1. Daniel
Chapter 4

2. Daniel 4 records the events of at least eight years when Nebuchadnezzar was the powerful king of Babylon.
During this time, the king was warned in a dream of divine discipline.
Choosing to disregard the warning, Nebuchadnezzar became insane for seven years, and his position and power were removed while he lived like an animal.

3. Following the seven years of divine discipline, Nebuchadnezzar’s sanity was restored. His kingdom was also restored, and his majesty and splendor were given back and even increased. But Nebuchadnezzar was never the same again.
Our text describes the way God dealt personally and individually with Nebuchadnezzar.

4. The lessons learned by this king have a much broader application than just to Gentile kings.
The things which God taught Nebuchadnezzar, He desired to teach the nation of Israel as well.
We should see that these lessons are of vital importance to every Christian.

5. Daniel Introduction Deported as a teenager Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream
Bow or Burn; The Furnace
Nebuchadnezzar's Pride Aramaic
The Fall of Babylon
The Lions Den
Four Beasts
The Ram and the He Goat
The Seventy Weeks
A Glimpse of the Dark Side
The “Silent Years” (in advance)
The Consummation of All Things

6. Daniel 4:1
Nebuchadnezzar the king to all the peoples, nations, and men of every language that live in all the earth: “May your peace abound!

7. Nebuchadnezzar the king, unto all people—This is a regular decree, and is one of the most ancient on record; and no doubt was copied from the state papers of Babylon. Daniel has preserved it in the original language.
Nebuchadnezzar the king: This unique chapter is the testimony of a Gentile king about how God changed his heart.

8. Daniel 4:2
It has seemed good to me to declare the signs and wonders which the Most High God has done for me.

9. This was the second proclamation or decree recorded in scripture, exalting God (Daniel 3:29-30; Daniel 4:1-3.)
I thought it good to show - A part of the decree was a recital of the wonders revealed by the hand of the true God in his kingdom.
Nebuchadnezzar could see that God gives us signs and does wonders to testify about Himself to us.

10. Daniel 4:3
“How great are His signs And how mighty are His wonders! His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom And His dominion is from generation to generation.

11. Although Nebuchadnezzar praised Daniel’s God, he still did not believe in him completely or submit to him alone (Daniel 4:8).
Many people attend church and use spiritual language, but they really don’t believe in God or obey him. Profession doesn’t always mean possession.

12. Daniel 4:4
I, Nebuchadnezzar, was at ease in my house and flourishing in my palace.

13. I—was at ease —He had returned to his palace in Babylon after having subdued Syria, Phoenicia, Judea, Egypt, and Arabia.
It was probably these great conquests that puffed him up with pride, and brought the chastisement upon him which he afterwards describes.

14. Nebuchadnezzar’s rest was the false peace of the ungodly
Nebuchadnezzar’s rest was the false peace of the ungodly. God soon shook him from his false security.
Many people in the world find peace in there worldly possessions, their financial wealth, friends or family.

15. Daniel 4:5
I saw a dream and it made me fearful; and these fantasies as I lay on my bed and the visions in my mind kept alarming me.

16. Dream This was the second dream of prophetic events
Dream This was the second dream of prophetic events. Both times he was troubled and demanded his wise men to reveal the interpretation (Daniel 2:2-16; Daniel 4:5-7). Both times all failed but Daniel.
Visions occur with some frequency in the Bible. More than twice as many are related in the O.T. as in the N.T.

17. However, more than half of the references in the O. T
However, more than half of the references in the O.T. are found in the apocalyptic books of Ezekiel and Daniel.
Visions constituted one of the methods employed by God in the giving of revelation. Visions were used whenever the message was to be given in vivid detail.

18. Daniel 4:6
So I gave orders to bring into my presence all the wise men of Babylon, that they might make known to me the interpretation of the dream.

19. Daniel 4:7
 Then the magicians, the conjurers, the Chaldeans and the diviners came in and I related the dream to them, but they could not make its interpretation known to me.

