Friday, October 4, 2013

Daniel 4 - the Testimony of Nebuchadnezzar

This whole chapter is the testimony of the greatest king that ever lived, the greatest tyrant that ever ruled. It is the story of how God broke the pride of his heart, humiliated him, humbled him, allowed him to exercise his pride until it resulted in what always results when men live in pride - madness. Who brought him to this? Humanly speaking, it was Daniel and his friends; four young men were used of God to win the heart of the greatest king of the greatest empire the world has yet seen. Chapter 4 of Daniel is unique. It is the only portion of the Old Testament written by a Gentile.

We do not know exactly when the events of this chapter occurred. Some historians place it at the middle of Nebuchadnezzar’s reign, perhaps shortly after Chapter 2. Others place it at the end of his reign and date this letter at the last year of his life. A likely scenario is that these events transpired between the 30th and 35th years of Nebuchadnezzar’s reign, about 20 years after the events of the fiery furnace. Daniel would be in his upper 40’s at this point.

(1) King Nebuchadnezzar sent this message to the people of every race and nation and language throughout the world: "Peace and prosperity to you!

  • This unique chapter is the testimony of a Gentile king about how God changed his heart. In this, Nebuchadnezzar is a good example of a witness (one who relates what he has seen and experienced).

(2) "I want you all to know about the miraculous signs and wonders the *Most High God has performed for me.

  • *most high God: El Elyon in Hebrew; hhla 'elahh in Aramaic.
  • Nebuchadnezzar separates the God of Israel from the Babylonians by calling him the “Most High”.

(3) How great are his signs, how powerful his wonders! His *kingdom will last forever, his rule through all generations.

  • Nebuchadnezzar was a great king, but in this chapter he recognizes that God’s kingdom is far greater and His dominion is completely unique because it is an everlasting kingdom.
  • *kingdom will last forever: This is in contrast to the changing kingdom represented by the vision of chapter 2.

(4) "I, Nebuchadnezzar, was living in my palace in comfort and prosperity.

  • At this point in Nebuchadnezzar’s reign, Babylon was at the peak of its size and glory. The wars and rebellions that characterized the first part of his reign were past and he was now enjoying a time of peace and prosperity. At this point, Nebuchadnezzar was focused on the building of Babylon. Nebuchadnezzar’s rest was the false peace of the ungodly. God soon shook him from his false security.

(5) But one night I had a dream that greatly frightened me; I saw visions that terrified me as I lay in my bed.

(6) So I issued an order calling in all the wise men of Babylon, so they could tell me what my dream meant.

(7) When all the magicians, enchanters, astrologers, and fortune-tellers came in, I told them the dream, but they could not tell me what it meant.

  • This is not the same dream as in Daniel 2. Nebuchadnezzar readily told his counselors this dream but they did not tell him what it meant, possibly because they were afraid to.

(8) At last Daniel came in before me, and I told him the dream. (He was named Belteshazzar after my god, and the *spirit of the holy gods is in him.)

  • Why wasn't Daniel brought in at first?
  • This means that what he saw previously with Daniel and the three Hebrew young men was enough to impress him, but not enough to convert him. Being impressed with God isn’t the same as being converted.
  • *spirit of the holy gods: The word “gods” is translated in the plural in most versions but the original Aramaic can be translated in either the singular or the plural based on the context.

(9) "I said to him, 'O Belteshazzar, master magician, I know that the spirit of the holy gods is in you and that no mystery is too great for you to solve. Now tell me what my dream means.

(10) "'While I was lying in my bed, this is what I dreamed. I saw a *large tree in the middle of the earth.

