DANIEL 4
American poet and playwright Arlington Robinson (1869–1935) won the Pulitzer Prize for Poetry on three occasions and was nominated for the Nobel Prize in Literature four times. Robinson used to spend his summers at the MacDowell Colony near Peterborough, New Hampshire. Arriving at breakfast one morning, he found the writer Nancy Byrd Turner and a new member of the colony already seated at his table. "This is Mr. Robinson," said Turner to her companion.
"Robinson! Not E.A. Robinson -- not the Mr. Robinson?" gushed the other woman.
There followed a long, uncomfortable pause, then Robinson replied, "A Mr. Robinson." (Today in the Word)
King Nebuchadnezzar was the greatest and most powerful of the Babylonian kings. He was the oldest son of Nabopolassar, the founder of the Neo-Babylonian, or Chaldean, dynasty of Babylon. Nebuchadnezzar captured Jerusalem, destroyed the Temple, and carried the people of Judah into captivity in Babylon. Ruling for 43 years, Nebuchadnezzar was the longest-reigning king of the Babylonian dynasty. (Wikipedia)
What are we to guard against when we are at the top of the world, to be the top dog, the top of the heap? How are we to prevent pride from taking over our lives? Why is it more proper and preferable to acknowledge ourselves as a subordinate, a steward and a servant of God?
Be Transformed by Difficulties
1 King Nebuchadnezzar, To the peoples, nations and men of every language, who live in all the world: May you prosper greatly! 2 It is my pleasure to tell you about the miraculous signs and wonders that the Most High God has performed for me. 3 How great are his signs, how mighty his wonders! His kingdom is an eternal kingdom; his dominion endures from generation to generation. 4 I, Nebuchadnezzar, was at home in my palace, contented and prosperous. 5 I had a dream that made me afraid. As I was lying in my bed, the images and visions that passed through my mind terrified me. 6 So I commanded that all the wise men of Babylon be brought before me to interpret the dream for me. 7 When the magicians, enchanters, astrologers and diviners came, I told them the dream, but they could not interpret it for me. 8 Finally, Daniel came into my presence and I told him the dream. (He is called Belteshazzar, after the name of my god, and the spirit of the holy gods is in him.) 9 I said, "Belteshazzar, chief of the magicians, I know that the spirit of the holy gods is in you, and no mystery is too difficult for you. Here is my dream; interpret it for me. 10 These are the visions I saw while lying in my bed: I looked, and there before me stood a tree in the middle of the land. Its height was enormous. 11 The tree grew large and strong and its top touched the sky; it was visible to the ends of the earth. 12 Its leaves were beautiful, its fruit abundant, and on it was food for all. Under it the beasts of the field found shelter, and the birds of the air lived in its branches; from it every creature was fed. 13 "In the visions I saw while lying in my bed, I looked, and there before me was a messenger, a holy one, coming down from heaven. 14 He called in a loud voice: 'Cut down the tree and trim off its branches; strip off its leaves and scatter its fruit. Let the animals flee from under it and the birds from its branches. 15 But let the stump and its roots, bound with iron and bronze, remain in the ground, in the grass of the field. "'Let him be drenched with the dew of heaven, and let him live with the animals among the plants of the earth. 16 Let his mind be changed from that of a man and let him be given the mind of an animal, till seven times pass by for him. 17 "'The decision is announced by messengers, the holy ones declare the verdict, so that the living may know that the Most High is sovereign over the kingdoms of men and gives them to anyone he wishes and sets over them the lowliest of men.' 18 "This is the dream that I, King Nebuchadnezzar, had. Now, Belteshazzar, tell me what it means, for none of the wise men in my kingdom can interpret it for me. But you can, because the spirit of the holy gods is in you."
