dethroned nebuchadnezzar : a dream and the insane king
TRANSCRIPT
Dethroned Nebuchadnezzar: A Dream and the Insane King
Daniel 4:1
“Nebuchadnezzar the king, to all peoples,
nations, and languages that dwell in all the earth: Peace be multiplied to you.”
“I thought it good to declare the signs and
wonders that the Most High God has
worked for me.”
Daniel 4:2
“How great are His signs, and how mighty His wonders! His
kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and His dominion is
from generation to generation.”
Declaration of the King: Praise of the Most High God
Daniel 4:3
The Declaration
• From Elam and Media in the east to Egypt.
• From Mediterranean sea coasts in the west.– Assyrian, Babylonian, and Persian kings regarded
themselves as “kings of all the earth.”
• Mighty works God was performing before the king
• Everlasting kingdom
• Must be a contrast the King made to his own earthly kingdom which was mutable and perishable in nature.
• Could the declaration have been prepared by Daniel?
• The purpose was for to declare the king’s testimony to God’s grace and His power to humble those who lift themselves up with pride.
The Declaration
“I, Nebuchadnezzar, was at rest in my
house, and flourishing in my
palace.
Daniel 4:4
“I saw a dream which made me afraid, and the thoughts on my
bed and the visions of my head troubled me.
Afraid and Troubled
Daniel 4:5
The King’s Dream
• The monarch was at ease in the palace.
• He was flourishing—prospering.
• Secure on his throne
• Images frightened the king
• The matter greatly agitated the king’s well-being.
“Therefore I issued a decree to bring in all
the wise men of Babylon before me,
that they might make known to me the
interpretation of the dream.”
The Decree
Daniel 4:6
“Then the magicians, the astrologers, the
Chaldeans, and the soothsayers came in,
and I told them the dream; but they did not make known to me its
interpretation.”
Daniel 4:7
Babylonian Counselors
“But at last Daniel came before me (his name is
Belteshazzar, according to the name of my god; in him is the Spirit of the
Holy God), and I told the dream before him,
saying.”
Daniel 4:8
At Last, Daniel Appears
The King’s Appeal
• “Belteshazzar,” according to the name of Nebuchadnezzar’s God
• “Master of the Magicians”• Why not call Daniel FIRST?
– Did not wish to deal with Daniel’s God.– Realized that he might suffer humiliation and that
it would come through Daniel’s God.
• Did he forget about the image of chapter 2?
“Belteshazzar, chief of the magicians, because I know
that the Spirit of the Holy God is in you, and no secret
troubles you, explain to me the visions of my dream that I
have seen, and its interpretation.”
Daniel 4:9
Confidence in Daniel
“These were the visions of my head while on my bed: I was looking, and behold, a
tree in the midst of the earth, and its height was great.”
Daniel 4:10
The Dream
The Tree
The tree occupied a central position on the earth.Remote from any forest—therefore, would attract attention.
“The tree grew and became strong; its height reached to the heavens, and it could be
seen to the ends of all the earth.”
Daniel 4:11
The Dream
Growing and becoming strong.
Visible to the ends of the earth.
The Tree
“Its leaves were lovely, its fruit abundant, and in it was
food for all. The beasts of the field found shade under it, the birds of the heavens
dwelt in its branches, and all flesh was fed from it.”
Daniel 4:12
The Dream
Tree provided...abundant fruit,shade for beasts;birds dwelt in its branches; there was food for all.
The Tree
“I saw in the visions of my head while on my bed, and there was a watcher, a holy
one, coming down from heaven.”
Daniel 4:13
The Visions
“He cried aloud and said thus: 'Chop down the tree
and cut off its branches, strip off its leaves and scatter its fruit. Let the beasts get out from under it, and the birds
from its branches.’”
The Visions
Daniel 4:14
“Watcher and Holy One”
“I saw…”• Only time in the Old Testament the word “watcher”
is used as it is in this chapter.– Daniel refutes the king’s understanding--vs.24
• He cries out that the tree is to be hewn down.• Tree to be cut down and its leaves stripped.• Fruit will be scattered.
“Nevertheless leave the stump and roots in the earth, bound with a band
of iron and bronze, in the tender grass of the field. Let it be wet with
the dew of heaven, and let him graze with the beasts on the grass of the
earth.”
Daniel 4:15
The Stump
“Let his heart be changed from that of a man, let him
be given the heart of a beast, and let seven times
pass over him.”
