Sermon Central
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The Heart Of The King
Contributed by Curtis Kittrell on Nov 28, 2017 (message contributor)
Summary: God overrules all the plans of earthly rulers, be they righteous or wicked, for the accomplishment of his own wise and good designs.
Astonished, not because of the difficulties of understanding it, but he felt for the king, the nation, and for the welfare of his own people.
[the dream be to them that hate thee, and the interpretation thereof to thine enemies] The dream concerns your enemies and the interpretation benefits them.
Daniel 4:20 The tree that thou sawest, which grew, and was strong, whose height reached unto the heaven, and the sight thereof to all the earth;
a [The tree that thou sawest, which grew, and was strong ...] The 5th prophecy in Daniel (Daniel 4:20-23, fulfilled). Next, §Daniel 4:25.
Interpretation of the Tree Vision:
1. Nebuchadnezzar, you are the tree (Daniel 4:20-22; cp. Daniel 2:38)
2. The watcher, a holy one sent down from heaven, is an angel announcing the decree of the Most High (Daniel 4:23-24)
3. The decree is: You will become mentally deranged and men will drive you from your kingdom. You will imagine yourself one of the beasts of the field, eating and sleeping with them for seven years, until you learn that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whomsoever He will (Daniel 4:25)
4. The stump left in the ground with the roots held firm by a band of iron and brass means that your kingdom shall be sure unto you when your lesson is learned (Daniel 4:26)
Daniel 4:21 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:
Daniel 4:22 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.
Daniel 4:23 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;
a [seven times] If some Bible scholars interpreted the Bible consistently they would explain the "seven times" during which Nebuchadnezzar was insane to be 2,520 years, for this is how they interpret the "seven times" of Leviticus 26:18. They would also have Naaman dipping in Jordan 2,520 years (2 Kings 5:10), and would give us many other foolish and unbelieveable interpretations of other events. One can see that this could not be the intended thought in any passage where the term "seven times" is used. Here it denotes seven literal years. In Leviticus 26:18 it expresses severity of punishment. In 2 Kings 5:10 it means literally seven times of dipping in Jordan.
The Times of the Gentiles
By the times of the Gentiles we mean the administration of the Gentiles, as the rod of
chastening upon Israel, to further God’s purpose concerning them. It began with Israel’s first oppression by the Gentiles in Egypt, and will continue with the history of Israel through this dispensation of Grace. It will end at the return of the Messiah in glory when he will deliver Israel from the Gentiles and exalt them as the head of all nations in the Millennium and forever (Luke 21:24; Romans 11:25; Rev. 19:11-20:10).
