Daniel 4:19
Then Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, was astonied for one hour, and his thoughts troubled him. The king spake, and said, Belteshazzar, let not the dream, or the interpretation thereof, trouble thee. Belteshazzar answered and said, My lord, the dream be to them that hate thee, and the interpretation thereof to thine enemies.
Daniel was stunned and troubled for an hour because he understood that the dream foretold dreadful disaster and divine judgment against the king himself, and though the king told him not to be troubled by the dream or its meaning and he answered that he wished it would fall on the king's enemies instead, the interpretation pointed directly to the king.
The dream was of a great tree standing for Nebuchadnezzar's greatness and prosperity with nations under his rule, given after he had seen the deliverance in the fiery furnace and confessed the living God but then lost that holy impression by not walking in the light.
He would not flatter the king or soften the meaning to gain favor, but knew his solemn duty to speak the fearful truth plainly despite the cost, that it was aimed at the king for his pride and arrogance.
It was a plain warning sent to impress his understanding before the Lord acted, that by God's decree he would be driven from men, lose his reason, live with the beasts in suffering and humiliation for seven years, and then be converted and restored.
The experience teaches all entrusted with God's work to give unflattering reproof without fear when wrong principles are clearly shown, even if troubled for a time at reproving a leader, for a Watcher marks their works and they are more accountable than the heathen king.
It warns against trusting in self, wisdom, or human strength and calls for obedience to the divine will, for God gives light and gracious opportunity to learn truth and reform, but to refuse and neglect it brings judgment, as Belshazzar his grandson proved when he forgot this lesson, wasted his means and light, and brought calamity on Babylon.
Dream's Context and Meaning
The verse belongs to Nebuchadnezzar's dream of a great tree, which set forth his greatness and prosperity at a time when nations lived under his sovereignty and his kingdom was firmly established among loyal subjects. This was another dream God gave to the king and recorded in the fourth chapter of Daniel, given after he had seen the deliverance of the three Hebrews from the fiery furnace and had acknowledged their God as the living God. That holy impression upon his mind was lost because he did not continue to walk in the light he had received.
It was the king's last dream, which the wise men would not attempt to interpret because it evidently predicted adversity, so Daniel was summoned to interpret it. Daniel understood the meaning of the dream at once, and was astonied and troubled for one hour because its import was dreadful. He was deeply troubled because he foresaw that its interpretation foretold disaster and judgment against the king himself.
The king urged him not to let the dream or its interpretation trouble him. Daniel answered with concern that the dream be to them that hated the king and its interpretation to his enemies instead. In fact the interpretation referred directly to the king and warned of the judgment that would strike him.
Faithful Unflattering Witness
Daniel was summoned to interpret Nebuchadnezzar's last dream after the wise men would not attempt it because it evidently predicted adversity. He understood the meaning at once and was astonished and troubled for an hour because its import was dreadful, foreseeing judgment against the king. He hesitated to tell the king what the dream meant, unwilling to flatter him or to distort the interpretation to secure favor and gain. The king urged him not to let the dream or its interpretation trouble him, and Daniel answered with the wish that the dream and its meaning would fall on those who hated the king and on his enemies instead.
Yet he recognized a solemn duty to tell the truth of Babylon plainly, despite the consequences. The fearful message was directed against the king himself because of his pride and arrogance, and Daniel had to declare it to him without evasion. This is a lesson of vital importance to all connected with the work of God about faithful, unflattering truth-telling. Those entrusted with sacred truth are far more accountable than the heathen king, and a Watcher takes cognizance of their works.
So a messenger may for a time be troubled and keep still from dread of reproving a leader's course of action that contradicts right. Once the matter is distinctly set before him, as when the case of Nebuchadnezzar is presented, he must speak plainly. When principles in God's work are exposed that the Lord will not sustain or favor, the reproof must be given.
Divine Warning and Lessons
Daniel's troubled pause and his wish that the dream and its meaning might fall on the king's enemies was part of a plain warning given before the Lord acted, meant to impress Nebuchadnezzar's understanding that the interpretation pointed directly to himself and foretold the judgment about to strike him. The tree of his dream foretold his downfall, that by the decree of God he would lose his reason, be banished from the society of men to live among the beasts, and remain in that condition for seven years. That humiliation involved untold suffering before his conversion and miraculous restoration.
The record stands as a warning against trusting in oneself and one's own wisdom or relying on human strength. It teaches the divine will and the responsibility of rendering obedience to it, and the truth about God, who gives gracious opportunities and means by which men may become more fully acquainted with truth. The experience shows that God gives people light to instruct them and lead them to reform, but that failing to receive and practice that instruction brings judgment.
Belshazzar, the grandson, knew of Nebuchadnezzar's banishment, conversion, and restoration, yet allowed love of pleasure and self-glorification to efface lessons he should never have forgotten. He wasted the opportunities granted him, neglected the means within his reach, disregarded the light and thereby lost its benefits, passing by with indifference what Nebuchadnezzar had finally gained at the cost of suffering. His neglect brought the coming calamity upon Babylon.