Continuation from Part 1:
Daniel 4 – Nebuchadnezzar’s Second Dream – A Tree Reaching Towards Heaven
Literal. Nebuchadnezzar announces himself as king unto all people, nations, and languages upon earth; and offers a salutation of peace. His parades his pride before his audience by stating that he saw it as a good thing to show the wonders that the ‘high God’ bestowed upon him. Nebuchadnezzar knew the Spirit ‘of the holy gods’ (vs. 8,18). The king’s problem was that he wanted to embrace all gods.
Nebuchadnezzar has another dream which makes him afraid and troubles him. Although he remembers the dream, he needs for it to be interpreted. He summons all his wisemen: the magicians, astrologers, Chaldeans, and soothsayers. They are unable to provide an interpretation. Daniel, being the last, comes in. Nebuchadnezzar tells Daniel that he knows the ‘spirit of the holy gods is in him’, that he knows the secret things do not trouble him; and asks Daniel to tell him the vision and its interpretation. Daniel provides the king with the interpretation as the kings tells him the vision.
*Daniel’s name was changed to Belteshazzar which means, Bel protects his life; meaning the king’s life.
Nebuchadnezzar tells Daniel the vision. He saw a tree in the midst of the earth and the height was great. The tree grew and was strong; its height reached up to heaven. It could be seen to the end of all the earth. The leaves were fair and it bore much fruit; and it was food for all. The beasts of the field laid in its shade, the fowls nested in the branches, and all upon the earth was fed from it.
A watcher and a holy one came down from haven. He cried out and said, Cut down the tree, take off its branches, remove the leaves, and scatter its fruit; remove the beasts and birds from it. But, leave the stump, roots, and leave the band of iron and brass upon it. And, let his food be with the beasts in the grass of the earth. Let his heart be changed from man to beast for seven years (let seven times pass over him). See: 2 Chron. 16:9, God is the Holy “Watcher” who cares for his people.
This matter is decreed by the watchers, and the demand by the word of the holy ones (Father, Son, Holy Spirit). Thie intent is that the living may know that the most High rules in the kingdom of men, gives it to He sees fit, and sets up over it the basest of men; in other words those lowest on the spiritual scale.
Nebuchadnezzar is finished telling Daniel his vision and asks for the interpretation. He admits that all the wise men of his kingdom are unable to interpret the vision. Again, Nebuchadnezzar says that Daniel is filled with the spirit of the holy gods. Here we see that Nebuchadnezzar is still clinging to his gods. His problem was that he wanted to embrace all gods.
Daniel was in amazement and astonished for one hour, his thoughts troubled him because of the gravity of the situation. He must tell the king that he will become insane for seven years. Nebuchadnezzar assured him not to be troubled by the vision. Daniel begins to tell the king the meaning of the vision, and basically says ‘if this was only for those that hate thee…your enemies’. What a beginning statement! This should grab the absolute attention of Nebuchadnezzar because it is indicative of the seriousness of the situation that is being set before Nebuchadnezzar.
Daniel tells Nebuchadnezzar, that the tree represented him and how he grew and became strong and his greatness reach the height of heaven and his dominion encompassed the earth.
As far as the watcher and a holy one that coming down from heaven who gave the command to chop the tree down, leaving only a banded stump and its roots. It would be left in the field with the beasts until seven times pass over him (seven years). Daniel told him that he would be driven out and he would dwell among the oxen eating grass alongside of them for seven years – TILL you KNOW that the most High rules in the kingdom of men and gives it to whom so ever he will. Daniel gives assuring words that the kingdom shall be returned after this experience.
This is God’s way of providing an opportunity for repentance and surrender to the most High who rules in the kingdom of men and an opportunity to give glory to God and God alone. Nebuchadnezzar could avoid this situation. It reminds of Nineveh, where God set before them an unsavory outcome should they decide not to repent and continue down their own path. The whole of Nineveh repented and surrendered to God, avoiding the judgment. Much later they fell into apostacy again and the judgment fell upon them. We have the same opportunity before us, we can choose to repent and surrender all to God and avoid the judgment. What do you choose this day?
The counsel that Daniel gave indicates that the king could still avoid the threatened judgment (v. 27). Daniel gave Nebuchadnezzar some advice to turn away or repent of his sins, otherwise, the disaster would surely take place to help the king acknowledge where his breath and life are coming from. God intended the king to learn a certain lesson from this dream; or, if not from that, from the experience it forecast. Then, when the lesson was learned, his kingdom would be restored to him.
What was it God wanted the king to understand? ____________________________________________________________________________
God’s rulership was the lesson God had been seeking to teach the king from the beginning. Some thirty years earlier Daniel had told the king, “the God of heaven has given you a kingdom” (Dan. 2:37-38); but Nebuchadnezzar had set up an image of god to declare his pride and independence from the Most High. In other words, he refused to accept God’s sovereignty. God now lays another opportunity before him to learn this most valuable lesson, but again he failed.
Why would the Lord want him to know this? __________________________________________________________________________________
Nebuchadnezzar was a master at walking in his own pride. God wanted Nebuchadnezzar to recognize his own pride, for it is pride that leads one to believe they can live without Him. Just think about Lucifer and how that turned out.
Verse 28 tells us the outcome for it says, “All this came upon the king Nebuchadnezzar.
At the end of twelve months, one day while Nebuchadnezzar was walking in the palace, he puffed himself up as he looked upon his kingdom 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?” (v. 30). While the words were in his mouth, God spoke from heaven saying, “O king Nebuchadnezzar, to thee it is spoken; The kingdom is departed from thee.” (v. 31). God went on and told him that he will be driven out, and he would dwell as a beast with the oxen and grass would be his food for seven years – “until thou know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will.” (v.32). Within that same hour Nebuchadnezzar became as a beast and was run out of the palace, and did eat grass like an ox, he was wet with dew, his hairs were grown like eagles’ feather, and his nails were like birds’ claws (v. 33).
At the end of the seven years, Nebuchadnezzar gives his testimony of conversion when he lifted up his eyes unto heaven and his understanding returned to him. He spoke of blessing of the most High praising and honouring him, proclaiming His dominion is an everlasting dominion.
Nebuchadnezzar was sought out by his counsellors and was established back into his kingdom. Daniel 4 ends with Nebuchadnezzar praising, extoling, and honouring the King of heaven, all whose works are truth, and his ways judgment: and those that walk in pride he is able to abase (v. 37).
Life of Jesus. Jesus borrows this very tree imagery to describe the true tree which is the tree of Calvary.
Prophecy or Pattern. God seeks to save the lost (Matt. 18:11; Luke 15:19, 19:10). There are so many accounts of God seeking to save the lost, another one that we should remember is Saul who was converted and renamed Paul.
King of the North Concept. The king of the north sets up his palaces, to be gloried in his palaces; and his sins reach unto heaven.
Nebuchadnezzar’s ego overtakes him as he looks at his palace that he built for his own glory and this is when his pride has reached its limit.