Daniel Chapter 4 - Neb's Second Dream

Daniel Chapter 4

The Second Dream

Introduction

Daniel is a book about God’s sovereignty. The events discussed are prophesied by Jeremiah. Because God is sovereign, He can use whomever he wants in order to bring about his purposes. Nebuchadnezzar/Babylon is used as an instrument of punishment and correction for Israel’s failure to remain committed to Him.

Verses 4:1-3 Nebuchadnezzar praises God

This is a continuation of the story of the fiery furnace in Chapter 3

Verses 4:4-18 Nebuchadnezzar has another dream

A large amount of time passes between verses 3 and 4

Nebuchadnezzar has a dream about a large and bountiful tree

“Seven periods of time” – seven years is the best guess

When his usual diviners and counselors couldn’t interpret the dream his sends for Daniel (aka, Belteshazzar)

Verses 4:19-27 Daniels interpretation of the dream

The first response of Daniel is to be alarmed and dismayed since he realized that this dream was against the king.

The dream predicts judgment upon Nebuchadnezzar for seven [years]

Daniel pleads with the king to repent in the hopes that he might be spared or that God’s judgment might be delayed.

Verses 4:28-33

12 months after Daniel interpreted the dream, Nebuchadnezzar reflects on his kingdom and on “the glory of my majesty.”

Luke 12:16-21 – The Parable of the Rich Fool – a lesson on the insignificance of riches

Acts 12:21-22 – “an angel of the Lord struck him down, because he did not give God the glory …”

“While the words were still in the king’s mouth . . . a voice from heaven” pronounced that the judgment predicted was now starting and “The kingdom has departed from you . . . until you know that the Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he will.”

Seven years makes sense because it would have taken a while for his hair to grow so long

Zoanthropy: a monomania in which a person believes himself changed into an animal and acts like one.

Verses 4:32-37 – Nebuchadnezzar is restored.