Daniel Chapter 4 - Nebuchadnezzar’s Conversion

Daniel 4:1-3 “Nebuchadnezzar the king, unto all people, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth; Peace be multiplied unto you. 2 I thought it good to show the signs and wonders that the high God has 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.”

Nebuchadnezzar the king, unto all people - Here in this chapter we are seeing a decree that Nebuchadnezzar is making to all people, nations, and languages, as he was the ruler of the world at this stage. So this entire chapter deals with this decree that shows the conversion of Nebuchadnezzar.

Signs and wonders - God had wrought many signs and wonders before him. They were the great vision of chapter 2 where he was shown from the kingdom of Babylon to the Second Coming of Christ. Also the mighty deliverance of the three Hebrews from the fiery furnace in chapter 3. Now we will see in this chapter another wonder performed by God to bring Nebuchadnezzar to a decision.

His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom - Nebuchadnezzar freely acknowledges that God’s kingdom is an everlasting one and that His dominion is from generation to generation.

Daniel 4:4-7 “I Nebuchadnezzar was at rest in mine 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 astrologers, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers: and I told the dream before them; but they did not make known unto me the interpretation thereof.”

At rest...flourishing in my palace - Nebuchadnezzar was at rest, or in a state of security because of his success, and flourishing/prosperous as he had subdued Syria, Phoenicia, Judea, Egypt, and Arabia. Because of this security and prosperity he was slipping into a condition of laxness. We can guarantee that Satan was using this prosperity to keep him from God as we see in v30.

Dream which made me afraid...troubled me - It was at this time that God, in His mercy, gave him another dream. If you look through the book of Daniel, you will see God trying to draw Nebuchadnezzar to Himself, either through dreams or wonders performed before him.

This dream struck fear into him at a time when he was secure, and continued to trouble his mind and not give him any peace.

Therefore...decree to bring in all the wise men - Because it brought so much unrest to his mind, he made a decree to bring in all the wise men of Babylon. This was to have them give him the interpretation of the dream.

I told the dream before them - Unlike the dream of chapter 2, the king remembers this time what he has dreamt. Therefore he tells the magicians, astrologers, Chaldeans, and the soothsayers what the dream was.

Did not make known unto me the interpretation - In chapter 2 the wise men begged the king to give them the dream and they would give the interpretation. Here the king gives them the dream and they still could not give the interpretation of it. God is still exposing the falsity of the counterfeit system to Nebuchadnezzar.

Daniel 4:8-9 “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 before him I told the dream, saying, 9 O Belteshazzar, master of the magicians, because I know that the spirit of the holy gods is in you, and no secret troubleth you, tell me the visions of my dream that I have seen, and the interpretation thereof.”

But at the last Daniel - At last Daniel has come in before the king. The king remembers Daniel and the abilities he has plus the position of being the master of the magicians. He is called this because he can give the answer of all secret things.

Spirit of the holy gods - Nebuchadnezzar says this about Daniel because it is Daniel’s God that is a God of gods, and a Lord of kings, and a revealer of secrets. (Daniel 2:47)

Before him I told the dream - Before Daniel the king tells the dream and asks Daniel for the interpretation.

Daniel Chapter 3 - An Image of Defiance and a Fiery Trial

Daniel 3:1 “Nebuchadnezzar the king made an image of gold, whose height was threescore cubits, and the breadth thereof six cubits: he set it up in the plain of Dura, in the province of Babylon.”

King made an image of gold - The impression of the dream in chapter 2 had obviously worn off by this time, the impression being in verses 46-49. For Nebuchadnezzar made the entire image of gold unlike the one in his dream. He was not content with having another kingdom succeed his own so, more in defiance, he makes one of gold. This was to show that his kingdom was not going to be succeeded by another but continue on perpetually. It was more an image of defiance and rebellion against God. He was worshiping his own kingdom and the exaltation of himself at the head of it.

