THE BOOK OF DANIEL
CHAPTER FOUR

THE DREAM OF THE TREE

This chapter is actually an official Babylonian document, written by the king himself. This document was written some seven years after the dream had become a reality. Thus, this testimony was given from the king himself as to what took place and how it was brought about, and why.

We see in it the conversion of the king to Christ.
For he testified, “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.”
Daniel 4:37

In chapter two we have the dream of Nebuchadnezzar that dealt with his kingdom and the kingdoms to follow. He himself being the head of gold.
Daniel 2:37—38

In chapter three we have the king building a golden image unto himself, having all the people to bow before it.
Daniel 3:1—7

Now in chapter four we have a dream that concerns the king himself. The king himself gives to us the account of what had taken place. There is no comment of the situation given by Daniel, thus, we learn in this chapter that we don’t rejoice in or make an issue out of the chastisement of others.

Daniel seemed to have been greatly disturbed because of the dream - this is why he was silent for an hour (4:19), and why he made the plea for the king to repent and turn to God:
“wherefore, 0 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 tranquility.” Daniel 4:27

We will study chapter four in the following manner:
	1. The king’s declaration	— 	4:1—3:
	2. The king’s dream			4:4—27:
	3. The king’s dilemma — 		4:28—36:
  Conclusion; 4:37

This chapter reveals a beautiful story of the grace of God dealing with the heart of a wicked man.

One cannot help to see and to admire the beauty of God’s grace in His dealing With sinful man.

I. THE KING’S DECLARATION. Daniel 4:1—3

The penman of this chapter is King Nebuchadnezzar himself. Daniel took this document and inserts it into the Book of Daniel, thus, making it a part of inspired holy writ.

Nebuchadnezzar was as daring a rival with God Almighty for the sovereignty as perhaps any mortal man ever was: but finally he was conquered and was brought under the sovereignty of God and he honored that Sovereignty.

This same battle rages in your and my heart even today, Who is God?

Is it God or is it myself?

Woe unto the man who has not yielded to the total SOVEREIGNTY OF GOD. HE IS LORD!!!!!

A. The person of the declaration. Daniel 4:1

“Nebuchadnezzar the king, unto all people, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth; Peace be multiplied unto you.”

Nebuchadnezzar himself made the declaration because it was in his heart that God has worked the work of grace.

The Psalmist said: “Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, whom he hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy;” Psalm 107:2

No One is able to make such a declaration, if they have not been truly touched by God’s grace.

1. The person of the declaration.

“Nebuchadnezzar the king,”  (1)

In other times he would have dressed them in great swelling words making a demand upon them. He in this declaration was an old man, as well, as there had been a remarkable change in his life.

2. The persons to whom the declaration was made. (1)

“— — unto all people, nations, and languages, that dwell in the earth;”

This was a very important declaration and was worthy for all people to hear.

Remember that this declaration was made after the events of this chapter  had taken place.

No doubt many conversations were held about this part of the king’s life, now is the time for the king to set the record straight and to make known, to the people all that took place.

We, too, that have had a work of grace done in our lives and hearts ought to make it known unto all people.

Jesus said: “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.” Mark 16:15

Not only was the people to hear the declarations, they were to take note of it, that is, to give it some deep thought for their own personal relationship with God.

3. The peace that the declaration declared.  (1)

-Peace be multiplied unto you.”

This seems to be a different approach toward the people than in previous times. 
He approached them in chapter 3 that they were to bow, or they would burn. No love nor peace was manifested in his commands until we come to chapter 4:1.

When One is at peace with God, then he can show peace to others —Paul wrote: “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:” Romans 5:1

Every person who has had a work of grace done in their heart ought to declare it to others.

B. The purpose of the declaration. Daniel 4:2

“I thought it good to shew the signs and wonders that the high God hath wrought toward me.”.

1. To make this declaration was a debt he owed to God.

We owe God honor and glory because of His marvelous work of grace in our lives.

2. To make this declaration was a debt he owed the people.

To have a work of grace done in the heart and not share that with others, so that they too could see and know this grace, is a sin.

We owe the people a witness for Christ. Romans 1:14

3. To make this declaration was a debt to himself.

One cannot enjoy the peace of God in his life as it should be knowing that they had not told others of God’s marvelous grace.

The reason why so many Christians are miserable is because they don’t ever share their goodness in Christ with others.
The purpose of our witness is twofold,

To glorify God and to make known God. 

