IN DANIEL, CHAPTER 4, one reads of another vision granted to Nebuchadnezzar. In the Masoretic text of the Hebrew Scriptures the first three verses of chapter 4 are considered a conclusion to the third chapter. Some scholars have argued that these verses are a fitting sequel to the third chapter. The American Standard Version 1901 edition, however, understands that they are an introduction to chapter 4. In view of all the facts it is quite possible that the second interpretation is the correct one.

"Nebuchadnezzar the king, unto all the peoples, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth: Peace be multiplied unto you. 2 It hath seemed good unto me to show the signs and wonders that the Most High God hath wrought toward me. 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" (Dan. 4:1-3).

This proclamation is addressed to all peoples, nations, and languages that dwell in all the earth. It is quite probable that this proclamation, broad as it is, is an echo of Nebuchadnezzar's understanding of the Lord's promise to him, found in Daniel 2:38: "and wheresoever the children of men dwell, the beasts of the field and the birds of the heavens hath he given into thy hand, and hath made thee to rule over them all: thou art the head of gold." Nebuchadnezzar, being the proud, haughty monarch that he was, could very easily proclaim to all peoples that he was lord of the earth. The words, "Peace be multiplied unto you," was characteristic of oriental monarchs of his day.

Notwithstanding his inflated ego, he declared that it was his purpose to show to the world the signs and the wonders which the Most High God had wrought. He could not get away from the impact which the mighty words of God made upon his heart. He therefore shouted aloud that the Most High God is the Creator of the universe, whose Kingdom will last forever and ever.

"I, Nebuchadnezzar, was at rest in my house, and flourishing in my palace. 5 I saw a dream which made me afraid; and the thoughts upon my bed and the visions of my head troubled me. 6 Therefore made I a decree to bring in all the wise men of Babylon before me, that they might make known unto me the interpretation of the dream. 7 Then came in the magicians, the enchanters, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers; and I told the dream before them; but they did not make known unto me the interpretation thereof" (Dan. 4:4-7).

As Nebuchadnezzar was at rest in his palace and was flourishing in his kingdom he lay down in peaceful rest. Suddenly he had a dream that terrified him. He immediately issued a decree that all the magicians the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers come at once to interpret the dream. The Chaldeans and those dabbling in the occult responded to the royal summon, but were not able to interpret the dream.

"But at the last Daniel came in before me, whose name was Belteshazzar, according to the name of my god, and in whom is the spirit of the holy gods: and I told the dream before him, saying, 9 O Belteshazzar, master of the magicians, because I know that the spirit of the holy gods is in thee, and no secret troubleth thee, tell me the visions of my dream that I have seen, and the interpretation thereof" (Dan. 4:8, 9).

Although Daniel was the master of the magicians, for some reason he did not appear when the others came to interpret the dream. When they signally failed to give the interpretation, Daniel put in his appearance. Nebuchadnezzar had a very high regard for him, because he believed that the "spirit of the holy gods" was in Daniel. He therefore believed that Daniel would speak the truth, and give the interpretation.

"Thus were the visions of my head upon my bed: I saw, and, behold, a tree in the midst of the earth; and the height thereof was great. 11 The tree grew, and was strong, and the height thereof reached unto heaven, and the sight thereof to the end of all the earth. 12 The leaves thereof were fair, and the fruit thereof much, and in it was food for all: the beasts of the field had shadow under it, and the birds of the heavens dwelt in the branches thereof, and all flesh was fed from it" (Dan. 4:10-12).

In this block of Scripture we see the tree which was shown to Nebuchadnezzar in his dream. This tree was a mighty one. It grew, became strong, and its height reached to heaven, and the sight of it extended to the ends of all the earth. It afforded food and shelter for both man and beast.

