5-9-14. Daniel 4:1-18. NEBUCHADNEZZAR’S SECOND DREAM

-my devotional

 Daniel 4:1-18                                         Kevin E. Jesmer                                    5-9-14

“The sentence is by the decree of the watchers, the decision by the word of the holy ones, to the end that the living may know that the Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he will and sets over it the lowliest of men.’ (17) (ESV)

Dear Lord, thank you for bringing our new grads to the cusp of this new phase of their lives. Lord, you bless those who seek first your kingdom and righteousness. (Matt 6:33). You actually pour your blessings on all people. Thank you for blessing our grads. May they seek true wisdom and knowledge in you and use all that you have given them to glorify you and to love and serve you and humanity. May they have a deep sense of God’s grace on their lives and may they also know what they have been equipped with, that they may utilize all the tools that you have bestowed upon them. May convergence come upon each of their lives, like a sharpened arrow. May they find true happiness and joy as they embark on this next stage. May they never squander their gifts, but continually offer them up to the Lord, serving others in love, that their gifts may be multiplied, that they may bear abundant fruit, that their joy may increase and they may leave a lasting legacy of faith and service. May the  Name of Jesus may be advertised across our land through the lives of our new grads. Please grant me one word in my heart through this passage. I pray in Jesus’ name. Amen!

 Part 1: I Had A Dream (1-8).

Verses 1-8, “King Nebuchadnezzar to all peoples, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth: Peace be multiplied to you! 2 It has seemed good to me to show the signs and wonders that the Most High God has done for me. 3 How great are his signs, how mighty his wonders! His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and his dominion endures from generation to generation. 4 I, Nebuchadnezzar, was at ease in my house and prospering in my palace. 5 I saw a dream that made me afraid. As I lay in bed the fancies and the visions of my head alarmed me. 6 So I made a decree that all the wise men of Babylon should be brought before me,  that they might make known to me the interpretation of the dream. 7 Then the magicians, the enchanters, the Chaldeans, and the astrologers came in, and I told them the dream, but they could not make known to me its interpretation. 8 At last Daniel came in before me—he who was named Belteshazzar after the name of my god, and in whom is the spirit of the holy gods —and I told him the dream, saying,” (ESV)

Nebuchadnezzar had seen such signs and wonders through Daniel and his friends that he proclaimed them to all peoples and nations. His heart was very moved by grace of God given to him through Daniel and his friends. He was light hearted and joyful and he was giving honor and glory to God. He even had some insight into the kingdom of God, that his kingdom is an everlasting kingdom and his dominion endures from generation to generation. The king was also more graceful with his wise men than he was before. In the previous passage, he was threatening their lives, telling them that they would die if they did not interpret his dream correctly. This time he was asking their help, but he was not threatening their lives. He was also giving them another chance to stand as his wise men. Something is happening in the heart of this Gentile king. It is called God’s grace.  I am not saying that he was a true believer, but he was touched by the grace of God. He beginning to experience God’s presence. He was “on the way.”

When God touches our hearts with his grace, there is a change that occurs in us. We get insight into the nature of God and his kingdom. We also get great joy. We also want to proclaim what we know about God to the world. This is consistent with the testimonies of Christians who have been born again.

Let’s think about the God who has blessed this king.

1. God is the possessor of mighty and wonderful signs and wonders.

2. He is the Most High God.

3. His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom.

4. His dominion endures from generation to generation.

Though he was contented and prosperous, but this still did not ease his mind. Look at verses 4-5, “I, Nebuchadnezzar, was at ease in my house and prospering in my palace. 5 I saw a dream that made me afraid. As I lay in bed the fancies and the visions of my head alarmed me.”  He had a dream that terrified him, and when none of his other wise men could interpret it for him. Worldly riches and successes and achievements are all good, but without a personal relationship with God, and trusting in God, even all of these laurels cannot put our hearts at ease. The only way to have our hearts at ease is to trust in God, who is the Creator God, all powerful and all mighty. He is the God who created the universe, heals the sick and raises the dead. He is the Sovereign Lord, who works in history and in the lives of people. He is LOVE. He loves us unconditionally and he loves us like a father. (parent). He has a deep concern for each of his children. When we have this kind of faith in God, then our hearts can be at peace, even when we have nightmares, even when there are troubles in life and even when there sickness and the threat of bodily harm or death. We can have the peace of God, no matter what happens.