  • *large tree: This was a common symbol of the power and pervasiveness of important men in the Ancient Near East.
  • The figure of a tree to denote men in their earthly greatness is often used in the prophets:
    • Ezekiel 31:3-8: You are as Assyria was -- a great and mighty nation. Assyria, too, was once like a cedar of Lebanon, full of thick branches that cast deep forest shade with its top high among the clouds. Deep springs watered it and helped it to grow tall and luxuriant. The water was so abundant that there was enough for all the trees nearby. This great tree towered above all the other trees around it. It prospered and grew long thick branches because of all the water at its roots. The birds nested in its branches, and in its shade all the wild animals gave birth to their young. All the great nations of the world lived in its shadow. It was strong and beautiful, for its roots went deep into abundant water. This tree became taller than any of the other cedars in the garden of God. No cypress had branches equal to it; no plane tree had boughs to compare. No tree in the garden of God came close to it in beauty

(11) The tree grew very tall and strong, reaching *high into the heavens for all the world to see.

  • *high into the heavens: This phrase is reminiscent of the Tower of Babel in Genesis 11:4, which also denotes human arrogance and pride.

(12) It had fresh green leaves, and it was loaded with fruit for all to eat. Wild animals lived in its shade, and birds nested in its branches. All the world was fed from this tree.

(13) "'Then as I lay there dreaming, I saw a *messenger, a holy one, coming down from heaven.

  • *messenger: watcher in the original - presumably an angel.

(14) The messenger shouted, "Cut down the tree; lop off its branches! Shake off its leaves, and scatter its fruit! Chase the animals from its shade and the birds from its branches.

(15) But leave the stump and the roots in the ground, bound with a *band of iron and bronze and surrounded by tender grass. Now let him be drenched with the dew of heaven, and let him live like an animal among the plants of the fields.

  • *and of iron: Most commentators assume that it was for the protection of the stump, although some see it as being related to the restraints that bound Nebuchadnezzar during the time that he was deranged.
  • The purpose of banding a tree stump is to keep it from splitting and preserve its life. God wasn’t yet done with Nebuchadnezzar. His life would be preserved to accomplish a greater purpose that the Lord had for him.

(16) For seven periods of time, let him have the mind of an animal instead of a human.

(17) For this has been decreed by the messengers ; it is commanded by the holy ones. The purpose of this decree is that the whole world may understand that the Most High rules over the kingdoms of the world and gives them to anyone he chooses -- even to the lowliest of humans."

  • To the Ancient Near East, the historical situation looked as if YHWH had been defeated by the Babylonian gods, but in reality YHWH was using the empires of the Fertile Crescent (Assyria, Babylon, Persia) to execute His will related to His people (cf. Isaiah 10:5; Jeremiah 51:20). God's people were reaping the consequences of idolatry and rebellion. God needed to reassure His people and inform the pagan empires (v. 25) of the source of their current political and military prowess.
  • There is a parallel thought-passage in the Book of Exodus. God is speaking through Moses to Pharaoh: "But I (God) have raised you (Pharaoh) up for this very purpose, that I might show you my power and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth. (Exodus 9:16 NIV)

(18) "'O Belteshazzar, that was the dream that I, King Nebuchadnezzar, had. Now tell me what it means, for no one else can help me. All the wisest men of my kingdom have failed me. But you can tell me because the spirit of the holy gods is in you.'

(19) "Upon hearing this, Daniel (also known as Belteshazzar) was overcome for a time, aghast at the meaning of the dream. Finally, the king said to him, 'Belteshazzar, don't be alarmed by the dream and what it means.' "Belteshazzar replied, 'Oh, how I wish the events foreshadowed in this dream would happen to your enemies, my lord, and not to you!

  • Daniel knew that giving the king the true interpretation could cost the king his life. But, he knew that it is more important to stand up for God than to falsely stand up for the king.
  • It appears that Daniel liked Nebuchadnezzar personally and had a close personal relationship with him, even though Nebuchadnezzar was a pagan king, who didn't believe in the God of the Bible until a few verses later.

(20) You saw a tree growing very tall and strong, reaching high into the heavens for all the world to see.

(21) It had fresh green leaves, and it was loaded with fruit for all to eat. Wild animals lived in its shade, and birds nested in its branches.

(22) That tree, Your Majesty, is you. For you have grown strong and great; your greatness reaches up to heaven, and your rule to the ends of the earth.

