Introduction: The Second Dream

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1 The Book of Daniel Living in the Lion s Den without Getting Eaten Study SIX: The Den of Pride and Punishment - Daniel 4 Nebuchadnezzar s Second Dream Come True I Introduction: The Second Dream Daniel 4 is the story of how the greatest king in the world becomes a human animal for seven years. Surprisingly, it is written by the king himself - the Mao Tse-dong of the 6 th century - as a government edict. It is an order issued by the king to his citizens that leaves the reader in awe of the remarkable experience and in question of what the king himself came to believe about the God of Daniel (v. 1-3)! Read Daniel 4. Read Pr. 11:2, 16:18, 29:23; James 4:6; 1 Peter 5:5. II The King s Second Dream: at the Height of his Powers - Daniel 4:1-18 Nebuchadnezzar s military exploits had largely finished. His great work of rebuilding Babylon and making it the greatest city in the world was finished. The magnificent Hanging Gardens, huge palace, great Ishtar Gate and the numerous temples, and much more had been built. Daniel 4:4 is a true statement of the king: he was at ease and was flourishing in the way a green tree grows in fresh vigorous growth. But that night, his ease turned quickly into fear and terror. The CONTEXT of Daniel 4 explains many things about this chapter that separate it from all the others in Scripture. It tells how the greatest king in the world becomes a human animal for 7 years that is unique enough. But the FORM of the chapter is unique written by a pagan king and then recorded by Daniel under the Spirit s guidance. As well, it is a government EDICT issued by the king to his citizens. King N has seen God s great SIGNS and WONDERS over the last years of his PROSPERITY and ells of his dream. A. What about the dream made it a dream of terror for Nebuchadnezzar (v. 5-8a)? It is OPPOSITE from his life of flourishing and prosperity! Flourishing literally means growing green and describes the fresh vigorous growth of a great tree. Not a cloud in the sky, every enemy had been met and vanquished! What N saw was PERSONALLY alarming even without knowing the meaning because of ominous symbolism of a tree cut down. This turns his EASE to TERROR. B. What does the king do for the magicians, enchanters, wise men and astrologers this time that he did not do for them with the first dream (v. 7)? He tells them the dream but they are still not able to explain or interpret it. This is not new! (One wonders why N didn t just call Daniel first he is still more comfortable with his own gods.) C. For what reasons do you suppose they failed in interpreting the dream for Nebuchadnezzar (v. 7)? They only show their inability to know what the God of heaven alone knows: told or NOT told of the dream, they are bereft of the meaning. It is another statement of the failure of IDOLATRY and POLYTHEISM and PAGANISM or anything that moves us away from the living God. They are like cisterns without water in a religious system N relied on.

2 D. To whom did the king finally turn (v. 8b-10a)? In what way does the king address Daniel in v. 8a and 9a that shows us his pagan heart, in spite of the amazing things he has seen the God of heaven do for His children? Unbelief is an astonishing thing! In spite of all that facts men can face, they can see God working and still not believe. N respects Daniel and his God. N calls Daniel. This is an interesting verse because of what it still reveals about N s heart. He comments on the name he gave Daniel (re-named AFTER the name of MY god he still believes in Baal Medorach and has not departed from polytheism ) and includes him in the group of magicians (as chief of the m s, N considers Daniel the best ). He still identifies Daniel s ability in the same way he describes the fourth man in the furnace: a spirit of the holy gods dwells in him. E. In your own words, describe the dream Nebuchadnezzar recounts to Daniel (v. 10b 18). The details of the dream are familiar to us: One tree standing out in the middle of a plain the tree begins to grow. It grows and grows until it seems to reach to the stars, so that virtually everyone in the known world could see it. It s a tree of beauty and rich food for the countless animals and birds which find refuge and support with it. But suddenly, an angle appears and commands the tree to be chopped down and stripped bare. But there is a word of hope. The STUMP is not to be uprooted and burned. A BAND is to be put around it to protect it from splitting and it is to stand out under the rains of heaven in the grass. In v.s 16 and 17, the angel gives N a clue as to the meaning. This tree or this stump symbolizes a man who loses his reason for what Daniel calls SEVEN TIMES. We aren t told how long these times are but by comparing the way Daniel uses these terms in ch. 7 and 12, and the references in the book of The Revelation, it seems that SEVEN YEARS are meant. Lessons from the DEN The king still seeks the meaning of his dream from his wise men - the very ones who had failed to interpret his first dream. Scripture is faithful to warn us against putting our trust in anyone or anything other than the Lord God and His Name. Here are some excellent statements that should keep you from seeking help from spurious people. Note at the end what believers should NOT trust in: Ps. 20:7, 8 - not in CHARIOTS or HORSES but in the NAME of the Lord Ps. 31:6 - not in worthless IDOLS but in the LORD Ps. 40:4 - does not turn to the PROUD,to those who go astray after a LIE but turn to the Lord Ps. 44:6, 8 - not in my BOW do I trust, nor can my SWORD save me but in GOD, His name forever Ps. 62:10, 8 - put no trust in EXTORTION; no vain hopes on ROBBERY or riches but in Him at all times! Ps. 118:8, 9 - it is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in MAN or in PRINCES III Daniel Interprets the Dream and Calls for Repentance: Daniel 4:19-33 It is curious to know why the king didn t just call Daniel immediately to interpret this second dream. There is no clear answer except to know that once again, the occult has no answer and Nebuchadnezzar is forced to turn to God s man!

