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Daniel 4, Mad King Syndrome

God patiently works with people. He keeps working with people long after we would have given up on them. And God’s long suffering and patience with Nebuchadnezzar is a classic example. God worked long to reach Nebuchandezzar with the gospel. Finally, at last, God takes drastic measures to win Nebuchadnezzar, and as a result we have in Daniel 4 the story of Nebuchadnezzar’s conversion.

And there is a lesson here for us. We must never forget that God is just as patient with us as he was with Nebuchadnezzar. For 30 years God worked with Nebuchadnezzar. For 30 years God never gave up on Nebuchadnezzar. We may slip and fall into old habits and modes of thought. We may, so far as the world can see, be the most hopeless of cases. But so long as there is life, God does not give up. We may rebel, we may refuse and reject God’s offer of mercy and pardon - but He never gives up.

So just what is a conversion story doing in the middle of a book of prophecy? Just as we have seen in the earlier chapters, this story also illustrate the experiences of God’s people in the last days. Only, this story is about an experience God’s people in the last days will NEED in their own personal lives if anything else in the book of Daniel is to have any real meaning for them at all. Because, without a living relationship with Jesus all the prophetic knowledge in the world will do you no good. It is the personal knowledge of Jesus that gives substance and meaning to the prophetic word. The only people who will overcome in the final days of earth’s history are those who have been truly converted, those who have a deep, abiding and personal relationship with Jesus - the overcomers.

Revelation 3:21 "To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne

Here in Daniel 4 we will see something of just how far God is willing to go to save one lost soul. In a way, this is perhaps one of the most important studies in Daniel. And why is it so important? Because as already mentioned -- Without a living relationship with Jesus all the prophetic knowledge in the world will do you no good. It is the personal knowledge of Jesus that gives substance and meaning to the prophetic word. That is why this chapter is in the book of Daniel. And that is why it is so important.

Daniel 4:1 Nebuchadnezzar the king, To all peoples, nations, and languages that dwell in all the earth: Peace be multiplied to you.

This chapter in Daniel is unique in that Daniel did not write it - Nebuchadnezzar did. This is Nebuchadnezzar’s own personal testimony of how God saved him. And already in this first verse you can see a radical difference in Nebuchadnezzar from what we have seen of him in earlier chapters. Remember from chapters 2 and 3, how at the end of those stories Nebuchadnezzar in his enthusiasm made such statements inspirational statements as “who ever speaks anything amiss against God shall be cut in pieces, and their houses made a dunghill�?/FONT>? But now in these opening words of chapter 4 there are no threats, no attempts to compel people to worship God. Instead we find a simple telling of his conversion story and a simple salutation of peace. “Peace be multiplied to you.�?/FONT> Nebuchadenzzar is no longer the proud overbearing king, but the humble servant of God.

Daniel 4:2 I thought it good to declare the signs and wonders that the Most High God has worked for me. 3 How great are His signs, And how mighty His wonders! His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, And His dominion is from generation to generation.

As you read these words, It is almost as if the Nebuchadnezzar we had come to know in the earlier chapters had become completely different person - and indeed he has. That is what the born again experience will do to you. A change has come over him. Every phrase out of his mouth now breathes praise and glory to God. Babylon is forgotten and only God’s everlasting kingdom is acknowledged.

People are always ready to tell what God has done for them in the way of blessings. But how many are ready to tell what God has for them in the way of humiliation and chastisements. Nebuchadnezzar sets a good example in this respect. He frankly confesses the vanity and pride of his heart and freely tells the method God used to humble him. With a genuine spirit of repentance he thought it good to show these things, that God might be exalted. Nebuchadnezzar no longer makes great claims for his kingdom, but makes a full surrender to God, acknowledging God’s kingdom alone to be everlasting, and His dominion from generation to generation.

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 on my bed and the visions of my head troubled me. 6 Therefore I issued 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 the magicians, the astrologers, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers came in, and I told them the dream; but they did not make known to me its interpretation.

Yet again Nebuchadnezzar has a dream, and yet again he calls in all the wise men of Babylon to interpret it for him. At the time of Nebuchadnezzar’s dream in chapter 2 the wise men had declared that if the king would only tell them the dream, they could give him the interpretation. Now God gives them their chance to prove their point. On this occasion Nebuchadnezzar distinctly related his dream to the wise men. But again they failed. And once again the impotence of the wise men is made apparent to all.

It was out of God’s love for the wise men of Babylon that God brought this about. He did not humiliate them just for the sake of humiliating them. He was also trying to reach out to them and reveal Himself to them. He was trying to show them the worthlessness of mere human wisdom and of the pagan systems of divination that they practiced.