We see part truths in this image of defiance. For Babylon, then ruled by Nebuchadnezzar, was depicted as being the head of gold in the dream. Then there was to be the chest and arms of silver, but not so with Nebuchadnezzar. Satan loves to mingle just enough truth with error to make things appear as being correct, but it is for the purpose of bringing about your fall. We see this example in Genesis 3.

Height was threescore cubits...breadth thereof six cubits - Sixty cubits high by six cubits wide, which would include the height of a pedestal as the image would be out of proportion if there were not one. In our language, it was 27.43 metres by 2.74 metres.

Set up...plain of Dura...Province of Babylon - The image was set up on the plain of Dura, which is approximately 41 kilometres south east of Babylon. Dura was a province/district of Babylon.

Daniel 3:2-3 “Then Nebuchadnezzar the king sent to gather together the princes, the governors, and the captains, the judges, the treasurers, the counsellors, the sheriffs, and all the rulers of the provinces, to come to the dedication of the image which Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up. 3 Then the princes, the governors, and captains, the judges, the treasurers, the counsellors, the sheriffs, and all the rulers of the provinces, were gathered together unto the dedication of the image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up; and they stood before the image that Nebuchadnezzar had set up.”

Nebuchadnezzar was to make the dedication a rather big occasion. He gathered together all the chief men of his kingdom from all the provinces to come to the dedication. The response was one of full acceptance by all. This is quite remarkable seeing that some would have to travel a great distance to be there. Idolaters are generally very committed to there religion. What about us?

Daniel 3:4-7 “Then an herald cried aloud, To you it is commanded, O people, nations, and languages, 5 That at what time you hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, you fall down and worship the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king has set up: 6 And whoso falleth not down and worshippeth shall the same hour be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace. 7 Therefore at that time, when all the people heard the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and all kinds of musick, all the people, the nations, and the languages, fell down and worshipped the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up.”

All kinds of music, ye fall down and worship - The congregation were informed that when they here all kinds of music they were to bow down to the image and worship it. Music has a great influence over a persons mind and can create a pleasant atmosphere to help a person feel at peace in a given situation, or to encourage/persuade a person.

Music can be used rightly or wrongly. We need to be careful in the type of music we listen to because of the influence it can have over a person, even more so in worshiping God. Satan himself is the master of music, as he was created with musical instruments in him (Ezekiel 28:13) thus he uses it to his advantage.

Burning fiery furnace - If the music was no help in preparing the people to worship the image, Nebuchadnezzar had furnaces in place to give a little more encouragement. Nebuchadnezzar was dictating to the people the way they were going to worship, what they were going to worship, and how they were going to worship. If they did not, it was punished by death. Forced worship is the system of the false religion, as Babylon was at the head of a false system of religion. Whereas with God it is a system of choice. (Revelation 2:17, Isaiah 1:18, Joshua 24:15)

At the end of time we find that we have the same situation: forced worship under the penalty of death if not complied with. (Revelation 13:15)

Therefore at that time - Because of the death penalty to all who did not comply, when the people heard the music they all bowed down and worshiped the image.

Daniel Chapter 2 - Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream

Daniel 2:1 “And in the second year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar Nebuchadnezzar dreamed dreams, wherewith his spirit was troubled, and his sleep brake from him.”

Before we enter into this chapter it would do us well to quickly look at a few things. Babylon was the great counterfeit religion, founded by Nimrod not long after the flood. (Genesis 10:8-10) Nimrod married his mother Semiramis, who was worshiped as Rhea the great “Mother” of the gods, and raised Babylon to a bad eminence among the nations as the grand seat at once of idolatry and consecrated prostitution. It is from here also that the worship of mother and child stems, with many other false forms of worship that we still see today throughout the churches. The Two Babylons by Rev. Alexander Hislop. Their religion and state were so closely interwoven that they were one entity not two separate entities, which is common for pagan religions/states.