C. The praise of the declaration. Daniel 4:3

“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.”

The praise of our testimony is God Himself:, more ‘that what He has done in our lives, although, it is almost impossible to separate the two.

But we are to praise Him for He is the One who does the changing in our lives, He is the God of grace and is worthy to be praised in all things.
	1. We see the praise of His Person. (3)

“his signs!”
“his wonders!”
“his kingdom”
“his dominion”

Nebuchadnezzar submits to the Sovereignty of God in all things.
	2. We see the praise of His Power. (3)

“his signs — his wonders - his kingdom -his dominion” 
shows the power of God over all other power.

Nebuchadnezzar was a powerful man, but, all authority submits to the authority of God.
	3. We see the praise of His Perpetuity. (3)

“his kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and his dominion is from generation to generation.”

Every king and their kingdom will pass away and the kingdom from hand to hand, but not so with the everlasting God.

Nebuchadnezzar now understands the words of Daniel in 2:44—45.

God is to be praised by His people for Who He is; What He is; What He has done; What He is doing; and What He is going to do.

God is to be praised just because, He is God.

I think we could camp here on these verses until it burns into our hearts the importance of being a witness.

Remember, you can only be an effective witness to what you have experienced.

II. THE KING’S DREAM. Daniel 4:4—27

It was a time of peace and prosperity that God sent this dream to Nebuchadnezzar. It was a dream that dealt with the king personally, for twice he had declared the sovereignty of God, but never had he repented of his sins and submitted to God’s Sovereignty.

In chapter 2:47 he declared that God was a
God of gods, and a King of kings, but not the
God nor the King, as in there is no other.

Here, he recognizes the person of God.

In chapter 3:28-30 that Cod was able to do what no other gods were able to do, but not. that He was the only God.

Here, he recognizes the power of God.

This dream seems to be the third time God dealt with his heart in the truth of just who is God.

Was Nebuchadnezzar the sovereign one?
or
Was God the sovereign one?

This dream seems to be the last straw that God would be using to bring this truth home to the heart of this self—righteous king.

Nebuchadnezzar helps us to see that One can know the person of God and the power of God but not know Him in a personal way.

A. The problem of the king’s dream. Daniel 4:4—7

The king faced a real problem in that the dream needed to be interpreted for he had not the answer within himself.

1. He was greatly afraid because of the dream. (5)

Fear is great when One is ignorant of what is the meaning of the dream.

2 .He was without an interpreter in his kingdom. (6-7)

Sad is the day, when men’s hearts are failing them because of fear, and they have no one to give them an answer to their needs.

3. He was at the end of his rope when grace came. (8)

With all the prophets, priests, signs, wonders, and miracles that were before the people, none met the needs of the people, but last of all Jesus stood before us.

The king would have never found an answer for his problem had it not been for God and God’s servant.

Listen carefully to the words of Paul Romans 10:13—17

B. The person who interpreted the king’s dream.  Daniel 4:8—27

Daniel, the humble servant of God as it seems was always in the background until God used him to manifest truth to the king.

1. The king remembered Daniel’s wisdom. Daniel 1:20

The world might not want the people of God, but in reality they can’t live without them.

2. The king remembered Daniel’s God as being the revealer of secrets. Daniel 2:28, 47.

The only reason that we are where we are today in God’s blessings is because of His people, and the covenant that He has made with them.

3. The king remembered the three Hebrew Men being delivered from the furnace of fire. Daniel 3:25,29.

The God of Israel had proven Himself to be
God in every situation, thus, Daniel being
proven to be the servant of the most High
God.

Daniel interpreted the king’s dream as the revelation was given to him by the Lord.

C. The proclamation of the dream. Daniel 4:19 27

The message of the dream disturbed the heart of Daniel for it was a dream against the king.

1. The tree represented Nebuchadnezzar and his mighty kingdom. (20-22)

God often used the figure of a tree to picture a kingdom. A tree is a good symbol of an earthly kingdom because it is rooted in the earth and depends on the earth for its food and stability.
2. The beasts and birds represent the other nations. (23)

The other nations who were under the control of Babylon and look to Babylon for protection and provisions are pictured as the beasts lodging under the tree, and the birds lodging in the tree.

3. The watcher and holy one represents an angel of God. (23)

Angels are very active in the affairs of nations. This angel was appointed to work in the affairs of Babylon.

The angel proclamation was two-fold:

1st  the anger declared: “Hew the tree down, and destroy it;” (23)

Nebuchadnezzar would actually cease to live as a man and would live like a beast for seven years.

