Daniel 4 "The Tree"

 Various ways God speaks to us or thru us.

1. Dreams

2. Scripture

3. Difficulties

4. Creation/Nature

5. Holy Spirit

6. GOD SPEAKS THROUGH WHATEVER OR WHOMEVER HE CHOOSES, BUT NEVER IN DISAGREEMENT WITH THE BIBLE

Can/Does God speak thru unholy people in some form or fashion?

Yes

Examples:

1. Nebuchadnezzar

2. John 11:49-51  

49 But a certain one of them, Caiaphas, being high priest that year, said unto them, Ye know nothing at all, 50 nor do ye take account that it is expedient for you that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation perish not. 51 Now this he said not of himself: but, being high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus should die for the nation;

3. John 7:35 

The Jews therefore said among themselves, Whither will this man go that we shall not find him? will he go unto the Dispersion among the Greeks, and teach the Greeks?

Kansas - The Wall - https://genius.com/Kansas-the-wall-lyrics

U2 - Streets Have No Name - https://genius.com/U2-where-the-streets-have-no-name-lyrics

Billy Joel - The River Of Dreams - https://genius.com/Billy-joel-the-river-of-dreams-lyrics

ELO - Waterfall - https://genius.com/Electric-light-orchestra-waterfall-lyrics

ELO - Evil Woman - https://genius.com/Electric-light-orchestra-evil-woman-lyrics

4. ELO- "Waterfall" lyrics

"Nebuchadnezzar's dream was for latter days"

So now it's getting late, for those who hesitate, got no one,

But they don't understand and no one hears the sound, (HS)

It's like a waterfall, it's an illusion.

Remember: 

The image/idol in Dan 2 was also a word that meant "phantom"

Chorus

Love is all, waterfall, love is what you are, (Message of illusion of today)

Pulls you in, takes you down, it's a sad affair,

But you know as you hold back the power there (HS)

without the friends 

And lovers you could never go on living. (Won't live spiritually)

Across the waterfall that's falling evermore down on you,

Cascading through the days, and flowing on it's way,

That's how it has to be, just an illusion.

Chorus 2x's

Scattered seed in a rock song?

Mat 13:3-9 

3 And he spake to them many things in parables, saying, Behold, the sower went forth to sow; 4 and as he sowed, some seeds fell by the way side, and the birds came and devoured them: 5 and others fell upon the rocky places, where they had not much earth: and straightway they sprang up, because they had no deepness of earth: 6 and when the sun was risen, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away. 7 And others fell upon the thorns; and the thorns grew up and choked them: 8 and others fell upon the good ground, and yielded fruit, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. 9 He that hath ears, let him hear.

***Maybe these songs are an example of seed Jesus scatters on various ground. 

1. The way side

2. Rocky places

3. Thorns

4. Good ground

GOD SPEAKS THROUGH WHATEVER OR WHOMEVER HE CHOOSES, BUT NEVER IN DISAGREEMENT WITH THE BIBLE

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***Show "Timelines for Daniel 4.jpg" on Zoom***

Dan 4:1-4

1 Nebuchadnezzar the king, unto all the peoples, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth: Peace be multiplied unto you. 2 It hath seemed good unto me to show the signs and wonders that the Most 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 my house, and flourishing in my palace. 

Nebuchadnezzar seems to have reflected alittle and comes up with a few 'slightly' different conclusions:

1. Most High God shows him signs and wonders

What signs? and wonders?

1. His Dreams & Visions - signs

2. Daniel telling Nebuchadnezzar his dream and interpretation - wonder 

3. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego surviving fiery furnace - wonder

2. Great are His signs 

3. Mighty are His wonders - God is able to overrule him

4. His kingdom is everlasting - perpetual

5. Dominion is from generation to generation - age to age

**Wonder where the last two items came from? (Everlasting AND "generation to generation")

Did he began to re-think his dream of the statue or image (of gold, silver, brass, iron and iron/clay)? 

1. Maybe it's not something he has to create?

After all Nebuchadnezzar says in verse 4 "I, Nebuchadnezzar, was at rest in my house, and flourishing in my palace"

2. Maybe he realizes the various metals in the statue represent various kingdoms thru time?

3. Maybe the Most High God (and the little gods) are much bigger than I realize

4. Most High can overrule "me" even though Daniel told me that He has given me "the kingdom"

Dan 4:5-7

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 enchanters, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers; and I told the dream before them; but they did not make known unto me the interpretation thereof. 

