Signs and Wonders
Daniel 4:1-18 Nebuchadnezzar is describing the signs and wonders that the “Most High God” did for him. And will do for you if you ask Him.
This is a Bible Study. Have your own Bible handy to look up the references I mention.
If you do not have a Bible, I recommend Biblegateway.com or search for an online Bible.
1. King Nebuchadnezzar
“Some scholars believe Daniel actually formed the wording of the chapter, though obviously the message comes directly from the king.” (Gangel, Kenneth O. Holman Old Testament Commentary. [Nashville: B&H Publishing Group, 2001], 92)
He sent this to all peoples, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth:
“God did something with this proclamation of Nebuchadnezzar that the emperor could not have imagined: He picked it up and incorporated it into His own deathless Word, which can never pass away.” (Phillips, John. Exploring the Book of Daniel: An Expository Commentary. [Grand Rapids: Kregel Publications, 2004], 70)
Peace be multiplied to you!
Nebuchadnezzar “speaks here of the peace of heart which comes to a sinner when he knows he has been accepted of God and is at peace with God.” (McGee, J. Vernon, Thru the Bible: Volume III: [Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1983], 550)
“It is the Word of God which can bring peace to the human heart.” (McGee, 550)
Signs and Wonders
2. Nebuchadnezzar wanted to share what God had done to him.
Nebuchadnezzar declared “that it was his judgment that the amazing signs and wonders wrought in his life by the ‘the Most High God’ were of such unusual significance that he should share them with his entire realm.” (Walvoord, John F. Daniel. [Chicago: Moody Publishers, 2012], 123)
3. How great are his signs,
how mighty his wonders!
His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,
and his dominion endures from generation to generation.
“Nebuchadnezzar’s exclamation of the greatness of God and His signs and wonders is quite accurate and in keeping with his experience.” (Walvoord, 124)
“God’s dealings with him were fresh and vivid in his mind—as though he could ever forget!” (Phillips, 71)
4. Nebuchadnezzar was taking it easy in his house.
5. I had a dream that frightened me.
Has a dream ever affected you? Nightmare?
Well, this was not a nightmare but a revelation from God!
Do you ever lay in bed thinking about your dreams?
His dream made him afraid and troubled Nebuchadnezzar.
Trying to remember what happened?
Call the Wise Men
6. I must call the wise men so they can tell me about the dream and its interpretation.
Maybe they can help me know what it is about?
7. Oh no, they could not help. What will I do?
Oh no, they could not help. What will I do?
8. Ah, Daniel he has the spirit of the holy gods in him.
I told him my dream.
9. This will not be difficult for you. Tell me what was in my dream and interpret it.!
Daniel had done it before, actually, God had revealed the dream to Daniel.
10. Daniel, this is what I saw!
“Trees have great significance in the Bible.” (Gangel, 95)
“Jesus told parables about trees; Paul compared Israel to an olive tree and the Gentiles to a grafted branch; the cross on which Jesus died had been a living tree (1 Peter 2:24); and the final book of the Bible refers several times to the tree of life.” (Gangel, 96)
“A parallel to Nebuchadnezzar’s dream is recorded in Ezekiel 31, where the Assyrian as well as the Egyptian Pharaoh are compared to a cedar of Lebanon.“ (Walvoord, 127)
11. The tree continued to grow reaching to heaven.
All the world could see it.
12. This was a beautiful tree with abundant fruit being food for all.
It provided shade for animals and a resting place for the birds.
Food was available to all.
Holy One
13. A holy one came down from heaven.
Who could be described as an angel?
“It is hardly any shock to Bible students that God can and does send angels to speak to whomever he wishes whenever he wishes a message sent.” (Gangel, 97)
14. Oh NO! The tree was going to be destroyed!
“Up to this point we have read little in the text that would threaten Nebuchadnezzar (4:5 – above), but now this dream is getting dangerous.” (Gangel, 97)
15. But leave the stump with its roots, with a band around it
“A band of iron and brass was put around its stump to indicate that it would grow and flourish again in several years.” (McGee, 552)
It will be wet with dew from heaven.
Nebuchadnezzar is going to live outside with the animals and eat grass.
16. His mind will be like an animal
“The intelligent and reasonable king, highly sophisticated for his time, would plunge into insanity and behave like an animal.” (Gangel, 97)
He will be outside for seven years.
“Virtually every serious commentator understands the meaning to be years rather than some indefinite amount of time.” (Gangel, 97)
God Rules the Earth
17. This is because God rules the kingdoms of the earth.
“God controls human kingdoms, and he may choose to select humble rather than proud leaders. Nebuchadnezzar had propelled himself into the latter category.” (Gangel, 98)
The Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he will and sets over it the lowliest of men.’
“Perhaps we cannot emphasize too many times that Daniel 4:17 is the key to the book.” (Gangel, 100)
18. Daniel, tell me the interpretation. The wise men are not able to interpret it.
“Dreading to have his fears confirmed, but dreading even more darkness and despair, he turned to Daniel.” (Phillips, 75)
You are able because you have the spirit of the holy gods in you.
Scripture quotations from the Holy Bible, King James Version.
Gangel, Kenneth O. Holman Old Testament Commentary. Nashville: B&H Publishing Group, 2001
McGee, J. Vernon, Thru the Bible: Volume III: Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1983
Phillips, John. Exploring the Book of Daniel: An Expository Commentary. Grand Rapids: Kregel Publications, 2004
Walvoord, John F. Daniel. Chicago: Moody Publishers, 2012
Walking in the Fire Daniel Explains the Dream
