Lesson 421 - Senior
Memory Verse
"This matter is by the decree of the watchers, and the demand by the word of the holy ones: to the intent that the living may know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will" (Daniel 4:17).
Cross References
I The King's Dream
1. Nebuchadnezzar acknowledges God's eternal dominion, [DAN:4:1-3].
2. The king dreams of a great tree hewn down, [DAN:4:4-17]; [PS:37:35-36].
II The Interpretation and Warning
1. The wise men of Babylon could not interpret the king's dream, [DAN:4:18], [DAN:4:6-7]; [DAN:2:2-13].
2. Daniel interprets the dream, [DAN:4:19-26], [DAN:2:36-45].
3. Daniel counsels the king to heed the warning of the dream and turn from his sin, [DAN:4:27]; [ISA:58:1]; [JER:26:3]; [EZE:3:18]; [MAT:27:19]; [HEB:12:25].
III The Fulfilment
1. After 12 months of pride and rejection of God's mercy, Nebuchadnezzar was dethroned, [DAN:4:28-32]; [DAN:5:20]; [2CH:26:16]; [2CH:32:25]; [ISA:14:12-15].
2. Driven from his palace, the king lived in the fields as an animal, [DAN:4:33]; [DAN:5:21]; [PS:32:9].
3. After seven seasons Nebuchadnezzar turned to God and his understanding returned to him, [DAN:4:34]; [ACT:8:22].
4. The kingdom was restored to Nebuchadnezzar when he acknowledged that God rules in Heaven and in earth. [DAN:4:35], [DAN:4:36], [DAN:4:17], [DAN:4:25], [DAN:4:32].
5. King Nebuchadnezzar gives his testimony and warning on pride, [DAN:4:37], [DAN:4:1-3]; [PRO:16:18]; [PRO:29:23]; [1JN:2:16]; [REV:3:17].
Notes
In a former lesson we studied the second chapter of Daniel and found that through a dream God revealed to Nebuchadnezzar that he was the very head of gold of the image that depicted world empires. The God of Heaven gave him the kingdom of Babylon and all the power, strength, and glory of that kingdom, and called him a king of kings. But what unconverted man is there whom God has blessed, promoted, and prospered, who will not take all the honour unto himself and forget that it is God who giveth these things? Nebuchadnezzar had yet to learn and acknowledge that "the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men."
The King's Prophetic Forewarning
Nebuchadnezzar had been successful in his wars and all his administration. His enemies had all been effectively subdued and everything was quiet and prosperous in his empire. He had succeeded in making Babylon one of the wonders of the world. Everything to which he had laid his hand had turned out favourably. There remained nothing more to be desired to satisfy his ambition as a man, or to add to his glory as a great king. And while he was thus at rest in his house and flourishing in his palace a dream came to him. This dream, so vividly described in our text, the king remembered and recounted in minute detail. But the king was utterly at a loss to understand the meaning of this dream. It should have been plain from the very terms of the dream that it was meant to give the king a serious admonition against pride and self-glorification, and that God would send speedy humiliation to those who give themselves the glory for what they have achieved or enjoy. Needless to say, the king was very much disturbed by this dream and the implications thereof.
After the wise men of Babylon had been unable to interpret the dream, Daniel came before the king. The king gave a wonderful testimony to the faithfulness of Daniel, the prophet of God, then told him his dream. For one hour Daniel did not speak in the king's presence. Daniel was troubled in his thoughts, very probably because the interpretation of this dream was much different from the former dream. To stand before a world monarch and tell him his faults was altogether different from standing before him and telling him he was a great king, a head of gold in the scheme of world empires. But at the king's encouragement, Daniel said that the tree that had grown and become strong was the king, "for thy greatness is grown, and reacheth unto heaven, and thy dominion to the end of the earth." But as the dream foretold, he was to be driven from men and have his dwelling among the beasts of the field and eat grass as an ox, and the dew of heaven was to be upon him until seven times passed over him. Then Daniel, true to his God, at the risk of his own life, gave counsel to the king and advised him to break off his sin by righteousness, and his iniquity by showing mercy unto the poor. What a different story the outcome of this dream would have been if King Nebuchadnezzar had heeded the warning!
