing mercy to the oppressed (the poor and unfortunate). By heeding the warning in this dream and performing good deeds, the monarch would prove that he acknowledged God s supremacy over him. Miller, Stephen R., Daniel, vol. 18, The New American Commentary (pp. 137-138)

The Fulfillment of the Dream (4:2833) 4:28 All this happened to King Nebuchadnezzar. 29 Twelve months later, as the king was walking on the roof of the royal palace of Babylon, 30he said, Is not this the great Babylon I have built as the royal residence, by my mighty power and for the glory of my majesty? 31 The words were still on his lips when a voice came from heaven, This is what is decreed for you, King Nebuchadnezzar: Your royal authority has been taken from you. 32 You will be driven away from people and will live with the wild animals; you will eat grass like cattle. Seven times will pass by for you until you acknowledge that the Most High is sovereign over the kingdoms of men and gives them to anyone he wishes. 33 Immediately what had been said about Nebuchadnezzar was fulfilled. He was driven away from people and ate grass like cattle. His body was drenched with the dew of heaven until his hair grew like the feathers of an eagle and his nails like the claws of a bird. (NIV)

4:28 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, 30and 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? (ESV) Here we see that all of the horrible events foretold in the dream did, regrettably, come to pass. Twelve months later God s judgment fell upon the king of Babylon. In his mercy God had graciously allowed Nebuchadnezzar a full year to repent of his sins, but he had not done so. Now a great outburst of pride on the part of the Babylonian monarch became the catalyst for the dream s fulfillment. Nebuchadnezzar was walking on the roof of his royal palace looking out over the magnificent city he had built. From this high vantage point he had an impressive view of the area. Nebuchadnezzar here refers to the city as the great Babylon (cf. Rev 14:8 and 18:2), and indeed it was great. Miller, Stephen R., Daniel, vol. 18, The New American Commentary (pp. 139 141)

4:28 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, 30and 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? (ESV) Babylon was one of the preeminent cities of history and during Nebuchadnezzar s reign it was undoubtedly the most magnificent (and probably the largest) city on earth. Herodotus, the ancient Greek historian, visited Babylon about one hundred years after Nebuchadnezzar s time and was overwhelmed by its grandeur. Over two hundred years later, Alexander the Great planned to make the city of Babylon the headquarters for his vast empire. Babylon also boasted the famous hanging gardens, which the ancient Greeks considered one of the seven wonders of the world. According to the Babylonian historian Berosus, Nebuchadnezzar constructed these for his wife (Amytis) who had left the mountains of her native Media for the alluvial plains of Babylonia. Miller, Stephen R., Daniel, vol. 18, The New American Commentary (pp. 139 141)

4:28 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, 30and 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? (ESV) From the roof of his palace the king gazed out upon all of this grandeur, and his heart became filled with pride. Nebuchadnezzar boasted that it was hewho built this great Babylon. Many outstanding achievements may be attributed to Nebuchadnezzar, but sadly he failed to give God the glory for his blessings. His heart was filled with pride and self-importance, and he began to boast of his own greatness and ability. The first person pronouns are conspicuous here: I have built by my mighty power as a royal residence and for the glory of my majesty . In his pride the king took for himself the glory that rightly belonged to God and thereby invited divine judgment. Miller, Stephen R., Daniel, vol. 18, The New American Commentary (pp. 139 141)

4:31 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. (ESV) While the boastful words were still coming out of the king s mouth, a voice from heaven pronounced judgment upon him. Evidently this was an audible announcement (at least to the king). The voice declared that heaven had decreed his judgment. Nebuchadnezzar would live with the wild animals and eat grass like the cattle for seven periods of time (seven years) until he finally repented of his pride and gave glory to God. Miller, Stephen R., Daniel, vol. 18, The New American Commentary (pp. 141 142)

4:33 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. (ESV) Immediately the horrible sentence was carried out. Nebuchadnezzar fell under a strange delusion and began to act like an animal. Because of this bizarre behavior, he driven from among men . He lived outdoors with the beasts, ate grass like an ox, and was exposed to the weather ( his body was wet with the dew of heaven ). His hair grew and became matted and coarse and looked like eagles' feathers . His fingernails and toenails, never cut, became like birds' claws. How ironic that the king who felt himself superior to other men had now sunk to a subhuman level. Miller, Stephen R., Daniel, vol. 18, The New American Commentary (pp. 141 142)

4:33 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. (ESV) For seven years the king continued in this condition until he finally came to his senses, repented of his pride, and recognized that God was sovereign over the affairs of men. The historical information (outside of scripture) concerning Nebuchadnezzar s last thirty years is sparse, and no record of the king s illness has been found in Babylonian annals. It would not be uncommon for such a humiliating experience to be omitted from official accounts. Royal families do not often leave memorials of a great ruler s shortcomings. This fact would be doubly true of ancient monarchs whose annals were often used as political propaganda to exalt the reputation of the nation and the king. Miller, Stephen R., Daniel, vol. 18, The New American Commentary (pp. 141 142)

Nebuchadnezzar is Restored (4:34-37) 4:34 At the end of that time, I, Nebuchadnezzar, raised my eyes toward heaven, and my sanity was restored. Then I praised the Most High; I honored and glorified him who lives forever. His dominion is an eternal dominion; his kingdom endures from generation to generation. 35 All the peoples of the earth are regarded as nothing. He does as he pleases with the powers of heaven and the peoples of the earth. No one can hold back his hand or say to him: What have you done? 36 At the same time that my sanity was restored, my honor and splendor were returned to me for the glory of my kingdom. My advisers and nobles sought me out, and I was restored to my throne and became even greater than before. 37 Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and exalt and glorify the King of heaven, because everything he does is right and all his ways are just. And those who walk in pride he is able to humble. (NIV)

