THE MOST HIGH GOD IN HEAVEN RULES OVER HUMAN KINGDOMS
Daniel 4:1-37
As taught by Dave Lindstrom
I. The setting and events of King Nebuchadnezzar’s dream, about the enormous tree, as told by Nebuchadnezzar (Daniel 4:1- 18).
A. Nebuchadnezzar has had an experience with the Most High God of which he desires to tell to all the world (verses 1-3).
1. He has personally had an encounter with the Most High God’s miraculous signs (God’s intervention through the amazing timing and direction of natural phenomena) and miraculous wonders (God’s supernatural manifestations unexplainable using natural phenomena) (verse 2).
2. Through this event (which we will find out lasted over eight years), Nebuchadnezzar found out that only the Most High God’s Kingdom is eternal and that He ultimately rules through human kingdoms now (verse 3).
3. The Sep tuagint and Hebrew Text (MT) includes these three verses at the end of chapter 3 and starts chapter 4 with verse 4. However, most Biblical scholars see a better link with this chapter, as an introduction statement, because it fits so perfectly with the statement of Daniel 4:37.
B. When this dream happened, Nebuchadnezzar was in his palace in a contented and prosperous place in his life (verse 4). This might help us to figure out a possible timing of this event as it relates to Nebuchadnezzar’s rule which was from 605-562 B.C.
1. When a king says this it usually means that he is not fighting any more wars (2 Samuel 7:1). Nebuchadnezzar’s last two wars were Egypt (588-587 B.C.) and Jerusalem (587-586 B.C.). Following these were a protracted 10 to 13 year siege of <>Tyre which probably ended around 570 B.C. (Ezek. 26:7-14).
2. We also know from Daniel 4:4, 29, 30 and history that Nebuchadnezzar built up his palace, the hanging gardens, the structures inside Babylon, and the walls with amazing detail and in an ornate and opulent manor for all the world to see. This was probably going on during the wars and especially during the siege of Tyre.
3. We know that if Nebuchadnezzar was in on the final siege of Tyre (Ezek. 26:7) which ended in 570 B.C. that he would have presumably been in his right mind by then.
4. We know that Nebuchadnezzar’s reign of Babylon went from 605 B.C. to 562 B.C. Therefore, given the fact that he was eventually restored to his right mind and appears to rule for several years after (Dan. 4:36, 37), the best probability for the timing of this 8-9 year event would have been a few years after Jerusalem’s destruction.
C. Nebuchadnezzar again calls on Daniel (Belteshazzar) to help him interpret his dream after finding his own wise men useless (verses 5-18).
1. Before this event in Nebuchadnezzar’s life, his main god is Bel (Babylon’s counterpart to the Baal of the Canaanites) whose name is Marduk. Belteshazzar’s name, “Lady prote ct the king,” includes the wife of this god, the goddess Surpanitu, protecting the king. It can also be a shortened form for Bel-Belteshazzar “Bel, protect his life” (verses 5-8).
2. This enormous tree is described by the heavenly watchman as both a cut down yet preserved tree and as a man whose mind will change into an animal and yet be restored after seven times (verses 9-16).
3. The purpose of this dream was so that those living would understand that it’s the Most High (Highest God) that domineers over the kingdoms of men and sets their rulers in place at His pleasure (verses 17, 18).
Thought: How has Yahweh, the God of the Universe, gotten your attention
through events in your life? Is He trying to get your attention now?
II. Daniel interprets Nebuchadnezzar’s dream (verses 19-27).
A. He speaks in a gentle and respectful tone (verses 19-21; I Peter 3:15).
B. He speaks the truth in love (verses 22-27; Eph. 4:15).
1. The king is the tree (verse 22). This showed Daniel’s boldness.
2. The Babylonian kingdom is large but not exhaustive (compare verse 22 with verse 11). Daniel was gently corrective.
3. The king will lose his mind for seven years but will eventually be restored to his place as ruler of Babylon when he acknowledges the one ruling over him (verses 23-26). Daniel used the help of the Holy Spirit and the skill of Scriptural interpretation.
a. The seven times in the text are seven years (comparing Jeremiah 25:11, 12; 29:10 with Dan. 7:25; Dan. 9:2, 24-27; Matt. 24:15; 2 Thes. 2:1-4; Rev. 11:2, 3; 13:5). Besides seven weeks or months would not have been enough time for his nails and hair to grow out.
b. Current day psychiatry and psychology have a classification of mental disease called clinical Lycanthropy which involves a person having a delusion that they are transforming into an animal. Zoanthropy is the delusion that he/she is an animal. Boanthropy is being transformed into a cow such as what Nebuchadnezzar probably had.
4. The king i s asked to repent of his pride (vs 27). Daniel showed a deep intimacy with Yahweh.
Thought: When you or someone close to you is going through a hard time, it is a
good possibility that Yahweh wants to speak through you to others about
what you are learning.
III. After a year of grace, Nebuchadnezzar’s pride activates Yahweh’s humbling, seven years of cow-like behavior, followed by repentance and restoration
(Daniel 4:28-37).
A. Outside the city of Babylon, Nebuchadnezzar grazes with the cattle, doesn’t groom his hair or nails, and stays in a psychotic state for seven years (verses 28-34).
B. After seven years Nebuchadnezzar repents, submits his authority to the Most High King of Heaven (Yahweh) and is restored to his kingdom (verses 35-37).