Nebuchadnezzar has fearful dream / thoughts frighten him

1. Calls wisemen to interpret dream

2. Magicians

3. Enchanters

4. Soothsayers - determined, to cut out, to quarry

Interesting:

Same group of 'wisemen' as Dan 2:2 except "soothsayers" weren't summoned by Nebuchadnezzar then as they are here. Yet, in Dan 2:27, Daniel mentions ALL the various wisemen and includes the "soothsayers" as part of the group that are unable reveal the secret to the king.

Dan 4:8-9

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 I told the dream before him, 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. 

Daniel to the rescue

-wonder why didn't he come in with the other wisemen?

-maybe because he is the boss of wisemen (Dan 2:48) and reports separately? 

Here is Nebuchadnezzar's description of Daniel:

1. Master of the magicians (Dan 2:48) (vs 9)

2. Spirit of the holy gods is in thee? (vs 9)

-Or God?

-why not "Most High God"

3. No secret troubles thee (vs 9)

Nebuchadnezzar says:

1. Says tell me the visions of my dream

2. Tell me the interpretation

**Does he ask for both the vision/dream AND the interpretation AGAIN???

-some interpretations use "hear"

The Dream

Daniel 4:10-12

10 Thus were the visions of my head upon 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 food for all: the beasts of the field had shadow under it, and the birds of the heavens dwelt in the branches thereof, and all flesh was fed from it. 

TREE (which Nebuchadnezzar saw in his dream)

1. in the midst of the earth with great height (vs 10)

2. Tree grew, was strong (vs 11) 

Matt 13:31-32

31 Another parable set he before them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is like unto a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and sowed in his field: 32 which indeed is less than all seeds; but when it is grown, it is greater than the herbs, and becometh a tree, so that the birds of the heaven come and lodge in the branches thereof.

Also Mark 4:30-32, Luke 13: 18-19

3. Height reached to heaven (vs11)

4. Could be seen by whole earth (vs 11)

5. Beautiful leaves and abundant fruit ( vs 12)

6. In it was food for all (vs 12)

7. Beast of field found shade under it (vs 12)

8. Birds of heaven lived in its branches (vs 12)

9. AND ALL FLESH WAS FED FROM IT (vs 12)

Daniel 4:13-15

13 I saw in the visions of my head upon my bed, and, behold, a watcher and a holy one came down from heaven. 14 He cried aloud, and said thus, Hew down the tree, and cut off its branches, shake off its leaves, and scatter its fruit: let the beasts get away from under it, and the fowls from its branches. 15 Nevertheless leave the stump of its 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: 

Watcher and/or a Holy One came down from heaven (vs 13)

1. Said "chop the tree down, cut off its branches" (vs 14)

Eze 31

2. "Shake off its leaves, scatter it's fruit" (vs 14)

3. "Let the beasts flee from under it" (vs 14)

4. "Let the birds flee from its branches" (vs 14)

5. Leave the stump of its roots in the earth (vs 15)

6. Bound with band of iron and brass amid the tender grass of the field (vs 15)

7. Let it (him) (the stump?) be wet with the dew of heaven (vs 15)

Dan 4:16-17

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 The sentence 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 lowest of men.

HIM?

8. Let HIS (?) portion be with the beasts in the grass of the earth (vs 15)

9. Let HIS heart be changed from man's and let a beast heart be given to HIM (vs 16)

10. Let seven times pass over HIM (vs 16)

The Sentence (vs 17)

1. Decreed by watchers and/or "word" of Holy Ones (vs 17)

2. The intent is so "the living will know that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men" (vs 17)

3. And gives it to whomever he will (vs 17)

4. And sets it over the lowest of men (vs 18)

Dan 4:18-19

18 This dream I, king Nebuchadnezzar, have seen; and thou, O Belteshazzar, declare the interpretation, 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 stricken dumb for a while, and his thoughts troubled him. The king answered and said, Belteshazzar, let not the dream, or the interpretation, trouble thee. Belteshazzar answered and said, My lord, the dream be to them that hate thee, and the interpretation thereof to thine adversaries.

-the wisemen can't interpret the dream, let's get Daniel, he'll be able to

-the spirit of the holy gods is in him

-why was Daniel stricken dumb and his thoughts troubled him?

-Nebuchadnezzar "let not the dream or interpretation trouble you"