Daniel 4:25
That they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field, and they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and they shall wet thee 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.
The verse is Daniel's plain interpretation of God's decree upon Nebuchadnezzar, that for his self-exaltation he would be driven from human society to live with the animals, eating grass and soaked with dew for seven years until he learned that the Most High governs human kingdoms and gives them to whomever He chooses. The stump left in the ground meant his kingdom would be kept secure for him and restored once he acknowledged that heaven rules. The sentence was a judgment for pride that was delayed for months to give him time to repent, but because he remained proud and self-glorifying it was fulfilled and God took away his reason until he lived like a beast. This shows that wisdom is God's gift and that earthly rule and dominion are wholly subject to His authority, which He exercises to humble the proud and to replace human empires with His everlasting kingdom. The record stands as a warning of vital importance to all who follow, especially God's workers who are more accountable because the king's course lies open before them, and as Belshazzar proved by ignoring his grandfather's banishment and restoration, to disregard this heaven-sent light brings calamity.
Dream Setting and Fulfillment
Daniel 4 records another dream God gave to Nebuchadnezzar, and this verse is Daniel's interpretation of that dream as the second and last warning to the king. It came after the king had seen the form of the Fourth with the three Hebrews in the fiery furnace and had acknowledged the miracle, yet he did not continue to walk in the light and lost the holy impression made upon his mind. The lofty tree in the dream represented Nebuchadnezzar's greatness and prosperity and his great dominion. Nations lived under his sovereignty, and his kingdom was firmly established in the hearts of loyal subjects.
The cutting down of the tree meant Nebuchadnezzar himself, in his self-exaltation, would be driven from men to dwell with the beasts of the field. He would be made to eat grass as oxen and be wet with the dew of heaven. Seven times would pass over him, that is seven years, until he knew that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men and gives it to whomsoever He will. The stump left in the ground signified that his kingdom would be secure to him and restored to him after he learned and acknowledged that heaven rules.
The verse is Daniel's truthful, plain interpretation and declaration of the decree of the Most High upon the king, spoken without flattery. Daniel was much troubled as he saw its significance, understanding his solemn duty to tell the dreadful truth despite whatever consequences might follow. The sentence was a divine decree and a warning of judgment for pride and arrogance. Its fulfillment was delayed for months to give time to repent.
After the king did not heed the warning or change his ways, but remained proud, it was fulfilled. He lost confidence in the interpretation and mocked his earlier fears, persisting in oppressive rule and self-glorification. Then God humbled him until he lived and acted like a beast, driven from human society to live among the beasts.
God's Sovereign Rule Proved
The decree upon Nebuchadnezzar was God's working to change even the heart of a heathen king. It came under the eye of the Watcher who takes cognizance of all men. Its purpose was to teach the king that God, not human power, governs kingdoms, until he knew that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men and gives it to whomsoever He will.
The king's rule and kingdom were subject to God's authority. Earthly empires would fall. God would give dominion as He chose, until all earthly powers were replaced by God's everlasting kingdom.
Because he exalted himself in pride and relied on his own strength, God took away his wisdom and mind. He lost his reason and was reduced to madness, driven from human society to live and eat like an animal. He dwelt among the beasts of the field, ate grass as oxen, and was wet with the dew of heaven for seven times, that is seven years. This shows wisdom is God's gift. It shows the living God rules and can create and destroy.
The king's experience proves rulers must recognize God's authority rather than seek supremacy for themselves. Those who make laws opposed to God's law are also subject to His authority. God controls human affairs to carry out His purposes.
Warning for Others Today
The decree of humiliation stands joined to the exhortation to break off sins by righteousness and iniquities by showing mercy to the poor, and rejecting that counsel leaves light from heaven without saving influence upon character. Those who receive light must either change their course of action or the work of the Lord becomes less and less palatable until finally it is set aside. It was direct truth spoken to a proud ruler to humble him and teach God's supreme rule, and it stands as the pattern for plainly warning those who stand in the high places of the earth in the future.
It holds lessons of vital importance to all connected with God's work, whose workers are far more accountable than the king of Babylon because his course is laid out before them to learn from. As part of that life record, it warns against trusting in oneself and one's own wisdom or making human strength one's support. It warns that people who refuse to obey God and will not humble themselves or confess their sins face the penalty of transgression, for pride and reliance on one's own strength end in humiliation when God takes away wisdom until men acknowledge that the living God rules and can create and destroy. It warns against acting with a spirit of supremacy or claiming authority over God's people, since the humiliation of being driven from human society to live among wild animals, eat grass, and be exposed to the dew would last seven times until the king recognized that the Most High rules human kingdoms and gives them to whomever He wills.
Belshazzar knew of his grandfather's banishment from human society, conversion, and miraculous restoration, but he ignored the lesson and the opportunities he had to learn and obey God's will. The light given was that God rules over human kingdoms and that Nebuchadnezzar would be humbled until he acknowledged that rule, yet Belshazzar disregarded it. Babylon's coming calamity followed from that disregard of heaven-sent light.