DANIEL INTERPRETS THE DREAM
DANIEL INTERPRETS THE DREAM
Another name for Daniel was Belteshazzar. It was given to him by Nebuchadnezzar when Daniel first arrived in Babylon.
4:19 Then Daniel (also called Belteshazzar) was greatly perplexed for a time, and his thoughts terrified him. So the king said, "Belteshazzar, do not let the dream or its meaning alarm you." Belteshazzar answered, "My lord, if only the dream applied to your enemies and its meaning to your adversaries! 4:20 The tree you saw, which grew large and strong, with its top touching the sky, visible to the whole earth, 4:21 with beautiful leaves and abundant food for all, giving shelter to the beasts of the field, and having nesting places in its branches for the birds of the air_ 4:22 you, O king, are that tree! You have become great and strong; your greatness has grown until it reaches the sky, and your dominion extends to distant parts of the earth. 4:23 "You O king, saw a messenger, a holy one, coming down from heaven and saying, "Cut down the tree and destroy it, but leave the stump, bound with iron and bronze, in the grass of the field, while its roots remain in the ground. Let him be drenched with the dew of heaven; let him live like the wild animals, until seven times pass by for him.'
This is a sad part of Nebuchadnezzar's life. He has been disobedient to God, and God removes him from his duties as King. He will be disabled for seven years and unable to help himself at all. He becomes like an animal. without human sense and grazing grass to eat. He will live outside in the fields day and night, thus he wakes up drenched by the morning dew.
4:24 " This is the interpretation, O king, and this is the decree the Most High has issued against my lord the king. 4:25 You will be driven away from people and will live with the wild animals; you will eat grass like cattle and be drenched with the dew of heaven. Seven times (years) will pass by for you until you acknowledge that the Most High is sovereign over the kingdome of men and gives them to anyone he wishes.
The king had been thinking in his heart that he was born to have all this by the whim of heaven, when in fact God places people where they will most be able to carry out God's plan. We are all his servants, some willing, some not, but he giveth and he taketh away. Job 1:21b A willing servant does the will of God. An unwilling servant goes his own way, until God stops him as he did with the great Nebuchadnezzar.
4; 26 The command to leave the stump of the tree with its roots means that your kingdom will be restored to you when you acknowledge that Heaven rules. 4:27 Therefore, O king, be pleased to accept my advice: Renounce your sins by doing what is right, and your wickedness by being kind to the opressed. It may be that they your prosperity will continue."
The king is adviced to give up his sins and his oppressive wickedness. There is no democracy in his kingdom. He will have to accept that Heaven rules, the King of kings and Lord of lords is the One and only Supreme God and King. Then his kingdom and his intellect will be restored.
4:24 This is the interpretation, O king, and this is the decree the Most High has issued against my lord the king: 4:25 You will be driven away from people and will live with the wild animals; you will eat grass like cattle and be drenched with the dew of heaven. Seven times (or years) will pass by for you until you acknowledge that the Most High is sovereign over the kingdoms of men and gives them to anyone he wishes.
God is sovereign over everything. We and the world are his creation, therefore we are his creatures. we cannot become proud of ourselves and our accomplishments, because God can humble us at the drop of a hat. We do not belong to ourselves. He has worked long and hard to teach us that. Yet we remain stubbornly opposed to him and his plans for us. The world says, you must pursue money to gain respect and status. God say you must first pursue being Christ-like as my Son. Whom do we listen to? To the one who is first in our hearts.
4:26 The command to leave the stump of the tree with its roots means that your kingdom will be restored to you when you acknowledge that heavens rules.
4:19 Then Daniel (also called Belteshazzar) was greatly perplexed for a time, and his thoughts terrified him. So the king said, "Belteshazzar, do not let the dream or its meaning alarm you." Belteshazzar answered, "My lord, if only the dream applied to your enemies and its meaning to your adversaries! 4:20 The tree you saw, which grew large and strong, with its top touching the sky, visible to the whole earth, 4:21 with beautiful leaves and abundant food for all, giving shelter to the beasts of the field, and having nesting places in its branches for the birds of the air_ 4:22 you, O king, are that tree! You have become great and strong; your greatness has grown until it reaches the sky, and your dominion extends to distant parts of the earth. 4:23 "You O king, saw a messenger, a holy one, coming down from heaven and saying, "Cut down the tree and destroy it, but leave the stump, bound with iron and bronze, in the grass of the field, while its roots remain in the ground. Let him be drenched with the dew of heaven; let him live like the wild animals, until seven times pass by for him.'
This is a sad part of Nebuchadnezzar's life. He has been disobedient to God, and God removes him from his duties as King. He will be disabled for seven years and unable to help himself at all. He becomes like an animal. without human sense and grazing grass to eat. He will live outside in the fields day and night, thus he wakes up drenched by the morning dew.
4:24 " This is the interpretation, O king, and this is the decree the Most High has issued against my lord the king. 4:25 You will be driven away from people and will live with the wild animals; you will eat grass like cattle and be drenched with the dew of heaven. Seven times (years) will pass by for you until you acknowledge that the Most High is sovereign over the kingdome of men and gives them to anyone he wishes.
The king had been thinking in his heart that he was born to have all this by the whim of heaven, when in fact God places people where they will most be able to carry out God's plan. We are all his servants, some willing, some not, but he giveth and he taketh away. Job 1:21b A willing servant does the will of God. An unwilling servant goes his own way, until God stops him as he did with the great Nebuchadnezzar.
4; 26 The command to leave the stump of the tree with its roots means that your kingdom will be restored to you when you acknowledge that Heaven rules. 4:27 Therefore, O king, be pleased to accept my advice: Renounce your sins by doing what is right, and your wickedness by being kind to the opressed. It may be that they your prosperity will continue."
The king is adviced to give up his sins and his oppressive wickedness. There is no democracy in his kingdom. He will have to accept that Heaven rules, the King of kings and Lord of lords is the One and only Supreme God and King. Then his kingdom and his intellect will be restored.
4:24 This is the interpretation, O king, and this is the decree the Most High has issued against my lord the king: 4:25 You will be driven away from people and will live with the wild animals; you will eat grass like cattle and be drenched with the dew of heaven. Seven times (or years) will pass by for you until you acknowledge that the Most High is sovereign over the kingdoms of men and gives them to anyone he wishes.
God is sovereign over everything. We and the world are his creation, therefore we are his creatures. we cannot become proud of ourselves and our accomplishments, because God can humble us at the drop of a hat. We do not belong to ourselves. He has worked long and hard to teach us that. Yet we remain stubbornly opposed to him and his plans for us. The world says, you must pursue money to gain respect and status. God say you must first pursue being Christ-like as my Son. Whom do we listen to? To the one who is first in our hearts.
4:26 The command to leave the stump of the tree with its roots means that your kingdom will be restored to you when you acknowledge that heavens rules.