I, Nebuchadnezzar, was at ease in my house and prospering in my palace. I saw a dream that made me afraid. As I lay in bed the fancies and the visions of my head alarmed me. . . “I saw, and behold, a tree in the midst of the earth, and its height was great. The tree grew and became strong, and its top reached to heaven, and it was visible to the end of the whole earth. Its leaves were beautiful and its fruit abundant, and in it was food for all. The beasts of the field found shade under it, and the birds of the heavens lived in its branches, and all flesh was fed from it.
“I saw in the visions of my head as I lay in bed, and behold, a watcher, a holy one, came down from heaven. He proclaimed aloud and said thus: ‘Chop down the tree and lop off its branches, strip off its leaves and scatter its fruit. Let the beasts flee from under it and the birds from its branches. But leave the stump of its roots in the earth, bound with a band of iron and bronze, amid the tender grass of the field. Let him be wet with the dew of heaven. Let his portion be with the beasts in the grass of the earth. Let his mind be changed from a man's, and let a beast's mind be given to him; and let seven periods of time pass over him. The sentence is by the decree of the watchers, the decision by the word of the holy ones, to the end that the living may know that the Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he will and sets over it the lowliest of men.”
Thought for Today
This is the second time God has spoken to Nebuchadnezzar in a dream. This is a much longer and more detailed dream. The king is again disturbed by the dream because he doesn’t know what it means. His astrologists and wisemen again can’t interpret it. It does seem fairly straightforward. It may be that everyone knew what it meant, but no one wanted to tell the king the bad news. He has a history of taking bad news out on the messenger. What would you do in their place? Maybe they all pointed to Daniel because they thought the might be rid of him if he had to tell the king the truth. How has God communicated with you? Have you ever heard Him clearly when you were reading His Word? In prayer? In church? In a dream? Have you ever had the experience of knowing God was speaking to you but you weren’t sure what it meant? You have an incredible advantage over the king of Babylon. Nebuchadnezzar didn’t have the Holy Spirit to help him. The Holy Spirit is here to help us know and understand what God is saying to us. Nebuchadnezzar had to gather his wisemen. Yours lives in you. We live in a very blessed time!
Prayer
Holy Spirit, thank You for helping me recognize and understand my Savior’s voice. Amen.
Devotional Quote
I know now, Lord, why you utter no answer. You are yourself the answer. Before your face questions die away. What other answer would suffice? ― C.S. Lewis
Quote of the Day
The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams. ― Eleanor Roosevelt
Daniel 4: The Dream
Daniel 4:4-5, 10-18
I, Nebuchadnezzar, was at ease in my house and prospering in my palace. I saw a dream that made me afraid. As I lay in bed the fancies and the visions of my head alarmed me. . . “I saw, and behold, a tree in the midst of the earth, and its height was great. The tree grew and became strong, and its top reached to heaven, and it was visible to the end of the whole earth. Its leaves were beautiful and its fruit abundant, and in it was food for all. The beasts of the field found shade under it, and the birds of the heavens lived in its branches, and all flesh was fed from it.
“I saw in the visions of my head as I lay in bed, and behold, a watcher, a holy one, came down from heaven. He proclaimed aloud and said thus: ‘Chop down the tree and lop off its branches, strip off its leaves and scatter its fruit. Let the beasts flee from under it and the birds from its branches. But leave the stump of its roots in the earth, bound with a band of iron and bronze, amid the tender grass of the field. Let him be wet with the dew of heaven. Let his portion be with the beasts in the grass of the earth. Let his mind be changed from a man's, and let a beast's mind be given to him; and let seven periods of time pass over him. The sentence is by the decree of the watchers, the decision by the word of the holy ones, to the end that the living may know that the Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he will and sets over it the lowliest of men.”
Thought for Today
This is the second time God has spoken to Nebuchadnezzar in a dream. This is a much longer and more detailed dream. The king is again disturbed by the dream because he doesn’t know what it means. His astrologists and wisemen again can’t interpret it. It does seem fairly straightforward. It may be that everyone knew what it meant, but no one wanted to tell the king the bad news. He has a history of taking bad news out on the messenger. What would you do in their place? Maybe they all pointed to Daniel because they thought the might be rid of him if he had to tell the king the truth. How has God communicated with you? Have you ever heard Him clearly when you were reading His Word? In prayer? In church? In a dream? Have you ever had the experience of knowing God was speaking to you but you weren’t sure what it meant? You have an incredible advantage over the king of Babylon. Nebuchadnezzar didn’t have the Holy Spirit to help him. The Holy Spirit is here to help us know and understand what God is saying to us. Nebuchadnezzar had to gather his wisemen. Yours lives in you. We live in a very blessed time!
Prayer
Holy Spirit, thank You for helping me recognize and understand my Savior’s voice. Amen.
Devotional Quote
I know now, Lord, why you utter no answer. You are yourself the answer. Before your face questions die away. What other answer would suffice? ― C.S. Lewis
Quote of the Day
The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams. ― Eleanor Roosevelt