Ezekiel 33:11 Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, . . . ?

The Bible is silent as to if any of the wise men ever saw the light and turned with all their hearts to God, but we do know from the testimony of chapter 4 that God did succeed in winning the heart and mind of Nebuchadnezzar.

Daniel 4:8 But at last Daniel came before me (his name is Belteshazzar, according to the name of my god; in him is the Spirit of the Holy God), and I told the dream before him, saying: 9 "Belteshazzar, chief of the magicians, because I know that the Spirit of the Holy God is in you, and no secret troubles you, explain to me the visions of my dream that I have seen, and its interpretation.

It seems that Daniel’s arrival had been providentially delayed for a time. I believe that it was by God’s providence that Daniel showed up late. God was still working to show Nebuchadnezzar the folly of trusting the Babylon’s wise men and all their mystic arts. Had Daniel been there at the first God’s purpose in discrediting the wise men of Babylon would have been thwarted.

Here is the dream as Nebuchadnezzar related it to Daniel.

Daniel 4:10 "These were the visions of my head while on my bed: "I was looking, and behold, A tree in the midst of the earth, And its height was great. 11 The tree grew and became strong; Its height reached to the heavens, And it could be seen to the ends of all the earth. 12 Its leaves were lovely, Its fruit abundant, And in it was food for all. The beasts of the field found shade under it, The birds of the heavens dwelt in its branches, And all flesh was fed from it. 13 "I saw in the visions of my head while on my bed, and there was a watcher, a holy one, coming down from heaven. 14 He cried aloud and said thus: 'Chop down the tree and cut off its branches, Strip off its leaves and scatter its fruit. Let the beasts get out from under it, And the birds from its branches. 15 Nevertheless leave the stump and roots in the earth, Bound with a band of iron and bronze, In the tender grass of the field. Let it be wet with the dew of heaven, And let him graze with the beasts On the grass of the earth. 16 Let his heart be changed from that of a man, Let him be given the heart of a beast, And let seven times pass over him. 17 'This decision is by the decree of the watchers, And the sentence by the word of the holy ones, In order 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.' 18 "This dream I, King Nebuchadnezzar, have seen. Now you, Belteshazzar, declare its interpretation, since 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 God is in you."

�?FONT color=#006600>The Most High rules in the kingdom of men, Gives it to whomever He will, And sets over it the lowest of men.�?nbsp; A whole book could be written on these words alone. These are words that every earthly ruler would do well to take to heart. The Lord reigns - literally. One theme that runs strong throughout the book of Daniel is the sovereignty of God over the nations. It is no wonder then that Nebuchadnezzar, a proud pagan king, was anxious to know the meaning of the dream.

Daniel 4:19 Then Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, was astonished for a time, and his thoughts troubled him. So the king spoke, and said, "Belteshazzar, do not let the dream or its interpretation trouble you." Belteshazzar answered and said, "My lord, may the dream concern those who hate you, and its interpretation concern your enemies!

It has been suggested by some that Daniel’s hesitation in giving the interpretation, his sitting astonished for an hour, did not come from any difficulty in interpreting the dream, but on how to make the matter known to the king. What Daniel said now could literally be a matter of eternal life or death to Nebuchadnezzar. God was about to do a mighty work in Nebuchadnezzar, and how Daniel presented the matter could make all the difference. As a true servant of God Daniel did not gloat that calamity, a humiliating chastisement, was about to fall upon Nebuchandezzar, but showed the real concern of a true servant of God. God’s people never rejoice when the wicked suffer. They have pity and concern for people who are outside of Christ.

It seems that Nebuchadnezzar anticipated that the interpretation of the dream would not be good news for him, and so he encouraged Daniel to go ahead and tell the dream no matter what bearing it may have on himself. And so Daniel proceeds to give the interpretation of the dream. And he does not water it down but presents it plainly before the king.

Daniel 4:20 The tree that you saw, which grew and became strong, whose height reached to the heavens and which could be seen by all the earth, 21 whose leaves were lovely and its fruit abundant, in which was food for all, under which the beasts of the field dwelt, and in whose branches the birds of the heaven had their home- 22 it is you, O king, who have grown and become strong; for your greatness has grown and reaches to the heavens, and your dominion to the end of the earth. 23 And inasmuch as the king saw a watcher, a holy one, coming down from heaven and saying, 'Chop down the tree and destroy it, but leave its stump and roots in the earth, bound with a band of iron and bronze in the tender grass of the field; let it be wet with the dew of heaven, and let him graze 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 has come upon my lord the king: 25 They shall drive you from men, your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field, and they shall make you eat grass like oxen. 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 whomever He chooses. 26 And inasmuch as they gave the command to leave the stump and roots of the tree, your kingdom shall be assured to you, after you come to know that Heaven rules. 27 Therefore, O king, let my advice be acceptable to you; break off your sins by being righteous, and your iniquities by showing mercy to the poor. Perhaps there may be a lengthening of your prosperity."