Then he finally called for Daniel. Daniel was there, He was ready and prepared to serve this king with the wisdom of God. Daniel was prepared to offer himself up as a conduit of God’s blessings. As Christians we need to be prepared to pray for other people; to share the word of God; and to encourage others. We need to be prepared in season and out of season. God helps us to be this when we are dwelling in Christ. God’s truth, love and wisdom can overflow out of us to others. This too is God’s grace.

 Part 2: Tell Me What It Means (9-18).

Verses 9-18, “9 “O Belteshazzar, chief of the magicians, because I know that the spirit of the holy gods is in you and that no mystery is too difficult for you, tell me the visions of my dream that I saw and their interpretation. 10 The visions of my head as I lay in bed were these: I saw, and behold, a tree in the midst of the earth, and its height was great. 11 The tree grew and became strong, and its top reached to heaven, and it was visible to the end of the whole earth. 12 Its leaves were beautiful and its fruit abundant, and in it was food for all. The beasts of the field found shade under it, and the birds of the heavens lived in its branches, and all flesh was fed from it. 13 “I saw in the visions of my head as I lay in bed, and behold, a watcher, a holy one, came down from heaven. 14 He proclaimed aloud and said thus: ‘Chop down the tree and lop off its branches, strip off its leaves and scatter its fruit. Let the beasts flee from under it and the birds from its branches. 15 But leave the stump of its roots in the earth, bound with a band of iron and bronze, amid the tender grass of the field. Let him be wet with the dew of heaven. Let his portion be with the beasts in the grass of the earth. 16 Let his mind be changed from a man’s, and let a beast’s mind be given to him; and let seven periods of time pass over him. 17 The sentence is by the decree of the watchers, the decision by the word of the holy ones, to the end that the living may know that the Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he will and sets over it the lowliest of men.’ 18 This dream I, King Nebuchadnezzar, saw. And you, O Belteshazzar, tell me the interpretation, because all the wise men of my kingdom are not able to make known to me the interpretation, but you are able, for the spirit of the holy gods is in you.” (ESV)

The King respected Daniel. Verse 9 reads, “O Belteshazzar, chief of the magicians, because I know that the spirit of the holy gods is in you and that no mystery is too difficult for you, tell me the visions of my dream that I saw and their interpretation.” and verse 18b, “…but you are able, for the spirit of the holy gods is in you.” It was because God was with Daniel and God raised up Daniel to be spiritual leader. People recognized that and people turned to him for advice. When God is with us, the spirit of God is with is and he will bring people to us so that we can give them wise counsel and lead them to the Lord. We must be prepared when this happens. Think about the people that God has led to you at this moment. What do you think Jesus wants you to tell them.

Let’s think about this new dream. Look at verses 10-17. The king dreamed of a beautiful tree whose top touched the sky, one that could be seen from the ends of the earth and provided food and shelter for every creature. Then the tree was cut down. The messenger announced that someone would be drenched with dew and live like an animal for 7 years–until all people “that the Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he will.” (17b) The king thought he was in control and he was the responsible for making his kingdom great. He may have thought that he was like a god. But God would humble him and his kingdom.  In this strange way, God showed that he is working in all things to reveal his sovereign glory over the earth. It is not people that are maintaining this world, it is God. God rules this world. He rules America. God is the one we must worship and honor as the Most High. On one house near NIU campus, there is a banner that states in big red letters, “Jesus Christ is Lord of NIU.” Though the university does not officially recognize Jesus Christ as Lord, Jesus is still the Lord.

It would be best to recognize Jesus as Lord of our lives, homes and families right from the beginning. I sure would not want to experience what the king was going to experience. But there is benefit to our humbling experiences in life. It is in those times that we realize that Jesus is the Most High God and that he is in control. There is a saying, “You don’t know how much you need Jesus until Jesus is all you got.” It is in those troubled times, where life has brought us low, that our eyes turn heavenward to the Most High God and acknowledge him as our Lord and Savior. In this way times where we are humbled are actually times of victory.

Prayer: “Lord, you are the Most High God. Use me to reveal your sovereignty in all the world.”

One Word: So that the living may know that Jesus is Lord.