In Daniel 4:1-27, 34-35, King Nebuchadnezzar declares to the nations how the Lord helped him to change his behavior... something only God could bring about.
In Daniel 4:16, God forewarned Nebuchadnezzar that he would “be given the heart of a beast” if he continued in his self-boasting. Proverbs 21:1 says, “The king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord, like the rivers of water He turns it wherever He wishes.”
A year after Nebuchadnezzar was forewarned by God to break off his sins by being righteous, and his iniquities by showing mercy to the poor, he was still boasting... “Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for a royal dwelling, by my mighty power and for the honor of my majesty?” In that same hour, he lost his reason (מַנְדַּע man-dah – power of knowing).
According to the Jamieson Fausset Brown Commentary, “An inscription in the East India Company’s Museum is read as describing the period of Nebuchadnezzar’s insanity [G. V. Smith]. In the so-called standard inscription read by Sir H. Rawlinson, Nebuchadnezzar relates that during four years he ceased to lay out buildings, or to furnish with victims Merodach’s altar, or to clear out the canals for irrigation. No other instance in the cuneiform inscriptions occurs of a king recording his own inaction.”
According to an article entitled, “Nebuchadnezzar The King of Kings, Part 3” on the website of Amazing Facts.org, “Clinical lycanthropy is a rare disorder in which a human believes that he is turning into an animal. There came a time when the most powerful ruler in the world actually found himself in this very state.”
In Daniel 4:32, 34, 36-37, Nebuchadnezzar regained his reason, his honor, his counselors, his nobles, and his kingdom. Then, he declared to the nations, “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.”
Below are the details from God’s own Words, the Bible...
“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. How great are His signs, and how mighty His wonders! His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and His dominion is from generation to generation.” Daniel 4:1-3
He wanted everyone in every land to know the miracles which the Most High God had done for him. He greeted them kindly. He declared to them that God’s kingdom is everlasting.
“I, Nebuchadnezzar, was at rest in my house, and flourishing in my palace. I saw a dream which made me afraid, and the thoughts on my bed and the visions of my head troubled me. 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. 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. 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: ‘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 4:4-9
Nebuchadnezzar resided in a city that was renowned for its massive building projects, including the Ishtar Gate and famous the Hanging Gardens. He was resting in his house when a dream made him afraid and troubled his mind. His Chaldean advisors could not interpret his dream’s meaning so he turned to Daniel... “Because” he says, “I know that the Spirit of the Holy God is in you, and no secret troubles you.” He told Daniel about his dream.
“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. The tree grew and became strong; its height reached to the heavens, and it could be seen to the ends of all the earth. 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 4:10-12
According to the Jamieson Fausset Brown Commentary, “The ‘world tree’ was a common motif in many ancient religions. It was an image of the totality of the world. Its top reached heaven, it was in the earth, and its roots sunk to the underworld.” In Matthew 13:31-32, Jesus compared the Kingdom of God to a mustard seed, which “is the least of all the seeds; but when it is grown it is greater than the herbs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and nest in its branches.” Jesus was saying to His listeners that His Kingdom is the one that sustains all life.
“I saw in the visions of my head while on my bed, and there was a watcher, a holy one, coming down from heaven. 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. 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. 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.” Daniel 4:13-16
God allowed Nebuchadnezzar to rule over the kingdoms of the world for a season, but as he took for himself the glory that belongs to God, God humbled him.
“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
God was telling Nebuchadnezzar that he was not the highest. He was the lowest. He needed to realize the grace that God had shown him.
“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
I like that he knew that Daniel could interpret his dream because God’s Spirit helped Daniel.
“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.’ Belteshazzar answered and said, ‘My lord, may the dream concern those who hate you, and its interpretation concern your enemies!’” Daniel 4:19
Daniel had to proclaim bad news to his king. He wished that he could say that the king’s dream pertained to his enemies who hated him, but that was not the case. Here’s the interpretation...
“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, 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—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. 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, 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;’ this is the interpretation, O king, and this is the decree of the Most High, which has come upon my lord the king: 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, 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. 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 4:20-26
Nebuchadnezzar with his mighty army, superior weaponry and great wealth falsely assumed that his position was secure, but no one should assume that they are so secure in a high position that no one can bring them down. It only took one watcher, one holy one, from heaven to chop his mighty tree down and turn him into a branchless and fruitless stump of a man.
The Spirit of God helped Daniel to foresee what was about to happen to his king. Daniel advised Nebuchadnezzar with wisdom from God, saying...
“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
But Nebuchadnezzar held onto his pride...
“All this came upon King Nebuchadnezzar. At the end of the 12 months he was walking about the royal palace of Babylon. 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?’ 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! 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; 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.’ 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.” Daniel 4:28-33
The Hebrew word for “times” is עִדָּן which according to Brown-Driver-Briggs (Old Testament Hebrew-English Lexicon) is technically a year. For seven years, he behaved like a beast which eats grass. His hair was long and clumped together in bunches so that his hair looked like feathers. His finger and toe nails looked like the talons of a large bird. His inward craziness was now revealed in his outward appearance. In Revelation 13:1-17, the antichrist and his false prophet are described as beasts. Perhaps, they too will lose their human mannerisms.
“And at the end of the time I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted my eyes to heaven, and my understanding returned to me; 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. 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 4:34-35
After seven years, Nebuchadnezzar’s understanding returned to him. I have heard people testify of how after experiencing years of depression, the depression left them with no obvious explanation or trigger. This is God’s mercy. In Job 1:12, 2:6, the Lord placed limits on Satan, as to how much He would allow Job’s faith to be tested by the devil.
Praise God for limited tests! In Revelation 2:10, the Lord allowed the Smyrna Christians to be tested by the devil for ten days. He told them to be faithful until death, and He would give them a crown of life.
No matter what comes our way, we should always hold tight to our profession of faith in Christ.
After experiencing humble circumstances in Hong Kong for a while, I assumed that my witness for Christ had failed. But to my surprise, one day, a spokesperson for many said to me, “We know that God is with you because you go through so much and still keep witnessing for Christ.”
Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 11:30, “If I must boast, I will boast in the things which concern my infirmity.” In 2 Corinthians 12:9, the Lord said to Paul, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Paul’s response to the Lord in 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 was, “Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” In Galatians 6:14, Paul, who once prided himself in his religiosity, wrote, “God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.”
After so many experiences with God, Nebuchadnezzar also redirected his boasting to God...
“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. 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 4:36-37
What about us? Who do we talk about more? About Christ our Savior, or about ourselves? The culture of heaven is about proclaiming the worthiness of Christ to receive all the glory, honor and blessing. His glory is not about powerful weapons and making people kill others. His glory is about forgiving sinners, and filling us with love, joy and peace in the Holy Spirit.
Glory be to Christ alone!
No comments:
Post a Comment