Nebuchadnezzar was one of those evil rulers who acknowledged the power, authority and greatness and sovereignty of Almighty God but who decided not to serve and worship Him.
In Daniel 4:1-3, he exclaimed and said, ‘“King Nebuchadnezzar to everyone, everywhere—every race, colour, and creed: "Peace and prosperity to all! It is my privilege to report to you the gracious miracles that the High God has done for me."His miracles are staggering, his wonders are surprising. His kingdom lasts and lasts,
his sovereign rule goes on forever.”’
Here, he was testifying about God and yet, he was an evangelist that refused to be evangelised or convicted by the very words, signs and miracles he acknowledged and preached.
Beloved one would have thought that after God had saved the three Hebrew youth from the blazing furnace of fire that Nebuchadnezzar had thrown them in, he would turn a new leaf and become a believer. He didn’t. He refused to repent, rather he continued in his wickedness and overweening pride.
His autocratic and totalitarian rule continued to oppress the masses and the poor. He did not understand that the real reason behind God saving Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego from horrendous death he sentenced them to, was that God wanted to save him (Nebuchadnezzar) from eternal hell (blazing furnace) fire had he believed and repented. God, by saving the three Hebrew youth, through His awesome grace and power preached to the entire rulership of the Babylonian empire to repent and change from their evil ways.
Instead, he wanted God to come down from Heaven and preach to him before he would believe. God indeed came down and preached to him in a dream. But did he believe? Let us see Daniel 4: 4-7.
“4-7 "I, Nebuchadnezzar, was at home taking it easy in my palace, without a care in the world. But as I was stretched out on my bed I had a dream that scared me—a nightmare that shook me. I sent for all the wise men of Babylon so that they could interpret the dream for me. When they were all assembled—magicians, enchanters, fortune tellers, witches—I told them the dream. None could tell me what it meant.”
God’s angel(messenger) came down and spoke to Nebuchadnezzar in a dream and in a manner he did not understand. He termed it a nightmare. He sought the interpretation from all his magicians and evil wise men in his empire. None of these evil wise men were able to interpret the dream. So he decided to call the servant of the Most High God in his empire, Daniel.
Child of God there is one important statement made by Nebuchadnezzar about the dream he had. He said it was a nightmare! But does God speak to us through nightmares? The answer is yes and no. It is satan that usually speaks through nightmares that come in the form of an attack. Nightmares are dreams that draw our mind to something urgent. When God speaks through a ‘nightmare’ it is a dream that is serving as a warning and calls for our urgent attention. However, God speaks to His children in a peaceful and restful manner. A nightmare is a satanic tirade.
Nebuchadnezzar assembled his evil wise men together to interpret the dream. They could not interpret the dream because they did not know the author of the dream. It was not from a satanic source. Only Daniel was given the wisdom to interpret the dream because he was connected to God.
The kings dream
Daniel 4:10-12 “This is what I saw as I was stretched out on my bed. I saw a big towering tree at the centre of the world. As I watched, the tree grew huge and strong. Its top reached the sky and it could be seen from the four corners of the earth. Its leaves were beautiful, its fruit abundant—enough food for everyone! Wild animals found shelter under it, birds nested in its branches, everything living was fed and sheltered by it.
Let’s look at Daniels interpretation of this portion of scripture.
Daniel 4:20-22 "The tree you saw that grew so large and sturdy with its top touching the sky, visible from the four corners of the world; the tree with the luxuriant foliage and abundant fruit, enough for everyone; the tree under which animals took cover and in which birds built nests—you, O king, are that tree. "You have grown great and strong. Your royal majesty reaches sky-high, and your sovereign rule stretches to the four corners of the world.
Nebuchadnezzar’s dream continued
13-15 "'And this also is what I saw as I was stretched out on my bed. I saw a holy watchman descend from heaven, and call out: Chop down the tree, lop off its branches, strip its leaves and scatter its fruit. Chase the animals from beneath it and shoo the birds from its branches.
The interpretation by Daniel continued...
Daniel 4:23-25 "But the part about the holy angel descending from heaven and proclaiming, 'Chop down the tree, destroy it, but leave stump and roots in the ground belted with a strap of iron and bronze in the grassy meadow; let him be soaked with heaven's dew and take his meals with the grazing animals for seven seasons'—this, O king, also refers to you. It means that the High God has sentenced my master the king: You will be driven away from human company and live with the wild animals. You will graze on grass like an ox. You will be soaked in heaven's dew. This will go on for seven seasons, and you will learn that the High God rules over human kingdoms and that he arranges all kingdom affairs.
Let’s see what the angel of the Lord said to him in his dream.
“Daniel 4:14-18 But leave the stump and roots in the ground, belted with a strap of iron and bronze in the grassy meadow. 15-16 Let him be soaked in heaven's dew and take his meals with the animals that graze. Let him lose his mind and get an animal's mind in exchange, and let this go on for seven seasons. 17 The angels announce this decree, the holy watchmen bring this sentence, So that everyone living will know that the High God rules human kingdoms. He arranges kingdom affairs however he wishes, and makes leaders out of losers.18(the message bible).
The final interpretation of the dream from Daniel was this”
Daniel 4:26 "The part about the tree stump and roots being left means that your kingdom will still be there for you after you learn that it is heaven that runs things” (Message bible).
Child of God, Daniel’s interpretation was simple, plain and clear. Nebuchadnezzar himself understood the interpretation well. Daniel told him that the only way to avert this calamity or God’s impending judgement was for him to repent from his wickedness and evil ways.
Daniel said, “27 "So, king, take my advice: Make a clean break with your sins and start living for others. Quit your wicked life and look after the needs of the down-and-out. Then you will continue to have a good life." (Daniel 4:27). God is a loving and kind God. He does not want anyone to perish. He gives every sinner a billion chances to repent and retrace his/her steps. But Nebuchadnezzar flatly rejected this advice.
Why is it that he refused to heed the advice and counsel of Daniel? It was nothing else other than his pride and ego. Exactly a year later while he was in the royal palace he boasted, "Look at this, Babylon the great! And I built it all by myself, a royal palace adequate to display my honour and glory!"
The scriptures say no sooner were these words out of his mouth, had God turned in His verdict. All the angel of the Lord had prophesied came to pass. That was his reward for being proud!
In conclusion:
Amplified Bible Psalm 62:10 Trust not in and rely confidently not on extortion and oppression, and do not vainly hope in robbery; if riches increase, set not your heart on them.11God has spoken once, twice have I heard this: that power belongs to God. 12Also to You, O Lord, belong mercy and loving-kindness, for You render to every man according to his work.
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