Daniel 2 New International Version
2 In the second year of his reign, Nebuchadnezzar had dreams; his mind was troubled and he could not sleep. 2 So the king summoned the magicians, enchanters, sorcerers and astrologers[a] to tell him what he had dreamed. When they came in and stood before the king, 3 he said to them, “I have had a dream that troubles me and I want to know what it means.[b]”
There are some things we do know about Nebuchadnezzar 11. The year of his birth is uncertain, but it is not likely to have been before 630 BCE, for according to tradition Nebuchadnezzar began his military career as a young man, appearing as a military administrator by 610. He is first mentioned by his father as working as a labourer in the restoration of the temple of Marduk, the chief god of the city of Babylon and the national god of Babylonia.
After his father’s death on August 16, 605, Nebuchadnezzar returned to Babylon and ascended the throne within three weeks. This rapid consolidation of his accession and the fact that he could return to Syria shortly afterward reflected his strong grip on the empire.
So needless to say that his man was not soft by any means he had climbed the ladder to this position. His kingdom encompassed land from Black Sea to the north of Russia to the Persian Gulf and then to Egypt. He without doubt was the most powerful man in the world.
Yet we find in the second year of his reign God sends a dream to warn him of what is yet to come. With much responsibility comes much anxiety. God refers to him as His servant because He used him to bring judgment upon His rebellious people. It is interesting to note that God can use those who do not know Him to accomplish His will.
Nebuchadnezzar cannot remember the dream and yet it was so troubling that he can no longer sleep. Of course his astrologers and wisemen did not know how to interpret a dream that he could not remember. In his fury he declares that he is going to kill the astrologers and wisemen in his kingdom, for what good are they if they cannot help him when he needs them the most. Daniel, Shadrach Meschah and Abendego were part of that number. God uses Daniel to reveal the dream and give its interpretation. This dream in its content and revelation was the mother of prophecies to the world. For it showed the rise and fall of empires to the day of Christ’s return.
Daniel 2 New International Version
31 “Your Majesty looked, and there before you stood a large statue—an enormous, dazzling statue, awesome in appearance. 32 The head of the statue was made of pure gold (BABYLON), its chest and arms of silver,(PERSIAN)its belly and thighs of bronze(GREECIAN), 33 its legs of iron9(ROMAN, its feet partly of iron and partly of baked clay.(REVIVED ROMAN EMPIRE) 34 While you were watching, a rock was cut out, but not by human hands. It struck the statue on its feet of iron and clay and smashed them(GODS kINGDOM). 35 Then the iron, the clay, the bronze, the silver and the gold were all broken to pieces and became like chaff on a threshing floor in the summer. The wind swept them away without leaving a trace. But the rock that struck the statue became a huge mountain and filled the whole earth.
God was allowing Nebuchadnezzar a view into the world’s future. What strikes me as strange is all that he seems to focus on is his role as the head of the image. He misses the message of the dream and fails to prepare for what is yet to be fulfilled. Isn’t that the way of all men most generally, many times they cannot see the forest for the trees.
Daniel 2 New International Version
36 “This was the dream, and now we will interpret it to the king. 37 Your Majesty, you are the king of kings. The God of heaven has given you dominion and power and might and glory; 38 in your hands he has placed all mankind and the beasts of the field and the birds in the sky. Wherever they live, he has made you ruler over them all. You are that head of gold.
39 “After you, another kingdom will arise, inferior to yours. Next, a third kingdom, one of bronze, will rule over the whole earth. 40 Finally, there will be a fourth kingdom, strong as iron—for iron breaks and smashes everything—and as iron breaks things to pieces, so it will crush and break all the others. 41 Just as you saw that the feet and toes were partly of baked clay and partly of iron, so this will be a divided kingdom; yet it will have some of the strength of iron in it, even as you saw iron mixed with clay. 42 As the toes were partly iron and partly clay, so this kingdom will be partly strong and partly brittle. 43 And just as you saw the iron mixed with baked clay, so the people will be a mixture and will not remain united, any more than iron mixes with clay.