4:34 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; (ESV) This portion of the text is told in the first person, as Nebuchadnezzar continues his personal testimony. At the end of the seven years, the king raised his eyes toward heaven, an act of submission, surrender, and acknowledgment of his need for the Most High God. Yahweh had proven he was truly the sovereign Lord and could humble the greatest king on earth. God observed Nebuchadnezzar s simple gesture of humility and repentance and graciously restored his reason . Then the king blessed God as sovereign ( the Most High ) and praised and honored him as the eternal One ( him who lives forever ). Miller, Stephen R., Daniel, vol. 18, The New American Commentary (p. 143)

4:35 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? (ESV) This verse presents the content of the king s praise and blessing. It is a remarkable declaration of the sovereign omnipotence of God. none can stay his hand can be literally translated: none can smitehis hand . This phrase is derived from the custom of striking children on the hand as chastisement. In later usage this language it means to reprove or to interfere with. Here it means that no one can oppose God s action or stop him from doing what he chooses to do. Young, Edward J.; The Prophecy of Daniel: A Commentary); (p. 113)

4:36 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. (ESV) When the king repented, God restored his kingdom and his honor, demonstrating the principle that God honors those who honor him (cf. 1 Sam 2:30). The king s counselors and lords sought him out. Nebuchadnezzar was one of the great kings of history, and when it was clear that his reason had returned, the government officials were more than eager to restore him to the throne. The king here tells us that in his latter years he received even more power and honor than he had before his humiliating experience ( still more greatness was added to me ). Miller, Stephen R., Daniel, vol. 18, The New American Commentary (p. 143)

4:37 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. (ESV) Nebuchadnezzar concludes his testimony with an additional word of praise to God, the King of heaven. praise and extol and honor are all participles in the original and here indicate the king s continual praise of the Lord. God is worthy of such praise because everything he does is right and just . By this the king admitted that he had been proud and that God s judgment of him had been proper. In the latter part of the chapter s final verse, the moral lesson of the story is presented, and those who walk in pride he is able to humble. The king had learned a painful lesson. God hates pride and humbles those who will not acknowledge his sovereignty over them. Persons who walk in pride today discover that this cause-and-effect spiritual law continues to operate. Miller, Stephen R., Daniel, vol. 18, The New American Commentary (pp. 144 145)

4:37 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. (ESV) Nebuchadnezzar certainly had an encounter with the living God, and his praise seems sincere. Was this experience equivalent to salvation, or did it fall short of saving faith? Wood, Young, Luck, Rushdoony, and Walvoord believe that the king had a genuine salvation experience; but others, including Calvin, Keil, Pusey, and Archer, think that the king s faith fell short. One cannot be dogmatic, but it seems to me that the language of the text suggests that Nebuchadnezzar did, in fact, have a saving encounter with the true God. Miller, Stephen R., Daniel, vol. 18, The New American Commentary (pp. 144 145)

4:37 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. (ESV) Although the moral of the story is found in here verse 37, the overalltheme of this chapter (and , in fact the entire book) is summed up in verse 25: the Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he will . Chapter 4 is a story about two sovereignties, the might of the greatest of human kings, Nebuchadnezzar, versus the power of the Most High God. Of course, the king of Babylon was no match for the King of the universe. Throughout the book of Daniel the absolute authority of Israel s God is set forth. Such is the teaching of Scripture, a teaching that should comfort every believer today who casts a thoughtful glance upon a world in chaos and is tempted to fear. In these times the redeemed of God must look beyond the earthly scene to heaven and remember that God still reigns, and someday he will come and rule directly over the kingdoms of the earth. Miller, Stephen R., Daniel, vol. 18, The New American Commentary (pp. 144 145)

Class Discussion Time The book of Daniel and this chapter in particular is a good reminder of the sovereignty of God and the importance of acknowledging God s grace and mercy in all of our endeavors and accomplishments. The New Testament gives us this sobering reminder: What do you have that you did not receive? If then you received it, why do you boast as if you did not receive it? (1Cor 4:7) Do you ever find yourself forgetting this principle?

Class Discussion Time In our text today, Daniel is so dismayed and alarmed at the negative consequences that the dream forecasts will take place in the life of the king that for a while he cannot even speak. Keep in mind that, at this point, Nebuchadnezzar is still a pagan unbeliever who has in times past caused serious problems for Daniel and his friends. And yet it is obvious from Daniel s response when he hears of the righteous judgement of God that is coming for the king, that Daniel is troubled because cares for the king and wishes the king could be spared from such a horrible judgment. Later in the text (4:27) he counsels the king to repent so as to avoid, or least lessen, the coming judgment. Do you think Daniel s response to this situation is a good model of how we ought to feel and respond to the pagan unbelievers in our life, especially as we see future judgment coming in their lives?

Class Discussion Time We are told that, as Christians, Do not be surprised, brothers, that the world hates you. (1 John 3:13). And the reason the world hates you is because Christ chose you out of the world and the world hates Christ (John 15:18-19). And yet, as I pointed out earlier in today s lesson, the courtesy and respect with which Nebuchadnezzar, a pagan king at the time, speaks to Daniel gives ample evidence that Daniel had won the confidence and respect of the king. In the New Testament, a believer who desires to server as an elder must be well thought of by outsiders [i.e. unbelievers] (1Tim 3:7) How do these seemingly opposing ideas fit together?

Class Discussion Time I mentioned that commentaries on the book of Daniel differ over whether Nebuchadnezzar became a genuine, regenerate child of God as a result of his experience as described in this chapter. What do you think and why?