Day 08 of Journey Through Daniel | BECOMING A BEAST

COMMENTARY Today’s reading narrates the interpretation and fulfillment of Nebuchadnezzar’s second dream. As we’ve read, Nebuchadnezzar dreamed about a cosmic tree that was cut down and transformed into a beast. Now, Daniel reveals that Nebuchadnezzar is the tree and that he would quite literally take on animal-like qualities. Nebuchadnezzar’s degeneration into a beast plays off key ideas from the opening chapters of the Bible. Genesis 1:26-27 teaches that God created humankind in His “image.” Interestingly, that word “image” is equivalent to the word that’s used to refer to statues in Daniel 2 and 3. As God’s statue-like images, humans were given the privilege of representing God as kings and queens over the earth. This role included the responsibility of ruling over beasts. Unfortunately, as the following chapters of Genesis make clear, humans repeatedly failed to rule over beasts. They were “deceived” by crafty animals, and beast-like sin came to “rule” over them (Genesis 3:13; 4:7). In Nebuchadnezzar’s first dream in chapter 2, God told Nebuchadnezzar that the king had the same responsibility as God’s original image-bearers, the job of ruling over “beasts” (Daniel 2:38). This responsibility is symbolized in the present dream by the portrayal of Nebuchadnezzar as a tree under which “wild animals found shelter” (Daniel 4:12). However, Daniel’s interpretation of the dream makes it clear that Nebuchadnezzar’s pride and violence against the people he ruled would culminate in his own ironic downfall. Instead of ruling over the beasts, he would become one. Nebuchadnezzar’s metamorphosis into a beast highlights a theme we will continue to see throughout the book of Daniel: when we fail in our role as God’s image-bearers by lording our power over others, we become more beast-like than human (Daniel 7; 8). Now things don’t have to end this way. God promises restoration for those who “acknowledge” their mistakes (Daniel 4:25-27). But for those who continue to devour their victims, God will bring down those beasts. SCRIPTURE Daniel 4:19–37 Daniel Interprets the Dream 19 Then Daniel (also called Belteshazzar) was greatly perplexed for a time, and his thoughts terrified him. So the king said, “Belteshazzar, do not let the dream or its meaning alarm you.” Belteshazzar answered, “My lord, if only the dream applied to your enemies and its meaning to your adversaries! 20 The tree you saw, which grew large and strong, with its top touching the sky, visible to the whole earth, 21 with beautiful leaves and abundant fruit, providing food for all, giving shelter to the wild animals, and having nesting places in its branches for the birds—22 Your Majesty, you are that tree! You have become great and strong; your greatness has grown until it reaches the sky, and your dominion extends to distant parts of the earth. 23 “Your Majesty saw a holy one, a messenger, coming down from heaven and saying, ‘Cut down the tree and destroy it, but leave the stump, bound with iron and bronze, in the grass of the field, while its roots remain in the ground. Let him be drenched with the dew of heaven; let him live with the wild animals, until seven times pass by for him.’ 24 “This is the interpretation, Your Majesty, and this is the decree the Most High has issued against my lord the king: 25 You will be driven away from people and will live with the wild animals; you will eat grass like the ox and be drenched with the dew of heaven. Seven times will pass by for you until you acknowledge that the Most High is sovereign over all kingdoms on earth and gives them to anyone he wishes. 26 The command to leave the stump of the tree with its roots means that your kingdom will be restored to you when you acknowledge that Heaven rules. 27 Therefore, Your Majesty, be pleased to accept my advice: Renounce your sins by doing what is right, and your wickedness by being kind to the oppressed. It may be that then your prosperity will continue.” The Dream Is Fulfilled 28 All this happened to King Nebuchadnezzar. 29 Twelve months later, as the king was walking on the roof of the royal palace of Babylon, 30 he said, “Is not this the great Babylon I have built as the royal residence, by my mighty power and for the glory of my majesty?” 31 Even as the words were on his lips, a voice came from heaven, “This is what is decreed for you, King Nebuchadnezzar: Your royal authority has been taken from you. 32 You will be driven away from people and will live with the wild animals; you will eat grass like the ox. Seven times will pass by for you until you acknowledge that the Most High is sovereign over all kingdoms on earth and gives them to anyone he wishes.” 33 Immediately what had been said about Nebuchadnezzar was fulfilled. He was driven away from people and ate grass like the ox. His body was drenched with the dew of heaven until his hair grew like the feathers of an eagle and his nails like the claws of a bird. 34 At the end of that time, I, Nebuchadnezzar, raised my eyes toward heaven, and my sanity was restored. Then I praised the Most High; I honored and glorified him who lives forever. His dominion is an eternal dominion; his kingdom endures from generation     to generation. 35 All the peoples of the earth are regarded as nothing. He does as he pleases with the powers of heaven and the peoples of the earth. No one can hold back his hand or say to him: “What have     you done?” 36 At the same time that my sanity was restored, my honor and splendor were returned to me for the glory of my kingdom. My advisers and nobles sought me out, and I was restored to my throne and became even greater than before. 37 Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and exalt and glorify the King of heaven, because everything he does is right and all his ways are just. And those who walk in pride he is able to humble. QUESTIONS 1. In Mark 4:30-32, Jesus shares a parable that plays off themes from Daniel 4. Jesus says, “What shall we say the kingdom of God is like, or what parable shall we use to describe it? It is like a mustard seed, which is the smallest of all seeds on earth. Yet when planted, it grows and becomes the largest of all garden plants, with such big branches that the birds can perch in its shade.” Based on Jesus’ parable and Nebuchadnezzar’s dream, what characteristics might distinguish the kingdom of God from the kingdom of Nebuchadnezzar? 2. The closing words of this chapter highlight an important principle: “those who walk in pride [God] is able to humble.” When have you seen pride humbled? What pride might God want to humble in you?