Nebuchadnezzar had seen the Lord God Almighty work in some mysterious ways. He witnessed Daniel tell of his dream and the meaning of it by the Lord's guidance. He was amazed by the protection the Lord gave to Shadrach, Meshack, and Abednego.
But, Nebuchadnezzar was about to get a personal experience with the power of the Lord God Almighty!
Daniel 4:4-6- I Nebuchadnezzar was at rest in mine house, and flourishing in my palace: I saw a dream which made me afraid, and the thoughts upon my bed and the visions of my head troubled me. Therefore made I a decree to bring in all the wise men of Babylon before me, that they might make known unto me the interpretation of the dream.
Nebuchadnezzar had another dream. It was a frightening dream! And, again, he called the wise men to make known to him what it meant.
Daniel 4:7-9- Then came in the magicians, the astrologers, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers: and I told the dream before them; but they did not make known unto me the interpretation thereof. But at the last Daniel came in before me, whose name was Belteshazzar, according to the name of my god, and in whom is the spirit of the holy gods: and before him I told the dream, saying, O Belteshazzar, master of the magicians, because I know that the spirit of the holy gods is in thee, and no secret troubleth thee, tell me the visions of my dream that I have seen, and the interpretation thereof.
Just like the last time, Nebuchadnezzar's wise men couldn't tell the king what his dream meant. But, then, Daniel came in. Nebuchadnezzar recognized that there was something different about Daniel, and he was hoping that Daniel could again interpret his dream.
Daniel 4:10-18- Thus were the visions of mine head in my bed; I saw, and behold a tree in the midst of the earth, and the height thereof was great. The tree grew, and was strong, and the height thereof reached unto heaven, and the sight thereof to the end of all the earth: The leaves thereof were fair, and the fruit thereof much, and in it was meat for all: the beasts of the field had shadow under it, and the fowls of the heaven dwelt in the boughs thereof, and all flesh was fed of it. I saw in the visions of my head upon my bed, and, behold, a watcher and an holy one came down from heaven; He cried aloud, and said thus, Hew down the tree, and cut off his branches, shake off his leaves, and scatter his fruit: let the beasts get away from under it, and the fowls from his branches: Nevertheless leave the stump of his roots in the earth, even with a band of iron and brass, in the tender grass of the field; and let it be wet with the dew of heaven, and let his portion be with the beasts in the grass of the earth: 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. 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, and setteth up over it the basest of men. This dream I king Nebuchadnezzar have seen. Now thou, O Belteshazzar, declare the interpretation thereof, forasmuch as all the wise men of my kingdom are not able to make known unto me the interpretation: but thou art able; for the spirit of the holy gods is in thee.
Nebuchadnezzar's dream was an interesting one. But, Daniel knew exactly what it meant. And it astonished Daniel so much that he couldn't move or speak for an hour.
Daniel 4:19-26- Then Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, was astonied for one hour, and his thoughts troubled him. The king spake, and said, Belteshazzar, let not the dream, or the interpretation thereof, trouble thee. Belteshazzar answered and said, My lord, the dream be to them that hate thee, and the interpretation thereof to thine enemies. The tree that thou sawest, which grew, and was strong, whose height reached unto the heaven, and the sight thereof to all the earth; Whose leaves were fair, and the fruit thereof much, and in it was meat for all; under which the beasts of the field dwelt, and upon whose branches the fowls of the heaven had their habitation: It is thou, O king, that art grown and become strong: for thy greatness is grown, and reacheth unto heaven, and thy dominion to the end of the earth. And whereas the king saw a watcher and an holy one coming down from heaven, and saying, Hew the tree down, and destroy it; yet leave the stump of the roots thereof in the earth, even with a band of iron and brass, in the tender grass of the field; and let it be wet with the dew of heaven, and let his portion be with the beasts of the field, till seven times pass over him; This is the interpretation, O king, and this is the decree of the most High, which is come upon my lord the king: That they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field, and they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and they shall wet thee with the dew of heaven, and seven times shall pass over thee, till thou know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will. And whereas they commanded to leave the stump of the tree roots; thy kingdom shall be sure unto thee, after that thou shalt have known that the heavens do rule.
Nebuchadnezzar's dream was about the future, his personal future. God was warning Nebuchadnezzar that if he didn't humble himself, he would be punished. Daniel was afraid of what God was going to do!
He told the king that he was the tree that was beautiful and strong. And, the holy one that said to cut the tree down was a servant of the Most High God. The seven times were seven years that the punishment would be on Nebuchadnezzar for his pride. But, after seven years, God would give him back the kingdom.
Daniel wanted to warn Nebuchadnezzar.
Daniel 4:27- Wherefore, 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.
Daniel told Nebuchadnezzar to do right, not sin, and have mercy on the poor. And, the king did for a year.
Daniel 4:28-30- All this came upon the king Nebuchadnezzar. At the end of twelve months he walked in the palace of the kingdom of Babylon. The king spake, 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?
Nebuchadnezzar forgot about his dream. He was looking at the wonder of his kingdom and he said that it was by his own power and wisdom that he became ruler over it.
Daniel 4:31-32- While the word was in the king's mouth, there fell a voice from heaven, saying, O king Nebuchadnezzar, to thee it is spoken; The kingdom is departed from thee. And they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field: they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and seven times shall pass over thee, until thou know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will.
God spoke to Nebuchadnezzar from heaven and pronounced a seven year curse on him for his pride.
That moment, king Nebuchadnezzar turned into a mutant. His mind became like a wild animal, and his body would follow.
He was so crazy and wild that the people of his kingdom had to drive him out of the city.
Daniel 4:33- The same hour was the thing fulfilled upon Nebuchadnezzar: and he was driven from men, and did eat grass as oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven, till his hairs were grown like eagles' feathers, and his nails like birds' claws.
For seven years the king lived as a wild animal. His nails grew out and look liked talons; his hair grew out and frayed and tangled so that they looked like nasty feathers. He ate grass like all the other wild animals.
And after seven years, he was given a little bit of his mind back. And with that little bit, he praised the Lord God Almighty.
Daniel 4:34-35- And 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 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?
As soon as he humbled himself, and praised the Most High God, he was turned back into a man. He still looked like a wild mutant, but that could be taken care of with a haircut and a bath. But, his mind had completely returned. He was the mighty king Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon once more, only a little more humble.
Daniel 4:36- At the same time my reason returned unto me; and for the glory of my kingdom, mine honour and brightness returned unto me; and my counsellors and my lords sought unto me; and I was established in my kingdom, and excellent majesty was added unto me.
He went back to his city and was accepted back as the king. He recognized that it was the mercy of the Lord that had brought him back to his throne. And, he wanted everyone in his kingdom to know what had happened so that they, too, would worship the Lord God Almighty in humility.
Daniel 4:1-3, 37- Nebuchadnezzar the king, unto all people, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth; Peace be multiplied unto you. I thought it good to shew the signs and wonders that the high God hath wrought toward me. How great are his signs! and how mighty are his wonders! his kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and his dominion is from generation to generation. Now I Nebuchadnezzar praise and extol and honour the King of heaven, all whose works are truth, and his ways judgment: and those that walk in pride he is able to abase.
Nebuchadnezzar learned a valuable lesson that he never forgot!
Proverbs 16:18- Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.
If we are wise like Daniel we will learn humility from this story. But, if we are fools like Nebuchadnezzar we may just end up getting a scary lesson from the Lord Himself!
