“I, Nebuchadnezzar, was at rest in my house, and flourishing in my palace. I saw a dream which made me afraid, and the thoughts on my bed and the visions of my head troubled me.” Daniel 4:4-5
Nebuchadnezzar begins to share his personal testimony with the whole known world. This shows us his changed heart for he reveals things about himself that are not flattering, especially to a once proud king.
I, Nebuchadnezzar The king tells his story. Daniel records exactly what the king says for it would not be appropriate for Daniel to give the king’s testimony of his conversion.
Was at rest in my house Nebuchadnezzar describes the peace he
was feeling. He was waging no war. He was enjoying the fruits of all his conquests as the greatest king in the world. Between 582-575 B.C. no Babylonian military undertakings are recorded. (Interestingly enough it is a 7 year period.) “At rest” means Nebuchadnezzar was free from fear from any threat. God is about to disrupt his “ease”. That is an important point. Never think you are outside the reach of God.
Flourishing in my palace Nebuchadnezzar was enjoying prosperity.
The word “flourishing” means to grow green. It gives an image of a
vibrant, fruitful tree. The king enjoyed the affluence his military conquests had brought him. Nebuchadnezzar’s words remind us of the rich farmer in Luke 12. He pondered his wealth and took comfort in all that he had. His thoughts are recorded for us. “And I will say to my soul, ‘Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years; take your ease; eat, drink, and be merry.’ ” Like the farmer, Nebuchadnezzar had it all, a palace, peace, power and pleasure.
I saw a dream Scripture is filled with the phrase “But God”. Just when man thinks he can sit back and relax in his own accomplishments, God intervenes in his life. God worked in the king’s life multiple times up to this point yet he had scarcely taken note. He acknowledged God was something different but for him God was an academic idea – not one to be praised and worshipped personally.
Because God loves King Nebuchadnezzar, and probably as an answer to Daniel’s fervent prayers, God intervenes in the king’s life once again. The word see can be translated “behold”. The king knows this is something unique and different and a message is being sent to him. God breaks into the kings life with a dream that has a personal message.
Which made me afraid The King tells us the impact of the dream God sent. He was afraid – the word can be translated awesome or terrible. The dream terrified the king. We are minded of what Jude tells us. “On some have compassion, making a distinction; but others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire”. God had shown his love to Nebuchadnezzar in the past through the miracles He did through Daniel and his friends. Now he reaches out to the king to show him the pending judgment that awaits if he continues his life without God. Why does he do this? To bring the king to repentance. int is much better for he king to fear God know than to do so after death.
And the thoughts on my bed Nebuchadnezzar is lying in bed. Thoughts, questions and imaginations are running through his mind
when suddenly God intervenes with a message to get his attention – a message not of prosperity but of trouble and judgment.
And the visions of my head troubled me God did not put a visible image in front of the King as he did when he put a man’s hand in front of Belshazzar. Instead he sent a vision into his mind. The word trouble gives us further indication of the impact the vision had on the king. The word means to alarm or dismay and it carries the implication of urgency (it is often translated “in haste”). Daniel had this same reaction when he was given the dreams of the great beast nations that would appear.
What can we learn? God waits until Nebuchadnezzar is quiet, at peace and then he speaks forcefully to him. God does the same today with us, not through dreams, but through His word. When He speaks
we should be just as concerned about what He is saying to us as Nebuchadnezzar was.