Year 2, Week 23, Day 4 Bible Reading Observations

Year 2, Week 23, Day 4

I have a brief observation for today’s reading of Daniel 4.

Today’s reading continues in the Book of Daniel. Daniel and some of his friends, and many others from Judah were taken into Babylonian captivity during the first wave of deportations somewhere around 605 BC. This was a wave of deportation that was about eight years before Nebuchadnezzar deported Ezekiel and the second wave of deportees in about 597 BC. Daniel’s prophetic ministry continued for about seventy years as his last known prophecy was given in about 536 BC (see Daniel 10:1). The episodes of Daniel and his friends fill Daniel 1-6. Daniel 7-12 are primarily visions that the LORD granted to Daniel in exile, visions that had both imminent and distant fulfillments. Daniel 4 records another dream that Nebuchadnezzar has, that no one but Daniel can interpret: “I, Nebuchadnezzar, was at ease in my house and prospering in my palace. I saw a dream that made me afraid. As I lay in bed the fancies and the visions of my head alarmed me…The visions of my head as I lay in bed were these: I saw, and behold, a tree in the midst of the earth, and its height was great…I saw in the visions of my head as I lay in bed, and behold, a watcher, a holy one, came down from heaven. He proclaimed aloud and said thus: Chop down the tree and lop off its branches, strip off its leaves and scatter its fruit” (Daniel 4:4-5,10,13-14b). This chapter of Daniel is told from the vantage point of Nebuchadnezzar, and is the last time he is mentioned in Daniel. Also, this chapter refers to Daniel by his Babylonian name: Belteshazzar.

One of the things that struck me from today’s reading was the LORD’s intention to show Nebuchadnezzar that He is the Mighty Ruler over all: “I blessed the Most High, and praised and honored him who lives forever, for his dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom endures from generation to generation; all the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing, and he does according to his will among the host of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth; and none can stay his hand or say to him, “What have you done?” (Daniel 4:34b-35). Nebuchadnezzar is like a mighty tree: “The tree grew and became strong, and its top reached to heaven, and it was visible to the end of the whole earth. Its leaves were beautiful and its fruit abundant, and in it was food for all. The beasts of the field found shade under it, and the birds of the heavens lived in its branches, and all flesh was fed from it” (Daniel 4:11). But Nebuchadnezzar was to understand that the mightiest of kings is still the lowliest of men before the LORD: “The sentence is by the decree of the watchers, the decision by the word of the holy ones, to the end that the living may know that the Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he will and sets over it the lowliest of men” (Daniel 4:17). Just as the mighty tree was taken down to a stump, so Nebuchadnezzar be made low that he might truly recognize the LORD and humbly repent.

But Nebuchadnezzar, while He understood that the LORD was mighty in some sense, but not to the point of humble repentance. Nebuchadnezzar, who persisted in wickedness and unrighteousness, was warned by Daniel: “Therefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable to you: break off your sins by practicing righteousness, and your iniquities by showing mercy to the oppressed, that there may perhaps be a lengthening of your prosperity” (Daniel 4:27). Since Nebuchadnezzar showed no indication of humbling himself, the LORD would humble him: “It is a decree of the Most High, which has come upon my lord the king, that you shall be driven from among men, and your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field. You shall be made to eat grass like an ox, and you shall be wet with the dew of heaven, and seven periods of time shall pass over you, till you know that the Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he will” (Daniel 4:24b-25). Nebuchadnezzar would be brought low and made to act like a stupid beast.

Even though he was warned, Nebuchadnezzar voiced his arrogance still further: “At the end of twelve months he was walking on the roof of the royal palace of Babylon, and the king answered and said, “Is not this great Babylon, which I have built by my mighty power as a royal residence and for the glory of my majesty?” (Daniel 4:29-30). But time was up for him: “O King Nebuchadnezzar, to you it is spoken: The kingdom has departed from you…Immediately the word was fulfilled against Nebuchadnezzar. He was driven from among men and ate grass like an ox, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven till his hair grew as long as eagles’ feathers, and his nails were like birds’ claws” (Daniel 4:31b-33). Nebuchadnezzar would remain in this beastly state until the LORD intervened: “At the end of the days I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted my eyes to heaven, and my reason returned to me…At the same time my reason returned to me, and for the glory of my kingdom, my majesty and splendor returned to me. My counselors and my lords sought me, and I was established in my kingdom, and still more greatness was added to me” (Daniel 4:34a-36). But Nebuchadnezzar’s return to sanity, he also displayed humility: “Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the King of heaven, for all his works are right and his ways are just; and those who walk in pride he is able to humble” (Daniel 4:37).

What struck you in today’s reading? What questions were prompted from today’s reading?

Pastor Joe