7-5-10

DANIEL 4

In this chapter, written from the king’s perspective, the king begins by honoring God, giving credit to the signs God has shown Nebuchadnezar up to this point. This humility will be short-lived, as we’ll see.

King Nebuchadnezzar has another dream, only this time, he remembers it. Yet he wants to know it’s meaning. He calls all his wise men, magicians, etc., and nobody can interpret for him. He remembers Daniel and the previous experience with his dream, and calls for him.

I won’t rehearse the entire dream here, only to summarize vv 11-17. He dreams of a huge tree, providing shelter to many, and the tree is cut down to the stump. Suddenly the tree becomes labeled as “him”, so the image shifts to a man, who loses his mind for a time, and an angelic being reminding this man who God is.

Daniel is troubled, he already knows the interpretation, and it’s not good for the king. Nevertheless, the king wants to know, and he will not be upset with Daniel, whatever the meaning of the dream comes to be.

Again, there is a good explanation of the interpretation in vv 20-26. It’s clear to Daniel, unless Nebuchadnezzar changes his ways, he will be greatly humbled by the Lord.

Two verses jumped out at me. First, verse 27. Daniel pleads with the king to “break away from your sins” (mainly pride), so that his prosperity may be prolonged. Second, verse 30: Nebuchadnezzar is on top of his palace, looking over the land, and he states “...Babylon the great, which I myself have built...my power...my majesty?” He has forgotten Who caused his rise to power, and does not realize that God’s people are in his care. “While the words were still in the kings mouth”, he was changed to eating grass like cattle, he became like a beast of the field, literally, and he lived the next seven years as such.

And, as the end of his dream implied, he would be restored once he realized who God really was, and who was really in control. He does bless God by the end of this chapter, and, as promised, his majesty was restored, and he praises the King of Heaven. This is the last we hear from Nebuchadnezzar.

All through this time period, remember Judah is there in captivity, and they watch how God maintains control. They, too, had been prideful in following other gods and themselves; they should be learning a great lesson along the way.

SO WHAT...?

So, I need to realize what the king realized about God, “all His works are true and His ways just, and he is able to humble those who walk in pride.” Yes, pride is a killer, and I need to check mine and remember the ways of God.

So, in spite of Him being in total control, He has given me work to do, work of my choosing to follow or not, and that is to bless His name, reflect His glory, and tell others what He has done and is doing for me, and what He can do for others.

So, I for one am really glad He is God, and that He is in control.