....... Chapter 4 - Nebuchadnezzar's Prophetic Dream of a Tree

WHO IS REALLY IN CONTROL? GOD? MAN?

Chapter 4 concludes a series of four chapters dealing with the introduction of Nebuchadnezzar the King of King's from the world view, to the God of the Universe.

Chapter 1 - Daniel and his friends show their loyalty to God in an un-Godly nation.
Chapter 2 - God uses a dream to reveal God to Nebuchadnezzar.
Chapter 3 - God uses the loyalty of Daniel's three friends to demonstrate God as superior to the Babylonian Gods, Nebuchadnezzar's image and Nebuchadnezzar himself.

By this point it was clear that Nebuchadnezzar recognized wisdom of and respected the power of God.

Dan 2:46-47

46 Then King Nebuchadnezzar fell prostrate before Daniel and paid him honor and ordered that an offering and incense be presented to him.

47 The king said to Daniel, "Surely your God is the God of gods and the Lord of kings and a revealer of mysteries, for you were able to reveal this mystery." (NIV)

Dan 3:28-29

28 Then Nebuchadnezzar said, "Praise be to the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, who has sent his angel and rescued his servants! They trusted in him and defied the king's command and were willing to give up their lives rather than serve or worship any god except their own God.

29 Therefore I decree that the people of any nation or language who say anything against the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego be cut into pieces and their houses be turned into piles of rubble, for no other god can save in this way." (NIV)

It is clear that Nebuchadnezzar recognized the power of God even to the point that he demanded the Nation of Babylon in the form of a decree to respect God.

How did Nebuchadnezzar come to this understanding of God? How did God reveal Himself to Nebuchadnezzar?

God took the initiative through dreams, interpretation, and by miraculously saving Daniel & his friends from what would otherwise be sure disaster.
God used Daniel & his friends who were faithful and obedient as God's Servants and Witnesses".

Chapter 4 is an illustration of Job 33:14-18

14 For God does speak-- now one way, now another-- though man may not perceive it.

15 In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falls on men as they slumber in their beds,

16 he may speak in their ears and terrify them with warnings,

17 to turn man from wrongdoing and keep him from pride,

18 to preserve his soul from the pit, his life from perishing by the sword. (NIV)

What is Nebuchadnezzar's relationship with God? Is he now a follower of God in the sense that the Bible refers to a true follower of God or is something missing?

What stumbling blocks does he need to overcome to become a true follower of God?

Pride, arrogance & self sufficiency
Once a person recognized God as Lord there is but one way to approach Him and that is in full humility. We depend on Him for everything.

2 Chr 7:14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. (KJV)

Matt 5:3 "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. (NIV)

Matt 23:12 For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted. (NIV)

James 4:6 ".......God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble."(NIV)

James 4:10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up. (KJV)

1 Pet 5:6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: (KJV)

In chapter 4 we have a letter humbly written by the Nebuchadnezzar the King of Babylon to the peoples, nations and men of every language, who live in all the world. The peoples include; Babylonians, Assyrians, and Chaldeans, Medes and Persians, Egyptians, Jews, and the nations round about them; Spaniards, Moors, Thracians, and others.

Dan 4:1-3

1 King Nebuchadnezzar, To the peoples, nations and men of every language, who live in all the world: May you prosper greatly!

2 It is my pleasure to tell you about the miraculous signs and wonders that the Most High God has performed for me.

3 How great are his signs, how mighty his wonders! His kingdom is an eternal kingdom; his dominion endures from generation to generation.(NIV)

Has Nebuchadnezzar really changed to the point of humility to God? Think about that as your read Nebuchadnezzar's letter to the world recorded in Daniel 4. Can you imagine any of our world or national leaders making such a personal testimony in public except that they had been touched by the power of God.

What was God's purpose for giving this dream?

Dan 4:17 "'.....so that the living may know that the Most High is sovereign over the kingdoms of men and gives them to anyone he wishes and sets over them the lowliest of men.'"(NIV)

Dan 4:25 "....until you acknowledge that the Most High is sovereign over the kingdoms of men and gives them to anyone he wishes."(NIV)

Dan 4:32 "...until you acknowledge that the Most High is sovereign over the kingdoms of men and gives them to anyone he wishes."(NIV)

What was the purpose of the Tree?

