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Email: <lelgee@voicenet.com>Copyright © L. L. Griffith, 1996. ISBN 0-929554-06-X. This document may be reproduced in whole or in part provided that this copyright notice is reproduced on each copy made.
Chapter Four concerns Nebuchadnezzar's proclamation to the nations; and his subsequent dream, and humiliation.
In Daniel, Chapter Four, a summary is noted of all the previous signs and wonders shown to Nebuchadnezzar. In his decree Nebuchadnezzar reiterates the gist of earlier lessons made known to the king through his dreams and visions.
Yet he will impudently make, according to the character of his polytheistic pride and religious piety, a proclamation to the whole world under his rule of the great things "done with me" by the most high God of the heavens. Whatever the reward which the king expected from the decree's proclamation, he apparently did not expect any sign of displeasure from his many gods.
Nebuchadnezzar was an obdurate man, calculating, as merciless as any Pharaoh. Although he perceives the existence of a Greater God in the heavens, and even praises His works on Daniel's behalf, he is not yet prepared to submit to the purpose of the Living God. A last sign is given to him before he falls into judgment for his "sins," 4:27, and his "iniquities."
One may wonder why Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon, is subjected to this series of testing by the LORD.
But the same one has only to read the references in the book of Jeremiah to "Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon," to appreciate that he was chosen to establish the custody over the children of Israel for the seventy years of long dispersion among the northern nations. This plan being made by God, it was necessary to assure that the man would respond favorably to the 'pressure' of his heavenly guidance - unlike Pharaoh in Egypt who earlier had been "raised up" to be a taskmaster over the children of Israel to insure that they would follow the leader whom God appointed to lead them out of the Egyptian "darkness." Nebuchadnezzar required to be softened for his care over the children of Judah. Neither Pharaoh nor Nebuchadnezzar was required to become a convert to the faith of Abraham, but each was made to follow the guidance of his own private counsel.
Even polytheistic believers will acknowledge the power of another, greater god when the circumstance - in a sign of heavenly guidance - seems to dictate the propriety of behaving in an appropriate and expeditious manner. Thus one more sign is given to Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon, and through its power, it completely overwhelms him and brings one truth to his understanding at last: He must care for the Jewish nation even as well as he serves his idols for his own benefit, honor, strength, and stability in power - with love and faith.
Nebuchadnezzar's dominion was raised up by God like "a tree in the midst of the earth, and the height great. The tree grew, and was strong, and the height reached unto heaven, and the sight to the end of all the earth. The leaves, fair, and the fruit, much; and in it, meat for all. The beasts of the field had shadow under it, and the fowls of the heaven dwelt in the boughs, and all flesh was fed of it." His was a magnificent dominion indeed, rich enough to provide sustenance for the whole world.
Nebuchadnezzar was dismayed by his latest dream. "I saw a dream which made me afraid, and the thoughts upon my bed and the visions of my head troubled me," he declared. The vision declared:
For what reason should the most prosperous nation of the world be cut down while in its prime? Within the seventy years of Israel's captivity, all the dynastic branches of the royal house of the kingdom will cease; being "cut down." Thereafter, the great dominion over the land will be passed to the great chiefs of the Persian monarchy.
Nebuchadnezzar is afraid and troubled at the dream, for the dream apparently was prompted by his fears concerning his enemies and their hatred toward him. They want to cut him down and to destroy him, per 4:23. (Remember, he is a ruthless young man, a "cripple" with a dangerous unstable temperament, who has forced the under rulers of his dominion into obedience).
Naturally he fears for his life. But he is also under the guidance of the divinities of the Chaldean priesthood and under the attention of the Most High God of the heavens.
The interpretation of the dream, according to Daniel, is a final warning against the king's egomania "till thou know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will." Daniel warns him: "O king, let my counsel be acceptable unto thee, and break off thy sins by righteousness, and thine iniquities by shewing mercy to the poor; if it may be a lengthening of thy tranquillity."
The warning is not immediately heeded by Nebuchadnezzar; another twelve months pass before the judgment falls upon the king. He is stricken with a mental illness known today as lycanthropy; he was made a "wolf-man." Heaven indeed had changed him and had given him "the heart" of a beast.
When, after a short period of "seven times" the mental illness abates, his reason returns to normal. With his mental faculties restored, the glory of the kingdom, his honor, and his vitality return also. His counsellors and his lords sought him, and he was established in the kingdom.
Furthermore - an excellent majesty was added to him.
Whenever was it heard that an illness such as had taken hold of him had ever reversed itself? His whole dominion worshipped him as indeed blessed of the gods.
Notice: The passage of the "seven times" which comes over the nations of the Land as represented by Nebuchadnezzar's illness is a major sign within Daniel's prophecy. The sign reveals a significant duration of time which must come to pass before the final "last end" of Israel's iniquity comes to pass. Daniel is later moved to inquire of God about this time of the final "last end" for Israel.
