Daniel: Faithfulness In Exile - Week 4
Daniel 4:1-37
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The Most High God
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Daniel 4:1-37 〰️ The Most High God 〰️
Daniel 4 opens with Nebuchadnezzar praising the LORD publicly before the Babylonians with a brief poem, citing God's signs, wonders, and reign. We'll soon find out that, again, this confession of belief is still in opposition to the LORD's command in Exodus 20:5. "Do not bow in worship to them, and do not serve them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, bringing the consequences of the fathers' iniquity on the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate me." Uniquely, this chapter in Daniel begins and ends with a similar concept and declaration from the king. In v1-3, he tells of the miracles and wonders he's seen (once again) from the LORD. At the end of the chapter in v37, he praises God "because all his works are true and his ways are just." Nebuchadnezzar seems more repentant and better understands God, as he says, "He is able to humble those who walk in pride" in v37. We'll get to it next week, but as we read Chapter 4, take some mental notes, as the story of Nebuchadnezzar's dream here is linked to the story of Belshazzar in Chapter 5. The LORD confronts their pride as kings, but each has a radically different response. But before we get ahead of ourselves, the king tells us about a second dream in v4.
Nebuchadnezzar sets the scene and tells of his dream. He was "at ease" and "flourishing" in his palace when he had the dream. It's almost comical at this point, but once again, the first response of the king is to seek the counsel of his magicians, mediums, Chaldeans, and diviners. Previously, in Chapter 2, Nebuchadnezzar withheld the description of the dream, but here he tells them, and they still cannot provide its interpretation.
"There was a tree in the middle of the earth,
and it was very tall.
The tree grew large and strong;
its top reached to the sky,
and it was visible to the ends of the earth.
Its leaves were beautiful, its fruit was abundant,
and on it was food for all.
Wild animals found shelter under it,
the birds of the sky lived in its branches,
and every creature was fed from it." (v10-12)
The description of the tree is intriguingly similar to the depiction of the Tower of Babylon in Genesis 11:1-9, as well. In Daniel 4:11, the tree is depicted as reaching to the sky. Genesis 11:4 catalogs the people as wanting a tower "with its top in the sky." We see this parallel of the Babylonians building a tower to attempt to reach the sky to "make a name for ourselves," out of fear of being "scattered throughout the earth." (Genesis 11:4). And here in Daniel 4, Nebuchadnezzar has a dream of a strong and tall tree, reaching the sky. The second half of the king's experience is a word directly from the LORD. God tells the Nebuchadnezzar that the tree (the king's rule) will be chopped down, its leaves stripped, and fruit scattered (another connection to Genesis 11:4, where the Babylonians wanted to make a name for themselves to prevent being scattered). In His words to the king, the LORD also tells him that "his mind be [will] changed from that of a human," and he will "be given the mind of an animal for seven periods of time [seven years]." (v16). Now, before we jump to conclusions or question the LORD, we have to keep the broader context in mind for this passage: The LORD's people are in exile in Babylon, a nation where many gods are worshipped, and the LORD is not recognized for who He is.Up to this point, Nebuchadnezzar has had multiple encounters with God and still has not denied the gods of Babylon. If we return to Exodus 20 briefly, we'll be reminded that the LORD is a jealous God who does not share His throne with anyone else. The Babylonians and Nebuchadnezzar all recognized the LORD as divine but merely placed Him on a shelf alongside their other deities. This was the reason for the seven-year "punishment" of the king here in Chapter 4. In v17, God tells Nebuchadnezzar,
"This is so that the living will know
that the Most High is ruler
over human kingdoms.
He gives them to anyone he wants
and sets the lowliest of people over them."
Finally, through God's mercy, Daniel comes to the king and can interpret the dream. In the interpretation, Daniel tells the king that he, the king, is the tree. Furthermore, in the interpretation, the king gets another reminder that it is the LORD who establishes and dismantles kingdoms. God alone places rulers on their earthly thrones and removes them. No doubt, the king, who was "at ease in [his] house and flourishing in [his] palace" (v4), was shocked and stricken with fear at hearing this.
Shortly after, "All this happened to King Nebuchadnezzar." (v28). A year after receiving this message from the LORD and an interpretation through Daniel, the king was on his roof and declared, "Is this not Babylon the Great that I have built to be a royal residence by my vast power and for my majestic glory?" (v30). A year after audibly hearing the LORD say that He is "ruler over human kingdoms. He gives them to anyone he wants, and sets the lowliest of people over them." (v14). The LORD's patience is on full display, as God gave the king twelve months to repent and change his ways.
At the end of the seven years of wandering, the king was eventually restored after looking up to heaven. This was likely not just the physical act of looking to heaven but the king repenting of his pride and acknowledging the Most High God.[1] At the end of the passage, we read that the LORD restored the king, leading to him praising and exalting God. He acknowledges that it's God who humbles the proud and establishes kings and kingdoms.
It was a long passage this week, but I think there is a lot that the LORD can teach us from it. As we enter discussion, some of the questions will feel weighty, but that's something we shouldn't fear. We should remember that the Bible is a unified story that always points to Jesus. That means we can't always look at how we relate to the hero in every story because Jesus is the hero. Some of this week's discussion questions will have us look at Nebuchadnezzar, comparing our fallen nature to his character. But we have hope in Christ. He died for our sinful pride and offers a never-ending life of freedom from rebellion and pride.
Discussion Questions
What stood out to you from the passage?
Does anything in this passage remind you of another part of Scripture?
Do you have any questions?
How do you see Jesus in this passage?
Why do you think Nebuchadnezzar had a second dream if he was praising God at the end of chapter 3 and the beginning of chapter 4?
There was over a year gap between the king's dream and it being fulfilled (v30). How does it comfort you to know that God is patient, even when we so blatantly sin against Him?
Reread v30. How are you similar to Nebuchadnezzar in this passage, boasting pridefully about your abilities over God's?
How does Jesus' death and resurrection impact our response to God's dealing with pride?
1. Michael Rydelnik, Daniel, in CSB Study Bible: Notes, ed. Edwin A. Blum and Trevin Wax (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2017), 1333.