Jenaministries – Nebuchadnezzar Lived with Wild Animals
Nebuchadnezzar was the king of Babylon. The kingdom of Babylon was great and powerful.
Jerusalem Besieged:
Arranged by God, Nebuchadnezzar besieged Jerusalem (Scriptures 1. Nebuchadnezzar besieged Jerusalem Daniel 1:1-2) and the Lord delivered the king of Judah into his hands. Some Israelites were exiled to Babylon.
Daniel was among those exiled. God anointed Daniel with the ability to interpret dreams. He was able to interpret dreams that had terrified King Nebuchadnezzar. So, Daniel was favored by the king.
Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream of a Tree:
The king had one dream about a tree (Scriptures 2. Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream of a Tree Daniel 4:1-18) that made him very afraid. He called upon his magicians, enchanters, astrologers and diviners to tell him what the dream meant, but they were all unable. So he then called upon Daniel. Daniel had interpreted dreams before and the king trusted him.
Nebuchadnezzar explained the dream to Daniel. A tree was in the middle of the land. Its height was enormous. The tree grew large and strong and its top touched the sky; it was visible to the ends of the earth. Its leaves were beautiful, its fruit abundant, and on it was food for all. Under it the wild animals found shelter, and the birds lived in its branches; from it every creature was fed.
A holy one, a messenger, called in a loud voice: “Cut down the tree and trim off its branches; strip off its leaves and scatter its fruit. Let the animals flee from under it and the birds from its branches. But let the stump and its roots, bound with iron and bronze, remain in the ground, in the grass of the field. Let him be drenched with the dew of heaven, and let him live with the animals among the plants of the earth. Let his mind be changed from that of a man and let him be given the mind of an animal, till seven times pass by for him”. This dream terrified him.
Daniel Interprets Dream:
With God’s given wisdom, Daniel interpreted the dream (Scriptures 3. Daniel Interprets the Dream Daniel 4:19-27) to the king and explained that the tree was him (Nebuchadnezzar) and his great kingdom. But God will drive him away from people and he will live with the wild animals. He will eat grass like the ox and be drenched with the dew of heaven. Seven times will pass by until he acknowledges that the God is sovereign over all kingdoms on Earth.
Nebuchadnezzar Lived With Wild Animals:
Even though God had warned him in this dream; twelve months later, Nebuchadnezzar looked at his kingdom and told himself that he had built the great Babylon by his own mighty power and for the glory of his majesty. Immediately, what God warned Nebuchadnezzar in the dream was fulfilled (Scriptures 4. Nebuchadnezzar Lived With Wild Animals Daniel 4:28-37). He was driven away from people and ate grass like the ox. His body was drenched with the dew until his hair grew like feathers and his nails like the claws of a bird.
Once Nebuchadnezzar was humbled and glorified God and God’s eternal dominion, his sanity was restored. His honor and splendor was returned. He was back on his throne and became even greater than before.
God Exalted and Glorified:
Nebuchadnezzar praised and exalted and glorified the King of Heaven, because everything God does is right and all his ways are just. And those who walk in pride, he is able to humble.
That was a hard lesson for Nebuchadnezzar to learn. God still humbles hearts today. Maybe not as drastically, but when our pride gets too strong, God has a way of bringing us back.
PDF: King Nebuchadnezzar Lived with Wild Animals
Bible Study Worksheet: Nebuchadnezzar Lived With Wild Animals
See: Part 3 #15 A Prayer for Putting God First
See: Part 2 #10 When Are We Too Prideful?
Also See: Free Bible Study Worksheets
Also See: Part 3 – List of Prayers