The king of Babylon has another dream about an immense tree which is chopped down and metal bands are put on it to keep it from growing. Seven times are declared to pass over the banded stump until the king realizes that it is God who gives ruler-ship even to the lowliest of mankind. Daniel interprets the dream. The king is the tree and he is to become like an animal for seven years until he realizes that it is God who causes even the lowliest of man to rule. This befalls the king and his kingdom is returned to him.
The king goes mad:
The king became haughty thinking it was because of his own self that his ruler-ship was so great. But he was humbled until he realized that it was the Most High that sets up and removes kings, even the lowliest of man.
Daniel 4:10-12 – “Now the visions of my head upon my bed I happened to be beholding, and, look! a tree in the midst of the earth, the height of which was immense. The tree grew up and became strong, and its very height finally reached the heavens, and it was visible to the extremity of the whole earth. Its foliage was fair, and its fruit was abundant, and there was food for all on it. Under it the beast of the field would seek shade, and on its boughs the birds of heaven would dwell, and from it all flesh would feed itself.”
Daniel 4:15-17 “However, LEAVE its rootstock itself in the earth, even with a banding of iron and of copper, among the grass of the field; and with the dew of the heavens let it be wet, and with the beast let its portion be among the vegetation of the earth. Let its heart be changed from that of mankind, and let the heart of a beast be given to it, and let seven times pass over it. By the decree of watchers the thing is, and [by] the saying of holy ones the request is, to the intent that people living may know that the Most High is Ruler in the kingdom of mankind and that to the one whom he wants to, he gives it and he sets up over it even the lowliest one of mankind.”
Daniel 4:23-26 ” ‘And because the king beheld a watcher, even a holy one, coming down from the heavens, who was also saying: “CHOP the tree down, and RUIN it. However, LEAVE its rootstock itself in the earth, but with a banding of iron and of copper, among the grass of the field, and with the dew of the heavens let it become wet, and with the beasts of the field let its portion be until seven times themselves pass over it,” this is the interpretation, O king, and the decree of the Most High is that which must befall my lord the king. And you they will be driving away from men, and with the beasts of the field your dwelling will come to be, and the vegetation is what they will give even to you to eat just like the bulls; and with the dew of the heavens you yourself will be getting wet, and seven times themselves will pass over you, until you know that the Most High is Ruler in the kingdom of mankind, and that to the one whom he wants to he gives it. (vs.26) ” ‘And because they said to leave the rootstock of the tree, your kingdom will be sure to you after you know that the heavens are ruling.”
Daniel 4:27 “Therefore, O king, may my counsel seem good to you, and remove your own sins by righteousness, and your iniquity by showing mercy to the poor ones. Maybe there will occur a lengthening of your prosperity.”
Daniel 4:29 “At the end of twelve lunar months…”
This shows one of Daniel’s recorded methods of time tracking (the lunar calendar)
Daniel 4:35 “And all the inhabitants of the earth are being considered as merely nothing, and he is doing according to his own will among the army of the heavens and the inhabitants of the earth. And there exists no one that can check his hand or say to him, ‘What have you been doing?’ ”
Daniel 4:37 “Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, am praising and exalting and glorifying the King of the heavens, because all his works are truth and his ways are justice, and because those who are walking in pride he is able to humiliate.”
We should never think too much of ourselves but thank God for our blessings!
Jesus certainly lived a lowly life, from some respects. He was born in a stable, didn’t even have a house, and was executed as a criminal. Yet God raised him from the dead to sit at his right side until he is to set his enemies as a footstool for his feet – Psalm 110:1. Compare Isaiah 42:1-4; Jeremiah 33:14-16; Ezekiel 17:22-24; 34:23,24; Daniel 12:1; Zechariah 6:12,13