Daniel 4 explained, meaning, lessons and prayer points.
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Meaning of Daniel Chapter 4
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The 4th chapter of the Book of Daniel is presented in the form of a letter from King Nebuchadnezzar in which he learns a lesson about God’s sovereignty, “who is able to bring those who walk in pride low.”
Nebuchadnezzar dreams of a great tree that will shelter the entire world, but an angelic “watcher” appears and decrees that the tree must be cut down and that he will lose his human mind and eat grass like an ox for seven years. This occurs, and at the conclusion of his punishment, Nebuchadnezzar praises God. Daniel’s role is to interpret the king’s dream.
Daniel Chapter 4 Explained
One personality of God that really excites me is the fact that He is the only Omniscient One, meaning He alone knows it all. From A-z and everything in between. There’s absolutely nothing that escapes His memory, even before the thought came He knew them already.
And He reveals these secrets to those who fear him. Psalm 25:14. Having the Omniscient (All Knowing) God as your father gives you a sense of confidence, comfort.
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The king was very worried because of the dream he had. He called for all the magicians, astrologers, Chaldeans, and the soothsayers, but known was able to make known to him the meaning of the dream. That made him really scared. But Daniel by the inspiration of God who is all knowing, gave the king the interpretation of the dream.
After 12months, Daniel’s interpretation came to pass and the king was driven, and had his place with the beasts until the seven years Daniel talk about in his interpretation came to pass. The king returned and acknowledged the all knowing God and praised him.
God sees the end even before the beginning, there’s nothing hidden from him. There are no mistakes with Him. When God is the one guiding you, there are no mistakes, but when you lead yourself, mistakes are inevitable.
Acknowledge that you need his guidance, ask for his guidance, and let him guide you by his Holy Spirit. It really makes life a lot easier, and stress-free.
Also, the story shows us how powerful God is. He is above all things, and it also shows us us dangers of pride. Pride can cause a king to lose his throne. pride is deadly, pride kills, pride destroys. prides goes before destruction. Proverbs 16:18
Daniel Chapter 4 King James Version (KJV)
4 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 shew the signs and wonders that the high God hath 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.
4 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.
8 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 thee, and no secret troubleth thee, tell me the visions of my dream that I have seen, and the interpretation thereof.
10 Thus were the visions of mine head in my bed; I saw, and behold a tree in the midst of the earth, and the height thereof was great.
11 The tree grew, and was strong, and the height thereof reached unto heaven, and the sight thereof to the end of all the earth:
12 The leaves thereof were fair, and the fruit thereof much, and in it was meat for all: the beasts of the field had shadow under it, and the fowls of the heaven dwelt in the boughs thereof, and all flesh was fed of it.
13 I saw in the visions of my head upon my bed, and, behold, a watcher and an holy one came down from heaven;
14 He cried aloud, and said thus, Hew down the tree, and cut off his branches, shake off his leaves, and scatter his fruit: let the beasts get away from under it, and the fowls from his branches:
15 Nevertheless leave the stump of his roots in the earth, even with a band of iron and brass, in the tender grass of the field; and let it be wet with the dew of heaven, and let his portion be with the beasts in the grass of the earth:
16 Let his heart be changed from man’s, and let a beast’s heart be given unto him; and let seven times pass over him.
17 This matter is by the decree of the watchers, and the demand by the word of the holy ones: to the intent that the living may know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will, and setteth up over it the basest of men.
18 This dream I king Nebuchadnezzar have seen. Now thou, O Belteshazzar, declare the interpretation thereof, forasmuch as all the wise men of my kingdom are not able to make known unto me the interpretation: but thou art able; for the spirit of the holy gods is in thee.
19 Then Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, was astonied for one hour, and his thoughts troubled him. The king spake, and said, Belteshazzar, let not the dream, or the interpretation thereof, trouble thee. Belteshazzar answered and said, My lord, the dream be to them that hate thee, and the interpretation thereof to thine enemies.
20 The tree that thou sawest, which grew, and was strong, whose height reached unto the heaven, and the sight thereof to all the earth;
21 Whose leaves were fair, and the fruit thereof much, and in it was meat for all; under which the beasts of the field dwelt, and upon whose branches the fowls of the heaven had their habitation:
22 It is thou, O king, that art grown and become strong: for thy greatness is grown, and reacheth unto heaven, and thy dominion to the end of the earth.