2nd - the angel declared: “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, tell seven times pass over him;”

The tree would b the tree would be cut down, and a band of iron would restrain its growth, but the judgment would not be permanent. After seven years the king Nebuchadnezzar would be human again in his right mind, and he would be restored back on his throne in full power.

The interpretation of the dream greatly disturbed Daniel, and he pleaded with the king to repent so that maybe grace would intercede in his life.
Daniel 4:27

How we are to listen How we are to listen carefully and repent quickly, for therein, and only there, will we find the grace of God.

III. THE KING’S DILEMMA. Daniel 4:28—36

Nebuchadnezzar the king of the kingdom that controlled the whole world, was living as a beast and eating the grass of the field, as well, as sleeping in the open.

All the wealth he had, all the comforts of the palace, and all the wise men at his call, could not stop nor change the judgment of God upon him.

How this ought to sober our thinking.

A. The king’s probation. Daniel 4:27—29

Daniel spoke of the king being given an opportunity to make things right before the dream

became a reality, and verse 29 speaks of it be a year. After Daniel gave him the interpretation, God waited a year before bringing it to pass.

Once again we must bow before God in total humbleness when we see His grace so marvelously manifested.

B. The king’s pride. Daniel 4:30

Why was God working so in the king’s life? No doubt to teach him humility. The king was a very proud person, and exalted his achievements as being the works of his own hand.

In chapter two — we see him as the head of gold:

In chapter three - we see him building an idol of gold unto himself; all of this was to attract worship and praise to himself.

Pride is a very dangerous thing to harbor in our hearts.

Prov. 6:16—19: 8:13: 16:18

C. The king’s punishment. Daniel 4:31—33

The dream became a reality. Today, God speaks words of warning, tomorrow, these words become reality.

D. The king’s purging. Daniel 4:34—36

It was the third working of God’s grace in the king’s life that he responded to and God purged his soul.

God’s grace might carry us through rough valleys but it always delivers us to the sunny banks of sweet deliverance.

Take a careful note of the difference in the king’s confession in 4:34—35 than we find in chapter 2:47 and chapter 3:28—29. 

The confession I The confession in  4:34—35 was real, it had life to it, based on real convictions.

CONCLUSION:

The conclusion of the chapter is so beautiful that it thrills the very soul of every child of God.

It carries the music of sweet salvation. The whole purpose of God in dealing with the heart is salvation, not resentment or vengeance.

The change is revealed —
	“Now I Nebuchadnezzar -“ (37)

Before it was always to the lifting up of himself (30), now it is the,. lifting up of the God of heaven (34—35).

a. Now he lifts his eyes to heaven —34

b. Now ha blesses the most High - 34, 37

c. Now he praises and honours Him who is for-ever —34, 37

d. Now he sees men as they really are in God’s sight - 35

e. Now he sees the Sovereignty of the Lord - 35.

Praise - to glorify and to worship, as well as it carries with it service;

Extol - to lift up;

Honour — to give proper credit to, proper glory. 
This is possible when pride has been totally wiped out of the heart.

PRACTICAL LESSONS

There are some practical things that we see in this chapter that would be a blessing to the believer, as they look at them from a practical view point in~ order to apply them to their own heart and life.

We need to be very careful or we will study the Books of the Bible as being historical without any personal applications. All Books of the Bible makes up the total of God’s Word and are binding upon our hearts and lives.

Paul teaches us that all things were written for our admonition: Romans 15:4
I Corinthians 10: 6, 11

This lesson teaches us the ABSOLUTENESS OF GOD’S

SOVEREIGNTY in the affairs of man. Daniel 4:25

There is no way to escape this blessed truth in the Book of Daniel.

God is in absolute control and man will. have to answer to Him, be they peasants or be they kings.

This lesson teaches us the ABILITY OF GOD’S SERVANTS, who are filled with the Spirit of God, to interpret God’s Words and God’s will to man-kind.  Daniel 4:18

There is no way that His people can do His wi1l  other than being filled with the Spirit of ¶God.
This lesson teaches us the GREATNESS OF GOD’S GRACE manifested in a repentant sinner’s heart. Daniel 4:37

The wonderful change that took place in
Nebuchadnezzar’s heart is remarkable. God’s grace
makes the difference.

Thus, we have the beautiful lesson of a Sovereign God using His servant to speak to the sinner so that God might manifest His wonderful and marvelous grace.