Daniel 4:19-27--Daniel Interprets the Second Dream

Daniel 4:19-27
English Standard Version

Daniel Interprets the Second Dream
19 Then Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, was dismayed for a while, and his thoughts alarmed him. The king answered and said, “Belteshazzar, let not the dream or the interpretation alarm you.” Belteshazzar answered and said, “My lord, may the dream be for those who hate you and its interpretation for your enemies! 20 The tree you saw, which grew and became strong, so that its top reached to heaven, and it was visible to the end of the whole earth, 21 whose leaves were beautiful and its fruit abundant, and in which was food for all, under which beasts of the field found shade, and in whose branches the birds of the heavens lived— 22 it is you, O king, who have grown and become strong. Your greatness has grown and reaches to heaven, and your dominion to the ends of the earth. 23 And because the king saw a watcher, a holy one, coming down from heaven and saying, ‘Chop down the tree and destroy it, but leave the stump of its roots in the earth, bound with a band of iron and bronze, in the tender grass of the field, and let him be wet with the dew of heaven, and let his portion be with the beasts of the field, till seven periods of time pass over him,’ 24 this is the interpretation, O king: It is a decree of the Most High, which has come upon my lord the king, 25 that you shall be driven from among men, and your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field. You shall be made to eat grass like an ox, and you shall be wet with the dew of heaven, and seven periods of time shall pass over you, till you know that the Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he will. 26 And as it was commanded to leave the stump of the roots of the tree, your kingdom shall be confirmed for you from the time that you know that Heaven rules. 27 Therefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable to you: break off your sins by practicing righteousness, and your iniquities by showing mercy to the oppressed, that there may perhaps be a lengthening of your prosperity.”

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Daniel will interpret the dream for the king, but as we saw last time, there is not much to interpret.  The only items to be interpreted are to clearly say that the tree represents King Nebuchadnezzar and not someone else and that there is still a chance for the king to repent and possibly avoid this judgment (and for a time he will, but he cannot change his nature without the power of God to regenerate him).  Daniel wishes that the dream would be for the king's enemies, but it is not.

There is a time that will come very soon in the text that the king will be driven from his throne and his people to live as a wild animal.  He will lose his mind and will sleep in the field and eat grass like an ox.  His fingernails will grow to be like a bird's talons and his hair will grow like the feathers of an eagle.  The kingdom of Babylon will not be destroyed during this time.  It will be made clear to the king by his judgment that he must humble himself before the LORD, the maker of heaven and earth and all that is in them and the one who establishes kings and kingdoms and destroys them.  The LORD alone is God and King of the universe and King Nebuchadnezzar must repent of his sin and stop practicing what is evil.  Only then may his iniquities (high-handed sins of rebellion) and the iniquities of his people be forgiven by the LORD, and the time of their prosperity and their existence as a nation and kingdom might be lengthened.  We'll see next time how the king responds to this warning.