神要管教一个独裁者
但以理书四章1至18节
1尼布甲尼撒王晓谕住在全地各方、各国、各族的人说:愿你们大享平安!
2我乐意将至高的神向我所行的神迹奇事宣扬出来。
3他的神迹何其大!他的奇事何其盛!他的国是永远的;他的权柄存到万代!
4我尼布甲尼撒安居在宫中,平顺在殿内。
5我做了一梦,使我惧怕。我在床上的思念,并脑中的异象,使我惊惶。
6所以我降旨召巴比伦的一切哲士到我面前,叫他们把梦的讲解告诉我。
7于是那些术士、用法术的、迦勒底人、观兆的都进来,我将那梦告诉了他们,他们却不能把梦的讲解告诉我。
8末后那照我神的名,称为伯提沙撒的但以理来到我面前,他里头有圣神的灵,我将梦告诉他说:
9术士的领袖伯提沙撒啊,因我知道你里头有圣神的灵,甚么奥秘的事都不能使你为难。现在要把我梦中所见的异象和梦的讲解告诉我。
10我在床上脑中的异象是这样:我看见地当中有一棵树,极其高大。
11那树渐长,而且坚固,高得顶天,从地极都能看见,
12叶子华美,果子甚多,可作众生的食物;田野的走兽卧在荫下,天空的飞鸟宿在枝上;凡有血气的都从这树得食。
13我在床上脑中的异象,见有一位守望的圣者从天而降。
14大声呼叫说:伐倒这树!砍下枝子!摇掉叶子!抛散果子!使走兽离开树下,飞鸟躲开树枝。
15树墩却要留在地内,用铁圈和铜圈箍住,在田野的青草中让天露滴湿,使他与地上的兽一同吃草,
16使他的心改变,不如人心;给他一个兽心,使他经过七期(期:或译年;本章同)。
17这是守望者所发的命,圣者所出的令,好叫世人知道至高者在人的国中掌权,要将国赐与谁就赐与谁,或立极卑微的人执掌国权。
18这是我─尼布甲尼撒王所做的梦。伯提沙撒啊,你要说明这梦的讲解;因为我国中的一切哲士都不能将梦的讲解告诉我,惟独你能,因你里头有圣神的灵。
信息分享
其实,尼布甲尼撒王与保罗有很多近似之处:两人都曾经强逼别人跟随他们的敬拜模式,并对不肯妥协的人施加逼害。
此外,两人虽从别人的口中认识神──尼布甲尼撒从但以理口中得知;保罗则从司提反的讲道中得闻,但他们却拒绝承认祂才是真神。最终,两人都要神亲自使他们谦卑下来。尼布甲尼撒在巴比伦看见主;保罗则在大马色路上遇见主耶稣。
虽然神以严厉的方式管教二人,但他们却经历了奇妙的改变。我们今天同样可以对神顽梗自大,但同样必被神严严地管教,因为神的心意,是要引领人归向祂。
良辰美梦
神借着第二个梦来警告尼布甲尼撒的这件事,大约发生在他作王44年期间的尾声。当时,他的国权已十分稳固,他的财富已多不胜数,他的权威已无人能及。任何人处于这样的光景,都会非常危险。对基督徒而言,也是一样,因为他很容易陷入属灵的骄傲中,在不知不觉间自以为不再需要倚靠神。对教会而言,这也是非常危险,因为会众以为他们已经到达了圆满的境地。尼布甲尼撒王拥有了一切,以为自己可以呼风唤雨,再不需要甚么;可是,神亲自向他说话。神虽然曾经向他说话,但他不听;现在神再向他说话,他终于肯听了。
神曾经向你说话吗?你有没有听呢?他是否柔声地跟你说话?一次?两次?现在是时候要认真聆听他了吗?祂想你做甚么?祂一直以慈爱恩待我们,但不要忘记:「主所爱的,祂必管教。」因此,祂为了我们的好处而管教我们。何不此时就用心去聆听神对你说话呢?
