Daniel 4:1-6

Daniel 4:1-6

Daniel 4:1
Nebuchadnezzar the king, unto all people, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth; Peace be multiplied unto you.

Now at this time Nebuchadnezzar was beginning a memoire concerning the events which he had personally witnessed especially the deliverance from the furnace of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. The king addresses this to all the people and nations under his authority and beyond if the letter goes that far. He may have mellowed a little bit after seeing the deliverance of the three men from the furnace for where do you ever read a pagan monarch desiring peace to be multiplied to those who will read this letter.

Daniel 4:2
I thought it good to shew the signs and wonders that the high God hath wrought toward me.

The word “shew” carries with it the meaning of “to make known.” He now wanted to make known to all the people what transpired with the furnace and how God showed him a mighty sign and wonder in the deliverance of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego from the 7 times heated furnace. Never in his life did he ever see anything like that from any of the false gods of Babylon. In doing these signs, God showed him personally what His ability to deliver was and how much more powerful He was than the furnace, no matter how hot it was made.

Daniel 4:3
How great are his signs! and how mighty are his wonders! his kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and his dominion is from generation to generation.

Nebuchadnezzar now extols the God of Heaven in several areas. First, he states that His signs are great. The word “great’ carries with the meaning of “huge, and also domineering in character.” He states how mighty are His “wonders,” which carries with it the meaning of “miracles.” Then he states a major theme in the book of Daniel which is the fact that God’s kingdom is everlasting, not like earthly kingdoms which come and go like in his dream. Then unlike the earthly monarchs which die along with their kingdoms, God’s dominion over the earthly kingdoms is from generation to generation. Which means no matter what kingdom is ruling, God is ruling it! God’s kingdom is a continuum!

Daniel 4:4
I Nebuchadnezzar was at rest in mine house, and flourishing in my palace:

Now Nebuchadnezzar begins to tell about the dream he had. He was resting in his house. Sometimes when we are at rest, that is when God does something in our life which may be life changing. The king may have also been referring to the fact that he was home from conquering nations and was taking a respite. He also claimed he was flourishing in his palace. The word “flourishing” carries with it the meaning of “prospering or luxury” which means he was enjoying all the fruits of his office from luxury to great wealth.

Daniel 4:5
I saw a dream which made me afraid, and the thoughts upon my bed and the visions of my head troubled me.

While he was enjoying a time of sleep, he then had the dream which caused him to be frightened. He probably saw the fact that he was involved in that dream but had no idea what the meaning was. The thoughts and visions that he had troubled him. The word “troubled” carries with it the meaning of “terrified.” The dream of the image literally terrified him and that may be the reason that he wanted an interpretation of it hastily and why he put a death penalty on it for those who could not help him. This second dream had also terrified him. Terror can cause people to act in many different ways, even affecting those around them.

Daniel 4:6
Therefore made I a decree to bring in all the wise men of Babylon before me, that they might make known unto me the interpretation of the dream.

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