In the book of Daniel, Daniel shared how King Nebuchadnezzar had a dream about a tree, and Daniel said, “This is the interpretation, O king, and this is the decree of the most High, which is come upon my lord the king”, and in chapter four and verse twenty-five of his book Daniel said, “they shall drive you from men” of the tree where we read,

That they shall drive you from men, and your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field, and they shall make you to eat grass as oxen, and they shall wet you with the dew of heaven, and seven times shall pass over you, till you know that the most High rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whomsoever he will.

The verse reads, “That they shall drive you from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field, …” Daniel began with the words, “that they shall drive you” or “people will chase and expel you, King Nebuchadnezzar” “from men” which means “separate and apart from people”, “and your dwelling” or “and your, King Nebuchadnezzar’s, habitation, abode and place of living” “shall be with the beasts” which means “will exist alongside the animals” “of the field” or “belonging to the plain”. Daniel told King Nebuchadnezzar that he was to be chased away from people to live among the animals of the plain.

The verse continues, “and they shall make you to eat grass as oxen, and they shall wet you with the dew of heaven, and seven times shall pass over you,” Daniel added the  words, “and they shall make you” which means “and they will cause you, King Nebuchadnezzar” “to eat grass as oxen” or “to consume and devour herbaceous similar and in likeness to oxen”, “and they shall wet you” which means “and they, the people, will moisten” “with the dew of heaven” or “with the misty wetness from the sky”, “and seven times” which means “and seven years or seasons” “shall pass over you” or “will go by you, King Nebuchadnezzar”. Daniel told King Nebuchadnezzar that he would be made to consume herbage similar to “oxen”, and that he would be moistened with the mist from the sky until seven years or seasons went by him.

Finally the verse says, “till you know that the most High rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whomsoever he will.” Daniel concluded this verse with the words, “till you know” which means “until such time that you, King Nebuchadnezzar, understand, discern and perceive” “that the most High rules” or “that the Supreme Deity is sovereign and reigns” “in the kingdom of men” which means “within the kingship and royalty belonging to people”, “and gives it” or “and grants, bestows and supplies it, the kingdom” ‘to whomsoever he will” which means “to whatever person he, the Supreme Deity, desires or wishes”. Daniel ended this verse by telling King Nebuchadnezzar that he would remain eating grass with animals until such time that he knew the Supreme Deity, Jehovah God, is sovereign and reigns within the royal rule of people and grants the authority within the kingdom to whatever person he desires. 

When we think through the words in this verse, we learn through Daniel more about the meaning to King Nebuchadnezzar’s dream. Nebuchadnezzar was to be banished from people and caused to eat the grass of the plains alongside animals. He would be covered in night mist and dew until seven seasons or years passed by and till he understood that the Supreme Deity alone is sovereign and reigns within royal authorities. God assigns leadership positions of authority that are held by people, and as easily as He raises them to power, He is able to take them down. This dream and interpretation should make us aware that every person who is in authority has been established in their positions because God allow them to be there. God wants us to make Him first in our lives, (See Mathew 6:33) and when we yield to His Son Jesus who died on the cross for the sins of all mankind and was raised from the dead after three days as our personal “Savior and Lord”, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and give us His Holy Spirit to guide us into all truth and empower us to live according to that truth so we will always know He is in control of every leader and authority in the world. 

Next time Daniel tells King Nebuchadnezzar more about, “whereas they commanded to leave the stump of the tree roots”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

See more devotionals on the website "thewordfortodaywithray.com" or look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".