Daniel
Prophecies from the Lions’ Den
Lesson 4: How the Mighty Fall
Daniel 4 & 5
4:1-3 Nebuchadnezzar’s Story
These verses introduce the story Nebuchadnezzar is about to tell. What has Nebuchadnezzar learned from his experience about the Lord?
He is the Most High God. Of course, the Lord is the only God but Nebuchadnezzar never seems to come to this conclusion, just that the Lord is the best God. He also speaks of God’s wonders and dominion that will last forever.
4:4-9 Another Dream
Nebuchadnezzar had a dream of a statue in chapter 2. He was scared then too. He called his wise men then too. What does he do this time that he refused to do last time?
He tells them the dream and the advisors are still unable to help.
Why didn’t Nebuchadnezzar bring in Daniel first? After all, Daniel was able to interpret the dream of the statue.
Maybe Nebuchadnezzar forgot what Daniel did before. Maybe Daniel was busy in another part of the empire. Maybe Daniel allowed the others to go first to show how worthless false gods are. Or maybe Nebuchadnezzar remembered all too well the interpretation of the first dream—that Babylon would fall—and did not want to hear from Daniel’s God again.
4:10-18 The Dream of the Tree
What did the tree look like?
What was going to happen to the tree?
How do you know that the tree is a person? (v 15-16)
The messenger angel speaks of the tree as a person. “Let him be drenched” and “Let his mind be changed.”
What is God’s purpose in giving Nebuchadnezzar this dream and carrying it out?
Verse 17—God will show his power over even the most powerful ruler of the day so that everyone will know that he is the only Most High God.
4:19-27 God Reveals the Meaning of the Dream
Why was Daniel “greatly perplexed”?
He knew that the dream was against the king and was not sure how Nebuchadnezzar would take it.
Can you think of any examples of when you might need to tell the truth but not really enjoy doing it?
When a loved one is sinning and we don’t want to drive them away but we don’t want them to fall away from faith either. Telling someone that they or a loved one has cancer or has died.
“You, O king, are that tree!” (v 22) How is Nebuchadnezzar and his kingdom like the tree in the dream?
Nebuchadnezzar was at the height of his power. He controlled from the Persian Gulf to Asia Minor (Turkey). He even controlled Egypt for a while. Everything was under his control and functioned at his command.
Describe what is going to happen to Nebuchadnezzar according to verses 25-26.
He is going to go insane and be forced to live as an animal. He would not even seek shelter from the rain and dew.
Nebuchadnezzar would be restored as the stump being left in the ground indicates. What is the condition of his restoration to power?
He was to acknowledge that the Most High rules over all, that Heaven rules and not men.
How long would his animal-like living last?
Seven times
Many have and do take “seven times” as seven years. But many times in Daniel, numbers have symbolic meaning, and God could have said seven years if he wanted. Seven times could be an unspecified but set amount of time. It could symbolize that this judgment came from God (whose number is sometimes seven).
What is Daniel’s advice to the king? How is this good advice for any ruler? See the passages below.
1 Timothy 2:1-2 (NIV) I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone—for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.
Romans 13:4 (NIV) For he is God’s servant to do you good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword for nothing. He is God’s servant, an agent of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer.
God wants rulers to use their power for the good of the people, so that the people may live peaceful lives and worship the Lord. God wants rulers to punish the wicked in order to protect the innocent. Nebuchadnezzar had been abusing his power and through Daniel the Lord gives him a warning through the dream.
4:28-33 God’s Word is True
“All this happened to King Nebuchadnezzar.” The Lord prophesied the capture of Jerusalem and the destruction of the temple and it happened. He predicts Nebuchadnezzar’s fall and it happens. Why are people so quick to forget that the Lord does what he says he is going to do?
People may think that somehow they will be different and God will not carry out his threats of punishment against them. “I’m better than those other unbelievers.”
What is Nebuchadnezzar’s sin in verse 30 that leads to his immediate judgment by God?
His sin is pride over what he has accomplished by his power and might. He has left God out completely.
We do not rule over great empires, but that does not mean that we are immune from the same sin. How does Nebuchadnezzar’s sin show up in our lives today?