23 And whereas the king saw a watcher and an holy one coming down from heaven, and saying, Hew the tree down, and destroy it; yet leave the stump of the roots thereof in the earth, even with a band of iron and brass, in the tender grass of the field; and let it be wet with the dew of heaven, and let his portion be with the beasts of the field, till seven times pass over him;
24 This is the interpretation, O king, and this is the decree of the most High, which is come upon my lord the king:
25 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.
26 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.
27 Wherefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable unto thee, and break off thy sins by righteousness, and thine iniquities by shewing mercy to the poor; if it may be a lengthening of thy tranquillity.
28 All this came upon the king Nebuchadnezzar.
29 At the end of twelve months he walked in the palace of the kingdom of Babylon.
30 The king spake, and said, Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for the house of the kingdom by the might of my power, and for the honour of my majesty?
31 While the word was in the king’s mouth, there fell a voice from heaven, saying, O king Nebuchadnezzar, to thee it is spoken; The kingdom is departed from thee.
32 And they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field: they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and seven times shall pass over thee, until thou know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will.
33 The same hour was the thing fulfilled upon Nebuchadnezzar: and he was driven from men, and did eat grass as oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven, till his hairs were grown like eagles’ feathers, and his nails like birds’ claws.
34 And at the end of the days I Nebuchadnezzar lifted up mine eyes unto heaven, and mine understanding returned unto me, and I blessed the most High, and I praised and honoured him that liveth for ever, whose dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom is from generation to generation:
35 And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou?
36 At the same time my reason returned unto me; and for the glory of my kingdom, mine honour and brightness returned unto me; and my counsellors and my lords sought unto me; and I was established in my kingdom, and excellent majesty was added unto me.
37 Now I Nebuchadnezzar praise and extol and honour the King of heaven, all whose works are truth, and his ways judgment: and those that walk in pride he is able to abase.
Daniel Chapter 4 Summary
In a letter to “all peoples, nations, and languages that inhabit throughout the globe,” Nebuchadnezzar King of Babylon, writes to narrate the “signs and wonders” that the Most High God has performed for him.
When Nebuchadnezzar had a perplexing dream that worried him, he was living in peace and prosperity in his castle. When none of his magicians and diviners could give him an explanation, he called on Daniel, the most important of all his wise men.
The king had the following dream: He saw a large tree in the center of the earth, its top reaching the heavens, visible from the ends of the earth, and giving food and shelter to all living things. The king observed and noticed
A “holy watcher” descended from heaven and commanded that the tree be felled and the man’s thinking be transformed seven “times” into that of a beast. In order for everyone to understand that the Most High rules over the kingdom of mortals, this line “is rendered by command of the watchers.”
Daniel is immediately concerned, but the king reassures him. The king himself is the tree, and by God’s decree he would lose his human mind for an animal mentality, live with wild animals, and eat grass like an ox, Daniel explains. Daniel then expresses the hope that the dream applied to someone else—those who despise the king.
This came to pass, and at the end of the seven years Nebuchadnezzar regained his mind and his kingdom was restored. The letter finishes with Nebuchadnezzar praising God, saying that “all his works are truth, and his ways are justice, and he is able to bring low those who walk in pride.”
Daniel Chapter 4 Lessons
The story’s lesson is that all earthly power, including the power of kings, are submissive to God’s power. None and nothing is above Him, but all is beneath him.
Another lesson in the story is that God knows it all and He equally sees it all. There’s absolutely nothing that escapes his memory, even before the thought came he knew them already.
Lastly, from this chapter we see the dangers of pride. pride is a no go area. (When something is not really good we say its a no go area here in Nigeria). the bible says pride goes before a destruction. That means before destruction occurs, there’s a trace of pride somewhere.
Daniel Chapter 4 Other Translations
Daniel Chapter 4 New King James Version (NKJV)
Daniel Chapter 4 English Standard Version (ESV)
Daniel Chapter 4 New International Version(NIV)
Daniel Chapter 4 New Living Translation (NLT)
Daniel Chapter 4 Prayer Points
I humble myself before you dear Lord,
I acknowledge that you are all knowing, and that you rule the affairs of men. you set up kings and you bring down the proud. You are the lifter and rewarder of men.
Guide me, lead me, and direct my every step. For i know that where you lead their are no mistakes because you are all knowing (Omniscient).
A Sincere Prayer For Divine Direction and guidance.
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I commit my all, and whole to you . Please Lord direct and order my steps in your word. Let me not have any reason to be proud, but always acknowledging you and giving you all the glory. And if i must be proud, let me glory in you alone, Let me brag about your works, and how great you are. Thank you Lord Jesus, in Jesus name Amen.
