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Readings in the Book of
Daniel
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Daniel 4:
1 Nebuchadnezzar the king, to all people, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth; Peace be multiplied to you. 2 I thought it good to show the signs and wonders that the high God has wrought toward me. 3 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.
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Daniel 4:
4 I Nebuchadnezzar was at rest in my house, and flourishing in my palace:
5 I saw a dream which made me afraid, and the thoughts upon my bed and the visions of my head troubled me. 6 Therefore made I a decree to bring in all the wise men of Babylon before me, that they might make known to me the interpretation of the dream. 7 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 to me the interpretation thereof.
8 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, 9 O Belteshazzar, master of the magicians, because I know that the spirit of the holy gods is in you, and no secret troubles you, tell me the visions of my dream that I have seen, and the interpretation thereof.
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In mercy the Son of God gave the king another dream, to warn him of his peril and of the snare that had been laid for his ruin. So Nebuchadnezzar did what he had always done, called in the wise men for an explanation (we ARE slow to learn God’s lessons), and only at the last called for Daniel. But even in his deviation from the straight and narrow, he remembered that Daniel did have a connection with the living God.
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Daniel 4:
10 Thus were the visions of my head in my bed; I saw, and behold, a tree in the midst of the earth, and the height thereof was great. 11 The tree grew, and was strong, and the height thereof reached to heaven, and the sight thereof to the end of all the earth: 12 the leaves thereof were fair, and the fruit thereof much, and in it was meat [food] 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.
13 I saw in the visions of my head upon my bed, and, behold, a watcher and a holy one [an angel] came down from heaven. 14 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: 15 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: 16 let [allow] his heart be changed from man's, and let a beast's heart be given to him: and let seven times pass over him.
17 “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 rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whomsoever He will, and sets up over it the basest of men”.
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Because they could see Nebuchadnezzar’s inclination to stray from righteousness, and his rule becoming more and more oppressive, some of the angels had asked if they could help him, and one of them was sent to participate in his dreams.
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Daniel 4:
18 This dream I king Nebuchadnezzar have seen. Now you, O Belteshazzar, declare the interpretation thereof, forasmuch as all the wise men of my kingdom are not able to make known to me the interpretation: but you are able; for the spirit of the holy gods is in you.
19 Then Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, was astonished for one hour, and his thoughts troubled him [to him the meaning of the dream was plain]. The king spoke, and said, “Belteshazzar, let not the dream, or the interpretation thereof, trouble you”.
Belteshazzar answered and said, “My lord, [I wish] the dream [would] be to them that hate you, and the interpretation thereof to your enemies”.
20 “The tree that you saw, which grew, and was strong, whose height reached to the heaven, and the sight thereof to all the earth; 21 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 22 – it is you, O king, that are grown and become strong: for your greatness is grown, and reaches to heaven, and your dominion to the end of the earth”.
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The prophet realized that upon him God had laid the solemn duty of revealing to Nebuchadnezzar the judgment that was about to fall upon him because of his pride and arrogance. Daniel must interpret the dream in language the king could understand; and although its dreadful import had made him hesitate in dumb amazement, yet he must state the truth, whatever the consequences to himself. Again Daniel was able to tell the king that a dream was about him, and explain that the Son of God and the heavenly host were worried about his behaviour, and wanted to help him. The dream showed that many people were dependent on him as an under-shepherd in this world, and he needed to behave correctly for their sakes.
It is declared, “The LORD God omnipotent reigns”. Revelation 19:6. Therefore, all kings, all nations, are His, under His gentle, yet firm, rule and government. His resources are infinite. The wise man declares, “The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water: He turns it wherever He will”. Proverbs 21:1. He who “gives salvation to kings”, to Whom belong “the shields of the earth”, watches those upon whose actions hang the destinies of nations. Psalm 144:10; 47:9. (Remember how He helped Abimelech the Philistine king? See Genesis 20:3.)