44 “In the time of those kings, the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed, nor will it be left to another people. It will crush all those kingdoms and bring them to an end, but it will itself endure forever. 45 This is the meaning of the vision of the rock cut out of a mountain, but not by human hands—a rock that broke the iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver and the gold to pieces.
“The great God has shown the king what will take place in the future. The dream is true and its interpretation is trustworthy.”
I was watching a home video the other day of a little girl receiving this luxury electric car from her parents. It was parked next to the family’s car to show that she too was a big girl. To the surprise of her parents one of the birthday balloons started to float away and she forgot all about the gift and ran right past it without a second glance as she focused on the orange balloon. I wonder how often that happens in our life. God gives us something that is notable, so impressive and so costly and we look right past it and give our attention to the wrappings and not the substance of the gift. Oh he was thankful to Daniel for helping him see the dream but he never grasped the meaning of the dream. He solely was focused on the head of gold and the words that showed forth his power.
46 Then King Nebuchadnezzar fell prostrate before Daniel and paid him honor and ordered that an offering and incense be presented to him. 47 The king said to Daniel, “Surely your God is the God of gods and the Lord of kings and a revealer of mysteries, for you were able to reveal this mystery.”
48 Then the king placed Daniel in a high position and lavished many gifts on him. He made him ruler over the entire province of Babylon and placed him in charge of all its wise men.
We clearly see this displayed in the next chapter. King Nebuchadnezza builds a huge image of gold and declares all the peoples of every nation should at the sound of the music bow down and worship the image.
Daniel 3:
3 King Nebuchadnezzar ordered a gold statue to be built ninety feet high and nine feet wide. He had it set up in Dura Valley near the city of Babylon, 2 and he commanded his governors, advisors, treasurers, judges, and his other officials to come from everywhere in his kingdom to the dedication of the statue. 3 So all of them came and stood in front of it.4 Then an official stood up and announced:People of every nation and race, now listen to the king’s command! 5 Trumpets, flutes, harps, and all other kinds of musical instruments will soon start playing. When you hear the music, you must bow down and worship the statue that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up. 6 Anyone who refuses will at once be thrown into a flaming furnace.
I believe that King Nebuchadnezzar saw himself in the statue. Remember he was the head of gold in the dream. He wanted to be noticed, he wanted the world to recognize his power and ability. He failed to realize that God had placed him in that position and that God could take him out of that position as quickly as he had placed him in it. Isn’t that part of our human condition. In our modern society you often times hear the word humanism. The religion of humanism/ Let’s look at the definition.
Hu·man·ism
/ˈ(h)yo͞oməˌnizəm/
noun
- an outlook or system of thought attaching prime importance to human rather than divine or supernatural matters. Humanist beliefs stress the potential value and goodness of human beings, emphasize common human needs, and seek solely rational ways of solving human problems.
Definition comes from “Oxford Languages”
My dear friend it is not about us oh yes we are part of the picture but we are not the center of focus. God is at the center of what is happening and of what is to come. Even Hitler in his warped way of thinking was fulfilling a prophecy which would bring about the restoration of Israel. Hitler thought he was annihilating the jews when really he was helping to establish a restored Jewish nation.
In King Nebuchadnezzar’s case his arrogance was about to bring about a humbling experience that had never been seen before in any way shape or form.
In Daniel 4 God sends King Nebuchadnezzar another dream, this dream would be a warning onto him that if he did not repent of his pride that God would humble him before the world.
Daniel 4 Berean Bible
18This is the dream that I, King Nebuchadnezzar, saw. Now, Belteshazzar, tell me the interpretation, because none of the wise men of my kingdom can interpret it for me. But you are able, because the spirit of the holy gods is in you.”
24This is the interpretation, O king, and this is the decree that the Most High has issued against my lord the king:
25You will be driven away from mankind, and your dwelling will be with the beasts of the field. You will feed on grass like an ox and be drenched with the dew of heaven, and seven times shall pass you by, until you acknowledge that the Most High rules over the kingdom of mankind and gives it to whom He wishes.