20. but they could not make its interpretation known to me - In the first dream these same wise men promised to give the interpretation if he would only tell them the dream.
Here he told the dream and they still failed.
The dream was fairly easy to interpret; the wise men probably lacked courage more than insight.

21. Daniel 4:8
But finally Daniel came in before me, whose name is Belteshazzar according to the name of my god, and in whom is a spirit of the holy gods; and I related the dream to him, saying,

22. but finally Daniel came in before me When all the magicians, astrologers, soothsayers, and Chaldeans had proved how powerless they were to interpret the dream, Daniel made known the true interpretation in one hour (Daniel 4:6,19).

23. Daniel 4:9
O Belteshazzar, chief of the magicians, since I know that a spirit of the holy gods is in you and no mystery baffles you, tell me the visions of my dream which I have seen, along with its interpretation.

24. chief of the magicians - Daniel was recognized as being greater than all the learned men of his day.
I know that the spirit of the holy gods is in you He had definite proof of this in Daniel's manifestation of the gifts of wisdom, knowledge, and interpretation referred to in Daniel 2.
no secret baffles you, The king knew that Daniel would tell the truth, regardless of the consequences.

25. Daniel 4:10
 ‘Now these were the visions in my mind as I lay on my bed: I was looking, and behold, there was a tree in the midst of the earth and its height was great.

26. There was a tree—This vision Nebuchadnezzar says made him afraid
There was a tree—This vision Nebuchadnezzar says made him afraid. How merciful it is that God has hidden the future from us!
A tree in the midst of the earth: The tree in Nebuchadnezzar’s dream was noted for its size, strength, prominence, beauty, fruit, and shelter.

27. Daniel 4:11-12
11 ‘The tree grew large and became strong And its height reached to the sky, And it was visible to the end of the whole earth. 12 ‘Its foliage was 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 sky dwelt in its branches, And all living creatures fed themselves from it.

28. Nebuchadnezzar’s dream

29. Daniel 4:13
 ‘I was looking in the visions in my mind as I lay on my bed, and behold, an angelic watcher, a holy one, descended from heaven.
watcher and a holy one came down from heaven A holy angel from heaven carrying out the will of the Most High (Daniel 4:13,17).

30. Daniel 4:14
‘He shouted out and spoke as follows: Chop down the tree and cut off its branches, Strip off its foliage and scatter its fruit; Let the beasts flee from under it And the birds from its branches.

31. …an angelic watcher, a holy one, descended from heaven.

32. Let the beasts flee from under it And the birds from its branches.
His courtiers, officers, etc. all abandoned him as soon as Nebuchadnezzar’s insanity appeared. He was driven from his countrymen to eat with beasts for seven years (Daniel 4:25).

33. Daniel 4:15
Yet leave the stump with its roots in the ground, But with a band of iron and bronze around it In the new grass of the field; And let him be drenched with the dew of heaven, And let him share with the beasts in the grass of the earth.
Bound with a band of iron and bronze: This band is either for the tree stump’s confinement or protection. The tree is no longer free.

34. Yet leave the stump with its roots in the ground, But with a band of iron and bronze around it

35. Daniel 4:16
“Let his mind be changed from that of a man And let a beast’s mind be given to him, And let seven periods of time pass over him.

36. times = “years” (Dan 7:25, et al.)
Let his heart be changed—Let him be changed to be a beast, and act as such, living among the beasts of the field.

37. Daniel 4:17
“This sentence is by the decree of the angelic watchers And the decision is a command of the holy ones, In order that the living may know That the Most High is ruler over the realm of mankind, And bestows it on whom He wishes And sets over it the lowliest of men.”

38. The Most High rules—He never leaves the government of the world to man, to second causes, or to fortuitous occurrences.
In light of this, the dream isn’t hard to interpret - it clearly deals with the humbling of a great king. No wonder none of Nebuchadnezzar’s counselors wanted to interpret the dream for him!