The threatened judgments were conditional. There was a chance Nebuchadnezzar could avoid them if he was to repent and change his ways. And so, we find Daniel offering the king advice on how he might possibly avoid this chastisement. No denunciation or condemnation of Nebuchadnezzar’s sins came from Daniel’s mouth, but only word of kindness and persuasion. “Let my counsel be acceptable unto thee.�?“Break off your sins�?“Break off your . . . Iniquities.�?“[Show] mercy.�?/FONT> If Nebuchadnezzar would break off his sins �?I>by righteousness,�?and his iniquities �?I>by showing mercy to the poor,�?it might, just might, result in a turning away of the threatened judgment.

Perhaps at first Nebuchadnezzar did make some attempt to change his ways. But as the months pass and nothing seems to happen, initial impressions are brushed aside and forgotten. So it was with Nebuchadnezzar -- his heart was not yet transformed. He still indulged in a spirit of self-glorification, and in the course of time dismissed his fears. A whole year had passed and the dream was now ancient history.

But God had a purpose. These chastisements were teach the king (and us) “that the Heavens do rule.�?And God has a way of getting His point across.

Daniel 4:28 All this came upon King Nebuchadnezzar. 29 At the end of the twelve months he was walking about the royal palace of Babylon. 30 The king spoke, saying, "Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for a royal dwelling by my mighty power and for the honor of my majesty?" 31 While the word was still in the king's mouth, a voice fell from heaven: "King Nebuchadnezzar, to you it is spoken: the kingdom has departed from you! 32 And they shall drive you from men, and your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field. They shall make you eat grass like 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 whomever He chooses." 33 That very hour the word was fulfilled concerning Nebuchadnezzar; he was driven from men and ate grass like oxen; his body was wet with the dew of heaven till his hair had grown like eagles' feathers and his nails like birds' claws.

For a full year God waited, hoping that Nebuchadnezzar would respond. Yet sometimes God in His love must let people sink to the very depths before they recognize their need of Him. Sometimes in His mercy God must strip us of all that we cherish and hold dear in this world to break the idolatrous grip that these things may have on us.

God bore long with Nebuchadnezzar, yet all that time he cherished pride in his heart, and at last it reached a point beyond which God could not allow it to pass. The king was walking in the palace, and as he looked on the splendors of Babylon he forgot the source of all his strength and greatness, and exclaimed, “Is not this great Babylon, that I have built?�?/FONT>

Pride. There are two kinds of it in this world. The good kind of pride can be defined as a reasonable self respect or a justifiable sense of satification, as in a job well done. But there is another darker kind of pride defined as inordinate self esteem. This is the pride that Nebuchadnezzar cherished.

The Bible tells us:

Proverbs 16:18 Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.

One reason that God hates this kind of pride is that when we think too highly of ourselves we tend think less highly of others and treat them unkindly. So it was with Nebuchadnezzar as evidenced by Daniel’s counsel to Nebuchadnezzar, “Break off your sins . . . .by showing mercy.�?/FONT>

Micah 6: 8 He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?

This dark kind of pride also separates us from God. This pride always leads us to forget our dependence on God.

Deuteronomy 8:17 And thou say in thine heart, My power and the might of mine hand hath gotten me this wealth. 18 But thou shalt remember the LORD thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth, that he may establish his covenant which he sware unto thy fathers, as it is this day.

In Daniel 4:17 the heavenly watchers tell us that God wants the “living�?to learn first that God �?I>rules in the kingdom of men�?/FONT> and second that He �?I>gives it to whomsoever He will.�?/FONT>

A lesson that many still need to learn today. Almost everybody criticizes leaders these days. It is almost the national pastime. Is it really possible that God is the One who puts our leaders into public office? That’s what the Bible says.

In Daniel 1 we saw how God “gave up�?the kingdom of Judah to be conquered by Babylon and ruled over by Nebuchadnezzar. But that was not God’s first choice for Judah. It was the sinfulness of the people that led to God’s decision. If people reject God’s leadership He will often go ahead and give them the leadership they deserve, which is rarely a good thing.

In this account of God vs. Nebuchadnezzar’s pride, we see God as the ultimate ruler of every nation, reserving the right to give authority to this or that person, or to take it away as He sees fit. Nebuchadnezzar was the king of the greatest nation on the earth in his day, but in an instant God removed him from the throne and turned him out into the fields like an ox.