"I saw in the visions of my head upon my bed, and, behold, a watcher and a holy one came down from heaven. 14 He cried aloud, and said thus, Hew down the tree, and cut off its branches, shake off its leaves, and scatter its fruit: let the beasts get away from under it, and the fowls from its branches. 15 Nevertheless leave the stump of its roots in the earth, even with a band of iron and brass, in the tender grass of the field; and let it be wet with the dew of heaven: and let his portion be with the beasts in the grass of the earth: 16 let his heart be changed from man's, and let a beast's heart be given unto him; and let seven times pass over him" (Dan. 4:13-16).

As Nebuchadnezzar was alarmingly transfixed by the sight of the wonderful tree, "A watcher and a holy one came down from heaven" and with a shout ordered: "Hew down the tree, and cut off its branches, shake off its leaves, and scatter its fruit...." The stump was to be left with a band of iron and brass.

The appearance of the celestial herald, his message, and the authority with which he ordered the destruction of the tree are reminiscent of certain fundamental passages which speak of the Almighty as being the supreme ruler of His universe and His Kingdom. Read I Kings 22:19; Job, chapters 1 and 2; Jeremiah 23:18; Daniel 7:9; Psalm 103:19,20. From the Scriptures we get a glimpse at the Kingdom of God and the innumerable hosts of celestial beings who carry out and execute the orders of the Almighty.

The hewing down of the tree and the binding of the stump of the tree with a band of iron and brass are thus interpreted: "Let his portion be with the beasts in the grass of the earth: 16 let his heart be changed from man's, and let a beast's heart be given unto him; and let seven times pass over him." It is clear in the light of this quotation that the tree symbolizes Nebuchadnezzar. The changing of a king's heart from that of a man into that of a beast signifies that he would be smitten with some form of mental derangement in which he thought of himself as being a certain beast. Thus imagining himself to be a beast, he acted like one. He was to remain in this state for a period of seven times. What is a time? By comparing related passages in the Book of Daniel with those in Revelation, we see that this word is a Biblical synonym for a year.

"The sentence is by the decree of the watchers, and the demand by the word of the holy ones; to the intent that the living may know that the Most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will, and setteth up over it the lowest of men. 18 This dream I, king Nebuchadnezzar, have seen; and thou, O Belteshazzar, declare the interpretation, forasmuch as all the wise men of my kingdom are not able to make known unto me the interpretation; but thou art able; for the spirit of the holy gods is in thee" (Dan. 4:17,18).

The sentence, which is mentioned in verses 13-16, Nebuchadnezzar is told, is "the decree of the watchers, and the demand by the word of the holy ones." But what the watchers and the holy ones (celestial beings) do is but the carrying out of the will of the Almighty. God wants men to know that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men and that He turns over authority to rule to whomsoever He will--even setting over it in certain instances "the lowest of men." Read carefully Jeremiah 27:1-11. In this last statement is echoed the fact that Nebuchadnezzar was from humble origin.

Since the wise men were unable to interpret the dream, Nebuchadnezzar requested Daniel to interpret it.

"Then Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, was stricken dumb for a while, and his thoughts troubled him. The king answered and said, Belteshazzar, let not the dream, or the interpretation, trouble thee. Belteshazzar answered and said, My lord, the dream be to them that hate thee, and the interpretation thereof to thine adversaries" (Dan. 4:19).

Figuratively speaking, Daniel was swept off his feet and could not speak for a while. When at Nebuchadnezzar's insistence that he should speak, Daniel replied: "My lord, the dream be to them that hate thee, and the interpretation thereof to thine adversaries."

"The tree that thou sawest, which grew, and was strong, whose height reached unto heaven, and the sight thereof to all the earth; 21 whose leaves were fair, and the fruit thereof much, and in it was food for all; under which the beasts of the field dwelt, and upon whose branches the birds of the heavens had their habitation: 22 it is thou, O king, that art grown and become strong; for thy greatness is grown, and reacheth unto heaven, and thy dominion to the end of the earth" (Dan. 4:20-22).

Daniel interpreted the vision of this mighty tree as the setting forth of Nebuchadnezzar to whom had been given world dominion, as a mighty sovereign.