Satan himself desired to be like God and to be worshiped as such. (Isaiah 14:12-14) We see in the city of Babylon imitations of the City of God. In Revelation 22:1-2 the river of life flows through the midst of the city for all the redeemed to partake of it. In the city of Babylon, Satan’s bride, we see a river running through the midst to give life to the inhabitants. Babylon trusted in their educational system rather than the God of heaven (Isaiah 47:10) as Lucifer trusted in his own wisdom than in God. (Ezekiel 28:17) There are more likenesses but we do not have time to look at them.

So it is easily seen that we are dealing with the great counterfeit religion. But we must remember that ultimately God is in control. (Jeremiah 27:6-7)

Nebuchadnezzar had a dream. This dream troubled him to the point of where he could no longer sleep. God speaks to each of us as he was trying to speak to Nebuchadnezzar, but we do not always here His voice for we push it away or crowd it out. But when deep sleep comes upon a person it is at this time that the God of heaven can communicate to the stubborn of heart. (Job 33:13-17) This is the case with Nebuchadnezzar.

Daniel 2:2 “Then the king commanded to call the magicians, and the astrologers, and the sorcerers, and the Chaldeans, for to show the king his dreams. So they came and stood before the king.”

The king now calls upon his trusted interpreters to show him his dream. Let us have a look at what their claims are.

Magicians - They practiced superstitious rights and ceremonies of fortune tellers, casters of nativities.

Astrologers - Pretended to foretell the future events by the study of the stars.

Sorcerers - Pretended to hold communication with the dead.

Chaldeans - These were a sect of Philosophers, similar to the magicians and astrologers, who made physic (the art or skill of healing), divinations (discovering future events or unknown things as though by supernatural powers) etc. their study.

They all claim to be in touch with the other side and the gods. For this reason the king called them, for he wished for them to use their powers in aiding him with his problem.

Daniel 2:3-4 “And the king said unto them, I have dreamed a dream, and my spirit was troubled to know the dream. 4 Then spoke the Chaldeans to the king in Syriack, O king, live for ever: tell your servants the dream, and we will show the interpretation.”

Here we find why the king was so troubled. It was in the fact that he could not remember the dream. They now speak to the king in Syriack, which was a language used by the educated and cultured classes. The group here called in by the king are already well versed in drawing information out to obtain their objective, hence the statement “tell thy servants the dream”. For when the dream is told they can make up some sought of interpretation.

Daniel Chapter 1 - Introduction

Daniel 1:1-2 “In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah came Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon unto Jerusalem, and besieged it. 2 And the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, with part of the vessels of the house of God: which he carried into the land of Shinar to the house of his god; and he brought the vessels into the treasure house of his god.”

Jehoiakim reigned from 609-598 B.C. and “did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord” 2 Chronicles 36:5. It was in his 3rd year, 606 B.C., that Nebuchadnezzar came and besieged Jerusalem, in which time Nebuchadnezzar took some of the vessels of the temple of the Lord and some of the inhabitants, Daniel and his three friends included.

It would be interesting to note that during this time king Nabopolassar, Nebuchadnezzar’s father, died leaving the throne naked. Nebuchadnezzar receiving word endeavoured to return to Babylon, in the land of Shinar (Genesis 10:10) to claim it before another did. He rode approximately 700 km’s, across the Syrian Desert, over 22-23 days and claimed the throne and kingship.

King Nebuchadnezzar put the vessels from the temple of God into the temple of Marduk (formally named Bel) the god of the Babylonians, Jeremiah 50:2.