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Daniel 4:
23 “And whereas the king saw a watcher and a 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’.
24 “This is the interpretation, O king, and this is the decree of the most High, which is come upon my lord the king: 25 that they [your passions] shall drive you from men, and your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field, and they shall make you to eat grass as oxen, and they shall wet you with the dew of heaven, and seven times shall pass over you, till you know that the most High rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whomsoever He will.
26 “And whereas they [the powers of heaven] commanded to leave the stump of the tree roots; your kingdom shall be sure to you, after that you shall have known that the heavens do rule.
27 “Wherefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable to you, and break off your sins by righteousness, and your iniquities by showing mercy to the poor; if it may be a lengthening of your tranquillity”.
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In this very graphic description Nebuchadnezzar was being told that if he did not amend his ways, he would fall sick with a mental illness and would be unable to rule his kingdom. However, the love of God and Daniel would ensure that the kingdom would be held together (the iron and brass band), and he would regain his senses after seven years (times = years). This was literal (not prophetic) time because it was to happen to one man.
However, because all prophecy is conditional, Daniel also pleaded with him to avert the result altogether by concentrating on other people and not himself – for doing good things takes our minds off our problems and helps to stop deviant behaviour. Thus it is written, “And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins. Use hospitality one to another without grudging. As every man has received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.” 1 Peter 4:8-10.
Here’s another translation of those verses:
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1 Peter 4:7-11 (MSG)
7 Everything in the world is about to be wrapped up, so take nothing for granted. Stay wide-awake in prayer. 8 Most of all, love each other as if your life depended on it. Love makes up for practically anything. 9 Be quick to give a meal to the hungry, a bed to the homeless—cheerfully. 10 Be generous with the different things God gave you, passing them around so all get in on it: 11 if words, let it be God's words; if help, let it be God's hearty help. That way, God's bright presence will be evident in everything through Jesus, and he'll get all the credit as the One mighty in everything—encores to the end of time. Oh, yes!
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Isn’t that clear!
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Daniel 4:
28 All this came upon the king Nebuchadnezzar.
29 At the end of twelve months he walked in the palace of the kingdom of Babylon. 30 The king spoke, 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?”
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For a time the impression of the warning and the counsel of the prophet was strong upon Nebuchadnezzar; but the heart that is not transformed by the grace of God soon loses the impressions of the Holy Spirit. Self-indulgence and ambition had not yet been eradicated from the king's heart, and later on these traits reappeared. Notwithstanding the instruction so graciously given him, and the warnings of past experience, Nebuchadnezzar again allowed himself to be controlled by a spirit of jealousy against the kingdoms that were to follow. His rule, which heretofore had generally been to a great degree just and merciful, became even more oppressive. Hardening his heart, he used his God-given talents for self-glorification, exalting himself above the God who had given him life and power.
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Daniel 4:
31 While the word was in the king's mouth, there fell a voice from heaven, saying, “O king Nebuchadnezzar, to you it is spoken; The kingdom is departed from you. 32 And they [your passions] shall drive you from men, and your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field: they shall make you to eat grass as oxen, and seven times shall pass over you, until you know that the most High rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whomsoever He will”.
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.
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Unfortunately, Nebuchadnezzar did not heed the warning (as we are all prone to do) and allowed his pride to blossom. That very attitude tipped the scales and he became mad with a mental illness which led him to behave like an animal. Only the loving care of Daniel and others like him saved him from death. This illness lasted for seven long years before the LORD was able to restore him.
All this was a fulfilment of the angel’s words; “Let his heart be changed from man's, and let a beast's heart be given to him: and let seven times pass over him”, for God must allow us free choice in all that we do. Verse 16.
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Daniel 4:
34 “And at the end of the days I Nebuchadnezzar lifted up my eyes to heaven, and my understanding returned to me, and I blessed the most High, and I praised and honoured Him that lives for ever, whose dominion is an everlasting dominion, and His kingdom is from generation to generation:
35 and all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and He does according to His will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay His hand, or say to Him, ‘What do You?’
