This is the interpretation, O king, and this is the decree of the most High, which is come upon my lord the king:
This is Daniel's interpretation of Nebuchadnezzar's dream as the decree of the Most High come upon the king, in which the great tree stands for the king himself in his prosperity and far-reaching dominion. The decree announces judgment for his pride, that he would be driven from men to dwell with beasts, lose reason, eat grass and be wet with dew for seven times until he learned that the Most High rules in the kingdoms of men. Yet the stump left in the ground means his kingdom would be secured and restored to him once he acknowledged that heaven rules, and he was first urged to break off sins by righteousness and mercy to the poor so his peace might be prolonged. Daniel spoke this fearful sentence plainly to the self-exalted king's face instead of flattering him, a faithful duty that stands as the pattern for warning those in high places and all entrusted with God's work.
Dream and Its Setting
This is the interpretation of Nebuchadnezzar's dream, the decree of the Most High that had come upon the king. It was another revelation from God, another dream given to warn him before the decree was fulfilled. The lofty, great tree seen in the dream represents Nebuchadnezzar himself in his greatness and prosperity and widely spread dominion. Nations lived under his rule, and his kingdom was firmly established among his loyal subjects.
God gave this dream after Nebuchadnezzar had seen the form of the Fourth with the three Hebrews in the fiery furnace. He had acknowledged their living God and the miracle wrought for them, and acknowledged God's favor. He had been impressed by the vision showing that earthly kingdoms would give way to God's everlasting kingdom. But he did not continue to walk in the light, and lost the holy impression made upon his mind.
God's judgment did not fall at once but lingered for months to give the king time to repent. Instead he indulged his pride. He lost confidence in the interpretation and mocked the fears it had caused him.
Judgment and Restoration
The decree is a sentence of judgment falling upon the king because of his pride and arrogance, to show him that his kingdom and all its glory depended on Jehovah. It declares that he would be driven out from human society and lose his reason, with his dwelling among the beasts of the field, made to eat grass as oxen and wet with the dew of heaven. That degraded state would remain upon him for seven times, that is seven years.
It would continue until he learned by experience that the Most High rules in the kingdoms of men and gives them to whomsoever He wills, and that the heavens do rule. The stump of the tree left in the ground means that his kingdom would be made sure to him and restored to him once he acknowledged that heaven rules.
Before its fulfillment the king was warned and counseled to break off his sins by righteousness and his iniquities by showing mercy to the poor, to turn from sin so that his tranquility and peace might be prolonged and the threatened calamity averted. That warning made the dream and its interpretation another revelation from God calling him to repent before the decree took effect.
Warning and Example
Daniel stood before the self-exalted king of Babylon not to flatter him or to misinterpret for favor, but to tell him the truth. He disclosed plainly to his face the fearful decree of the Most High that had come upon him, as a solemn duty to speak truthfully despite its fearful consequences. That faithful, face-to-face warning is a pattern for warning those who stand in the high places of the earth in the future. It carries lessons of vital importance to all connected with the work of God, showing the working of the great I AM to change even the heart of a heathen king.
A Watcher just as really takes cognizance of all the works of men, but in a special sense of those who represent God by receiving His truth and revealing it to the world. Workers entrusted with God's instrumentalities, upon whom the ends of the world are come, are far more accountable than was the king of Babylon. His course is laid out to teach the lesson God desires.
Nebuchadnezzar's banishment from human society, conversion, and restoration made his experience a lesson that Belshazzar knew but ignored. The later calamity that came upon Babylon resulted from that disregard of the light God had given Nebuchadnezzar. Failing to receive and practice God's lessons brings judgment. God sending His decree upon a king warns against trusting in oneself or one's own wisdom and making human strength one's support. Nebuchadnezzar's experience so stands as a warning to any leader who brings in principles God will not sustain or favor.
This is Daniel's interpretation of Nebuchadnezzar's dream as the decree of the Most High come upon the king, in which the great tree stands for the king himself in his prosperity and far-reaching dominion. The decree announces judgment for his pride, that he would be driven from men to dwell with beasts, lose reason, eat grass and be wet with dew for seven times until he learned that the Most High rules in the kingdoms of men. Yet the stump left in the ground means his kingdom would be secured and restored to him once he acknowledged that heaven rules, and he was first urged to break off sins by righteousness and mercy to the poor so his peace might be prolonged. Daniel spoke this fearful sentence plainly to the self-exalted king's face instead of flattering him, a faithful duty that stands as the pattern for warning those in high places and all entrusted with God's work.
Dream and Its Setting
This is the interpretation of Nebuchadnezzar's dream, the decree of the Most High that had come upon the king. It was another revelation from God, another dream given to warn him before the decree was fulfilled. The lofty, great tree seen in the dream represents Nebuchadnezzar himself in his greatness and prosperity and widely spread dominion. Nations lived under his rule, and his kingdom was firmly established among his loyal subjects.
God gave this dream after Nebuchadnezzar had seen the form of the Fourth with the three Hebrews in the fiery furnace. He had acknowledged their living God and the miracle wrought for them, and acknowledged God's favor. He had been impressed by the vision showing that earthly kingdoms would give way to God's everlasting kingdom. But he did not continue to walk in the light, and lost the holy impression made upon his mind.
God's judgment did not fall at once but lingered for months to give the king time to repent. Instead he indulged his pride. He lost confidence in the interpretation and mocked the fears it had caused him.
Judgment and Restoration
The decree is a sentence of judgment falling upon the king because of his pride and arrogance, to show him that his kingdom and all its glory depended on Jehovah. It declares that he would be driven out from human society and lose his reason, with his dwelling among the beasts of the field, made to eat grass as oxen and wet with the dew of heaven. That degraded state would remain upon him for seven times, that is seven years.
It would continue until he learned by experience that the Most High rules in the kingdoms of men and gives them to whomsoever He wills, and that the heavens do rule. The stump of the tree left in the ground means that his kingdom would be made sure to him and restored to him once he acknowledged that heaven rules.
Before its fulfillment the king was warned and counseled to break off his sins by righteousness and his iniquities by showing mercy to the poor, to turn from sin so that his tranquility and peace might be prolonged and the threatened calamity averted. That warning made the dream and its interpretation another revelation from God calling him to repent before the decree took effect.
Warning and Example
Daniel stood before the self-exalted king of Babylon not to flatter him or to misinterpret for favor, but to tell him the truth. He disclosed plainly to his face the fearful decree of the Most High that had come upon him, as a solemn duty to speak truthfully despite its fearful consequences. That faithful, face-to-face warning is a pattern for warning those who stand in the high places of the earth in the future. It carries lessons of vital importance to all connected with the work of God, showing the working of the great I AM to change even the heart of a heathen king.
A Watcher just as really takes cognizance of all the works of men, but in a special sense of those who represent God by receiving His truth and revealing it to the world. Workers entrusted with God's instrumentalities, upon whom the ends of the world are come, are far more accountable than was the king of Babylon. His course is laid out to teach the lesson God desires.
Nebuchadnezzar's banishment from human society, conversion, and restoration made his experience a lesson that Belshazzar knew but ignored. The later calamity that came upon Babylon resulted from that disregard of the light God had given Nebuchadnezzar. Failing to receive and practice God's lessons brings judgment. God sending His decree upon a king warns against trusting in oneself or one's own wisdom and making human strength one's support. Nebuchadnezzar's experience so stands as a warning to any leader who brings in principles God will not sustain or favor.