GOD DEALS WITH A DICTATOR
Daniel 4:1-18
1 Nebuchadnezzar the king,
To all peoples, nations, and languages that dwell in all the earth:
Peace be multiplied to you.
2 I thought it good to declare the signs and wonders that the Most High God has worked for me.
3 How great are His signs,
And how mighty His wonders!
His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,
And His dominion is from generation to generation.
4 I, Nebuchadnezzar, was at rest in my house, and flourishing in my palace.
5 I saw a dream which made me afraid, and the thoughts on my bed and the visions of my head troubled me.
6 Therefore I issued a decree to bring in all the wise men of Babylon before me, that they might make known to me the interpretation of the dream.
7 Then the magicians, the astrologers, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers came in, and I told them the dream; but they did not make known to me its interpretation.
8 But at last Daniel came before me (his name is Belteshazzar, according to the name of my god; in him is the Spirit of the Holy God), and I told the dream before him, saying:
9 “Belteshazzar, chief of the magicians, because I know that the Spirit of the Holy God is in you, and no secret troubles you, explain to me the visions of my dream that I have seen, and its interpretation.
10 “These were the visions of my head while on my bed:
I was looking, and behold,
A tree in the midst of the earth,
And its height was great.
11 The tree grew and became strong;
Its height reached to the heavens,
And it could be seen to the ends of all the earth.
12 Its leaves were lovely,
Its fruit abundant,
And in it was food for all.
The beasts of the field found shade under it,
The birds of the heavens dwelt in its branches,
And all flesh was fed from it.
13 “I saw in the visions of my head while on my bed, and there was a watcher, a holy one, coming down from heaven.
14 He cried aloud and said thus:
Chop down the tree and cut off its branches,
Strip off its leaves and scatter its fruit.
Let the beasts get out from under it,
And the birds from its branches.
15 Nevertheless leave the stump and roots in the earth,
Bound with a band of iron and bronze,
In the tender grass of the field.
Let it be wet with the dew of heaven,
And let him graze with the beasts
On the grass of the earth.
16 Let his heart be changed from that of a man,
Let him be given the heart of a beast,
And let seven times pass over him.
17 ‘ This decision is by the decree of the watchers,
And the sentence by the word of the holy ones,
In order that the living may know
That the Most High rules in the kingdom of men,
Gives it to whomever He will,
And sets over it the lowest of men.’
18 “This dream I, King Nebuchadnezzar, have seen. Now you, Belteshazzar, declare its interpretation, since all the wise men of my kingdom are not able to make known to me the interpretation; but you are able, for the Spirit of the Holy God is in you.
Message
There are many similarities between Nebuchadnezzar and Paul. Both tried to force people into their pattern of worship and both persecuted those who wouldn't conform.
Both refused to acknowledge God speaking to them - Nebuchadnezzar through Daniel and Paul through men like Stephen. Both were humbled by God - the king in Babylon and Paul on the road to Damascus.
God had to deal severely with each, but both men were wonderfully changed. Men and women can still put themselves in such a position of pride and stubbornness that God has to deal drastically with them, but His one desire is to bring them to Himself.
THE TIMING OF THIS DREAM
The warning to Nebuchadnezzar by God seems to be toward the end of his long reign of 44 years. His kingdom was secure. His wealth was unbelievable. His power was supreme. That is always a dangerous place for anyone. It is a dangerous place for a Christian - to become proud of our spirituality. It is possible for us to come to a place, where unconsciously, we tend to think that we don't need the Lord. It is a dangerous place for a church to think that we have arrived at our destination. Nebuchadnezzar had everything and had no sense of need. Then God spoke to him personally. God had spoken before. Now God is speaking again and it is time to listen.
Has God been speaking to you? Are you listening? Has He spoken gently? Once? Twice? Is it time to really listen to what He is saying? What is it that He wants you to do? He deals with us in love, but remember "those whom He loves He chastens". He does it for our good. Why not listen to what He is saying to you at this time?

