He Changes Times And Seasons › Daniel 4
CHAPTER 4
The Tree and the Humbled King
The Most High rules in the kingdom of men
Chapter 4 is unique in Scripture: it is a letter written by a pagan emperor, a public testimony from Nebuchadnezzar himself, beginning with praise and ending with praise. In between is the story of a proud man who was brought low until he learned the one lesson every ruler needs: heaven rules.
The chapter is the second great Gentile dream in the book and sets a pattern that will return in Belshazzar’s feast: a man in power is warned, given time to repent, and then judged.
The King’s Testimony
DANIEL 4:1–3
1Nebuchadnezzar the king, unto all the peoples, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth: Peace be multiplied unto you.
2It hath seemed good unto me to show the signs and wonders that the Most High God hath wrought toward me.
3How great are his signs! and how mighty are his wonders! his kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and his dominion is from generation to generation.
Nebuchadnezzar addresses all peoples, nations, and languages and wishes them peace. He announces that it has seemed good to him to show the signs and wonders the Most High God has done for him. His opening praise is the book’s summary in miniature: His signs are great, His wonders are mighty, His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and His dominion is from generation to generation.
The king is telling his story after the fact. That is why the letter begins with doxology: he already knows how it ends.
The King Dreams Again
DANIEL 4:4–9
4I, Nebuchadnezzar, was at rest in my house, and flourishing in my palace.
5I saw a dream which made me afraid; and the thoughts upon my bed and the visions of my head troubled me.
6Therefore 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.
7Then came in the magicians, the enchanters, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers; and I told the dream before them; but they did not make known unto me the interpretation thereof.
8But 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 I told the dream before him, saying,
9O 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.
The king was at ease in his house and flourishing in his palace when a dream made him afraid. Again he summoned the wise men of Babylon, who could not interpret it. Last of all came Daniel, called Belteshazzar after the name of the king’s god, in whom the king recognized the spirit of the holy gods.
Nebuchadnezzar’s description of Daniel is careful: he still thinks in polytheist terms, but he knows that this young man has access to something the court magicians do not. He tells the dream to Daniel with confidence that no secret is too difficult for him.
The Great Tree and the Watcher’s Decree
DANIEL 4:10–18
10Thus were the visions of my head upon my bed: I saw, and, behold, a tree in the midst of the earth; and the height thereof was great.
11The tree grew, and was strong, and the height thereof reached unto heaven, and the sight thereof to the end of all the earth.
12The leaves thereof were fair, and the fruit thereof much, and in it was food for all: the beasts of the field had shadow under it, and the birds of the heavens dwelt in the branches thereof, and all flesh was fed from it.
13I saw in the visions of my head upon my bed, and, behold, a watcher and a holy one came down from heaven.
14He cried aloud, and said thus, Hew down the tree, and cut off its branches, shake off its leaves, and scatter its fruit: let the beasts get away from under it, and the fowls from its branches.
15Nevertheless leave the stump of its 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:
16let his heart be changed from man’s, and let a beast’s heart be given unto him; and let seven times pass over him.
17The sentence 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 lowest of men.
18This dream I, king Nebuchadnezzar, have seen; and thou, O Belteshazzar, declare the interpretation, 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.
In the dream a tree stands in the midst of the earth, great in height, strong, reaching to heaven and visible to the ends of the earth. Its leaves are fair, its fruit abundant, and it feeds all; beasts shelter in its shade and birds nest in its branches. Then a watcher, a holy one, comes down from heaven and cries aloud to hew down the tree, cut off its branches, shake off its leaves, and scatter its fruit. The stump and roots are to remain, bound with iron and bronze in the tender grass.
Then the figure changes from tree to man: let his heart be changed from a man’s, and let a beast’s heart be given to him, and let seven times pass over him. The purpose is stated plainly: that the living may know that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, gives it to whomever He will, and sets over it the lowest of men. Notice the word “times,” here best understood as years.
Daniel’s Interpretation and Counsel
DANIEL 4:19–27
19Then Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, was stricken dumb for a while, and his thoughts troubled him. The king answered and said, Belteshazzar, let not the dream, or the interpretation, trouble thee. Belteshazzar answered and said, My lord, the dream be to them that hate thee, and the interpretation thereof to thine adversaries.