Dan 4:11

11 The tree grew large and strong and its top touched the sky; it was visible to the ends of the earth.

12 Its leaves were beautiful, its fruit abundant, and on it was food for all. Under it the beasts of the field found shelter, and the birds of the air lived in its branches; from it every creature was fed. (NIV)

Was the tree created primarily for its own greatness or glory?

It was to provide shelter and food for the birds of the air and the beasts of the field, providing for and protecting the earthly animals. Nebuchadnezzar, other leaders of the world and even us as individuals forget that we have received our position and abilities not because of our own doing (see Ephesians 2:8-10) nor for our own pleasure and greatness but for God's purpose.

Is it possible that Nebuchadnezzar now had a better understanding of God's purpose for his life as alluded to in the prophesy by Jeremiah.

Jer 27:6 Now I will hand all your countries over to my servant Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon; I will make even the wild animals subject to him. (NIV)

God uses Daniel to warn Nebuchadnezzar of the forthcoming divine punishment with a recommendation to turn from sin and avoid the consequences to come.

Dan 4:27 Therefore, O king, be pleased to accept my advice: Renounce your sins by doing what is right, and your wickedness by being kind to the oppressed. It may be that then your prosperity will continue." (NIV)

This kind of advice is very common throughout the Bible;

Israel received this kind of advice many times although they seldom followed it. The Babylonian captivity is one of the consequences of not following the divine advice of the prophets.
Nineveh received this kind of advice from Jonah and turned from their evil ways and were saved.
This kind of advice is even given to us the Church throughout the New Testament. Here are some examples:

Rev 2:7 ... To him who overcomes, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.(NIV)

Rev 2:11 ...He who overcomes will not be hurt at all by the second death. (NIV)

Rev 2:17 ...To him who overcomes, I will give some of the hidden manna. I will also give him a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to him who receives it.(NIV)

Rev 2:26 To him who overcomes and does my will to the end, I will give authority over the nations--(NIV)

Rev 3:5 He who overcomes will, like them, be dressed in white. I will never blot out his name from the book of life, but will acknowledge his name before my Father and his angels.(NIV)

Rev 3:12 Him who overcomes I will make a pillar in the temple of my God. Never again will he leave it. I will write on him the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which is coming down out of heaven from my God; and I will also write on him my new name.(NIV)

Rev 3:20-21 Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.

21 To him who overcomes, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I overcame and sat down with my Father on his throne.(NIV)

Nebuchadnezzar's Insanity

Pride can be considered a form of insanity in that it is a condition of which someone loses track of reality.
The Greeks call this strange form of madness Lycanthropy where sufferers imagine themselves a beast and insists on leading the life of a beast.
Nebuchadnezzar's form of insanity is pretty well identified and known to day, and it is something, which a number of world rulers have suffered from. It is believed the psychiatrist today would label it hysteria. Hysteria is a highly emotional mental disease. A historian tells us that a number of other world rulers have suffered from some form of mental instability: JV. McGee.

Is there any independent historical evidence of Nebuchadnezzar's insanity?

Keeping in mind that this is the kind of thing that is generally stricken from the official records to help preserve the king's good image. Even with this consideration there does appear to be archeological evidence that point to this time of insanity.

It is possible that a fragmentary cuneiform tablet in the British Museum, published in 1975, refers to Nebuchadnezzar's mental illness, for it says of the king that "life appeared of no value to " him, that "he does not show love to son and daughter," and that "family and clan does not exist" for him any longer (A.K. Grayson, Babylonian Historical-Literary Tests [Toronto, 1975], pp. 88-92)
One of Nebuchadnezzar's inscriptions as read by Sir Henry Rowlinson states: "For four years the residence of my kingdom did not delight my heart. In no one of my possessions did I erect any important building by my might. I did not put up buildings in Babylon for myself and honor of my name. In the worship of Merodach my god I did not sing his praise, nor did I provide his altar with sacrifices, nor clean the canals." This is thought by some to be a reference to his insanity. Halley's Bible Handbook

A confirmation of the Scripture narrative is afforded by the recent discovery of a bronze door-step, which bears an inscription to the effect that it was presented by Nebuchadnezzar to the great temple at Borsippa as a votive offering on account of his recovery from a terrible illness. Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary

Angelic watcher (see vs 13)

The scripture tells us that we are always under the eye of God.
It may be a secret sin on earth but it is in full view in Heaven.

Ps 139:7

7 Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence?

