Daniel's Dilemma

Daniel 4: 10-18

Nebuchadnezzar is making a proclamation to the whole world of how great and mighty is the Most High God because he has received another dream of revelation and then experiences verifying the knowledge; and he is finally relating for us what this dream was. 

(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 it's height was great. 

The main focus of the whole dream was a tree. 

(11) "The tree grew large and became strong and its height reached the sky, and it was visible to the end of the whole Earth. 

It grew so tall that people in the whole world could see it. 

(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. 

It was so big, so healthy and beautiful, it was the source of nourishment and shelter for all the animals and birds. Everything was good, a very happy scene. 

(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. 

Then something interrupted this happy scene, an angelic being called a "watcher" who seems to be a messenger sent to announce and execute God's judgmental decrees. The word used here does not appear anywhere else in Scripture, though it was found in the Genesis Apocryphon from Qumran Cave 1. 

(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. 

This angel is just ruining the whole scene, destroying all the beauty, usefulness and bounty of the tree, leaving all the animals and birds to scatter. 

(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; 

But the stump and roots are to be preserved by a strong metal band to maintain its life in the grassy field in a state of suspension. 

and let him be drenched with the dew of Heaven, and let him share with the beasts in the grass of the Earth. 

Now the identity of the tree is revealed as a "him" instead of an "it." And "he" is to live in the elements without shelter with the wild beasts.

(16) 'Let his mind be changed from that of a man and let a beast's mind be given to him, 

And he will no longer think like a human person, but be degraded to the state of an animal. 

and let seven periods of time pass over him. 

The duration of this bestial condition won't be permanent, only seven "appointed times" or "seasons," or seven years. 

(17) 'This sentence is by the decree of the angelic watchers and the decision is a command of the holy ones, 

This looks like these holy ones or angelic watchers have authority under God to make decrees and commands that they then announce and carry out. 

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.'

Their purpose in these decisions are to make known to other creatures the authority of the Most High God over the whole realm of mankind, to determine who is to rule over other humans, and to elevate even the lowliest of men into positions of kingship and leadership. 

(18)"This is the dream which I, King Nebuchadnezzar, have seen. 

This is his whole dream, the good and the bad, that upset him so much. 

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." 

After all the wise men of his kingdom were not able to interpret this dream, or maybe didn't want to tell the king bad news, he turns to Daniel and tells him how much confidence he has in him, because he has previously seen evidence of divine inspiration in other instances, that he attributes to a spirit of the holy gods that resides in him. 

This king at this point is not ready to acquiesce to a God who precludes all other gods that he has been worshiping. 

He is getting uncomfortable ideas, that would upset his belief system upside down, but he isn't ready yet to admit it. 

He must know what this dream is really about, though, and he trusts Daniel to tell him the truth, even if it means bad news for him. 

Daniel has so far given him the encouragement of being the "golden head" of the statue in his other dream, but this is a different kind of dream. 

What would be this pagan king's reaction if Daniel told him that this horrible thing he saw will happen to him? This despot with the power of life and death is not righteous, and he may in anger retaliate against him! 

Tomorrow we will see what Daniel does about this. 

O my Father, thank You for giving Daniel this dilemma, and for this king's confidence in Daniel's integrity to tell him the truth, even when it is uncomfortable. Thank You for putting all of this into Your written word for us to learn Your ways. 

We know that You were with Daniel, and we know that You have not changed, You are also with us today in the dilemmas we face in our lives in this broken world. 

Father, grant us the courage to face all the turmoils and disappointments and even betrayals that attack us daily. Help us to be strong in our dependence on You to fight our battles for us, and to only do what You have given us to do in accomplishing Your good works in promoting Your coming Kingdom on this Earth. 

Let us broadcast Your good seed, Father, over all this world of men, that every living creature will hear Your Good News, how much You love every one of us, and is not willing that any would perish. Open eyes to see, open ears to hear, and open hearts to receive Your great Salvation, and be born into Your uncountable family. And no one who refuses Your gracious and generous gift will have any excuse for their rebellion. 

And every eye shall see, every knee will bow, every tongue in every language will proclaim that Jesus is our Christ, the Most High, the Lord God Almighty, sovereign King over all Creation; to the everlasting glory of Almighty God the Father, for ever and ever. Amen. 

Even so, come soon, Lord Jesus!