39. Daniel 4:18
This is the dream which I, King Nebuchadnezzar, have seen. Now you, Belteshazzar, tell me its interpretation, inasmuch as none of the wise men of my kingdom is able to make known to me the interpretation; but you are able, for a spirit of the holy gods is in you.’

40. Most distressing to the king was the second act of his dream
Most distressing to the king was the second act of his dream. An “angelic watcher” enters the scene, calling for the tree to be cut down.
The king may not have understood the symbolism, but the words spoken by the watcher clearly spelled trouble for Nebuchadnezzar. The words struck terror into the heart of this proud, arrogant ruler:

41. Declare its interpretation: Nebuchadnezzar knew he could get an honest answer from Daniel, even when the truth was hard to bear.
You are able, for the Spirit of the Holy God is in you: Though Nebuchadnezzar recognized Daniel as a man filled with the Spirit of the Holy God, he had not yet yielded himself to the Holy God.

42. Daniel 4:19
“Then Daniel, whose name is Belteshazzar, was appalled for a while as his thoughts alarmed him. The king responded and said, ‘Belteshazzar, do not let the dream or its interpretation alarm you.’ Belteshazzar replied, ‘My lord, if only the dream applied to those who hate you and its interpretation to your adversaries!

43. was appalled for a while Appalled, not because of the difficulties of understanding it, but he felt for the king, the nation, and for the welfare of his own people.
When Daniel understood Nebuchadnezzar’s dream, he was stunned, and he wondered how to break the news. He told the king he wished what the dream foreshadowed would happen to the king’s enemies and not to Nebuchadnezzar.
Preaching the truth is a must in spite of the message or consequences. Daniel interprets the truth to Nebuchadnezzar.

44. Daniel 4:20-21
20 The tree that you saw, which became large and grew strong, whose height reached to the sky and was visible to all the earth
21 and whose foliage was beautiful and its fruit abundant, and in which was food for all, under which the beasts of the field dwelt and in whose branches the birds of the sky lodged—

45. Daniel 4:22
 it is you, O king; for you have become great and grown strong, and your majesty has become great and reached to the sky and your dominion to the end of the earth.

46. Interpretation of the Tree Vision:
Nebuchadnezzar, you are the tree (Daniel 4:20-22; cp. Daniel 2:38)
2. The watcher, a holy one sent down from heaven, is an angel announcing the decree of the Most High (Daniel 4:23-24)

47. Daniel 4:23
In that the king saw an angelic watcher, a holy one, descending from heaven and saying, “Chop down the tree and destroy it; yet leave the stump with its roots in the ground, but with a band of iron and bronze around it in the new grass of the field, and let him be drenched with the dew of heaven, and let him share with the beasts of the field until seven periods of time pass over him,”

48. The decree is: You will become mentally deranged and men will drive you from your kingdom. You will imagine yourself one of the beasts of the field, eating and sleeping with them for seven years, until you learn that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whomsoever He will (Daniel 4:25)

49. The stump left in the ground with the roots held firm by a band of iron and brass means that your kingdom shall be given back to you when your lesson is learned (Daniel 4:26).
It is you, O king: Daniel applies the point without ambiguity. Instead of reaching for a general point (“we all could use a little more humility”) Daniel brought the truth in love. This reminds us of what the prophet Nathan said to King David: You are the man! (2 Samuel 12:7)

50. Daniel 4:24
this is the interpretation, O king, and this is the decree of the Most High, which has come upon my lord the king:

51. Daniel 4:25
that you be driven away from mankind and your dwelling place be with the beasts of the field, and you be given grass to eat like cattle and be drenched with the dew of heaven; and seven periods of time will pass over you, until you recognize that the Most High is ruler over the realm of mankind and bestows it on whomever He wishes.

