​What we have here in Daniel 4 closes off a three part series since chapter 2. In these three chapters (Daniel 2, 3, 4) there is particular attention given to God working on King Nebuchadnezzar. The Babylonian ruler is given a chapter’s worth of attention here. This is shocking to say the least. After all, the Old Testament considers the life of the people of Israel. Why does Nebuchadnezzar have this chance to articulate his thoughts? Or perhaps everything spins on its head when we consider Karl Barth’s words, “The content of the Bible is not at all formed by right human thoughts about God but by the right divine thoughts about men.” This is not a Babylonian king parading in Israel’s Scriptures. It is God’s Word to Israel from a king who was responsible for besieging Jerusalem and being used by God to bring about Israel’s exile. For Nebuchadnezzar to have a lengthy chapter spanning 37 verses is surprising. Further to learn this is first person speech is shocking, even alarming! What follows is why this chapter could be one of the finest pieces of human confession in the entire Bible.
Nebuchadnezzar the king is compelled in the opening verses to give an account of the Most High God’s deeds. This serves as a hinge from chapters 2 and 3. Nebuchadnezzar has had a dream sent from God and the encounter at the fiery furnace as two occurrences of the glory of God. In both accounts the king confesses that Daniel and Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah’s God is the true God and deserving of exclusive praise (see Daniel 2:47; 28-29). The other opening part to mention of chapter 4 is the king’s confession of God’s kingdom enduring from generation to generation (4:3b). This serves as a preparation for the following Babylonian monarch, Belshazzar’s arrival. This will be Nebuchadnezzar’s final words in the Bible.
It is Nebuchadnezzar’s re-telling of what God the Most High did. God sent a dream to him that scared him. No one in his court could interpret the vision except Daniel. The king’s characterization of him is one whom the spirit of the gods dwells in. An apt description that preserves Nebuchadnezzar’s polytheistic understanding of reality. The Bible doesn’t seem to censor the otherwise contrary thoughts of this despotic ruler.
Surprisingly, Nebuchadnezzar is the one telling the dream to Daniel without needing to reveal what it is to him. Rather Nebuchadnezzar states the dream as it is and Daniel interprets it. Before that however, Daniel is dismayed for a period of time. This will not be the last time that Daniel will be morbidly affected by dreams (only difference is he will be the recipient of the dreams). Daniel starts off saying that he wishes this dream is for his enemies. The dream is about a tree that is lofty in size that is chopped down by an otherworldly being’s command. But the tree’s stump is to be secured until seven times pass over him. Daniel tells the king he is the tree that will be cut down until you know that the Most High is God of heaven and gives kingdoms to whomever He pleases on earth. Sure enough, Nebuchadnezzar loses his mind (as close an example we have of mental illness today) and becomes animal like grazing in the field with unkempt hair. His reason returned to him when he lifted up his eyes to heaven and honoured the God of heaven and earth as Lord.
What is this re-telling all about? It is concerning Nebuchadnezzar’s humiliation that leads to the discovery by God’s grace that God humbles the proud and none of us are outside of God’s domain to do as He pleases that we might know who He is. God is God and we are not. It is a starling witness of God’s grace that a ruler of Nebuchadnezzar’s ilk could be humbled and confess that God is Lord. Does this not suggest something of a transformation? Could this hold out hope that a powerful world leader can be reached by God? Yes it does. And if God reaches the loftiest and proud and can humble them, then He will reach us and show us what He is really like. Look to Jesus Christ today and humble yourself under His mighty hand. Amen.

King Nebuchadnezzar made an image of gold that was as tall as the CN Tower. The width of it is curiously thin at the base and we wonder what to make of the Babylonian king’s activity. Why would he make this idol in the first place? Especially given his confession of who the true God is, why would he undertake a project of this nature? The ending of chapter two appears to give explanation for the king’s actions. He builds this tall statue which represents him because he is thinking of himself. Remember his dream? The statue is erected to glorify him in the dream as the head of gold and apparently the entire statue is gold not just the head! Indeed the whole image building exercise gets to the king’s head. He demands all the people of his kingdom to gather together at the dedication of this blasphemous structure and hear the sound of the music and fall down and worship the statue which represents his own glory. Apparently everyone does it, except three Jews. Daniel is curiously absent in this story. His three friends though who had been exalted at the end of chapter two are in focus.
Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah are the names of the three Hebrews who are more famously known by their Babylonian names Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. These three will not worship the image that Nebuchadnezzar sets up. Malicious reports get out that they are not bowing to this idol. Nebuchadnezzar is raging mad over their defiance and demands them to come into his presence. Upon their arrival Nebuchadnezzar seeks to intimidate the three into submission to him. He gives them the ultimatum of one last chance to bow down once the music band starts playing. The three Hebrew boys respond by saying that it is not necessary for them to reply to his silly demands. They declare that their God is able to deliver them from the threats of the fiery furnace. But even if they are not delivered from the fiery furnace the king is being served notice that they will not have their compliance with the idolatrous image that the king set up. Civil disobedience is on display here at its finest.