I’m a big fan of animals on Youtube in their show of force and fortitude. Do you know who’s undefeated in the forest or jungle? Not the lion who fears the elephant. Not the elephant who fears the rat. Not the crocodile who fears the cheetah. Not the eagle who fears the tree-climbing bear who climbs up the tree for its eggs. Not the bear who fears noise. Some of the fearless animal and insects are, surprisingly, the mosquito, the hornet, the tarantula spider, the honey badger, marten and the wolverine.
The proud Nebuchadnezzar’s tribute to God in his troubles was as extraordinary as any. The words “eternal,” “endures/eternal” and “generation to generation” (v 3) are associated with time, just as the progression of “great,” “mighty” and “dominion” were to exclaim and extol God’s reign.
What happened to cause a Gentile king to praise the High God (v 2)? The self-reflection and self-evaluation in Nebuchadnezzar’s downturn, difficulties and downfall are worth our observation.
v 11, grew large Reach Size
v 11, strong Ruggedness Strength
v 11, “touched” heaven Rivalry Self-importance
v 12, shelter Refuge Shelter
v 12, lived Residence Stability
v 12, fed Ration Sustenance
The verbs to describe the king in his dream (v 11) “grew large” is for the tree’s reach and size, “strong” is about ruggedness and strength, and “touched” heaven is for rivalry and self-importance. Verse 12’s “shelter” is for refuge and shelter, “lived” is about residence and stability, and “fed” is for ration and sustenance. The encompassing “all” occurs three times: all the earth, meat for all, and all the flesh (v 12, every creature.).
The king appeared invincible, indomitable and invulnerable, but all that was about to change, crumble and crash. The king then was not only “afraid” (v 5) of the dream, but his thoughts and visions troubled/terrified” stayed with him. What did the king discover? The king’s transgression was against “heaven” (v 11), which occurs a record-breaking 16 times in the Bible, beginning from verse 11. He discovered there is the Infinite, Immortal and Indomitable sovereign greater, mightier and bigger than him.
For all its ability, advantage and achievement, the tree was not invincible, immortal and impregnable. The imperatives in verse 14 “CUT DOWN” (topple) the tree and “TRIM OFF” its branches; “STRIP” (thin) its leaves and “SCATTER” (toss) its fruit.
CUT DOWN TRIM OFF STRIP SCATTER
Tree Branches Leaves Fruit
Topple/Saw Trim/Snap Thin/Shave Toss/Strew
Verse 17’s “lowliest” is a contrast to the gigantic tree, now unimportant, unwanted and unwholesome.
Be Teachable in Discipline
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. 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."
An insurance agent stopped by a nearby church in hopes of selling some insurance. She greets the head usher at the door and asks to talk to whoever is in charge. The usher says, “Not me; I only hand out the bulletins. Let me take you to the pastor.”
The insurance agent then asks the pastor if he is in charge. The pastor says, “Not me; I only preach and teach. Let me take you to the council president.”
The insurance agent then asks the council president if she is in charge.” Not me; I only conduct meetings and hear complaints. Let me take you to the head of the trustees committee.”
The insurance agent then asks the head of the trustees committee if he is in charge. The head of the trustees committee replies, “Not me; I just help take care of the building.”
By this time the insurance agent is quite frustrated and wonders aloud, “well, who IS in charge around here anyway?” The lady who serves the coffee pipes up and says, “That’s me; NOTHING happens around here until I make the coffee!”
The verb “strong” for the king occurs thrice (vv 11, 20, 22). The tree had become formidable, forceful and fearless. The verb “grown” appears four times (vv 11, 20, 22 twice). Grow means many, much or more in Hebrew. The former (strong) is for attitude and the latter (grow) is for area. Nebuchadnezzar’s world, however, turned upside down, inside out and topsy turvy when he reached the peak and the pinnacle of his life . The king’s “perplex/trouble” (v 19) means distressed, desolate and daunted. His heart, mind and body were tortured, tormented and terrified.
