Daniel 4
Today's Passage: Daniel 4
Approximately 30 years have passed since yesterday’s passage in Daniel 3. As we read verse 2, we’re immediately aware that something big has changed. Daniel 4 is the contents of a decree from King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon and it’s a jaw-dropper. The sole purpose of this letter is to lift high the name of Israel’s God!
Imagine the experience of the Jews in Daniel 1—they had just endured siege warfare, imprisoned in their own city. They marched to exile for weeks to reach Babylon. When they arrived, they must have been overtaken by the majesty and power of one of the ancient world’s most magnificent cities. They saw the Hanging Gardens, one of the 7-wonders of the ancient world. They saw the ziggurat—a massive temple known as Etemenanki dedicated to Marduk (whom everyone assumed just defeated Israel’s God). They were given lavish food, clothing, and training to serve their new masters. All they had to do was forget their defeated God.
Of course, we understand that Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah knew better. In Daniel 4, Nebuchadnezzar learned better too. In the first 3 chapters, we see Babylon’s might and Nabuchadnezzar’s ego. In chapter 2, Daniel told the king, “you are the head of gold” (38) that would be destroyed by the “stone that was cut from a mountain by no human hand” (45). Though he was warned of divine judgment, what did he do? He made a whole statue of gold in chapter 3. He didn’t want to just be the head, he had no intentions of other nations rising up after him.
Notice verse 8 in the king’s letter—”Daniel… who was named Belteshazzar.” Daniel’s name means “God is my judge.” The Babylonians renamed him to remove God from hearts and minds to a name that meant, “Bel [a pagan god] protects his life.” Nebuchadnezzar called Daniel by his Hebrew name and only refers to the earlier events with his Babylonian name. This is unbelievable!
Consistent with his character, Nebuchadnezzar received a warning that he forgot/ignored until the day he stood upon his royal palace and the pride in his heart flowed from his lips—”Is not this great Babylon, which I have built by my mighty power as a royal residence and for the glory of my majesty?” Despite all his achievements and power, which were considerable, God’s voice had to descend to reach his ears—despite possibly standing on one of the tallest buildings humanity had constructed until that point.
Nebuchadnezzar was made like an animal until “I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted my eyes to heaven, and my reason returned to me.” It is here that the great high king of the world’s most powerful empire of that time learned true humility in the presence and might of the One True God.
According to the world’s definition, Nebuchadnezzar is one of the greatest men to ever live if we’re looking at all that he accomplished in his reign. None of us are as great or as powerful or as successful in our endeavors as Nebuchadnezzar. Yet, many of us compete with him in one distinct category—pride!
If we’re honest, at some point, in some way, big or small, we have each said to ourselves, “Look what I have built?” Each of us have longed for the recognition of “our” accomplishments.
Humility begins with seeing the Lord rightly—”the King of heaven.” It means adjusting our perspective to match the reality that “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above” (James 1:17).
Written By: Tyler Short
Approximately 30 years have passed since yesterday’s passage in Daniel 3. As we read verse 2, we’re immediately aware that something big has changed. Daniel 4 is the contents of a decree from King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon and it’s a jaw-dropper. The sole purpose of this letter is to lift high the name of Israel’s God!
Imagine the experience of the Jews in Daniel 1—they had just endured siege warfare, imprisoned in their own city. They marched to exile for weeks to reach Babylon. When they arrived, they must have been overtaken by the majesty and power of one of the ancient world’s most magnificent cities. They saw the Hanging Gardens, one of the 7-wonders of the ancient world. They saw the ziggurat—a massive temple known as Etemenanki dedicated to Marduk (whom everyone assumed just defeated Israel’s God). They were given lavish food, clothing, and training to serve their new masters. All they had to do was forget their defeated God.
Of course, we understand that Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah knew better. In Daniel 4, Nebuchadnezzar learned better too. In the first 3 chapters, we see Babylon’s might and Nabuchadnezzar’s ego. In chapter 2, Daniel told the king, “you are the head of gold” (38) that would be destroyed by the “stone that was cut from a mountain by no human hand” (45). Though he was warned of divine judgment, what did he do? He made a whole statue of gold in chapter 3. He didn’t want to just be the head, he had no intentions of other nations rising up after him.
Notice verse 8 in the king’s letter—”Daniel… who was named Belteshazzar.” Daniel’s name means “God is my judge.” The Babylonians renamed him to remove God from hearts and minds to a name that meant, “Bel [a pagan god] protects his life.” Nebuchadnezzar called Daniel by his Hebrew name and only refers to the earlier events with his Babylonian name. This is unbelievable!
Consistent with his character, Nebuchadnezzar received a warning that he forgot/ignored until the day he stood upon his royal palace and the pride in his heart flowed from his lips—”Is not this great Babylon, which I have built by my mighty power as a royal residence and for the glory of my majesty?” Despite all his achievements and power, which were considerable, God’s voice had to descend to reach his ears—despite possibly standing on one of the tallest buildings humanity had constructed until that point.
Nebuchadnezzar was made like an animal until “I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted my eyes to heaven, and my reason returned to me.” It is here that the great high king of the world’s most powerful empire of that time learned true humility in the presence and might of the One True God.
According to the world’s definition, Nebuchadnezzar is one of the greatest men to ever live if we’re looking at all that he accomplished in his reign. None of us are as great or as powerful or as successful in our endeavors as Nebuchadnezzar. Yet, many of us compete with him in one distinct category—pride!
If we’re honest, at some point, in some way, big or small, we have each said to ourselves, “Look what I have built?” Each of us have longed for the recognition of “our” accomplishments.
Humility begins with seeing the Lord rightly—”the King of heaven.” It means adjusting our perspective to match the reality that “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above” (James 1:17).
Written By: Tyler Short
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