God's Dealings with Nebuchadnezzar

"God's Dealings with Nebuchadnezzar" - Daniel 2:29-34 Nebuchadnezzar attacked Jerusalem, and the commission was that certain Jewish boys would be prepared to serve him as men of wisdom and understanding. Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah are to come. Daniel does not want to eat the king's food. It was granted. So, Daniel is preparing to work Nebuchadnezzar's life, and that was going to be Daniel's life in Babylon. He, the prophet and Nebuchadnezzar the king, to take care of Israel in Babylon.

I. Nebuchadnezzar had a dream.

A. Not only the interpretation, but also the content of the dream (5) (to be told what the dream was).

1. The demand is much more difficult, if not impossible.

2. The wise men could not say.

3. Daniel in prayer and on days of fasting, God revealed to him the nature of the dream and the interpretation of it.

4. Daniel in divine wisdom explains the kingdoms to him (31-35).

5. Daniel tells him: a great splendid and terrible image. The head of this image was fine gold; his chest and arms, of silver; his belly and thighs were made of bronze; his legs were made of iron; and his feet partly of iron and partly of baked clay.

6. Gentile powers, world domination; Nebuchadnezzar was the head of gold, Persia and Media were the arms of silver; Greece, the third kingdom, was the belly and thighs of bronze. The Roman Empire, was the legs and feet of iron.

7. How much wisdom in Daniel, that Nebuchadnezzar is so amazed that he made him "governor" (48) of the whole province of Babylon and the supreme leader of all the wise men of Babylon.

8. Nebuchadnezzar made a golden statue to his god (3:1) (12).

9. The furnace was warmed seven times more, that the three Jews, clothed, were thrown into them. (19)

10. Nebuchadnezzar looked into the furnace, saw "four" men, the three Jews and a fourth, like a son of the gods, but it was Jesus, whom the Father sent to him so that "Nebuchadnezzar would know Him."

11. Thus, God led Nebuchadnezzar.

12. The fire only burned the ropes that bound the Jews.

13. Nebuchadnezzar forbade anyone to speak (3:29) "against the Highest God" of the Jews.

14. (Ch. 4) Nebuchadnezzar king testifies to the greatness of the Most High God and to an experience in his own life that led to his conversion.

15. (20-34) The saint described a man who lost his mind and became like a wild "beast" from the earth for seven years.

16. The thing was so clear that, as soon as Daniel heard the dream "he was stunned (frightened, one cannot react) for an hour (9-19).

17. For brakes, as is done with those who have lost consciousness.

18. Such a person is to be deprived of his human dignity and rational mind, so that he may live for seven years "like a brute animal."

19. Nebuchadnezzar asks Daniel to interpret it for him.

20. "You are that man," there is very little left to add.

21. It was not of pleasure to him to 'declare' God's judgment to the king, whom he is seen to have come to love."

22. The king noticed Daniel's bewilderment and thinking that he was slow to speak for fear of offending him, he encouraged him to tell him plainly: "Belteshazzar," he said to Daniel (19b), "do not let the dream or its meaning alarm you."

23. He was tame!

24. No doubt he said this as one who "sincerely" desired to know the truth, however bitter it might be.

25. Daniel shows his affection for the king by saying, "My Lord, let your dream apply to your enemies and its meaning to your adversaries."

26. (20-23) "The tree you saw... you, O king, are that tree."

27. (24) As to the decree which had been issued by the Most High upon the king, the sentence was that he should be disposed of from his throne and even cast out from among men to "dwell with the beasts of the field, so that they shall feed him with herbs of the field as on oxen and also as oxen, he would sleep on the open (floor) bathed in the dew of heaven.

28. This was to be for seven times, that is, seven years at the end of which, "coming to himself," he would recognize God's sovereignty over men.

29. Then when you have recognized that the one who governs (are) the heavens, that is, God.

30. (27) "Therefore, O king, accept my advice.

31. (30-37) His pride, his haughtiness, did not yet allow him to humiliate himself, but his vanity was better.

32. (30) Is not this the great Babylon which I built by the strength of my might?

33. Twelve months, walking in the royal palace of Babylon and boasting of what he had done in greatness in the royal palace of Babylon.

34. Is not this the great Babylon that I built? he intended with the force of his power.

35. That glory of his majesty.

36. It is said to you, King Nebuchadnezzar, "The kingdom has been taken away."

37. Nebuchadnezzar: I lifted my eyes to heaven and my reason was restored to me; and "I blessed the Most High and praised and glorified Him who lives forever whose dominion is everlasting (eternal) and His kingdom throughout all ages. (37)

38. Humiliation and then comes reason."

39. Now Nebuchadnezzar praises, glorifies the "King of heaven." Amen