What was Nebuchadnezzar to know? God’s name is “High God” or “Most High” (vv 2, 17, 24, 25, 32, 34), which occurs more in this chapter than any chapter in the Bible. “Sovereign/rule” (v 25) is the verb “rule” in Hebrew and a new word in the chapter. It is reserved in the chapter for God: “the Most High is sovereign over the kingdoms of men” (v 17), the Most High is sovereign over the kingdoms of men (v 25), that Heaven rules (v 26), and the Most High is sovereign over the kingdoms of men (v 32). The verb “know” (vv 17, 25, 26, 32) and the title “Most High is sovereign” are repeated four times. God is sufficient in Himself, superior to all and second to none.
There was only one way for the king to end his miserable, meaningless and manic existence. Verse 27’s “renounce” is an imperative. It means to stop or suspend, not just slow or stall. It is translated elsewhere as break (Gen 27:40 break the yoke), rending (Ps 7:2) or tear in pieces (Zech 11:16). It first debuted in the Bible for predicting Esau’s breaking Jacob’s yoke on his neck. The testimony must be total, true and thoughtful.
Be Thankful for Deliverance
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, 30 he 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. 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.
Winston Churchill was once asked, "Doesn't it thrill you to know that every time you make a speech, the hall is packed to overflowing?" "It's quite flattering," replied Sir Winston. "But whenever I feel that way, I always remember that if instead of making a political speech I was being hanged, the crowd would be twice as big."
“You may be a king and yet be humble; you may be a beggar and yet be proud; you may be great and yet little in your own esteem. You may be little, and yet you may be greater in your estimation than those who are the greatest. See to it then that your low estate do not make you proud any more than your high estate.” Spurgeon
"Humility is something we should constantly pray for, yet never thank God that we have.” M.R. De Haan
"Humility does not mean thinking less of yourself than of other people, nor does it mean having a low opinion of your own gifts. It means freedom from thinking about yourself one way or the other at all." William Temple
“Be humble or you'll stumble.” D.L. Moody.
"They that know God will be humble, and they that know themselves cannot be proud." John Flavel “For those who would learn God’s ways, humility is the first thing, the second thing and the third thing.” Augustine of Hippo
“Humility is the center of all virtues.” John Wesley
Verse 30 must be the worst arrogant, ambitious and authoritative verse in the Bible. The king’s words, from “great,” “royal residence/kingdom,” “mighty/might,” “power,” “glory” to “majesty,” were overstated, outlandish and obnoxious.
Nebuchadnezzar was grandiose, but certainly never great or glorious. At the most, he was grandiose but not great, dominant but not divine, menacing but not mighty, powerful but not omnipotent, and masterful but not majestic.
The jussive verbs (third person imperatives) from before were fulfilled in verse 32: Let the animals “flee” (v 14 abandoned), let him be “drenched” (v 15 awashed), let him be “changed” (v 16 altered), be “given” (v 16 appropriated) and let it “pass” (v 16 added). The jussive verbs were authoritative, admissible and abiding.
Overnight, the king experienced the pain of his own decline, disintegration and demise. His fall and fate were unpleasant, unthinkable and unbearable. There are three “like” (v 33) in Hebrew: “like cattle,” “like the feathers of an eagle” and “like the claws of a bird.” In the end, he was smelly, repulsive, revolting and reviled.
The three verbs from Nebuchadnezzar’s mouth upon his recovery, however, ever “bless” (v 34), “praise” (vv 34, 37) and “honor” (vv 34, 37). These verbs rightly belonged to God alone in the chapter. Our God is glorious, gracious and good, all-powerful, all-knowing and all-wise. He resists (Jas 4:6), rebukes (Ps 119:21) and reduces (Pr 29:23) the proud. We are nothing and nobody (v 35) before Him.
Conclusion: Do you pride yourselves in your appearance, abilities, academics, acquisitions and achievements? Humility is virtue and pride is vanity. God gives us out of His own goodness, glory and grace. May you bless, brighten and better the lives of others with the resources and reserves He has given you.
