This is the interpretation, O king, and this is the decree of the most High, which is come upon my lord the king: That they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field, and they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and they shall wet thee 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. And whereas they commanded to leave the stump of the tree roots; thy kingdom shall be sure unto thee, after that thou shalt have known that the heavens do rule (Dan 4:24-26).
Nebuchadnezzar's nightmare is explained to him. There are nine parts to the explanation of the dream. First, it's not just a silly old dream from too much partying. It's a message straight from the most High God. God's patience with him has run out and the message is a decree of God's judgment. It would be comforting to think "too much wine" but this is not the case. We would do well to remember God has said to us today: …it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: (Heb 9:27)
He is in big trouble with God. He has had much information from God beginning twenty five years ago. There was contact with four God-fearing Hebrew slaves who milled about him daily.
There was the scary dream about the awesome image that appeared and was destroyed when a stone hewed out without hands struck the image on the feet, toppled it and the wind took the dust of it away The stone became a huge mountain that filled the whole earth (Dan 2:31-35). That was 25 years earlier. Then he witnessed God's power in preserving the three Hebrew youth in his overheated fiery furnace (Dan 3:16-30).
And now after the Dream Image and the Fiery Furnace, there is this Dream Tree and the tree is….him! Bad news— good news. The bad news is that he is going to be alone for seven years, 100% crazy and walking on all-fours eating grass like an ox. In hot weather he will get as hot as the cows. In rainy weather he will get as wet as the cows of which he is part of the herd. The good news is that after he learns that the most High rules in the kingdom of men and gives it to whomsoever he will, he will get his right mind back and regain his throne.
Why would his kingdom Cabinet want him back as a ruler after watching him eat with those smelly cows for seven years? The Bible doesn't say this, but I believe the Palace Guards took turns staying with him to keep him from hurting himself. He stayed with the cows and picked with the cows. When they lay down to chew their cud, he lay down with them and burped. When they all went to the pond or stream to drink, he went with them and drank out of the pond or polluted stream.
It was awfully hot there (Iraq-ask American soldiers) and the cows would have stood in water and let nature take its course, polluting the water. So did he. When the flies covered the cows, they covered him but he had no tail with which to swat flies so he had to swat with his hands or get up real close to a cow and let her switch him with her tail. No doubt he grunted, snorted and smelled just like the cows. Getting back your throne after that is a miracle! Kings do not usually come from a herd of cows but our God is a God of infinite variety and power. He can do things like that.
Why did God prompt Nebuchadnezzar to write his testimony down for us to read today? I believe God tells us why He writes down His dealings with certain people in the past. Make no mistake about it, we are on center stage today as much as Nebuchadnezzar was on stage in his day. We should pay attention to what God writes down for us to study. Consider these three passages.
And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an example unto those that after should live ungodly; And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked: (2Pe 2:6-7)
But with many of them God was not well pleased [Jews coming out of Egypt]: for they were overthrown in the wilderness. Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted. (1Co 10:5-6)
Now all these things happened unto them for examples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come. Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall. (1Co 10:11-12).
1Co 10:11 Now all these things happened unto them,.... All these punishments came upon them in various ways, not by chance, but by the will of God, and as their sins deserved: (Gill) They were griping and complaining in the wilderness and on one occasion God sent fiery serpents that bit them and killed many. There were other times and other punishments for complaining and rebelling. Jesus warns us to: Remember Lot's wife. (Luk 17:32)
The story of Nebuchadnezzar is up to date for us today. Same living God…same principles….same giving an account. Let's walk with the King today!
No comments:
Post a Comment