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The Book of Daniel Meditations: Chapter 4

 What’s interesting about this chapter is that it’s narrated by King Nebuchadnezzar himself. This sudden change of narration highlights the importance of his personal account and how it ends.

King Nebuchadnezzar actually begins his account by praising God, acknowledging His creation and sovereign authority. Nebuchadnezzar then begins to explain a troubling dream he’s been having, admitting that Daniel was the only one who can interpret the dream. 


In the dream, there was this huge tree. It was strong and so tall, it reached the heavens. The tree could be seen from everywhere on earth. It was a beautiful tree that provided both fruit and shade to animals and people alike. Birds were able to make their homes there. The tree was a magnificent sight. 

Then a heavenly being comes to saw the tree down, only leaving a stump. This being then declared that the stump is to be bound with an iron chain. But then the heavenly watcher begins to use a male pronoun to refer to the stump and even a human characteristic, of having human intelligence. The stump is to have its mind transformed to that of an animal, according to the heavenly messenger. 

Daniel relays the bad news to Nebuchadnezzar. The interpretation of the dream is that the tree represents him (Nebuchadnezzar). It represents the king in all his glory, riches and fame. But because of his pride, the king will lose his kingdom and sanity, living like a wild beast. This will be an act of divine punishment towards the king.
       King Nebuchadnezzar living as a beast

King Nebuchadnezzar eventually gains back his sanity and kingdom, only this time he acknowledges God as the One True Ruler of all. The king now possesses a humility where arrogance had once been. He’s been transformed. 

This account demonstrates how God feels about pride and human arrogance. Pride is what got Lucifer kicked out of heaven. God hates pride. The Bible says that God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble (James 4:6). God humbled Nebuchadnezzar and bestowed him with grace. Let us ask God to guard ourselves from the deadly sin of pride. 

 

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