Daniel 4

We see that as the king is busy praising himself, the decree is given from on high that his authority has been taken from him and that he will now be eating grass like
an animal until he acknowledges that it is the Most High that is sovereign!

Revelation often comes through brokenness
His severe pride required a severe humbling. [3] But always remember that God has a purpose in all that He does and it is not to simply humiliate someone! God loved Nebuchadnezzar. Despite the ego trips, despite throwing people into the fire, despite turning people’s houses into rubble… God still loved this king. And the king would soon be granted a very personal revelation of God’s grace and faithfulness. He would soon reach a new spiritual high. But this was the valley he had to walk through to get there. If things are tough in your life always remember that God may just have chosen to reveal more of Himself to you.

Only the things of God last forever
Everything else is nothing. King, he learned this lesson the hard way – only the things of God last forever.

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.

There are great universal lessons that God wished to teach the king then, and us now, in Daniel chapter 4. Mankind doesn’t change and while the extent of the highs and lows in this chapter may not be your experience, the process and principles taught hold true none the less.

‘Man formed, man deformed, man informed, man transformed.’

God Humbles Nebuchadnezzar
We will have peace when we understand that God is in control of everything.

God sent a clear warning to Nebuchadnezzar. Through Daniel, the Lord encouraged Nebuchadnezzar to repent of his sin before it was too late. However, the King did not take this warning to heart.

God wants us to stay close to Him and far from sin. When we are in sin, or close to things that tempt us, God gives us correction in several ways. He instructs us in His word (2 Timothy 3:16), through Bible teaching, and preaching (Matthew 12:41).
He speaks to us through prayer (Daniel 9:20-22).
Often, He also uses those close to us – our parents, teachers, and friends – to let us know when we are making wrong decisions
(Proverbs 13:1, 2 Samuel 12:9).
It is so important for us to pay attention to God’s correction.
God is patient, but when we choose to ignore His loving warnings, we will face the consequences of our sin.

Incredible spiritual courage Daniel: 5
Daniel always spoke the truth to the kings, and by doing so he exhibited incredible spiritual courage. In true prophetic fashion, he told King Nebuchadnezzar that God was going to humble him, that he would eat grass like the beasts of the field for seven years. On another occasion he was asked to interpret the handwriting that appeared on the wall to King Belshazzar. The king attempted to motivate Daniel through flattery, and then through promise of material benefits and fame, “And I have heard of you, that you can give interpretations and explain enigmas. Now if you can read the writing and make known to me its interpretation, you shall be clothed with purple and have a chain of gold around your neck, and shall be the third ruler in the kingdom (Dan. 5:16).

Daniel proved that he was a man of integrity and refused the bribes. “Let your gifts be for yourself, and give your rewards to another” (Dan. 5:17).
He then showed himself to be unafraid to give the message which was one of doom for King Belshazzar and his kingdom.

Daniel’s character was recognized.
King Belshazzar’s mother gave him an amazing tribute, “There is a man in your kingdom in whom is the Spirit of the Holy God. And in the days of your father, light and understanding and wisdom, like the wisdom of the gods, were found in him…in as much as an excellent spirit, knowledge, understanding, interpreting dreams, solving riddles, and explaining enigmas were found in this Daniel…” (Dan. 5:11–12).

✍️🤴Mrs. Kalaiselvi Balakrishnan in Jesus Christ 🤴✍️

🦁 The Book of Daniel: 4, 5 🦁

Chapter 4
Dream of a Tree – This was a dream of Nebuchadnezzar and he was terrified. The magicians were not able to interpret the dream. Finally Daniel was brought in and he was told the dream.

The king saw an enormous tree that touches the sky. The whole earth could see it. The leaves were beautiful and the fruit abundant. The animals found shelter under it and the birds lived in its branches. Then a messenger from heaven appeared and said that the tree had to be cut down.

Only its stump and roots bound with iron and bronze should remain. He would be drenched with dew and live with the animals and plants. He had the mind of an animal for an indefinite period of time.

Daniel Interprets that the Most High God was Sovereign – The king knew the spirit of the Holy God was in Daniel. Daniel said that the high tree was Nebuchadnezzar. He would be driven to live with the wild animals and he would eat grass and be drenched with the dew.

He had to acknowledge after a time that the Most High God was Sovereign over the kingdoms. The kingdom would be restored to him when he acknowledges that heaven rules. Daniel asked the king to renounce his sins and wickedness and be kind to the oppressed.

Dream Fulfilled – Twelve months later when Nebuchadnezzar was boasting about his kingdom a voice came from heaven saying that he will lose his royal authority ,and live with animals and eat grass, till he acknowledges that the Most High is Sovereign over the kingdoms.

Immediately he was driven away from people. His hair grew like the feathers of an eagle and his nails like the claws of a bird. After a period of time his sanity was restored and he glorified the King of Heaven. THOSE WHO WALK IN PRIDE, GOD IS ABLE TO HUMBLE.

Chapter 5

The Writing on the Wall – King Belshazzar gave a great banquet for thousand nobles. All drank wine in the gold and silver goblets taken from the temple at Jerusalem. They all were praising the idols.

Suddenly a finger of a human hand was seen writing on the wall. The king was filled with fear. His magicians were not able to interpret the writing. So Daniel was brought in who was the chief of the magicians in the kingdom. He was able to read and also give the interpretation of the writing.

The words written were MENE MENE PARSIN. The meaning was The days of Belshazzar were numbered and God had found him wanting. His kingdom would be taken by the Medes and Persians. Daniel was honoured and made the third highest ruler in the kingdom.

End of Belshazzar – That very night Belshazzar was slain and his kingdom was taken by the Medes.

Mrs Caroline Chellappa 📝
Chennai

Daniel 5:17 “Then Daniel answered, and said before the king, “Let your gifts be for yourself, and give your rewards to another; yet I will read the writing to the king, and make known to him the interpretation.”

Daniel chapter 5, presents the account of what happened the night that Babylon fell to the Medes and the Persians in 539 B.C.

Daniel 5:1 says that Belshazzar was throwing a huge banquet for a thousand of his nobles.

King Belshazzar, was younger and arrogant, having served as co-regent with his father for the past 14 years or so.

King Belshazzar gave a great feast for 1,000 of his nobles, and he drank wine with them.

In verse 5, we see that during the time when Belshazzar and his guests were drinking while praising the gods of gold, silver, bronze, iron, wood and stone, the fingers of a human hand appeared to the king and his guests.

Daniel 5:8 tells the reader that Belshazzar’s wise men were totally unable to read or interpret the writings on the wall.

So Daniel was brought in before the king.
Belshazzar was prepared to give power, money, and authority to the person who could explain the message he’d seen on the wall, but Daniel wasn’t interested (Daniel 5:17).

Daniel knew the influence that comes from fame quickly fades.
Daniel was not motivated by material rewards.
His entire life had been characterized by doing right.

Daniel’s focus was on being faithful to the Lord, not what he could gain by following Him.

Daniel only spoke the words God gave him — nothing more, nothing less.

Are we ambitious for riches?
If so, confess this to God today and ask Him to help us remain humble regarding everything that we have.

Doing right should be our first priority, not gaining power or rewards.
Jooley Mathew Z
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