52. let him be drenched with the dew of heaven, and let him share with the beasts of the field

53. they shall drive you from men Who actually did this is not stated
they shall drive you from men Who actually did this is not stated. It was not his enemies, for they would have killed him.
God wanted Nebuchadnezzar to realize that his kingdom and power were given to him by God. God gives kingdoms and rules the rulers (Luke 2:1-3).

54. Daniel 4:26
And in that it was commanded to leave the stump with the roots of the tree, your kingdom will be assured to you after you recognize that it is Heaven that rules.

55. When Daniel explained this to Nebuchadnezzar, the king probably couldn’t have guessed just how literally it would be fulfilled.
After you recognize that Heaven rules: This was God’s intended purpose for Nebuchadnezzar. The king could have avoided this humiliating fate if he genuinely humbled himself.

56. your kingdom will be assured to you -No new king was set up; Evil-merodach his son was “regent” during his father’s insanity.

57. Daniel 4:27
Therefore, O king, may my advice be pleasing to you: break away now from your sins by doing righteousness and from your iniquities by showing mercy to the poor, in case there may be a prolonging of your prosperity.’

58. Daniel's threefold advice to Nebuchadnezzar:
1. Be open to my counsel.
2. Break off your sins by doing right.
3. Quit your iniquities by showing mercy to the poor.
Daniel pleaded with Nebuchadnezzar to change his ways, and God gave Nebuchadnezzar 12 months to do it. Unfortunately, there was no repentance in the heart of this proud king.

59. So the dream was fulfilled…but first…
As any good preacher would do after a powerful sermon or illustration, Daniel gave his friend the king an opportunity to repent of his evil ways.

60. Daniel 4:28-29 28 “All this happened to Nebuchadnezzar the king.
29 Twelve months later he was walking on the roof of the royal palace of Babylon.

61. Twelve months later he was walking on the roof of the royal palace of Babylon.
God was gracious and gave him 12 full months to keep himself from going insane (see Daniel 4:27).
God gave Nebuchadnezzar twelve months to repent, and he probably forgot about the dream during that time - but God didn’t forget.

62. Daniel 4:30
The king reflected and said, ‘Is this not Babylon the great, which I myself have built as a royal residence by the might of my power and for the glory of my majesty?’

63. by the might of my power and for the glory of my majesty Claiming all glory to himself and not giving any glory to God was the downfall of Nebuchadnezzar.
It was God who had chosen him and given him his great kingdom (Daniel 2:19,38). It was God who had warned him 12 months before (Daniel 4:17,26-27).

64. Babylonian Inscription
“I, Nebuchadnezzar, King of Babylon,
I am the son of Nabopolassar, King of Babylon.
I who erected the Ezida Temple,
I who built Procession Street,
The Street of the Forgiven Son,
The street of Nebu,
And paged it with shimmering stones.
Nebu, you the divine minister,
Grant me immortality.”
(see

65. Pride God hates it: Prov 6:16-19; 16:5; 16:18; 21:24; 26:12 29:23…..
1 Cor 4:6-7; Phil 2:3-4; 1 Tim 6:4-10;
6:17; James 4:13-17….

66. Daniel 4:31
31 While the word was in the king’s mouth, a voice came from heaven, saying, ‘King Nebuchadnezzar, to you it is declared: sovereignty has been removed from you,

67. Daniel 4:32
and you will be driven away from mankind, and your dwelling place will be with the beasts of the field. You will be given grass to eat like cattle, and seven periods of time will pass over you until you recognize that the Most High is ruler over the realm of mankind and bestows it on whomever He wishes.’

68. All people will eventually know from experience that God IS the Most High and sovereign in the earth and the heavens (1 Cor. 15:24-28; Ephes. 1:10; Phil. 2:8-11; Rev. 11:15; Rev. 22:4-5).
This truth is emphasized here five times (Daniel 2:21-22; Daniel 4:3,25,32,34-35).

69. The announcement came to Nebuchadnezzar in the same words he heard in his dream. This showed him that the dream was about to be fulfilled, and he would be reduced to the existence of an animal - specifically, an ox.
The form of insanity in which men think of themselves as animals and imitate the behavior of an animal has been observed.