20The tree that thou sawest, which grew, and was strong, whose height reached unto heaven, and the sight thereof to all the earth;
21whose leaves were fair, and the fruit thereof much, and in it was food for all; under which the beasts of the field dwelt, and upon whose branches the birds of the heavens had their habitation:
22it 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.
23And whereas the king saw a watcher and a holy one coming down from heaven, and saying, Hew down the tree, and destroy it; nevertheless 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;
24this is the interpretation, O king, and it is the decree of the Most High, which is come upon my lord the king:
25that thou shalt be driven from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field, and thou shalt be made to eat grass as oxen, and shalt be wet 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.
26And whereas they commanded to leave the stump of the roots of the tree; thy kingdom shall be sure unto thee, after that thou shalt have known that the heavens do rule.
27Wherefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable unto thee, and break off thy sins by righteousness, and thine iniquities by showing mercy to the poor; if there may be a lengthening of thy tranquillity.
Daniel is appalled for a time, his thoughts troubling him, and he says with real compassion that he wishes the dream were for those who hate the king. The tree is the king himself: great and strong, his greatness reaching to heaven, and his dominion to the end of the earth. The watcher’s decree is the decree of the Most High: he will be driven from men, dwell with the beasts of the field, eat grass as oxen, and be wet with the dew of heaven for seven times, until he knows that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men.
The stump left in the ground is a promise: the kingdom will be assured to him after he has learned that heaven rules. Then Daniel does what a true prophet does: he gives counsel. Break off your sins by righteousness and your iniquities by showing mercy to the poor, if there may be a lengthening of your tranquility. Even a pronounced judgment is given with an open door.
Pride and Sudden Fall
DANIEL 4:28–33
28All this came upon the king Nebuchadnezzar.
29At the end of twelve months he was walking in the royal palace of Babylon.
30The king spake and said, Is not this great Babylon, which I have built for the royal dwelling-place, by the might of my power and for the glory of my majesty?
31While 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:
32and thou shalt be driven from men; and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field; thou shalt be made 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.
33The 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 hair was grown like eagles’ feathers, and his nails like birds’ claws.
Twelve months pass. The king walks on the roof of the royal palace of Babylon and says, Is not this great Babylon, which I have built for the royal dwelling-place by the might of my power and for the glory of my majesty? Archaeologists have found Nebuchadnezzar’s own inscriptions boasting of the same work. While the word is still in his mouth a voice falls from heaven announcing that the kingdom has departed from him.
What follows is exactly as foretold. He is driven from men, eats grass like oxen, his body is wet with the dew of heaven, his hair grows like eagles’ feathers, and his nails like birds’ claws. Ancient and modern physicians recognize this condition as a form of mental illness in which a person believes he is an animal. The point is not the diagnosis but the author: God gave it, and God measured it.
The King Looks Up and Praises
DANIEL 4:34–37
34And 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 honored him that liveth for ever; for his dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom from generation to generation;
35and 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?
36At the same time mine understanding returned unto me; and for the glory of my kingdom, my majesty and brightness returned unto me; and my counsellors and my lords sought unto me; and I was established in my kingdom, and excellent greatness was added unto me.
37Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the King of heaven; for all his works are truth, and his ways justice; and those that walk in pride he is able to abase.
At the end of the days, Nebuchadnezzar lifts his eyes to heaven and his understanding returns. The first thing a restored mind does is bless the Most High and praise and honor Him who lives forever, whose dominion is an everlasting dominion, who does according to His will in the host of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth, so that none can stay His hand or say to Him, What doest thou?
His counselors seek him, he is established in his kingdom, and excellent majesty is added to him. The chapter ends with the king’s own verdict: all His works are truth and His ways justice, and those who walk in pride He is able to abase. A man who lost his reason found his true mind when he looked up.
Discussion Questions
- What was the root of Nebuchadnezzar’s fall, and how can you guard against it?
- What counsel did Daniel give the king in verse 27, and why does it matter?
- How did God use Nebuchadnezzar’s humbling to bring him to praise?
- What does it mean to “lift up your eyes to heaven” in daily life?