Daniel 4
20 The tree that thou sawest, which grew, and was strong, whose height reached unto the heaven, and the sight thereof to all the earth;
21 Whose leaves were fair, and the fruit thereof much, and in it was meat for all; under which the beasts of the field dwelt, and upon whose branches the fowls of the heaven had their habitation:
22 It is thou, O king, that art grown and become strong: for thy greatness is grown, and reacheth unto heaven, and thy dominion to the end of the earth.
(Daniel seems to be being very tactful and even flattering the king, but Daniel also knew that God had a different view of Babylon. In fact, we will see later in the book of Daniel that God intends to punish and destroy the future Babylon, part of which is happening today. ISIS [IS or ISIL] is helping to fulfil prophecy there now.)
23 And whereas the king saw a watcher and an holy one coming down from heaven, and saying, Hew the tree down, and destroy it; yet leave the stump of the roots thereof 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 of the field, till seven times pass over him;
24 This is the interpretation, O king, and this is the decree of the most High, which is come upon my lord the king:
25 That they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field, and they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and they shall wet thee with the dew of heaven, and seven times shall pass over thee, till thou know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will.
(God hates pride. I think most of us don't fully realise how terrible pride is and how much we need to resist and denounce our pride and vanity, glorying in ourselves as though we made ourselves or as though we have power over our own lives. God hates it because pride is deceptive and it separates us from Him. When we pat ourselves on the back for our accomplishments, we lose the anointing of the Holy Spirit.
Giving God all the glory all the time for anything good about us shows God that we are admitting we can do nothing without Him. We can't. And THAT is the TRUTH. God help us not to be deceived by pride.)
26 And whereas they commanded to leave the stump of the tree roots; thy kingdom shall be sure unto thee, after that thou shalt have known that the heavens do rule.
(Daniel is politely telling the king that he needs to learn Who is Boss!)
27 Wherefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable unto thee, and break off thy sins by righteousness, and thine iniquities by shewing mercy to the poor; if it may be a lengthening of thy tranquillity.
(Humble yourself, Neb and get down on the level of the poor because you are really no better than them.)
28 All this came upon the king Nebuchadnezzar.
(You may be the gold head of the image, but your feet are made of clay.)
29 At the end of twelve months he walked in the palace of the kingdom of Babylon.
30 The king spake, and said, Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for the house of the kingdom by the might of my power, and for the honour of my majesty?
(Woops! There he goes, patting himself on the back again! Pride comes before what? Look out!)
31 While the word was in the king's mouth, there fell a voice from heaven, saying, O king Nebuchadnezzar, to thee it is spoken; The kingdom is departed from thee.
(Who is in control?)
32 And they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field: they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and seven times shall pass over thee, until thou know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will.
(Nebuchadnezzar is going on a high fibre diet! For seven years!)
33 The same hour was the thing fulfilled upon Nebuchadnezzar: and he was driven from men, and did eat grass as oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven, till his hairs were grown like eagles' feathers, and his nails like birds' claws.
(This has got to be something out of a horror movie! He is living like an animal and starting to look like an eagle.)
34 And at the end of the days I Nebuchadnezzar lifted up mine eyes unto heaven, and mine understanding returned unto me, and I blessed the most High, and I praised and honoured Him that liveth for ever, Whose dominion is an everlasting dominion, and His kingdom is from generation to generation:
35 And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and He doeth according to His will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay His hand, or say unto Him, What doest Thou?
(God welcomes questions. But, we don't have the right to question Him in a doubtful way. God is God. We are the clay and He is the Potter.)
36 At the same time my reason returned unto me; and for the glory of my kingdom, mine honour and brightness returned unto me; and my counsellors and my lords sought unto me; and I was established in my kingdom, and excellent majesty was added unto me.
(He's gotten the point that his majesty is given to him from above.)
37 Now I Nebuchadnezzar praise and extol and honour the King of heaven, all whose works are truth, and His ways judgment: and those that walk in pride He is able to abase.
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