For those who may wish to ‘study’ this chapter, the following simple resources are provided for you. Each passage has a four-Part approach to help you take in and think further about what you have read.

Passage: Daniel 4:1-8

1 King Nebuchadnezzar,

To the nations and peoples of every language, who live in all the earth:

May you prosper greatly!

2 It is my pleasure to tell you about the miraculous signs and wonders that the Most High God has performed for me.

3 How great are his signs,
    how mighty his wonders!
His kingdom is an eternal kingdom;
    his dominion endures from generation to generation.

4 I, Nebuchadnezzar, was at home in my palace, contented and prosperous. 5 I had a dream that made me afraid. As I was lying in bed, the images and visions that passed through my mind terrified me. 6 So I commanded that all the wise men of Babylon be brought before me to interpret the dream for me. 7 When the magicians, enchanters, astrologers and diviners came, I told them the dream, but they could not interpret it for me. 8 Finally, Daniel came into my presence and I told him the dream. (He is called Belteshazzar, after the name of my god, and the spirit of the holy gods is in him.)

A. Find Out:

1. To whom is Nebuchadnezzar writing? v.1
2. How does he describe the Lord? v.2
3. How does he describe what God does? v.3a
4. How does he describe God’s kingdom? v.3b
5. How does he describe his state before the dream? v.4
6. How does he describe what he feels after it? v.5
7. Who couldn’t interpret the dream for him? v.7

B. Think:

1. As he writes, what does the king obviously NOW feel about God?
2. How is that different from before? (look back to previous study)
3. Looking at verse 8, what do you think is the significance of the fact that the king now calls his leader “Daniel” and not “Belteshazzar”?

C. Comment:

First in this passage we observe a remarkable change that has taken place in the king. Previously he had been speaking about “Your” God, but now it is clearly “My” God. Something has clearly happened that has changed the heart of this proud and mighty king!

Second, we see that the King had been dreaming again. The last time that happened, we saw that it had been the intervention of God in his life and so it sounds like the Lord has been moving in the same way again!

Third, we see the failure of the Court magicians and wise men to help the king – again – but when Daniel comes, the king appears to have complete confidence in him. May the world be able to have that confidence in us by the way we hear Him and share His wisdom.

Finally we should note that the king first refers to him as “Daniel” and not the pagan name he had been given originally by the king. Again something has happened to make the king proclaim Daniel is a Hebrew, by the use of this name.

D. Application:

1. Are we such ambassadors for the Lord in the world that people come to us for wisdom & help?
2. Ask the Lord to help you become just such a person.
3. Thank Him that His wisdom is available (James 1:5).

Passage: Daniel 4:9-18

9 I said, “Belteshazzar, chief of the magicians, I know that the spirit of the holy gods is in you, and no mystery is too difficult for you. Here is my dream; interpret it for me. 10 These are the visions I saw while lying in bed: I looked, and there before me stood a tree in the middle of the land. Its height was enormous. 11 The tree grew large and strong and its top touched the sky; it was visible to the ends of the earth. 12 Its leaves were beautiful, its fruit abundant, and on it was food for all. Under it the wild animals found shelter, and the birds lived in its branches; from it every creature was fed.

13 “In the visions I saw while lying in bed, I looked, and there before me was a holy one, a messenger,[l] coming down from heaven. 14 He called in a loud voice: ‘Cut down the tree and trim off its branches; strip off its leaves and scatter its fruit. Let the animals flee from under it and the birds from its branches. 15 But let the stump and its roots, bound with iron and bronze, remain in the ground, in the grass of the field.

“‘Let him be drenched with the dew of heaven, and let him live with the animals among the plants of the earth. 16 Let his mind be changed from that of a man and let him be given the mind of an animal, till seven times pass by for him.

17 “‘The decision is announced by messengers, the holy ones declare the verdict, so that the living may know that the Most High is sovereign over all kingdoms on earth and gives them to anyone he wishes and sets over them the lowliest of people.’