(23) "'Then you saw a messenger, a holy one, coming down from heaven and saying, "Cut down the tree and destroy it. But leave the stump and the roots in the ground, bound with a band of iron and bronze and surrounded by tender grass. Let him be drenched with the dew of heaven. Let him eat grass with the animals of the field for seven periods of time."

(24) "'This is what the dream means, Your Majesty, and what the Most High has declared will happen to you.

(25) You will be driven from human society, and you will live in the fields with the wild animals. You will eat grass like a cow, and you will be drenched with the dew of heaven. Seven periods of time will pass while you live this way, until you learn that the Most High rules over the kingdoms of the world and gives them to anyone he chooses.

  • Daniel doesn't mince words and doesn't hold anything back. Instead of reaching for a general point (“we all could use a little more humility”) Daniel brought the truth in love.
  • This is similar to what the prophet Nathan said to King David: You are that man! (2 Samuel 12:7)

(26) But the stump and the roots were left in the ground. This means that you will receive your kingdom back again when you have learned that heaven rules.

(27) "'O King Nebuchadnezzar, please listen to me. Stop sinning and do what is right. Break from your wicked past by being merciful to the poor. Perhaps then you will continue to prosper.'

  • Daniel called for a recognition of sin and repentance. But, the king failed to repent at this point.
  • John Walvoord says concerning Nebuchadnezzar, “His concern had been to build a magnificent city as a monument to his name rather than to alleviating the suffering of the poor.”

(28) "But all these things did happen to King Nebuchadnezzar.

(29) Twelve months later, he was taking a walk on the flat roof of the royal palace in Babylon.

  • God gave Nebuchadnezzar twelve months to repent and he probably forgot about the dream during that time. Nebuchadnezzar interpreted this as inaction on the Lord’s part - God must not have been serious, the interpretation was wrong, maybe God forgot. This is a common lie that many believe concerning the fulfillment of the Lord’s judgment upon sin. He is longsuffering, granting opportunity for repentance that as many as possible would be saved and have eternal life. But, God didn’t forget.

(30) As he looked out across the city, he said, 'Just look at this great city of Babylon! I, by my own mighty power, have built this beautiful city as my royal residence and as an expression of my royal splendor.'

  • The king admired all that he had done in beautifying the city–and his works were impressive. This king did build a great city. The immense Ishtar Gates (shown above in the Pergamon museum in Berlin) were his, even the enameled brick facing. He built or rebuilt about twenty temples in Babylon and Borsippa. He also made huge fortifications, shipping docks, and processional ways marked by wall carvings dragons and bulls in different colors. In his inscriptions, he wrote that Marduk, the god of Babylon, was king of the gods, had created everything, and had given him this city. The city had been made in heaven and descended to the land of Shinar. The writings give no reference at all to Yahweh; even though he praises Marduk, he claims all the credit for building this city and this empire. In the British Museum, there are six columns of writing recovered from Babylon with describe the huge building projects of Nebuchadnezzar and his zeal to enlarge and beautify the city.
  • Most of the bricks found in the excavations of Babylon carry this stamp: “Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, supporter of Esagila and Ezida, exalted first-born son of Nabopolassar, king of Babylon.”
  • Pride has always been the major problem of fallen humanity. Proverbs 16:18: Pride goes before destruction, and haughtiness before a fall.
  • Isaiah 47:1-10: "Come, Babylon, unconquered one, sit in the dust. For your days of glory, pomp, and honor have ended. O daughter of Babylonia, never again will you be the lovely princess, tender and delicate. Take heavy millstones and grind the corn. Remove your veil and strip off your robe. Expose yourself to public view. You will be naked and burdened with shame. I will take vengeance against you and will not negotiate." Our Redeemer, whose name is the LORD Almighty, is the Holy One of Israel. "O daughter of Babylonia, sit now in darkness and silence. Never again will you be known as the queen of kingdoms. For I was angry with my chosen people and began their punishment by letting them fall into your hands. But you, Babylon, showed them no mercy. You have forced even the elderly to carry heavy burdens. You thought, 'I will reign forever as queen of the world!' You did not care at all about my people or think about the consequences of your actions. "You are a pleasure-crazy kingdom, living at ease and feeling secure, bragging as if you were the greatest in the world! You say, 'I'm self-sufficient and not accountable to anyone! I will never be a widow or lose my children.' Well, those two things will come upon you in a moment: widowhood and the loss of your children. Yes, these calamities will come upon you, despite all your witchcraft and magic. "You felt secure in all your wickedness. 'No one sees me,' you said. Your 'wisdom' and 'knowledge' have caused you to turn away from me and claim, 'I am self-sufficient and not accountable to anyone!'
  • Herodotus ( 484-430 B.C.) describes the city of Babylon in his day and its splendor: "The city stands on a broad plain, and is an exact square 120 furlongs (13.63 miles) in length each way, so that the entire circuits is four hundred and eighty furlongs (54.52 miles)….It is surrounded, in the first place, by a broad and deep moat, full of water, behind which rises a wall fifty royal cubits in width, (87 feet) and two hundred in height (350 feet). On the top, along the edges of the wall, they constructed buildings on a single chamber facing one another, leaving between them room for a four horse chariot to turn. In the circuit of the wall are a hundred gates, all of brass, with brazen lintels and side-posts. The city is divided into two portions by the river which runs through the midst of it. The river is the Euphrates, broad, deep, swift stream, which rises in Armenia….The city wall is brought down on both sides to the edge of the stream. The houses are mostly three and four stories high; the streets all run in straight lines, not only those parallel to the river, but also the cross streets which lead down to the waterside."