But as harsh as this chastisement was, God did this to Nebuchadnezzar in order to help him. God wanted Nebuchadnezzar to repent so He could save him and grant him eternal life. God wanted to give Nebuchadnezzar something so much more than the throne of Babylon. In the New Testament, Paul says:

1 Timothy 2:1 I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; 2 For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.

Please note that it says to pray �?I>for�?not �?I>against�?those that are in authority. Prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings. How long has it been since you thanked God for our leaders? Even bad leaders? Disagreement is one thing. Disrespect is another. The message that God rules the kingdom of men and gives it to who ever He will is repeated by Paul in Romans 13.

Romans 13:1 Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. 2 Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves. 3 For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same. 4 For he is God's minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God's minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil. 5 Therefore you must be subject, not only because of wrath but also for conscience' sake.

And remember - Paul wrote that at a time of unbelievable government corruption at the highest levels.

Yet Christians sometimes find themselves in a situation where they feel obedience to a particular state regulation would be a violation of conscience. In the trials that are to characterize the last days, such situations will increase. Regarding such cases the Bible says:

Acts 5:29 . . . . . . We ought to obey God rather than men.

But it is important to remember that part of our obedience to God is obedience to the state. “For he is the minister of God to thee for good,�?and, “ye must needs be subject . . .for conscience sake.�?/FONT>

So what are we to do when conflict arises between a “thus saith the Lord,�?and a “thus saith the state.�?The Bible is our guide here also.

As a worshiper of the true God, Daniel probably had some concerns about enrolling in the Babylon state college of his day. He knew it was corrupted with idolatrous principles, but he knew of no Bible command that said he should not - so he obeyed the king. But when unclean food which the Bible forbid was served, he refused to eat it at the risk of his life.

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego would no doubt have preferred to stay away from the Plain of Dura. But the king ordered them to attend - and knowing no Bible command against doing so, they obeyed. But the Bible plainly says that we are not to bow down to images - so they refused to bow, even at the risk of being burned to death.

God respects leadership, and He wants us to do so as well. We may disagree, and at times we may as Daniel and his companions find ourselves in situations where we must disobey. - Still we must show respect, knowing that it is God who gave us these leaders. If you want a really good Bible study on this - consider the relationship between David and king Saul.

Daniel 4:34 And at the end of the time I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted my eyes to heaven, and my understanding returned to me; and I blessed the Most High and praised and honored Him who lives forever: For His dominion is an everlasting dominion, And His kingdom is from generation to generation.

At the end of seven years Nebuchadnezzar’s first act was to praise and bless God. As the text says, it was when he �?I>lifted up�?his eyes to heaven that his understanding returned to him. It has been said that no one can rightly be said to have understanding who do not bless and praise God. That those who do not bless and praise God may justly be reckoned void of understanding. Nor do men ever rightly use their reason until they begin to seek the Lord. Nor do they live as men till they live to the glory of God.

Daniel 4:35 All the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing; He does according to His will in the army of heaven And among the inhabitants of the earth. No one can restrain His hand Or say to Him, "What have You done?" 36 At the same time my reason returned to me, and for the glory of my kingdom, my honor and splendor returned to me. My counselors and nobles resorted to me, I was restored to my kingdom, and excellent majesty was added to me. 37 Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the King of heaven, all of whose works are truth, and His ways justice. And those who walk in pride He is able to put down.

It took God over thirty years to reach Nebuchadnezzar, but at long last Nebuchadnezzar acknowledged Him as the true God. No longer did Nebuchadnezzar exalt himself. Instead he exalted and praised the God of heaven. Once people recognize God as the rightful ruler of their lives, they have true peace.

The genuineness of his conversion is seen by his willingness to tell the story, including the details of his own disgrace and the amazing grace of God toward him a sinner. God by His grace took a seemingly hopeless case and made him a member of the family of God.

This is the last scripture record we have of Nebuchadnezzar. The decree is dated at about 563 BC. There is no record that the king ever slipped back into idolatry. We may therefore conclude that he died a believer in and worshiper of the God of Israel.

God is eager to save people. Sometimes He has to permit us to go down to the very depths before he can lift us up and redeem us. But he will allow whatever needs to happen in order to reach us with the gospel. God did not save Nebuchadnezzar because he was good. Nebuchadnezzar was a proud and arrogant ruler. But God reached out and saved Nebuchadnezzar in-spite of that. God looked past what Nebuchadnezzar was to what he could be in Christ. And God is just as willing to look past what you are to what you can be in Christ.