Daniel Chapter 4 is a remarkable document. It is a state document, and we have very few of these from the ancient world. This is a decree – a royal letter - to all the people - from a powerful Emperor. It is a declaration of peace. It is also a testimony.
He found God and he wanted the world to know - God has conquered me.
Can you imagine what would happen if some ruler were to say that today?
What an influence! But God had to tackle him three times. If you reject God once - the second time may be more drastic - and God may have to speak in a different way - and normally it will not be so comfortable.
Firstly - there is this nightmare - your power will not last - your Empire will be replaced - and we saw all human civilisations - how they would collapse - and be replaced by the Kingdom of God. Would Nebuchadnezzar change after that? No.
All he would do was bow down before Daniel. He has not yet bowed down before God.
Then we saw in Chapter 3 - this state religion – and the fiery furnace - where there was that amazing miracle – but even when people see miracles, they do not come to believe in God. Nebuchadnezzar had not bowed the knee before God - and God waits another twelve years before confronting the man again.
It is always better to listen to Jesus Christ as soon as he speaks to you - and he may speak to you through a man. However he speaks, be open to listen and to hear what he has to say.
This time when God speaks, it is disaster and tragedy, and sometimes when a man is at the top he needs this type of word.
Nebuchadnezzar had been at rest and flourishing - prosperous - taxes were flowing in - but what did he do? He built a most magnificent capital. Nations like to build themselves up. Today we can think of Iraq and Baghdad.
His palace had a wall six miles long - he married a Queen from Iran from Persia - called Omin. And Nebuchadnezzar built her some mountains - a Ziggurat. Omin said, "I miss the trees." Nebuchadnezzar said, "I miss Lebanon." Let's have hanging gardens with trees, and Babylon with its hanging gardens became one of the seven wonders of the world.
Babylon was a magnificent city - but in the back streets you would find terrible poverty. Nebuchadnezzar even had his own private zoo.
Our God loved Nebuchadnezzar enough to take away this rest. God loves us so much that He can come to us and take away that false peace.
God confronts Nebuchadnezzar a third time. Never let Him have to do that with you. Listen the first time Jesus speaks - nudges you - prompts you - calls you or commands you - and obey Him. There is no better advice I can give you.
Nebuchadnezzar could not sleep - he had a dream which awoke him. This great big tree fell to the ground, and shoots started coming again. But it was a vision as well as a dream - he could see it when he was awake. Why did he not send for Daniel?
Verse 6 – He called for his own wise men. Does he not want the real truth? He had said in one of his speeches "My Empire is like a tree spreading over the world." We have this on a clay tablet.
Nebuchadnezzar knows that this is a threat to his reign.
Finally, he sends for Daniel. Now - let's not beat about the bush - you are filled with the Holy Spirit. A man of the world comes to a man of God.
Verse 22 – Daniel interprets the dream. The tree is you. You are going to be chopped down. You are going to lose everything.
You will go down and down until you are like an animal - for seven years. The stump was bound to prevent it from splitting - and that is what they did in these days. It is going to sprout. Here we see the compassion of Daniel. Here is a man with a real loving and concerned heart. He is so warm. To begin with he was struck with dumb horror.
Daniel feels for the person to whom he has to say these things. Daniel has a pastor's heart. Sometimes we must be silent and feel for people in their need.
Verse 19 – Daniel did not want to say these things to the king, but frequently we are not given the option as to what we are permitted to say or not to say. Note that he gave him counsel after the dream as well as concern beforehand.
Now - God is not doing this for nothing - there must be iniquity here - there must be serious sin in this situation. It is His mercy calling us to turn to Him. God warns because of His Love.
The future can be changed. God would not have told you this, Nebuchadnezzar, if this was the final judgement.
“Loving God – gracious and compassionate God – have mercy upon us – forgive our sin, as we acknowledge and confess our sins. Teach us from this passage. Remind us that there are tyrannical leaders around today like Nebuchadnezzar. May we not forget or overlook those living in the back streets of our cities and villages. As we read the Bible, widen our horizon. Hear us as we pray in Jesus’ name.” Amen.
Alexander 'Sandy' Shaw is pastor of Nairn Christian Fellowship in Nairn, Scotland. Nairn is 17 miles east of Inverness - on the Moray Firth Coast - not far from the Loch Ness Monster!
Gifted as a Biblical teacher, Sandy is firmly committed to making sure that his teachings are firmly grounded in the Word.
Sandy has a weekly radio talk which can be heard via the Internet on Saturday at 11:40am, New Orleans time, at wsho.com.