(31) "While he was still speaking these words, a voice called down from heaven, 'O King Nebuchadnezzar, this message is for you! You are no longer ruler of this kingdom.

  • The similarity between this and the parable of the rich man, whose ground brought forth plentifully, will at once be recalled. As he congratulated himself upon his prosperity, purposed to enlarge his barns, and contemplated years of selfish enjoyment, the judgment went forth, "You fool! You will die this very night. Then who will get it all?" (Luke 12: 16-20). In like manner, as Nebuchadnezzar vented the pride of his heart in his foolish boasting, even "while he was still speaking these words", the judgment pronounced by Daniel is repeated by the voice, and immediately executed.

(32) You will be driven from human society. You will live in the fields with the wild animals, and you will eat grass like a cow. Seven periods of time will pass while you live this way, until you learn that the Most High rules over the kingdoms of the world and gives them to anyone he chooses.'

  • The form of insanity in which men think of themselves as animals and imitate the behavior of an animal has been observed. Some call it generally insania zoanthropica and more specifically in Nebuchadnezzar’s case, boanthropy, the delusion that one is an ox or cow.
  • There is even some historical documentation supporting Nebuchadnezzar's period of madness - Berossus priest of Bel who wrote three history books about Babylon in Greek in the fourth and third centuries b.c.

(33) "That very same hour the prophecy was fulfilled, and Nebuchadnezzar was driven from human society. He ate grass like a cow, and he was drenched with the dew of heaven. He lived this way until his hair was as long as eagles' feathers and his nails were like birds' claws.

  • There is no corresponding record of this seven-year period of insanity in the secular historical records of Babylon - exactly as we would expect, considering the custom of the times. Nevertheless Abydenus, a Greek historian, wrote in 268 B.C. that Nebuchadnezzar was “possessed by some god” and that he had “immediately disappeared.” (Wood)
  • There is no historical record of his governmental activity between 582 B.C. and 575 B.C. This silence is deafening, especially when we keep in mind how Near Eastern leaders liked to egotistically trumpet their achievements - and hide their embarrassments.
  • Who held the kingdom together during these seven years? Normally, with a weakened monarch, someone would attempt to take over.

(34) "After this time had passed, I, Nebuchadnezzar,* looked up to heaven. My sanity returned, and I praised and worshiped the **Most High and honored the one who lives forever. His rule is everlasting, and his kingdom is eternal.

