Bible Study Materials

GOD RESTORES NEBUCHADNEZZAR

Daniel 4: 1 - 37

28 Jan 2024

Questionnaire

GOD RESTORES NEBUCHADNEZZAR

Daniel 4:1-37

Key Verse: 4:34

“At the end of that time, I, Nebuchadnezzar, raised my eyes toward heaven, and my sanity was restored. Then I praised the Most High; I honored and glorified him who lives forever. His dominion is an eternal dominion; his kingdom endures from generation to generation.” (v. 34)

1. Read verses 1-3. To whom did King Nebuchadnezzar address his personal testimony? What did he want to share with all the people in his kingdom? (2) What had he learned about God from his experience? (3)

2. Read verses 4-9. Before he was humbled, what was his attitude toward his life and accomplishments? (4, 29-30) What terrifying experience did King Nebuchadnezzar have? (5) How did he try to understand the meaning of his dream? (6-9)

3. Read verses 10-18. Describe the king’s dream of a large tree. (10-16) Explain God’s main message to the king according to his dream. (17)

4. Read verses 19-27. Why was Daniel perplexed and terrified? (19) What was Daniel’s interpretation of the king’s dream? (20-26) What was Daniel’s advice to him? (27) What can we learn from Daniel?

5. Read verses 28-33. When did the dream come true in the king’s life? (28-32) Describe the animal-man king. (33) What does this reveal about fallen men?

6. Read verses 34-37. When was the king's condition cured? (34) What did he learn? Through this passage, what can we learn about God?

Attachment:

Daniel 04(01-37).que.docx

Message

GOD RESTORES NEBUCHADNEZZAR

(Daniel 4:1-37)

In the previous passage, God protected Daniel’s three friends amid the blazing furnace. King Nebuchadnezzar honored their faith and exalted God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. (3:28-29) However, Nebuchadnezzar did not accept God as his personal God. Today’s passage is King Nebuchadnezzar’s testimony recorded in his own words. Through his testimony, he reveals how he could acknowledge God as his personal God. We can learn how God led the king into repentance and faith in God. May God help us to find the Gospel message planted in today’s passage!

I. Nebuchadnezzar’s dream (vs. 1-27)

King Nebuchadnezzar begins his testimony saying in verses 1, 2: “King Nebuchadnezzar, To the nations and peoples of every language, who live in all the earth: May you prosper greatly! It is my pleasure to tell you about the miraculous signs and wonders that the Most High God has performed for me.” In a form of a decree, he joyfully testifies what God had done for him. The decree is directed not only to his own subjects, but to all people in the whole world because he hopes that his story may be everybody’s story. In verse 3, he briefly introduces the core of his experience. “How great are his signs, how mighty his wonders! His kingdom is an eternal kingdom; his dominion endures from generation to generation.” He declares God’s majesty and power, as well as the eternal nature of God’s kingdom and his sovereignty.

How did his life’s change come about? It began with a dream that terrified him. Look at verses 4, 5. “I, Nebuchadnezzar, was at home in my palace, contented and prosperous. I had a dream that made me afraid. As I was lying in bed, the images and visions that passed through my mind terrified me.” Nebuchadnezzar ruled Babylon for 43 years. This incident might have happened during the late years of his reign. He had finished his conquest of the surrounding nations and was ruler of the greatest empire of his day. He had sovereign authority over the nations and subjects. He built a great and beautiful city by exploiting captured prisoners. According to The Greek historian Herodotus described that the wall of the city was at least 40 miles long. The top of the wall was wide enough for a chariot driven by four horses to turn around on. He constructed many temples and built his own palace. The roofs of many buildings were decorated with gold. So the city was called the “Golden City.” One of the ancient wonders of the world, the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, was also built by him. His kingdom enjoyed peace and prosperity. At this time, however, he was contented and became proud. He said in verse 30. “Is not this the great Babylon I have built as the royal residence, by my mighty power and for the glory of my majesty?” Here we can recognize some characteristics of pride.

Pride is self-centered. In his brief statement, the pronouns “I” and “My” appear three times. King Nebuchadnezzar is so full of himself. He considered that he was the center of the universe and the owner of his kingdom. Pride makes us consider as if one were the owner of his or her life and live according to one’s will, preference, and sinful nature without God. Pride is also self-reliant. King Nebuchadnezzar said, “I have built as the royal residence, by my mighty power…” Did he truly build Babylon by his mighty power? No! He built it with the blood and sweat of his subjects. If God had not allowed, he could not have laid even one brick on the wall of the city. Due to pride, we can easily lose sight of the important fact that—all that we are, and all that we have, come from God. Pride is also self-glory seeking. He said, “Is not this the great Babylon…for the glory of my majesty?” Isaiah 43:7 proclaims, “…everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made.” God created the heavens and the earth for his glory. Man’s ultimate purpose for living is to glorify God and fully enjoy him forever. But Nebuchadnezzar took for himself the glory which is due to God only. His life’s meaning and direction were totally apart from God’s creation purpose.