18 “This is the dream that I, King Nebuchadnezzar, had. Now, Belteshazzar, tell me what it means, for none of the wise men in my kingdom can interpret it for me. But you can, because the spirit of the holy gods is in you.”

A. Find Out:

1. Why did the king think Daniel could interpret the dream? v.9
2. How was the tree in the vision described? v.10-12
3. Who came to the tree? v.13
4. What did he instruct to happen to the tree? v.14
5. What did he say should happen to the stump? v.15,16
6. What is to be the end result? v.17 

B. Think:

1. How do we know that the tree is a person?
2. How therefore, is this person to start out?
3. How therefore, is this person to end up?

C. Comment:

We come to this passage rather like detectives to see what we can find out about the meaning of this vision. The king was clearly aware that God’s spirit dwelt in Daniel and that he could therefore interpret even the most difficult of dreams. Such is the place the king has come to with Daniel, for he has had opportunity to realise that Daniel DOES hear his Lord.

First take note of the basic picture: a very large and grand tree that is to be cut down. But then see that the angel starts referring to the stump as “he” (twice in verse 15). Then he says “let his mind be changed from that of a man”, so the tree is clearly a person; a person who is very great and who is going to be chopped down at heaven’s command! We also see that this man is to be given the mind of an animal.      

Does this mean that as a human being he is going to be driven mad? But note that there will be an end to it. God has decreed it will be for a set time only. It will not be for the rest of his life. The end result of this will be that men may know that God is sovereign and He rules over ALL men. He really IS Lord! Don’t say, “God never over-rules the will of men”, He clearly does sometimes! 

D. Application:

1. Thank the Lord that He has given us His Holy Spirit and that Jesus said he would teach us (John 14:26)
2. Praise & worship Him who has power over ALL men, He who is Lord of all.

Passage: Daniel 4:19-27

19 Then Daniel (also called Belteshazzar) was greatly perplexed for a time, and his thoughts terrified him. So the king said, “Belteshazzar, do not let the dream or its meaning alarm you.”

Belteshazzar answered, “My lord, if only the dream applied to your enemies and its meaning to your adversaries! 20 The tree you saw, which grew large and strong, with its top touching the sky, visible to the whole earth, 21 with beautiful leaves and abundant fruit, providing food for all, giving shelter to the wild animals, and having nesting places in its branches for the birds— 22 Your Majesty, you are that tree! You have become great and strong; your greatness has grown until it reaches the sky, and your dominion extends to distant parts of the earth.

23 “Your Majesty saw a holy one, a messenger, coming down from heaven and saying, ‘Cut down the tree and destroy it, but leave the stump, bound with iron and bronze, in the grass of the field, while its roots remain in the ground. Let him be drenched with the dew of heaven; let him live with the wild animals, until seven times pass by for him.’

24 “This is the interpretation, Your Majesty, and this is the decree the Most High has issued against my lord the king: 25 You will be driven away from people and will live with the wild animals; you will eat grass like the ox and be drenched with the dew of heaven. Seven times will pass by for you until you acknowledge that the Most High is sovereign over all kingdoms on earth and gives them to anyone he wishes. 26 The command to leave the stump of the tree with its roots means that your kingdom will be restored to you when you acknowledge that Heaven rules. 27 Therefore, Your Majesty, be pleased to accept my advice: Renounce your sins by doing what is right, and your wickedness by being kind to the oppressed. It may be that then your prosperity will continue.”

A. Find Out:

1. What did Daniel feel as he understood? v.19
2. Who did Daniel say he wished the dream was for? v.19
3. Who eventually did he say the tree was? v.22
4. Who did Daniel say had decreed it? v.24
5. Until when did he say it would all continue? v.25
6. When did he say the kingdom would be restored? v.26

B. Think:

1. Why do you think Daniel was perplexed and afraid at first?
2. What does it say about him that he did actually share about the king being chopped down?
3. What does it say about him that he called the king to repentance?