3 In your own words, explain the meaning of the dream that Daniel told Nebuchadnezzar regarding the tree (v ). What would have alarmed Daniel into stunned silence as he prepared to tell the king the meaning? Notice the effect the dream has on Daniel he is DISMAYED for a while his thoughts ALARMED him. (KJV suggests he was quiet for an hour but may mean a short time ). He obviously had come to like N and was distressed that God would judge this man, despite N s sins and weaknesses. The dream is a DREAM OF JUDGMENT that is the hardest thing to preach or tell people but it is the companion to love and grace because it is a message about a HOLY God, not a god of many colors made in man s image! The meaning: Neb., I wish this dream COULD be applied to your enemies. But you, oh king, are that tree. It describes your great kingdom and power which gathers together all the people of earth. But, OH KING like that tree, you are going to be CUT DOWN and instead of being the GREATEST King in the world, you are going to be like an animal. You will eat grass, live outside in the grass and for seven years, you will be insane. But when you come back and acknowledge that the LORD alone RULES, you will be restored to your kingdom. Nothing in the economy of God with the least to the greatest of people is ever wasted. That is certainly true in this story of Nebuchadnezzar. Amid the explanation of the kings dream, Daniel informs us of God s purpose for the king in this most bizarre judgment. How does Daniel state the purpose in v. 32? Daniel has already summarized the theme of Daniel in Daniel 2:21: IT IS GOD WHO CHANGES THE TIMES and the EPOCHS, He REMOVES kings and SETS up kings. This will be PROVEN to you, N until you know that the MOST HIGH rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he will. THIS IS THE KEY NEED FOR ALL HUMAN BEINGS: To know that the God of HEAVEN is in control, is sovereign and gives no one or no god the place in the universe, He alone owns. Lessons from the DEN How easy is it to have to tell someone news that is hard for another to hear? Why/why not? It is hard to tell bad news, particularly the bad news of judgment because judgment implies blame for wrong. It is far easier to tell good news and particularly the good news of Christ Jesus and His gospel. This man N had seen and heard and lived through the good news for years without bowing his knee to the God of heaven. If man will not believe in the LORD because of His kindness, he will never believe because of the judgment. (see the experience of unbelievers in the tribulation in the book of The Revelation: when judged, men only get madder). It is the KINDNESS of the Lord that leads to repentance. What inner motive would keep Daniel faithful to the interpretation of the dream? Daniel is a ONE GOD MAN! He has no doubt in God s WRITTEN WORD, God s presence WITH Him and the LORD has proven Himself faithful to Daniel for a long time. He has nothing to lose and everything to gain in staying faithful to the Faithful God of his fathers. IV A Dream of Judgment Requires Repentance: Daniel 4:33-37

4 What God ordained and revealed as an act of judgment on a proud man through His prophet came to pass for seven years, as had been predicted. In typical God-like fashion, a proud man rightly comes under God s judgment and Nebuchadnezzar is personally disciplined. A. From this section, how do we know Nebuchadnezzar never responded in trust to Daniel s plea to repent of his sin before God s judgment fell (v. 33 and v. 34a)? The WORD of God against N is IMMEDIATELY fulfilled there is no need for incantations (as there may be with the pagan gods) or chanting or any of the rituals that make up pagan religion. God says it and it is done! The state of N is now horrendous but true to Daniel s interpretation. His behavior is bizarre and he goes mad in his mind. B. What was at the heart of Nebuchadnezzar s sin? At what point did the king s reason return to him (v. 34a)? N comes to an end of his PRIDE his independence of God - and lifts his eyes to heaven and his reason returned and he blesses the Most High and praises and honors the eternal one. His kingdom is restored and his reason returns. C. Following his humiliation and judgment by God, what does Nebuchadnezzar say about the God of heaven? The truths in these verses are worth repeating to yourself over and over, especially v. 35b. v. 34b - N reviews what Daniel has already told him: The God of heaven s kingdom is everlasting enduring. v The inhabitants of earth are counted as nothing. NO ONE has the right to ask Him: What have you done! v. 37 I, N praise and extol and honor the king of heaven His works are right; His ways are just; he humbles the proud. Did N truly believe in the God of heaven? It is possible by his words that he understands. At LEAST, his words give credence to truth. Based on Romans 10:9 he bears witness to the nature of God with his own mouth and God restores his kingdom. V RESOLVED: To Walk Humbly With my God. The theme of pride recurs often in God s word and those who indulge it are resisted by God, beginning with Satan who, when filled with pride said, I will be as god and is brought crashing down. Two prayers that model a humble and submissive spirit before God can be found in 1 Samuel 2:1-10 and Luke 1: As you repent of sin or call on the Name of the LORD for help, why not RESOLVE today: to recognize the folly of pride and independence of God. to understand the danger of pride in your life can destroy you.

5 to confirm in your heart for all time, that God is sovereign in the affairs of men, including yours. to daily embrace the gracious God who exalts the humble and has mercy on those who come to Him in repentant faith.