36 “At the same time my reason returned to me; and for the glory of my kingdom, my honour and brightness returned to me; and my counsellors and my lords sought to me; and I was established in my kingdom, and excellent majesty [the righteousness of Christ] was added to me.
37 “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”.
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The Babylonian king became a witness for God, giving his testimony, warm and eloquent, from a grateful heart that was now partaking of the mercy and grace, the righteousness and peace, of the divine nature. The Spirit of God moved upon the mind of the proud king until Nebuchadnezzar acknowledged Him as “the most high God,” “whose dominion is an everlasting dominion”.
The once proud monarch had become a humble child of God; the tyrannical, overbearing ruler, a wise and compassionate king. He who had defied and blasphemed the God of heaven, now acknowledged the power of the Most High and earnestly sought to promote the love of the LORD and the happiness of his subjects. Under the rebuke of Him who is King of kings and LORD of lords, Nebuchadnezzar had learned at last the lesson which all rulers need to learn – that true greatness consists in true goodness. He acknowledged God as the living God, and He the Source of that goodness. See Mark 10:18.
God's purpose that the greatest kingdom in Satan’s world should show forth His praise was now fulfilled. This public proclamation, in which Nebuchadnezzar acknowledged the mercy and goodness and authority of God, was the last act of his life recorded in sacred history.
Lateral thought:
While this was going on, upon the banks of the river Chebar which branched off the Euphrates, the prophet Ezekiel beheld in a vision a whirlwind seeming to come from the north, “a great cloud, and a fire infolding itself [continually moving in a closed circuit], and a brightness was about it, and out of the midst thereof as the colour of amber [brassy]”. Ezekiel 1:4. He also saw a number of wheels intersecting one another being moved by four living beings. Verses 15-20. High above all these “was the likeness of a throne, as the appearance of a sapphire stone [blue is the colour of mercy]: and upon the likeness of the throne was the likeness as the appearance of a Man above upon it”. Verse 26.
So we have the Son of God sitting on a throne supported by four symbolic angels who in turn were guiding wheels which represented human beings as they moved on earth.
“And there appeared in the cherubims the form of a man's hand under their wings”. Ezekiel 10:8.
The wheels were so complicated in arrangement that at first sight they appeared to be in confusion; yet they moved in perfect harmony. “The appearance of the wheels and their work was like to the colour of a beryl: and they four had one likeness: and their appearance and their work was as it were a wheel in the middle of a wheel [like a gyroscope]. When they went, they went upon their four sides: and they turned not when they went. As for their rings [spokes], they were so high that they were dreadful [awesome]; and their rings were full of eyes round about them four. And when the living creatures [the angels] went, the wheels went by them: and when the living creatures were lifted up from the earth, the wheels were lifted up”. Ezekiel 1:16-19.
Heavenly beings, sustained and guided by the Hand of the Spirit beneath their wings, were impelling those wheels. Above them, upon the sapphire throne, was the Eternal One, the Son of God, and round about the throne was a rainbow, the emblem of divine mercy. (1:28.)
What can we learn from this?
As the wheel-like complications were under the guidance of the Hand beneath the wings of the cherubim, so the complicated play of human events is under divine control. Amidst the strife and tumult of nations He that sits above the cherubim still guides the affairs of this earth through His angels, and we may rest in that fact.
Bye for now,
Ron
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Some of the comments in these readings are adapted from books in my library. No recognition is given because they are not intended as authorities, but are used because they express my understanding clearly. All the ideas expressed in these readings, right or wrong, are my own.
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3 But God came to Abimelech in a dream by night, and said to him, “Behold, you are but a dead man, for the woman which you have taken; for she is a man's wife”. Back
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And Jesus said to him, “Why call you Me good? There is none good but one, that is, God”. Back
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