8 If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.

9 If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea,

10 even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.

11 If I say, "Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me,"

12 even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you. (NIV)

Heb 1:14

14 Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation? (NIV)

What is the purpose of the decision declared by the angelic watchers?

Dan 4:17

17 "..... so that the living may know that the Most High is sovereign over the kingdoms of men and gives them to anyone he wishes and sets over them the lowliest of men.' (NIV)

Jeremiah 25 God declares Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon as His servant for His purpose.
God makes it real clear that leadership is His responsibility and not something that is a byproduct of mere man.

1 Pet 2:13-14

13 Submit yourselves for the Lord's sake to every authority instituted among men: whether to the king, as the supreme authority,

14 or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right. (NIV)

Not only are the control of kingdoms a Godly matter but they are also a spiritual matter of which Satan is there to upset the plan of God. Daniel 10 briefly provides us with a glimpse of the spiritual battle with Satan at the world power level. We also see a distinction in ranking amongst the angels.

Dan 10:12,13

12 Then he continued, "Do not be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day that you set your mind to gain understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to them.

13 But the prince of the Persian kingdom resisted me twenty-one days. Then Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, because I was detained there with the king of Persia. (NIV)

Dan 10:20

20 So he said, "Do you know why I have come to you? Soon I will return to fight against the prince of Persia, and when I go, the prince of Greece will come;

21 but first I will tell you what is written in the Book of Truth. (No one supports me against them except Michael, your prince. (NIV)

This provides us with a little more insight into the passage in Ephesians.

Eph 6:11-12

11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. (NKJ)

Even though God has allowed His people to be exiled, He hasn't abandoned them but continues to keep watch and remains in control. Like wise God still remains in control of the events that go on in our universe.

So who's in control in our country? The Democrats or the Republicans?

Rom 13:1 Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. (NIV)

And here we thought it was the Democrats and the Republicans that put men in power.

It is evident that Nebuchandnezzar had a surplus of pride & Arrogance and a deficit on humility.

The Bible teaches the opposite of Pride

Romans 15:1-3; Ephesians 4:28, Jeremiah 7:1-7; 22:13-23; Ezekiel 34:1-6; Matthew 23:14

God corrected this misbalance by bringing him to the lowest of positions; that of living like an animal.

Jer 9:23

23 This is what the LORD says: "Let not the wise man boast of his wisdom or the strong man boast of his strength or the rich man boast of his riches,

24 but let him who boasts boast about this: that he understands and knows me, that I am the LORD, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight," declares the LORD. (NIV)

Nebuchadnezzar turns his eyes toward Heaven

Dan 4:34

34 At the end of that time, I, Nebuchadnezzar, raised my eyes toward heaven, and my sanity was restored. Then I praised the Most High; I honored and glorified him who lives forever. His dominion is an eternal dominion; his kingdom endures from generation to generation.

35 All the peoples of the earth are regarded as nothing. He does as he pleases with the powers of heaven and the peoples of the earth. No one can hold back his hand or say to him: "What have you done?"

36 At the same time that my sanity was restored, my honor and splendor were returned to me for the glory of my kingdom. My advisers and nobles sought me out, and I was restored to my throne and became even greater than before.

37 Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and exalt and glorify the King of heaven, because everything he does is right and all his ways are just. And those who walk in pride he is able to humble. (NIV)

What are we building in our lives today? Are we building empires or are we building in the lives of others?

Daniel 4 takes the following course:

PRIDE -> HUMILITY -> SALVATION

Pride:

Dan 4:30

30 he said, "Is not this the great Babylon I have built as the royal residence, by my mighty power and for the glory of my majesty?"

(NIV) Nebuchadnezzar had a bad case of perpendicular "I"tis.

Humility

Dan 4:31- 33

Salvation

Dan 4:37

One of the most important things that each of us can do is to examine our selves.

2 Cor 13:5

Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you-- unless, of course, you fail the test? (NIV)

As a result of this self-examination:

a) we may find ourselves to be as the Nebuchadnezzar of Chapter 3 who intellectually recognized God for His Wisdom and Power. or

b) we may find ourselves to be as the Nebuchadnezzar of Chapter 4 who placed his trust in God as Lord with a desire to trust, love and worship Him.

Dan 4:37

37 Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and exalt and glorify the King of heaven, because everything he does is right and all his ways are just. And those who walk in pride he is able to humble. (NIV)

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