Bible Study 📖 By @Seyiodus #7. Daniel 4 (Wednesday 28th Of February, 2018)
Hello everyone, Yesterday was another Bible study and due to some reasons, I could not do it but I am covering up for it today. It will still be for Wednesday and i hope you continue to enjoy the study as we further on with the Book of Daniel. And we will e studying the whole of chapter four today.
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Daniel 4
To the nations and peoples of every language, who live in all the earth:
May you prosper greatly!
2 It is my pleasure to tell you about the miraculous signs and wonders that the Most High God has performed for me.
3
How great are his signs,
how mighty his wonders!
His kingdom is an eternal kingdom;
his dominion endures from generation to generation.
4 I, Nebuchadnezzar, was at home in my palace, contented and prosperous. 5 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. 6 So I commanded that all the wise men of Babylon be brought before me to interpret the dream for me. 7 When the magicians, enchanters, astrologers[b] and diviners came, I told them the dream, but they could not interpret it for me. 8 Finally, Daniel came into my presence and I told him the dream. (He is called Belteshazzar, after the name of my god, and the spirit of the holy gods is in him.)
9 I said, “Belteshazzar, chief of the magicians, I know that the spirit of the holy gods is in you, and no mystery is too difficult for you. Here is my dream; interpret it for me. 10 These are the visions I saw while lying in bed: I looked, and there before me stood a tree in the middle of the land. Its height was enormous. 11 The tree grew large and strong and its top touched the sky; it was visible to the ends of the earth. 12 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.
13 “In the visions I saw while lying in bed, I looked, and there before me was a holy one, a messenger,[c] coming down from heaven. 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. 15 But let the stump and its roots, bound with iron and bronze, remain in the ground, in the grass of the field.
“‘Let him be drenched with the dew of heaven, and let him live with the animals among the plants of the earth. 16 Let his mind be changed from that of a man and let him be given the mind of an animal, till seven times[d] pass by for him.
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.’
18 “This is the dream that I, King Nebuchadnezzar, had. Now, Belteshazzar, tell me what it means, for none of the wise men in my kingdom can interpret it for me. But you can, because the spirit of the holy gods is in you.”
Daniel Interprets the Dream
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! 20 The tree you saw, which grew large and strong, with its top touching the sky, visible to the whole earth,
23 “Your Majesty saw a holy one, a messenger, 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 with the wild animals, until seven times pass by for him.’
24 “This is the interpretation, Your Majesty, and this is the decree the Most High has issued against my lord the king: 25 You will be driven away from people and will live with the wild animals; you will eat grass like the ox and be drenched with the dew of heaven. Seven times will pass by for you until you acknowledge that the Most High is sovereign over all kingdoms on earth and gives them to anyone he wishes. 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. 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.”
The Dream Is Fulfilled
28 All this happened to King Nebuchadnezzar. 29 Twelve months later, as the king was walking on the roof of the royal palace of Babylon, 30 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?”
31 Even as the words were on his lips, a voice came from heaven, “This is what is decreed for you, King Nebuchadnezzar: Your royal authority has been taken from you. 32 You will be driven away from people and will live with the wild animals; you will eat grass like the ox. Seven times will pass by for you until you acknowledge that the Most High is sovereign over all kingdoms on earth and gives them to anyone he wishes.”
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.
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.
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?”
36 At the same time that my sanity was restored, my honor and splendor were returned to me for the glory of my kingdom. My advisers and nobles sought me out, and I was restored to my throne and became even greater than before. 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.
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The Second Dream
Nebuchadnezzar testifies of God's greatness and power. He came to this realization after his humiliating and humbling experience of insanity described in this chapter. "Magicians" actually refers to the educated scribes who copied and understood the most ancient cuneiform writings (several forms of script used in the ancient near East, often writen originally on clay tablets). Some of these people tried to make tried to make use of magic formulas. However, the king recognized that Daniel's knowledge and ability were supernatural gifts that had nothing to do with what he may have read or learned about ancient pagan traditions (i.e., customs of people who served no god or many false gods).
In verses 20-23 of this chapter, we can see the symbolism of the tree that Daniel saw.
The Meaning Of The Dream
At this point, the picture changes from a fallen tree to a living being. This being was to lose his own mind, or reasoning abilities, and take on the mind of an animal. This loss of sanity was to last "seven times", which proberbly means seven seasons (three and one-half years, since there were essentially only two seasons, a wet season and a dry one).
The king needed to learn that God has all power and authority to place whomever He wants over the kingdoms of the world.
The Restoration
The fact that Daniel called for the king to repent suggests that God's severe judgement could be avoided. If Nebuchadnezzar would give up his ungodly behaviour and pride and start living in a way that pleased God-being kind to the poor and disadvantaged whom he had oppressed-God would not carry out what He had revealed in the dream.
Seven is a number of completion, so at the end of the seven seasons Nebuchadnezzar regained his sanity. He not only understood what had happened to him and why, but he also recognized the power, greatness and sovereignty of Daniel's God, the Lord God of Israel.
We should learn to submit all to God and not to be something we are not. It is only then that we can see the work of God in our lives and in the world at large.
Thanks for reading.
God bless you.
Shalom.
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Nebuchadnezzar exalted himself, and in his self-centered pride, became a tyrant by oppressing the poor and weak.
Although Daniel’s royal family was killed by the Babylonians during their siege and destruction of Jerusalem, and Daniel was taken captive by the king, Daniel is not vindictive but urges the king to repent of his sins.
“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; Matthew 5:43-45
Daniel not only loved the Most High God but even loved his captor!
We must remember to always give glory to God. He is the one who raises up and brings down low.
You are right @marcusdacosta
@seyiodus nice innitiative.
Thanks.
I studied in a Catholic school and we have so many subjects on theology. There was an instance that I even though of becoming one.
Wow, that's nice to hear. Why did you stop?
for the love of women hahhaha
hahaha, I understand well. The diversion.
Nice bible study. Upvoted :)
Thanks sis.
Word is light to our path. Thanks for this awesome study. I will need to study it closely
Amen and thanks bro.
This post has received a 5.62 % upvote from @boomerang.
nice exposition...keep up the good work sister
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