A Changed Heart
Daniel 4:16
The Stump
• Tree is not completely destroyed.• The stump is to be left.• Stump—refers to the king
– He shall be cut down as king– He will remain a man– He will again become king
• The “band” refers to something that Nebuchadnezzar would undergo during his madness.
• “Let it be wet…drenched”• Portion with the beasts• Heart changed—from a man’s to a beast’s• Reason taken away• Lower, irrational creature
The Stump
• “Let seven times pass over him”
• Duration of the king’s insanity
• Length of time unknown
• Definite, fixed period of time
• Seven periods of time must pass before the King’s health returns.
The Stump
“This decision is by the decree of the watchers, and the sentence by the word of the holy ones, in order that the living may know that the Most High rules in the
kingdom of men, gives it to whomever He will, and sets over
it the lowest of men.”
Daniel 4:17
Decree Given
“This dream I, King Nebuchadnezzar, have seen. Now you, Belteshazzar,
declare its interpretation, since all the wise men of my kingdom are not able
to make known to me the interpretation; but you are able, for
the Spirit of the Holy God is in you.”
Daniel 4:18
Wants Interpretation
The Sentence
• Nebuchadnezzar—sentence is by decree of the “watchers.”
• Daniel will disagree with this conclusion• That the living may know the Most High rules in
the kingdom of men• King acknowledges the inability of the “heathen”
wise men and the ability of Daniel “for the spirit of the holy gods” was in him.
“Then Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, was astonished for a
time, and his thoughts troubled him. So the king spoke, and said,
‘Belteshazzar, do not let the dream or its interpretation trouble you...’”
Daniel 4:19
Troubling Dream
“... Belteshazzar answered and said, ‘My lord, may the dream concern those who
hate you, and its interpretation concern your
enemies!’”
Troubling Dream
Daniel 4:19
Daniel Troubled• Daniel’s troubled spirit• Daniel was perplexed—he understood that this
was God’s judgment against the king.• Idea of embarrassment• Silent for a while.• Hesitation not fear but respect for the king• Difficult to tell the king—”you’re going to go
insane!”
“The tree that you saw, which grew and became strong,
whose height reached to the heavens and which could be
seen by all the earth.”
Daniel 4:20
Revealing
“Whose leaves were lovely and its fruit abundant, in
which was food for all, under which the beasts of the field
dwelt, and in whose branches the birds of the heaven had their home.”
Revealing
Daniel 4:21
“It is you, O king, who have grown and become strong;
for your greatness has grown and reaches to the
heavens, and your dominion to the end of the earth.”
Daniel 4:22
Revealing
“And inasmuch as the king saw a watcher, a holy one, coming down from heaven
and saying, 'Chop down the tree and destroy it, but leave
its stump and roots in the earth...’”
Daniel 4:23
Revealing
“... bound with a band of iron and bronze in the tender grass of the field; let it be
wet with the dew of heaven, and let him graze with the
beasts of the field, till seven times pass over him.”
Daniel 4:23
Revealing
Daniel’s Truthful Statement
• Daniel recapitulated the dream.
• The tree symbolized the king himself.
• It denoted his pride and the extent of his sovereignty.
“This is the interpretation, O king, and this is the decree of the Most High, which has
come upon my lord the king.”
Daniel 4:24
Interpretation
“They shall drive you from men, your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field, and they shall make you eat grass like oxen. They shall
wet you with the dew of heaven...”
Daniel 4:25
Interpretation
“... and seven times shall pass over you, till you
know that the Most High rules in the kingdom of
men, and gives it to whomever He chooses.”
Daniel 4:25
Interpretation
“And inasmuch as they gave the command to
leave the stump and roots of the tree, your kingdom shall be assured to you, after you come to know
that Heaven rules.”
Daniel 4:26
Interpretation
“Therefore, O king, let my advice be acceptable to you; break off your sins by being righteous,
and your iniquities by showing mercy to the poor. Perhaps there
may be a lengthening of your prosperity.”
Daniel 4:27
Interpretation
Daniel’s Interpretation
• Daniel states the truth of the matter
• Not from the “watchers”—but from God!
• The king will be “driven from among men”
• Verses 15,16 now explained…– Driven out as men drive out beasts– Dwelling out in the open as do beasts– Dining on herbs as do beasts
• The express purpose of this is to bring the king to a knowledge of the truth.
• After the king knows that “the heavens do rule,” the kingdom shall be assured to him
• The King must be humbled to acknowledge where the power truly resides!
Daniel’s Interpretation
• Daniel urges the king to repent.
• Daniel does not say this will avert God’s judgment.
• Means of turning the king to God.