There is a GOD in the heavens who heals whomever He wills for His own Purpose. Nations too may be healed by GOD. Nebuchadnezzar's prolonged state of dementia is given as a type of healing, to show how the glory of God will be established in the earth according to the dream shown in Chapter Two of "what shall be in the latter days," (v.28). Not until the people are returned to the land "in the latter days" will the kingdom of God be restored.
In Nebuchadnezzar God's purpose was established for him to care for the captives during the days of their sojourn so that they might flourish. So there is the indication in the Bible records that Nebuchadnezzar also flourished to enjoy an active military, political, but humble religious life following his recovery. Like Daniel he enjoyed a long natural life during the times. After his recovery the king was able to truly say, "I Nebuchadnezzar praise and extol and honor the King of heaven, all Whose works, truth, and His ways, judgment. And those that walk in pride He is able to abase."
The fourth chapter of Daniel ends the personal history of Nebuchadnezzar as it relates his motivation, and the true reason for his care and protection of the Jewish nation under the appointed years of captivity. For a perspective from another view by the Holy Spirit, the records of II Chronicles 36:6-13, of II Kings 24 and 25, of Jeremiah's whole prophecy concerning Israel and the nations, and the prophecy of Ezekiel 29:18, 19 - 30:10 concerning "the last days" must be sought out and studied.
In Chapter Five the narrative reveals how the last remaining 'branch' of Nebuchadnezzar's royal family "tree" - Belshazzar - is "cut off."
Before the prophecy moves on to deal with Daniel's questions concerning his people Israel, the reader is presented with some germinal facts concerning "the stump" of the "tree" as they later pertain to the parable of the royal house of Great Babylon and to the nation of Israel; and to Judah.
In the dream's personal application to Nebuchadnezzar, the interpretation was said, "the kingdom shall be sure unto you after you shall have recognized that the heavens do rule." And the kingdom was confirmed under his rule. However, the throne was not to be made sure to his blood descendants. At Nebuchadnezzar's death the remaining branch of "the tree" is hewn down to a "stump." The stump which remains after Belshazzar is slain, is fettered by iron and brass; and left as in a field to the beasts of the earth. ...When shall this fetter be removed?
The dominion's rule, between the death of Nebuchadnezzar, 562 B.C., and the death of Belshazzar, 538 B.C., therefore was a period of inferior (not "sure") rulership, according to the Word of God. The inferior, weakened and shrinking power of the Land's rulers allowed the cutting off of Nebuchadnezzar's "branches." With only the tree "stump" remaining, Babylon became fettered by the iron and the brass kingdoms of Persia and Greece.
Within the dream parable of Nebuchadnezzar's growth as "the tree" in Daniel 4:14-17 is a further initialization of the Word concerning the kingdom which "the God of heaven shall set up, a kingdom which shall never be destroyed," per Daniel 2:44. The vision of "the tree" reiterates (for the reader's sake) the personal lessons taught to and finally learned by Nebuchadnezzar, the king, that: "the kingdom shall be sure unto you after you shall have recognized that the heavens do rule." ...This same word applies to a believer in God.
If a Gentile king could learn this lesson at last, surely the captive Jewish nation might much more easily be taught? Unhappily not so. Seven "times" did pass over it too for disobedience to God's Word.
On a personal basis one man can deal more quickly with a problem. For the king only a short time in the years and a severe circumstance was necessary in order to bring back to him his reason and to a willingness to submit to the guidance from heaven. They said, "Let his heart be changed from man's, and let a beast's heart be given unto him; and let seven times pass over him," 4:16. The thing was done; the word of God did not return to Him void.
Should we expect a beastly-hearted ruler in Babylon when the Israel revives after the "seven times" have passed over the rulership of Great Babylon? Is it only a coincidence that Saddam Hussein in Iraq is called "the beast of Baghdad?"
Our advocate in the council of the heavenly realm is at the LORD's right hand for service to the earth below, interceding on behalf of the righteous man and waiting to sit for the judgment of the ungodly persons during "the day of the LORD;" but until that day, the Lord is working to fully complete God's purpose for this earth.
So "at the end" of the days, "I Nebuchadnezzar lifted up mine eyes unto heaven, and mine understanding returned unto me, and I blessed the most High, and I praised and honored him that liveth for ever, whose dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom is from generation to generation; and all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing, and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth. And none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou?," 4:34-35.
This was the witness of a man, "a child," finally convinced of 'the truth' because he was 'taught of God.' See John 6:45 and Isaiah 54:13.
And indeed "in the end of the days" when new order is restored to the world, the king of the Assyrian lands - as well the king over Egypt's lands - will be the Awaited One who rules with understanding and with a right mind and one who blesses, praises and honors the Most High God of the heavens.