As we learned, all the characteristics of pride are rebellion against God. Pride is the root of sin. Pride breaks our relationship with God and, consequently, our relationships with others. Therefore, God never compromises with man’s pride. James 4:6 says, “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.” God intervened against Nebuchadnezzar’s pride with a dream. The dream made him afraid and terrified because it was God’s serious warning for him.

Out of fear, he first called all the wise men of Babylon, but they could not interpret his dream. Finally, Daniel, a servant of God, came and he was able to do so. What was the content of the dream and its meaning? In his dream, Nebuchadnezzar saw an enormous tree in the middle of the land. The tree grew large and strong, and its top touched the sky, so that it was visible to the ends of the earth. Its leaves were beautiful, its fruit abundant, and on it was food for all. Under it the wild animals found shelter, and the birds lived in its branches; from it every creature was fed. (10-12) Wow! What a beautiful dream it was! Had he awoken at this point, he would not have been terrified at all.

But after that, a holy one came down from heaven and announced a very dreadful message. Look at verse 14. “He called in a loud voice: ‘Cut down the tree and trim off its branches; strip off its leaves and scatter its fruit. Let the animals flee from under it and the birds from its branches…” Here the prosperous tree in the dream represents the king himself, who influences distant parts of the earth. The holy one was a messenger from God sent to declare God’s message of judgment. God’s judgment was to take away all the king’s glory and make him live like an animal until seven years passed by for him. He would be driven away from people and eat grass like the ox and be drenched with the dew of heaven.

What does God really want to teach the king and all human beings through this serious message? Look at verse 17. “The decision is announced by messengers, the holy ones declare the verdict, so that the living may know that the Most High is sovereign over all kingdoms on earth and gives them to anyone he wishes and sets over them the lowliest of people.” God wanted to demonstrate his sovereignty over all kingdoms on earth by deposing the most powerful king in human history. All glory and honor ultimately come from God. He raises kings and kingdoms for his set purpose and for his set time. It is God who raised up Nebuchadnezzar as King of Babylon and gave him power and authority over the kingdoms of men. God exalted him into such a position so that he might carry out his justice on the nations and take care of others with a servant leadership. But he became so proud, full of himself, and misused his God-given privileges to oppress others. When he set himself above God, he challenged God and invited his punishment and discipline. God demonstrated that he is the Sovereign Ruler, who is in control.

What was Daniel’s first reaction to the king’s dream? Look at verse 19a. “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.’” Daniel knew immediately that this dream was concerning God’s discipline on King Nebuchadnezzar. By this time, Daniel had a deep shepherd’s heart for the king as well as the people of Babylon. He sincerely wished that God’s discipline might not fall on the king. So Daniel clearly taught the king God’s sovereignty over him. He taught that it is God who appointed him king over the peoples of the world, and it is God who removes him from the throne. He told the king that God’s discipline would continue until the king would acknowledge God’s sovereignty. He also taught the king God’s mercy and grace. God would restore the throne to the king when he would humble himself before God.

What was the conclusion of Daniel’s counsel? Look at verse 27. “Therefore, Your Majesty, be pleased to accept my advice: Renounce your sins by doing what is right, and your wickedness by being kind to the oppressed. It may be that then your prosperity will continue.” Daniel urged the king to renounce his pride and cruel oppression over people and become a humble servant king. It was not easy for Daniel to tell cruel and proud King Nebuchadnezzar to repent of his sins before God. But Daniel was bold and courageous because he had no fear of men in his heart. He only feared God. Also, he believed that bearing fruit in keeping with repentance is the only way to avert God’s judgment.

His message reminds of the message of John the Baptist, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near…Produce fruit in keeping with repentance.” (Matthew 3:2, 8) Had Nebuchadnezzar done so, he would have averted his seven years of discipline. Here we learn that Daniel was truly a messenger of God and a good shepherd. With such a shepherd heart, clear teaching of the word of God, and the Gospel message, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near…” we can lead perishing souls to God. “Repentance” is a burdensome word. It is not easy for us to repent of our own pride and sins. It is not easy for us to say to others to repent. But God shows mercy to those who repent. Repentance is the way to God’s forgiveness, salvation and overflowing blessing.

II. The dream is fulfilled. (vs. 28-37)

Look at verses 28, 29. “All this happened to King Nebuchadnezzar. Twelve months later, as the king was walking on the roof of the royal palace of Babylon…” God waited for 12 months. It was the period of God’s grace, but the king showed no repentance. He ignored the earnest advice given by Daniel and continued in his sinful pride. One day, while walking on the roof of the royal palace in his usual arrogant manner, he said, “Is not this the great Babylon I have built as the royal residence, by my mighty power and for the glory of my majesty?” (30) It was a prelude of his fall as Proverbs 16:18 says, “Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.”