• Daniel speaks of the possibility of the lengthening of the king’s prosperity.
• Righteousness is coupled with mercy.
Daniel’s Interpretation
“All this came upon King Nebuchadnezzar.
At the end of the twelve months he was walking
about the royal palace of Babylon.”
Daniel 4:28, 29
A Year Later
“The king spoke, saying, "Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for a royal
dwelling by my mighty power and for the honor of
my majesty?”
False Pride
Daniel 4:30
Nebuchadnezzar
• “Which I have built…”• The king was a great builder
– He renovated the two temples of Marduk in Babylon, and of Nebo in Borisippa.
– Restored 15 other temples in Babylon– He completed the two great walls of the city, adding a
large rampart.– He rebuilt the palace of Nabopolassar.– In 15 days, he constructed a palace to which was
connected the “hanging gardens.”
“And you shall remember the LORD your God, for it
is He who gives you power to get wealth, that He may
establish His covenant which He swore to your
fathers, as it is this day.”
Deuteronomy 8:18
God Is the Reason
“And now I have given all these lands into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar the
king of Babylon, my servant; and the beasts of the field I have also given
him to serve him.”
God Is the Reason
Jeremiah 27:6
“Look among the nations and watch-be utterly
astounded! For I will work a work in your days which
you would not believe, though it were told you.”
God Is the Reason
Habakkuk 1:5
“For indeed I am raising up the Chaldeans, a bitter
and hasty nation which marches through the
breadth of the earth, to possess dwelling places
that are not theirs.”
God Is the Reason
Habakkuk 1:6
“While the word was still in the king's mouth, a
voice fell from heaven: ‘King Nebuchadnezzar, to
you it is spoken: the kingdom has departed
from you!’”
Dream Fulfilled
Daniel 4:31
Daniel 4:32
“And they shall drive you from men, and your
dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field.
They shall make you eat grass like oxen...”
Dream Fulfilled
“…and seven times shall pass over you,
until you know that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, and
gives it to whomever He chooses.”
Dream Fulfilled
Daniel 4:32
“That very hour the word was fulfilled concerning
Nebuchadnezzar; he was driven from men and ate grass like oxen; his
body was wet with the dew of heaven till his hair had grown like eagles' feathers and his nails like
birds' claws.” Dream Fulfilled
Daniel 4:33
King’s Insanity!
• Kingdom departs from him—while the words are in his mouth!
• His hair grew long until it resembled an eagle’s feathers.
• His nails became long and sharp like bird claws.• Medical description—lycanthropy• Ate grass like an ox!
“And at the end of the time I, Nebuchadnezzar,
lifted my eyes to heaven, and my
understanding returned to me...”
Daniel 4:34
Humbled
“...and I blessed the Most High and praised and
honored Him who lives forever: For His dominion is
an everlasting dominion, and His kingdom is from
generation to generation.”
Daniel 4:34
Humbled
“All the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing; He does according to His will in the army
of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth. No one can restrain His hand or say to
Him, what have You done?”
Daniel 4:35
Clearer Understanding
The King’s Humility
• At the “end of the days,” the king humbly looked toward heaven.
• He now recognizes the source of his help.
• He knows the eternal God alone is his strength. (Psalm 123:1)
• The King’s humble confession is an outstanding declaration of God’s sovereignty and power
• No one is like Him and His kingdom.
• No one can oppose His action.
• No one can question what He does.– “It shall come to pass in that day that the
LORD will punish on high the host of exalted ones, and on the earth the kings of the earth.” (Isaiah 24:21)
The King’s Humility
“At the same time my reason returned to me, and for the glory of
my kingdom, my honor and splendor returned to me. My
counselors and nobles resorted to me, I was restored to my kingdom, and excellent majesty was added to
me.”
Daniel 4:36
The King’s Recovery
“Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the King of heaven, all of
whose works are truth, and His ways justice. And those who walk in pride He is able
to put down.”
Daniel 4:37
The King’s Recovery
• His understanding returned.• His splendor and glory returned to him.• His place as king among his kingdom officials was
restored.• He extolled and honored the King of heaven.
– “His works are truth”– “His ways are just”– “His ability to abase the proud”
The King’s Recovery
Was the King Converted?• The king’s progression in knowledge and his
confession– His knowledge of God
• Daniel 2:47; 3:28; 4:34,35
– Confesses God’s complete sovereignty• Daniel 4:37b
– Acknowledges God’s power• Daniel 4:34,35
– Worships the “King of Heaven”• Daniel 4:37a