26As for the command to leave the stump of the tree with its roots, your kingdom will be restored to you as soon as you acknowledge that Heaven rules. 27Therefore, may my advice be pleasing to you, O king. Break away from your sins by doing what is right, and from your iniquities by showing mercy to the oppressed. Perhaps there will be an extension of your prosperity.”
God is allowing this King an opportunity to escape this seven year experience. Repent of your sins and change your ways and perhaps God will have mercy upon you.
Unfortunately this did not happen, he was drunk with power and his pride blocked out the cries of this warning, he was intent on following his destructive behavior.
I do not know if you have heard of a trap that was used to catch monkeys. It still may be used as far as I know for monkeys have not changed, they still have their monkey characteristics. Not many of you may remember the old milk bottles with the flanged area on top and the narrow neck and wide bottom. Well what would happen is a hunter would take a banana and push in through the narrow opening of the bottle and then tie the bottle securely to a tree. The unsuspecting monkey would come by and see the banana in the bottle. His desire to have the banana caused him to force his hand through the narrow opening of the bottle and then grab the banana. However when he grasped the banana his fisted hand was too big to get out of the bottle with the banana. There he would stand for hours not letting go of the banana. It was his banana and he was not going to let it go. The hunter would come by and find the monkey, yet the monkey still would not let go. All the time he was a free monkey to do what he wanted. However as long as he held on to that banana he was a captive monkey and lost his freedom to swing from trees and enjoy life. In the end he lost the banana and his freedom. Isn’t that a perfect picture of our world. We want something that is not ours and instead of letting go of that particular thing, you grasp it with all your might. You can fill in the blank for it could be just about anything that keeps you captive. It could be an addiction, it could be hatred or envy, it could be bitterness or hurt, but as long as you hold on to it you remain a captive. The hunter can come and take you at his convenience.
That is exactly what happened to King Nebuchadnezzar.
Daniel 4 Berean Bible
Twelve months later, as he was walking on the roof of the royal palace of Babylon, 30the king exclaimed, “Is this not Babylon the Great, which I myself have built by the might of my power as a royal residence and for the glory of my majesty?”
31While the words were still in the king’s mouth, a voice came from heaven: “It is decreed to you, King Nebuchadnezzar, that the kingdom has departed from you. 32You will be driven away from mankind to live with the beasts of the field, and you will feed on grass like an ox. And seven times will pass you by, until you acknowledge that the Most High rules over the kingdom of mankind and gives it to whom He wishes.”
33At that moment the sentence against Nebuchadnezzar was fulfilled. He was driven away from mankind. He ate grass like an ox, and 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.
How are the mighty fallen? It was not God’s choice, it was the King’s choice. He is the one that was warned, all he had to do was correct his behavior. I heard an interview of a famous football player. He had just about everything. He had great skill and talent as well as wealth. He said this in an interview, he declares that he could not believe in a God that would send people to hell. He actually was mistaken in his concept of this, for God never wanted anyone to go to hell. It was originally created for the devil and his angels. However many choose to align with the ways of the prince and power of this world, which is Satan and turn from God’s warnings and embrace their faults. Not heeding the warnings from God’s word to change their direction. He so wanted mankind to be blessed that He Himself bore their judgment on the cross. All that was expected of mankind was to acknowledge that sacrifice and identify with His work on calvary.
Where do you stand today? Do not allow the blessings of life to become a god in your life. I think the book or Romans sums it up so very well.
Romans 1 Berean Bible
21For although they knew God, they neither glorified Him as God nor gave thanks to Him, but they became futile in their thinking and darkened in their foolish hearts. 22Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools, 23and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images of mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles.
24Therefore God gave them over in the desires of their hearts to impurity for the dishonoring of their bodies with one another. 25They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is forever worthy of praise!f Amen.
The best way to ensure that we do not become vain is to live in a constant state of thankfulness. Each time that you walk into prayer you should do it with an attitude of thankfulness as the scripture states.
Psalm 100:4
Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name.