Setting – Nebuchadnezzar is humbled, but later acknowledges God as supreme
Content – Nebuchadnezzar had another dream. This one was about the his kingdom being like a tree (v. 11-12 NLT) “The tree grew very tall and strong, reaching high into the heavens for all the world to see. It had fresh green leaves, and it was loaded with fruit for all to eat. Wild animals lived in its shade, and birds nested in its branches. All the world was fed from this tree.” But then (v. 13-14 NLT) “’Then as I lay there dreaming, I saw a messenger, a holy one, coming down from heaven. The messenger shouted, "Cut down the tree; lop off its branches! Shake off its leaves, and scatter its fruit! Chase the animals from its shade and the birds from its branches” This dream meant, (v. 25-26 NLT) “You will be driven from human society, and you will live in the fields with the wild animals. You will eat grass like a cow, and you will be drenched with the dew of heaven. Seven periods of time will pass while you live this way, until you learn that the Most High rules over the kingdoms of the world and gives them to anyone he chooses. But the stump and the roots were left in the ground. This means that you will receive your kingdom back again when you have learned that heaven rules.” This was to happen because of the kings sin and pride (v. 26 NLT) “But the stump and the roots were left in the ground. This means that you will receive your kingdom back again when you have learned that heaven rules.”, “’O King Nebuchadnezzar, please listen to me. Stop sinning and do what is right. Break from your wicked past by being merciful to the poor. Perhaps then you will continue to prosper.'”, “As he looked out across the city, he said, `Just look at this great city of Babylon! I, by my own mighty power, have built this beautiful city as my royal residence and as an expression of my royal splendor.'”
But Nebuchadnezzar returned, but acknowledging God’s supremacy (v. 34, 37 NLT) “’After this time had passed, I, Nebuchadnezzar, looked up to heaven. My sanity returned, and I praised and worshiped the Most High and honored the one who lives forever. His rule is everlasting, and his kingdom is eternal.’”, “’Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and glorify and honor the King of heaven. All his acts are just and true, and he is able to humble those who are proud.’”
Nebuchadnezzar related this story to every race and people, (v. 1 NLT) “King Nebuchadnezzar sent this message to the people of every race and nation and language throughout the world: ‘Peace and prosperity to you!’” He acknowledge God for who He is (v. 3 NLT) “How great are his signs, how powerful his wonders! His kingdom will last forever, his rule through all generations.”
Application – God wanted Nebuchadnezzar to recognize who gave him his kingdom and to stop being prideful and sinful. We see that God established Nebuchadnezzar’s kingdom, but Nebuchadnezzar never acknowledged this, until later. God even showed him a dream and its explanation of what was to happen, but his pride must have prevented him from changing; after eating and living like a cow, he realized who was in control.
We see that God decides who to put into power. It’s a matter of the leader acknowledging God as the one who is truly in control. God is a patient God, but He will eventually want His creation to acknowledge who’s in control.
As believers, we (I) don’t always remember that God is in control. We don’t worry if the earth is going to stop spinning, or that the rain will forever stop falling on the earth, but we worry about those things that we have control over. There is a difficult balance between letting God handle it and our responsibilities, but it doesn’t justify worry. Ultimately God is in control of all things and there is where our faith must reside.
Content – Nebuchadnezzar had another dream. This one was about the his kingdom being like a tree (v. 11-12 NLT) “The tree grew very tall and strong, reaching high into the heavens for all the world to see. It had fresh green leaves, and it was loaded with fruit for all to eat. Wild animals lived in its shade, and birds nested in its branches. All the world was fed from this tree.” But then (v. 13-14 NLT) “’Then as I lay there dreaming, I saw a messenger, a holy one, coming down from heaven. The messenger shouted, "Cut down the tree; lop off its branches! Shake off its leaves, and scatter its fruit! Chase the animals from its shade and the birds from its branches” This dream meant, (v. 25-26 NLT) “You will be driven from human society, and you will live in the fields with the wild animals. You will eat grass like a cow, and you will be drenched with the dew of heaven. Seven periods of time will pass while you live this way, until you learn that the Most High rules over the kingdoms of the world and gives them to anyone he chooses. But the stump and the roots were left in the ground. This means that you will receive your kingdom back again when you have learned that heaven rules.” This was to happen because of the kings sin and pride (v. 26 NLT) “But the stump and the roots were left in the ground. This means that you will receive your kingdom back again when you have learned that heaven rules.”, “’O King Nebuchadnezzar, please listen to me. Stop sinning and do what is right. Break from your wicked past by being merciful to the poor. Perhaps then you will continue to prosper.'”, “As he looked out across the city, he said, `Just look at this great city of Babylon! I, by my own mighty power, have built this beautiful city as my royal residence and as an expression of my royal splendor.'”
But Nebuchadnezzar returned, but acknowledging God’s supremacy (v. 34, 37 NLT) “’After this time had passed, I, Nebuchadnezzar, looked up to heaven. My sanity returned, and I praised and worshiped the Most High and honored the one who lives forever. His rule is everlasting, and his kingdom is eternal.’”, “’Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and glorify and honor the King of heaven. All his acts are just and true, and he is able to humble those who are proud.’”
Nebuchadnezzar related this story to every race and people, (v. 1 NLT) “King Nebuchadnezzar sent this message to the people of every race and nation and language throughout the world: ‘Peace and prosperity to you!’” He acknowledge God for who He is (v. 3 NLT) “How great are his signs, how powerful his wonders! His kingdom will last forever, his rule through all generations.”
Application – God wanted Nebuchadnezzar to recognize who gave him his kingdom and to stop being prideful and sinful. We see that God established Nebuchadnezzar’s kingdom, but Nebuchadnezzar never acknowledged this, until later. God even showed him a dream and its explanation of what was to happen, but his pride must have prevented him from changing; after eating and living like a cow, he realized who was in control.
We see that God decides who to put into power. It’s a matter of the leader acknowledging God as the one who is truly in control. God is a patient God, but He will eventually want His creation to acknowledge who’s in control.
As believers, we (I) don’t always remember that God is in control. We don’t worry if the earth is going to stop spinning, or that the rain will forever stop falling on the earth, but we worry about those things that we have control over. There is a difficult balance between letting God handle it and our responsibilities, but it doesn’t justify worry. Ultimately God is in control of all things and there is where our faith must reside.
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