C. Comment:

In these verses we first see Daniel’s dilemma. He immediately understands the visions and realises what it means – but he is dealing with one of the most powerful and ungodly kings in history, a man who could respond by having him put to death for suggesting such a thing. No, Daniel’s life could be at risk if he speaks the truth as it comes to him from God.

We then see that as the king encourages him to share, even if it is bad news, Daniel does it in such a way that is diplomatic and gentle and which still esteems and extols the king. Again and again, this man of God gives us an example to follow!

Daniel proceeds to tell the king that the picture was of him being cut down and, as the king doesn’t appear to make any negative reaction, he goes on to explain that it will be until the king acknowledges God’s Lordship. As the king doesn’t seem to react badly to this Daniel courageously goes on to ask his king to acknowledge his wrongs and repent. Daniel is not afraid, as terrible as the interpretation is, to bring the whole truth to the king. He obviously trusts in the Lord to deal with any adverse response by the king.

D. Application:

1. May we have such courage and trust in the Lord to be able to speak the truth like this to people.
2. Ask the Lord for such boldness & tact, today.

Passage: Daniel 4:28-37

28 All this happened to King Nebuchadnezzar. 29 Twelve months later, as the king was walking on the roof of the royal palace of Babylon, 30 he said, “Is not this the great Babylon I have built as the royal residence, by my mighty power and for the glory of my majesty?”

31 Even as the words were on his lips, a voice came from heaven, “This is what is decreed for you, King Nebuchadnezzar: Your royal authority has been taken from you. 32 You will be driven away from people and will live with the wild animals; you will eat grass like the ox. Seven times will pass by for you until you acknowledge that the Most High is sovereign over all kingdoms on earth and gives them to anyone he wishes.”

33 Immediately what had been said about Nebuchadnezzar was fulfilled. He was driven away from people and ate grass like the ox. 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.

34 At the end of that time, I, Nebuchadnezzar, raised my eyes toward heaven, and my sanity was restored. Then I praised the Most High; I honored and glorified him who lives forever.

His dominion is an eternal dominion;
    his kingdom endures from generation to generation.
35 All the peoples of the earth
    are regarded as nothing.
He does as he pleases
    with the powers of heaven
    and the peoples of the earth.
No one can hold back his hand
    or say to him: “What have you done?”

36 At the same time that my sanity was restored, my honor and splendor were returned to me for the glory of my kingdom. My advisers and nobles sought me out, and I was restored to my throne and became even greater than before. 37 Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and exalt and glorify the King of heaven, because everything he does is right and all his ways are just. And those who walk in pride he is able to humble.

A. Find Out:

1. How long after the vision was it fulfilled? v.29
2. What was the king exulting in? v.30
3. What was the king going to have to acknowledge? v.32
4. What happened at the end of the time? v.34
5. What was Nebuchadnezzar’s response? v.34
6. What subsequently happened to him? v.36
7. What did he feel about the Lord then? v.37

B. Think:

1. What had the Lord done to humble Nebuchadnezzar?
2. Why was the king so clearly able to attribute this to God?
3. What do we learn about the Lord from this?

C. Comment:

First of all in this passage we see the king foolishly glorifying himself as he looks out over the wonder of Babylon that he has made. Again, this story shows us the foolishness of sin that blinds the minds of men, stopping them see their own stupidity.

Second, we see the divine decree being spoken out and then being fulfilled. Nebuchadnezzar becomes insane and his people cast him out of his palace into the fields.

Third, we see the exact fulfilment of the vision as the Lord eventually restores the king’s sanity and he is able to praise God for who He is. Normally another king would have taken his place and would not allow him back, but because this is all by the hand of God, he is completely restored – a transformed man who knows God!

This is the last we see of Nebuchadnezzar in the Daniel records. We have seen God bring this great but pagan king to acknowledge the truth, gradually, stage by stage. First by putting Daniel there, then by dreams of the future, and finally by divine disciplining. God is the Lord over ALL men – however big or great they may be!

D. Application:

1. Pray for unsaved friends or family today. Ask the Lord to carry on  drawing them to Himself.
2. Thank and praise the Lord that NO man is too hard for the Lord to deal with