70. Daniel 4:33
Immediately the word concerning Nebuchadnezzar was fulfilled; and he was driven away from mankind and began eating grass like cattle, and his body was drenched with the dew of heaven until his hair had grown like eagles’ feathers and his nails like birds’ claws.

71. until his hair had grown like eagles’ feathers and his nails like birds’ claws.

72. Nebuchadnezzar went insane immediately after the voice spoke from heaven.
Nebuchadnezzar moves out of the palace, out yonder to live with nature. God deals with this man personally.

73. As he departs from the plane of normality and rationality, his kingdom slips from him. The insane of that day were driven out rather than being placed in an institution for treatment.

74. Under ordinary circumstances Nebuchadnezzar would never have been able to return to the throne; yet God promised that he would do so after he had learned his lesson.

75. Daniel 4:34
34 “But at the end of that period, I, Nebuchadnezzar, raised my eyes toward heaven and my reason returned to me, and I blessed the Most High and praised and honored Him who lives forever;
For His dominion is an everlasting dominion, And His kingdom endures from generation to generation.

76. When the seven years were up he was suddenly restored to sanity and began blessing the God of heaven for His mercy.
Nebuchadnezzar could only see the truth about himself when he saw the truth about God.
The Babylonian King did see who God was, and he eloquently praised His sovereignty - then, his reason returned.

77. Daniel 4:35
“All the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing, But He does according to His will in the host of heaven And among the inhabitants of earth; And no one can ward off His hand Or say to Him, ‘What have You done?’

78. Daniel 4:36
At that time my reason returned to me. And my majesty and splendor were restored to me for the glory of my kingdom, and my counselors and my nobles began seeking me out; so I was reestablished in my sovereignty, and surpassing greatness was added to me.

79. God wanted to restore Nebuchadnezzar
God wanted to restore Nebuchadnezzar. The goal wasn’t to bring him permanently, but to bring him to his proper place before God and among men.
Truly, Nebuchadnezzar learned that those who walk in pride God is able to put down.

80. Daniel 4:37
Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise, exalt and honor the King of heaven, for all His works are true and His ways just, and He is able to humble those who walk in pride.”

81. Nebuchadnezzar lived one year after his restoration. ( Jer. 9:23-24)
At the end of seven terrible years, Nebuchadnezzar submitted himself to God. Whether he left idolatry forever is not known, but he did submit to God.
Some people will go through years of turmoil before they will submit to God.

82. As God revealed Himself to Nebuchadnezzar, so He reveals Himself to us.
He does this through answered prayers, and especially through His Word, the Holy Scriptures.
In some sense we are better off today than people were in the past: we have the full Word of God available to us.

83. The last lesson that we can learn from the king is simply what he did with this humbling experience that God gave him – He told others about it! How cool is that?
I know I’ve mentioned it before but always remember that chapter 4 of Daniel is the personal verification of the king that he sent out for all to read and hear.

84. Too often (and I’m definitely including myself here) we keep the things of God out of conversation for fear of what others may think.
Not this king!
He spoke and I have no doubt that his words changed peoples lives as God worked in their lives too.

85. Nebuchadnezzar’s Successors
Amel-Marduk ( )
- ruled but two years
- “Evil-Merodach” 2 Kings 25:27; Jer 52:3
Neriglissar, ( )
- Son-in-lae of Nebuchadnezzar
- “Nergal-Sharezer” Jer 39:13
Labashi-Marduk (555)
- lasted only 9 months
Nabonidus ( )
- absented to N. Arabia
- his son Belshazzar as co-regent

86. Kings of Babylonian Empire
Nabopolassar
( )
Nebuchadnezzar
( )
Evil-Merodach Daughter Neriglissar Nitocris married
( ) married ( ) Nabonidus
Labashi-Marduk Belshazzar
(2 months 556) ( )

87. End of Daniel Chapter 4