"And whereas the king saw a watcher and a holy one coming down from heaven, and saying, Hew down the tree, and destroy it; nevertheless leave the stump of the roots thereof in the earth, even with a band of iron and brass, in the tender grass of the field, and let it be wet with the dew of heaven: and let his portion be with the beasts of the field, till seven times pass over him; 24 this is the interpretation, O king, and it is the decree of the Most High, which is come upon my lord the king: 25 that thou shalt be driven from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field, and thou shalt be made to eat grass as oxen, and shalt be wet with the dew of heaven, and seven times shall pass over thee; till thou know that the Most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will. 26 And whereas they commanded to leave the stump of the roots of the tree; thy kingdom shall be sure unto thee, after that thou shalt have known that the heavens do rule" (Dan 4:23-26).

In this block of Scripture Daniel interprets Nebuchadnezzar's dream to him. Although in the dream the watcher and the holy one pronounces the sentence of judgment against Nebuchadnezzar, Daniel shows that the Most High is the one who issues the decree. Nebuchadnezzar is to remain in this wretched condition---living on the level with the beasts--for seven years "till thou know that the Most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will." Daniel assures the king that when he had learned his lesson well, he would be restored to his kingdom.

"Wherefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable unto thee, and break off thy sins by righteousness, and thine iniquities by showing mercy to the poor; if there may be a lengthening of thy tranquility" (Dan. 4:27).

Daniel insisted that the king break off his sins by living righteously and administering a righteous rule over his subjects and by extending mercy to the poor--instead of grinding them to powder, as so many rulers do.

"All this came upon the king Nebuchadnezzar. 29 At the end of twelve months he was walking in the royal palace of Babylon. 30 The king spake and said, Is not this great Babylon, which I have built for the royal dwelling-place, by the might of my power and for the glory of my majesty?" (Dan 4:28-30).

Pride was the cause of Satan's rebellion and downfall.
"Pride goeth before destruction,
And a haughty spirit before a fall" (Prov. 16:18).

Pride is a spiritual disease which afflicts the bulk of humanity. Almost every type of sin can result from it. Pride is an abomination in the sight of God.

Man is utterly dependent upon God for all things. "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights. ..." (James 1:17a). "A man can receive nothing, except it have been given him from heaven" (John 3:27). It is difficult for men to learn some of the rudimentary, elementary principles of life. Unfortunately most people have to learn the hard way. It does seem incredible that Nebuchadnezzar, after having so very many marvelous experiences and after witnessing such great manifestations of God's overruling providence, could still strut around like a peacock and say "Is not this great Babylon, which I have built ... by the might of my power and for the glory of my majesty?"

"While the word was in the king's mouth, there fell a voice from heaven, saying, O king Nebuchadnezzar, to thee it is spoken: The kingdom is departed from thee: 32 and thou shalt be driven from men; and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field; thou shalt be made to eat grass as oxen; and seven times shall pass over thee; until thou know that the Most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will. 33 The same hour was the thing fulfilled upon Nebuchadnezzar: and he was driven from men, and did eat grass as oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven, till his hair was grown like eagles' feathers, and his nails like birds' claws" (Dan 4:31-33).

It is certain that Satan had blinded the eyes of Nebuchadnezzar. Only on this basis can one understand the seeming dullness of an otherwise shrewd executive and ruler.

"And at the end of the days I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted up mine eyes unto heaven, and mine understanding returned unto me, and I blessed the Most High, and I praised and honored him that liveth for ever; for his dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom from generation to generation. 35 And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing; and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth; and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou?" (Dan 4:34-35).

By the mercies and the goodness of God, the Lord lifted the thick veil of darkness with which Satan had blinded Nebuchadnezzar. For the good of humanity and for Nebuchadnezzar's sake the Lord extended to Nebuchadnezzar special grace on this occasion, that all men might know that the Most High is the lone sovereign of the universe and that His kingdom is an everlasting one. In this connection the reader should study I Chronicles 29:10-19.