Taking all the credit for education, job success, athletic ability, and other skills the Lord has given is being proud of ourselves instead of giving thanks to God.
We do not find this account of Nebuchadnezzar acting like an animal in the records kept by the Babylonians. What could one reason be for this?
Kings and empires do not want their failures recorded, only their successes.
4:34-37 Restoration
We saw that God carried out his threat of punishment against Nebuchadnezzar by making him live as an animal. Now the Lord carries out his promise of restoration. The stump was not removed. What promises of restoration has God given us?
He has promised the forgiveness of sins. He promises us a resurrection. He promises us a new heaven and new earth. He promises that we will be with him forever in heaven.
Again, Nebuchadnezzar makes some statements that sound very much like what a believer would say. Compare these good statements with how he refers to Daniel in 4:8-9.
He still believes in false gods and many of them. He is only willing to believe in the true God as just one more of his false gods, although the true God is better for him at this moment.
5:1-4 Belshazzar’s Banquet
Belshazzar was most likely the grandson of Nebuchadnezzar and ruled together with his father Nabonidus.
How would you describe this banquet according to verse 1?
It was a drinking party. Drunkenness and immoral behavior was the norm.
What was the point of bringing out and drinking from the gold goblets taken from the temple in Jerusalem?
Belshazzar was showing off. He was showing his dominance over the Jews and their God. He showed his contempt for the Lord.
5:5-9 The Handwriting on the Wall
God interrupts Belshazzar’s drunken party and blasphemy by writing a message to him on the wall. His reaction is normal for someone who acts brave when surrounded by a thousand friends and there is no danger. He goes pale and falls to the ground in fright.
Who does he call on for help?
The normal group of advisors to the king—enchanters, astrologers, diviners. Those who can’t help when there is real trouble.
Why does he offer only the third highest position in the kingdom and not the second highest?
He was ruling with his father, Nabonidus, so Belshazzar was the number two man in the kingdom.
5:10-17 Daniel Called In
The queen comes to the rescue with information about Daniel. She was either the wife of Nebuchadnezzar, the daughter of Nebuchadnezzar and/or the wife of Nabonidus.
Belshazzar does not remember the stories he was told about Daniel and Nebuchadnezzar. What is the importance of telling the next generation the true stories of the Bible?
If we don’t pass on the importance and reality of these stories, the next generation will pass them off as fairy tales and fables. The generation after may never hear the stories and then they are left without the gospel which brings salvation.
Put Daniel’s response to the king’s offer of gifts in your own words.
Daniel is a wise old man now. He is not putting up with much of anything from this young, blasphemous ruler. He rejects the gifts but will give the king what he wants.
5:18-24 A History Lesson
Since Belshazzar did not remember how God humbled Nebuchadnezzar, Daniel decided to tell the story again. What was Belshazzar supposed to have learned from Nebuchadnezzar’s experiences?
He was to humble himself and acknowledge the true God.
Why did God send the hand to write on the wall?
To humble Belshazzar and announce his doom.
5:25-31 Reading the Writing on the Wall
Write in the meaning given to each of the words on the wall
Mene, Mene—
God has numbered the days of Belshazzar and his kingdom and they will end soon.
Tekel—
Belshazzar has come up short on God’s scales. He has not measured up.
Peres—
The Babylonian kingdom will be taken by the Medes and Persians. Parsin (Peres is the singular of Parsin) can also mean Persia.
Why would Belshazzar still give gifts to Daniel after such a terrible interpretation?
Maybe he was trying to buy off God. If he gives gifts to the messenger of God, maybe God will let his pride and blasphemy slide this time.
The Medo-Persian capture of Babylon is recorded by four sources outside the Bible as well. It seems that they diverted the Euphrates River that flowed under the walls so they could march into the city in the riverbed.
The Lord has numbered our days as well. How do we know that we will not be found wanting when measured on God’s scales?
Believers will measure up to God’s standards because they have been given Christ’s perfection. Christ is only one who has been weighed on God’s scales and found to be perfect. Through his death and resurrection believers have forgiveness and the perfection Christ earned.