The king is irate by now and there is no need for the music band to play because that is a lost cause. The only thing hotter than the furnace is the king’s rage. He commands the furnace to be cranked up seven times hotter than usual to let the boys know they have affronted the king. What is showed to us next is nothing short of a miracle. The boys go bound into the fire, apparently at the mercy of the king and his government. This is where the story usually ends. But the Bible is not that kind of story. It shows God showing up at the most interesting of times.
The boys are no longer bound in the fire and they are free! Nebuchadnezzar is aghast with astonishment! He can’t believe his eyes. He explains to his men about what he sees. We threw in three but there is a fourth and he like the son of the gods! God shows up in the most intense persecution. God appears with His people in their trial and greatest hour of need. God does not fail or forsake! This is clarion call to the church to be faithful when everything is going wrong because God will make it right! Only hold on and be of good courage. Wait for your deliverance is near! Call on the name of the Lord and you shall be saved!
The three Hebrew boys are called to come out of the fire and they are examined only to find out that the fire did not have any power over them, none at all. Nebuchadnezzar praises their God as the true God and promotes them in his kingdom.  Coming out of that affliction and being vindicated shows God’s ways with the righteous. Jesus Christ is the embodiment of this in His cross and resurrection. Easter promises this hope! May the Lord who preserves and keeps His people grant you the power to be faithful in your witness to the Triune God. Amen.

​Nebuchadnezzar is a world leader whom God had a word. But how do you reach the king of the strongest empire on the planet, Babylon? Answer is you send him a dream. The king had a sleepless night (something that happens in Scripture not infrequently) and his spirit is distressed. The king comes up with a most interesting proposal to his fortune-tellers. He commands them to tell him what his dream is or else they will be ripped to smithereens. The soothsayers think he is being unreasonable and offer a good dose of common sense. They say that no human being can do what you’re asking so be fair. But Nebuchadnezzar’s word is firm and since they are stalling and scheming ways out of it the king orders their destruction. In the process of eradicating his wise men, one of them, Daniel by name is dragged to be destroyed. Daniel though tactfully asks what all the commotion is about. Arioch the king’s henchman explains to him the situation. Daniel went to the king asked for some time that he might show the king the interpretation. Strange enough, the king grants Daniel time.
Daniel heads straight home and calls together his three friends, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah. They had a prayer meeting and sought the mercy of God concerning this mystery. Sometime in the night the same God that sent Nebuchadnezzar the dream is the same one who sent Daniel the dream with its interpretation.  Once Daniel receives it he takes it as an occasion to bless the Lord. His priorities are toward the Lord.
Daniel ends up being rushed in to the king’s presence. After a brief exchange, Daniel wants to give a disclaimer before he goes ahead with the dream’s interpretation. It is simply that it is not about how wise a person I am but that God wants you to know the thoughts of your mind. The humility Daniel exudes with is a character of a righteous man in exile. He is humbled by all the events occurring and trusts God’s rule in human affairs.
Daniel then proceeds to tell the king the dream. It is a tall image of a man made of various metals from head to toe. Along with this is the drama of a stone, uncut by human hands crushes the statue, but the stone became a great mountain and filled the whole earth. The following is the interpretation of the dream according to Daniel:
Nebuchadnezzar you are given a kingdom to rule here on the earth by God. You are the head of gold.
Two more kingdoms shall come after yours and then the fourth kingdom (Daniel spends most time on this one)… which has partly iron and partly clay mixed together. These two elements do no mix together and are weak. But God will set up a kingdom that will bring an end to all these kingdoms. In the end, God’s kingdom alone will last and reign supreme. O king, pay attention to that stone because it is not made with human hands and is divine in origin. It is this kingdom that breaks apart all the kingdoms of the world. God alone who is great has made this known to you so that you see what is to come. As sure as I am standing here it will come to pass.
Nebuchadnezzar is floored. He praises the God of Daniel and gives gifts and offerings to him. The king’s confession is not one to overlook: truly your God is Lord of kings and reveals mysteries. Daniel is lifted up in the kingdom of Babylon along with his three friends. God is good.
This dream is sent from God to show the enduring power of the kingdom of God and the futility and brittleness of human fiefdoms. This rock is the One that triumphs over all. God sends it, God relativizes, God endures because He is the King of this kingdom. Jesus Christ is the king of this kingdom who shall never pass away. Become His loyal servant today and come to life in the kingdom of God and believe the good news…Jesus Christ is our king, let us worship Him today. Amen.