The King's Offence
We would suppose that such an impressive forewarning and admonition could not fail of the desired effect, but there is nothing more treacherous and deceitful than poor, depraved human nature. Nebuchadnezzar doubtless intended to profit to the full from the counsel he had received. He had the utmost confidence in the wisdom and inspiration of the prophet. He had every reason to accept the whole presentation as a veritable message from God, nor was it in the composition of this monarch's character to make light of so evident a communication from the Deity whose signs and wonders he had beheld. But it is hard for rich and powerful men in the midst of their glory and flatteries to be true and faithful to all they know and feel as their duty in regard to what is right and proper. The Saviour and His Apostles have remarked upon the great difficulty of such to enter the Kingdom of Heaven, and Nebuchadnezzar was not an exception. Where is the unsaved man in public office who could be entrusted with such power and glory without having his head completely turned and his self-esteem lifted higher than the stars?
The king possibly pondered long the meaning of this dream, and no doubt for a while walked carefully as a result of it. Finally a whole year had passed and he was walking upon the high places of his palace, in all its grandeur, ornamented with battlements and towers. All around and beneath him lay the city with its grand avenues and its gigantic wall with one hundred mighty gates. Nebuchadnezzar, taking a survey of his magnificent achievements, refers them exultingly to himself, to his own genius, but leaves out that eternal Providence without which he was no more than the meanest beggar. He looked and admired, but forgot about the dream, and said: "Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for the house of the kingdom by the might of my power, and for the honour of my majesty?"
He had heard the heavenly "watcher" say, and Daniel repeat, that it was his duty, as that of all men, to know and realise that it is the Most High that ruleth in the kingdom of men and giveth it to whomsoever He will; but in the moment of transport over what he had accomplished he forgot all this and set everything down to his own credit. Thus he lent his soul and speech to a miserable pride, which seems to have been this man's besetting sin -- the besetting sin of all human greatness and success -- which reached its culmination as he thus walked and spoke amid the towers and battlements of his glorious palace.
The King's Punishment
Twelve months of grace had been given to the king, ample time for consideration and repentance from his pride and vainglory. Punishment came quickly when the Lord's time arrived. While the words were still in the king's mouth there was a voice from Heaven, saying, "The kingdom is departed from thee." That which the king had seen in a dream, and which had been interpreted by the faithful prophet, finally came to pass. It is thought that the king was seized with a form of insanity in which his human understanding was taken from him and he thought himself to be an animal. This well may be the case, because in reference to his recovery he said, "Mine understanding returned unto me." Yet we cannot think of this as altogether a natural affliction, for it was sent from God as a direct result of his sin and pride. He had unduly glorified his own genius and God turned that genius into the lowest instinct of an ox that eateth grass, as helpless and as base as if he had never been a man at all. The description throughout exhibits one of the most horrible afflictions that could come upon a human being, to say nothing of such a mighty potentate as Nebuchadnezzar. Verily, it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the Almighty God.
The King's Recovery and Restoration
Seven times or seasons, very possibly meaning seven years, passed over the king's head in this condition, but "at the end of the days I Nebuchadnezzar lifted up mine eyes unto heaven." That look unto Heaven was coming from a grievous sufferer who looked imploringly for mercy and help from whence only they could come. It was a look of reverence for the God of Heaven and a look of prayer for pity; and it was an availing look. The king states: "Mine understanding returned unto me, and I blessed the most High, and I praised and honoured 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?"
He had endured a most awful judgment, but it had upon him the intended effect. It humbled his pride. It brought him to the most devout personal recognition of the true God. It set him to work to do all in his power to honour and glorify Jehovah. It took away from his heart all shame or hesitation in confessing his sin, and the justice of the punishment he had suffered on account of it. It made him a penitent adorer and royal missionary of the true God. He had learned that the heavens do rule, and now his royal desire was that all people and nations and languages that dwell in all the earth might learn the same without coming to it through such sorrows as he had experienced.
The fact that after such total disability he found his kingly authority reserved for him must likewise refer to the special providence and merciful goodness of God. It could have been that Daniel and the three other Hebrews who held high places in government were used of God in holding this position for their king. They knew that this affliction was for a definite time and that he would recover. Accordingly, the king had this testimony to give that when the days of his affliction were accomplished his counsellors and lords sought unto him and he was established in his kingdom and excellent majesty was added unto him.
God's discipline acknowledged and accepted is always God's favour secured.
Questions
1. Describe in your own words the dream, which Nebuchadnezzar had.
2. What words of commendation did the king have in regard to Daniel's ability?
3. Why should the king have so much confidence in Daniel's ability?
4. After Daniel interpreted the dream, what more did he have to say to the king?
5. Under what conditions would it have been possible that this dream would never be fulfilled?
6. What was the king in the process of saying when the Lord let that which the dream had prophesied happen?
7. What effect did the fulfilling of the dream have on the king in the end?