All of this came to pass according to the word of the Lord through Isaiah the prophet. (2 Kings 20:16-17)

Note: Jerusalem was besieged 2 more times, once under the reign of Jehoiachin 597 B.C. and secondly under the reign of Zedekiah in 586 B.C. in the which, Jerusalem’s walls were pulled down also the temple, and the city was burned only leaving husbandmen to tend to crops. (2 Kings 24 & 25; 2 Chronicles 36)

Daniel 1:3-5 “And the king spoke unto Ashpenaz the master of his eunuchs, that he should bring certain of the children of Israel, and of the king's seed, and of the princes; 4 Children in whom was no blemish, but well favoured, and skilful in all wisdom, and cunning in knowledge, and understanding science, and such as had ability in them to stand in the king's palace, and whom they might teach the learning and the tongue of the Chaldeans. 5 And the king appointed them a daily provision of the king's meat, and of the wine which he drank: so nourishing them three years, that at the end thereof they might stand before the king.”

Isaiah prophesied of the fact that king Hezekiah’s sons, or the kings seed, would be taken captive by the Babylonians, and made eunuchs (in a physical sense of the word), in the palace of the king of Babylon. (Isaiah 39:7)

Nebuchadnezzar told Ashpenaz, the master of the eunuchs, to choose out children of the kings seed (which can be read as youth as Daniel was 18 years of age), that had no blemish, or physical defects, (Leviticus 24:19-20) but well-favoured or good looking in appearance. Skilful in all wisdom, cunning in knowledge, understanding science, and have the ability to be able to stand or hold a position in the king’s palace. Those that were chosen had to be able to be taught in the schools and tongue of the Chaldeans.

It is obvious that those who were chosen were well educated, which is another reason why they were not just children. What should make the reader sit back and look at what has just been read is this; an idolatrous king demanded perfection in those who were chosen. And he was so concerned in their well being, that he would not allow ordinary food to be fed to them. Nebuchadnezzar wanted them to be fed with what he regarded as the best, which is the food from his own table. If this is expected by an idolatrous king, how much more is expected by the King of kings, Jesus Christ.

The question must be asked, why did Nebuchadnezzar not wipe out the opposing kings seed, but wish to educate them in the affairs of his kingdom so that they could stand in his palace? The answer is rather a simple one. Nebuchadnezzar was a very wise king, and by doing this he would guarantee, more fully, the loyalty of the captive nation to his own kingdom.

At the end of three years they were to stand before the king, obviously to be tested by him to see how they have faired, verses 18-20.

Daniel 1:6-7 “Now among these were of the children of Judah, Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah: 7 Unto whom the prince of the eunuchs gave names: for he gave unto Daniel the name of Belteshazzar; and to Hananiah, of Shadrach; and to Mishael, of Meshach; and to Azariah, of Abednego.”

Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah were a part of the captivity. The prince of the eunuchs gave them new names as listed below;

The Pagan name change:

Daniel; God is my judge changed to Belteshazzar; Keeper of the hide treasures of Bel

Hananiah; Yahweh is God changed to Shadrach; Inspiration of the sun (worship of Sun)

Mishael; Who belongs to God changed to Meshach; Of the goddess Shaca (worship of Venus)

Azariah; Yahweh helps changed to Abednego; Servant of the shining fire

The change of names was customary of this time, but why to names of pagan deities? This was to encourage them, or influence them, to compromise, (conform to), and take up the idolatrous religion and practices that encompassed them in the Babylonian nation.

Book of Daniel

Historical Prologue
Chapter 1

Kingdom Prophecies
Chapter 2 - Image of King
Chapter 7 - Wild Beasts
Chapter 8 - Sacrificial Animals
Chapter 11-12a - King Of North / King Of South

Trials of God's People
Chapter 3 - Image Worship/Fiery Furnace
Chapter 6 - Worship King/Lion's Den
Chapter 9a - Prayer Of Forgiveness
Chapter 10 - Mourning For The Temple

King's Prophecies
Chapter 4 - Nebuchadnezzar; Tree Cut Down
Chapter 5 - Belshazzar; Writing On The Wall
Chapter 9:25 - Decree To Rebuild Jerusalem
Chapter 9:27 - Decree To Destroy Jerusalem

Messiah Dies Alone
Chapter 9:26

Prophetic Epilogue
Chapter 12b