What happened to him? Look at verse 33. “Immediately what had been said about Nebuchadnezzar was fulfilled. He was driven away from people and ate grass like the ox. His body was drenched with the dew of heaven until his hair grew like the feathers of an eagle and his nails like the claws of a bird.” He was driven away from people and lived in a field like an animal. God struck him with insanity. There is a mental disorder, zoanthropy in which one believes oneself to be an animal, so the patient behaves like an animal. This is a compound word from the Greek words zoion, meaning animal, and anthropos, meaning man. According to National Library of Medicine, “Previously healthy, sixty-year-old woman, with poor hearing, was taken to the Hospital during her Covid-19 quarantine for altered behavior, starting to walk on four legs, barked and even pooped like a dog.”¹ Imagine that King Nebuchadnezzar, the mighty king, was turned into an animal man for seven years. This man, before whom millions had trembled, was now reduced to a pathetic, wretched, and ugly beast.

Spiritually speaking, this is a picture of fallen men who live apart from God. A man who does not acknowledge God as God and does not live for God’s purpose lives like an animal. He loses God’s holy image and lives at the animal level under deep spiritual agony and distress no matter what he has and does. This reminds us of the prodigal son in Luke 15. He left his father and squandered his wealth in wild living. After spending everything, he was hired to feed pigs and was starving to death.

God removed all of King Nebuchadnezzar’s glory when he misused God-given privileges and blessings. To Nebuchadnezzar, however, the animal-man training was God’s holy discipline. It was God’s mercy and grace. God gave him discipline so that he might not perish in sin and ignorance but repent and be saved. This humility training for seven years made the king a man who is useful to God. It was God’s holy love for him. God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness. (Hebrews 12:10b) God is the God of mercy and love toward ignorant and sinful men.

King Nebuchadnezzar stayed as an animal-man for seven years. What happened next? Look at verse 34. “At the end of that time, I, Nebuchadnezzar, raised my eyes toward heaven, and my sanity was restored. Then I praised the Most High; I honored and glorified him who lives forever. His dominion is an eternal dominion; his kingdom endures from generation to generation.” In his distress and agony, the king raised his eyes toward heaven. Here “raised my eyes toward heaven” means he looked up to God for his mercy in humility and repentance. He finally came back to his senses that God is the Sovereign Ruler of his life and history and that he was a king only by God’s grace. Then God’s training ended, and his sanity was restored. There is an obvious change in the attitude of Nebuchadnezzar toward God. Before, he either ignored God or just gave him mere lip service. Now, he began to sincerely praise and glorify God from his heart.

When he acknowledged Sovereign God, he also came to realize man’s right attitude before God. Look at verse 35. “All the peoples of the earth are regarded as nothing. He does as he pleases with the powers of heaven and the peoples of the earth. No one can hold back his hand or say to him: ‘What have you done?’” When he understood how great God is, his boasting and pride began to fade. He realized what kind of proud sinner he was, and he was nothing before God. He found that even he was unworthy of questioning God. What man should do is humbly accept God’s will because everything he does is right, and all his ways are just.

When he humbled himself before God and repented, God not only restored his sanity, but also returned his honor and splendor to him for the glory of his kingdom. His advisers and nobles sought him out, and he was restored to his throne and became ever greater than before. When he was restored to his throne and became even greater than before, he did not become proud again. Instead, King Nebuchadnezzar remained humble before God and praised God as he concluded his testimony. Look at verse 37. “Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and exalt and glorify the King of heaven, because everything he does is right and all his ways are just. And those who walk in pride he is able to humble.”

This is a changed man! By God’s merciful and mindful training, Nebuchadnezzar met his personal God and became a child of God. The king’s conversion testifies that anyone can be changed in God. When anyone humbly confesses their sins and looks up to God, God restores the dignity we lost due to our sins and pour on us excellent honor as his heavenly princes and princesses. In Luke 15, Jesus plants hope of our restoration through the parable of the prodigal son. When the son, out of his distress, came back to his senses and confessed, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.” As he got up and went to his father, his father threw his arms around him, and kissed him. He welcomed the son and restored his position by putting the best robe on him and putting a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. The father celebrated his son's return with the best feast.

Nebuchadnezzar’s story and the prodigal son’s story are my story. When I had lived apart from God by relying on my own strength and for my own glory, I lost God’s image and lived as an animal-man. I thought and acted based on my physical desire and selfish ambition. However, living as an animal-man made me so miserable and distressful. In my deep agony and distress, I came back to my senses and cried out to God for his help. God led me to Bible study and opened my spiritual eyes. As I confessed my sins of pride and lust by looking up to Jesus’ Cross, God forgave all my sins and restored me as his child. He blessed me to live for his glory and his purpose in my life. Praise God for his mercy and love for a wretched sinner like me through Jesus Christ! Everyone has hope in Christ! I learn that I must be humble before God in my daily repentance, accept his kingship in every aspect of my life and live for God’s glory alone with all my heart, soul, and strength! May God continually strengthen us to preach the Gospel message to many perishing souls, so that God may restore their lives and bless them to live for his glory and eternal kingdom!

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9470469/↩︎