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King Nebuchadnezzar's Letter
1King Nebuchadnezzar sent the following letter to the people of all nations and races on the earth:
Greetings to all of you!
2I am glad to tell about
the wonderful miracles
God Most High
has done for me.
3His miracles are mighty
and marvelous.
He will rule forever,
and his kingdom
will never end.
4I was enjoying a time of peace and prosperity, 5when suddenly I had some horrifying dreams and visions. 6Then I commanded every wise man in Babylonia to appear in my court, so they could explain the meaning of my dream. 7After they arrived, I told them my dream, but they were not able to say what it meant. 8Finally, a young man named Daniel came in, and I told him the dream. The holy gods had given him special powers, and I had renamed him Belteshazzar after my own god.
9I said, “Belteshazzar, not only are you the wisest of all advisors and counselors, but the holy gods have given you special powers to solve the most difficult mysteries. So listen to what I dreamed and tell me what it means:
10In my sleep I saw
a very tall tree
in the center of the world.
11It grew stronger and higher,
until it reached to heaven
and could be seen
from anywhere on earth.
12It was covered with leaves
and heavy with fruit—
enough for all nations.
Wild animals enjoyed its shade,
birds nested in its branches,
and all creatures on earth
lived on its fruit.
13“While I was in bed, having this vision, a holy angel came down from heaven 14and shouted:
‘Chop down the tree
and cut off its branches;
strip off its leaves
and scatter its fruit.
Make the animals leave its shade
and send the birds flying
from its branches.
15But leave its stump and roots
in the ground,
surrounded by grass
and held by chains
of iron and bronze.
‘Make sure that this ruler
lives like the animals
out in the open fields,
unprotected from the dew.
16Give him the mind
of a wild animal
for seven long years.
17This punishment is given
at the command
of the holy angels.
It will show to all who live
that God Most High
controls all kingdoms
and chooses for their rulers
persons of humble birth.’
18“Daniel, that was the dream that none of the wise men in my kingdom were able to understand. But I am sure that you will understand what it means, because the holy gods have given you some special powers.”
Reflect
“Never show your weakness” is an unwritten rule among those who aspire to have control over others. This chapter is extraordinarily self-revealing. It begins with a confession of faith, different in tone from the responses previously dragged out of the king in earlier chapters. For here Nebuchadnezzar places himself below God and not alongside. What has caused this huge shift in attitude, when everything in the king’s background would fight against it? To acknowledge God as the Lord is to make himself, for the first time, accountable to someone else and that means that all of his life is now under scrutiny.
So Nebuchadnezzar tells his story. At first in the verses that follow we feel we are on familiar ground. Dreams and visions seem to be the normal currency of this king’s life. However, he never takes them for granted and they exercise a powerful hold on his emotions. Once again control has been taken from him and he is at their mercy, not they at his. After the usual blank response from his paid advisers, he turns to Daniel. He knows he doesn’t have to test Daniel, for his integrity is well established. So the dream can be safely retold and the interpretation can be trusted.
A tree has replaced the statue of chapter 2, but again it overshadows the landscape, rich in fruit. Instead of a rock comes a messenger, but the theme of destruction is similar. The hewn-down stump will testify of better days and a sad outcome. Suddenly the stump has bound to it a human mind in an animal form, a living witness that God is not to be mocked. The fear is palpable for the warning is clear, but the interpretation remains beyond the king’s understanding!
When life is worrying and confusing, God has promised to give wisdom to those who ask for it. (James 1:5) Don’t miss out on this wonderful offer.
Respond
Father, Thank you for the gifts you have given me and for the areas of my life where I have been successful. I pray also that you will enable me to keep success and self-esteem in perspective. You are in control. May I live each day in your presence, following Jesus, who gave his life for me. I pray in his name, Amen.
Colin Sinclair
Colin Sinclair is a Church of Scotland Minister serving a congregation in the centre of Edinburgh. He is married to Ruth and they have four adult children and three grandchildren. Colin served on the SU staff in Zambia 1974-77 and as General Director SU Scotland 1988-96 and is currently the chair of the SU International Council and Executive. Colin and Ruth led SU holidays together for many years. Publications: “The Hitch-Hikers Guide to the Bible”; has contributed regularly to Encounter with God/ Wordlive for the last decade.