  • Nebuchadnezzar could not break free from his madness until God appointed the end of the time. Then, he had the opportunity to humble himself and lift his eyes to heaven.
  • *looked up to heaven: This is a symbolic way of referring to his acknowledging God (cf. v. 36) and His sovereignty (cf. vv. 34-35).
  • **Most High: This title is first found in connection with Melchizedek, who is termed the priest of the most High God; and who, blessing Abram on his return from the slaughter of the kings, said, "Then Melchizedek, the king of Salem and a priest of God Most High, brought him bread and wine. Melchizedek blessed Abram with this blessing: "Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth" (Genesis 14: 18-19).
  • This verse has Messianic overtones. This is the meaning of the stone in Chapter 2 from the mountain, which destroys the statue at the feet.
    • Daniel 2:44: "During the reigns of those kings, the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed; no one will ever conquer it. It will shatter all these kingdoms into nothingness, but it will stand forever.
  • To his credit, the king remembered Daniel’s words and did not show any resentment towards him or God, but prostrated himself before the Most High God. He now knew that he was powerless before this God.

(35) All the people of the earth are nothing compared to him. He has the power to do as he pleases among the angels of heaven and with those who live on earth. No one can stop him or challenge him, saying, 'What do you mean by doing these things?'

  • Deuteronomy 4:39: So remember this and keep it firmly in mind: The LORD is God both in heaven and on earth, and there is no other god!
  • Ephesians 4:6: and there is only one God and Father, who is over us all and in us all and living through us all.

(36) "When my sanity returned to me, so did my honor and glory and kingdom. My advisers and officers sought me out, and I was reestablished as head of my kingdom, with even greater honor than before.

(37) "Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and glorify and honor the King of heaven. All his acts are just and true, and he is able to humble those who are proud."

  • When Nebuchadnezzar took some of the treasures of the Jerusalem temple and put them in the temples of his gods, he had reason to believe that his gods were stronger than the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. By the end of Daniel 4, Nebuchadnezzar knew which God was the true God. And when Nebuchadnezzar knew it, he wasn’t shy about telling people what he had learned - he was a true witness, giving testimony to God’s great works.
  • When Israel fails to proclaim the Lord, God turns to the Gentiles to do the same. See Acts 28:28.
    • Acts 28:28 (KJV): Be it known therefore unto you, that the salvation of God is sent unto the Gentiles, and that they will hear it.

PERSONAL APPLICATION

  • Being "saved" in the Old Testament, is acknowledging the God of the Bible is the one and only God, and acting upon it. I believe we'll see Nebuchadnezzar do this here.
  • One of the things to learn from Nebuchadnezzar is that "having it all" is not enough. Many a king, president, business leader and wealthy person will tell you of the emptiness they feel inside even when they have it all. God designed us with a need to worship him. You avoid that need, and you end up worshipping something else.
  • God calls us to be his witnesses for him. To live as examples, to minister to those God calls us to minister to. To live our lives for God. That is the purpose of life itself. This is why Chapter 1 of Proverbs begins with the reminder that: The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge (Proverbs 1:7a NIV) Once you understand that God is in control, the next step is to live your life for him. Finding your individual role, making yourself available to God for use is living life far greater than anything Nebuchadnezzar or anyone else could do on their own!
  • No matter how long it takes, you will experience the consequences of your sin if you do not repent. Sooner or later, all sin will have this dehumanizing effect on the human soul.
  • The lesson of this chapter is that God hates pride. In fact, theologians who have analyzed the nature of sin say that the essence of sin is pride. Pride is arrogance, presumption, conceit, vanity, selfishness self-trust and self-satisfaction. Though easily defined, it is more easily recognized in others than in ourselves.
  • The first sin ever committed was the sin of pride, Isaiah 14:14 (I will climb to the highest heavens and be like the Most High.').
  • The struggle with pride is common to us all. We can't "make" ourselves humble though. It is a gift of being in Christ. Ask God to do whatever it takes to cultivate humility in us.
  • Like Nebuchadnezzar, we need to be able to relate the story of our conversion to others or the story our relationship to Jesus Christ. 1 Peter 3:15: Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if someone asks about your Christian hope, always be ready to explain it.

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