{"id":1701,"date":"2015-05-12T20:29:14","date_gmt":"2015-05-13T00:29:14","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.danielgoepfrich.com\/?p=1701"},"modified":"2022-08-30T22:51:54","modified_gmt":"2022-08-31T02:51:54","slug":"daniel-4","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.theologyisforeveryone.com\/daniel-4\/","title":{"rendered":"Daniel 4"},"content":{"rendered":"

Chapter four<\/strong> contains a second dream that Daniel interpreted for Nebuchadnezzar. This chapter stands unique in the Scriptures as the only one \u201cwritten\u201d by a pagan king. Although Daniel recorded it, so he was still the biblical writer, Daniel 4:1-3 and the personal references throughout prove that this was Nebuchadnezzar\u2019s own memory of the events and his response to them. As in chapter two, Nebuchadnezzar had a dream that his magi could not interpret for him; also as in chapter two, Daniel, who was the \u201cchief of the magicians\u201d by now, did (Daniel 4:4-10).<\/p>

In his dream, Nebuchadnezzar saw an enormous tree that reached far into the sky, was beautiful to look at, and provided plenty of food and shelter for countless birds and wild animals. In a statement reminiscent of, \u201cYou are the head of gold\u201d (Daniel 2:38), Daniel told Nebuchadnezzar, \u201cThe tree that you saw\u2026it is you, O king!\u201d<\/em> (Daniel 4:20, 22). Normally, this would have been cause for celebration; instead, it brought great fear to Daniel because of the rest of the dream.<\/p>

Nebuchadnezzar saw a divine messenger come out of heaven and command that the tree be cut down, chopped up, and stripped of its foliage. However, it was not to be completely destroyed. The taproot was to be bound with metal bands to keep it until it was allowed to grow again (Daniel 4:13-16). In case the meaning was unclear, Daniel 4:16 contains a major clue by transitioning from \u201cit\u201d to \u201chim\u201d and from \u201cbranches\u201d to \u201cmind\u201d; this was a man. The meaning of \u201cperiods of time\u201d is generic and unclear; however, since it specifically means \u201cyears\u201d in Daniel 7:25, that may be the meaning here as well. In this case, Nebuchadnezzar would be out of his mind for seven years. During this time he would \u201clive with the animals in the grass of the land\u201d<\/em> and have \u201can animal\u2019s mind\u201d<\/em> (Daniel 4:15-16). The purpose of this dream, this judgment, and the entire book of Daniel was \u201cso that those who are alive may understand that the Most High has authority over human kingdoms, and he bestows them on whomever he wishes\u201d<\/em> (Daniel 4:17). This important truth is always appropriate for us to remember.<\/p>

Although Daniel begged Nebuchadnezzar to change his ways to gain God\u2019s mercy, he was not about to change his proud heart or tyrannical actions. Daniel\u2019s statement in Daniel 4:24 is significant. He did not say that it was God\u2019s decision \u201cthat this will happen<\/span>\u201d but \u201cthat this has happened<\/span>.\u201d The perfect tense of the verb shows completed action. In God\u2019s decree, this was already done; Nebuchadnezzar would not repent.<\/p>

Nebuchadnezzar said that it was twelve months after his dream that the prophecy came true (Daniel 4:28-33). The time of this is difficult to place. Babylonian records certainly do not contain the humiliation of one of their great kings, but historians have noted that there is a period of seven years during which Nebuchadnezzar did not engage in any military activity (582-575 B.C.), placing his dream about 22 years after chapter one. 1<\/sup><\/a> If this is the period mentioned in Daniel, Nebuchadnezzar had already conquered all of his major world rivals (including the third captivity of Jerusalem) and would have considered himself nearly invincible. God\u2019s judgment showed that was not true. However, the fact that his dynasty was not overthrown in his absence points to extraordinary grace from God and further proof that God controls human governments.<\/p>

At the end of these seven years, Nebuchadnezzar finally acknowledged the one true God (Daniel 4:34-37). For this, God kept his promise, restoring both his mind and his kingdom even greater than before his fall, allowing Nebuchadnezzar to rule for another thirteen years (until 562 B.C.).<\/p>

\n

Notes:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Thomas Constable, Notes on Daniel, 2015 edition<\/em>, page 56. \u21a9<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    For modern scholars to reject Daniel simply because they do not believe it could have happened as stated is to arrogantly set themselves against 2,500 years of Jewish scholarship, the Hebrew prophets, and the Savior 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