Deeper Reflection
Nebuchadnezzar had “dreams, and his spirit was troubled” (v.1). And he was “anxious to understand the dream” (v.3). Why was Nebuchadnezzar troubled and “anxious to understand the dream”? “In the ancient world, such dreams were thought to be shadows that the future cast in front of itself, tipping its hand to show what lay ahead. The interpretation of the dream was therefore important, in order that the king might take whatever steps that could be taken to counteract the events the dream anticipated, or at least be ready for them.”²⁶Nebuchadnezzar’s emotional state reveals the deep sense of insecurity in him. In ancient Babylon, a bad dream was a bad omen, particularly if the dream was repeated, as the text hints.²⁷ There was another cause of Nebuchadnezzar’s insecurity. In the early years of his reign, “he had to fight many campaigns to consolidate his new empire. There were several border revolts and other external threats. Somehow, he had to build up his own prestige and stature as the new king of a new world power. It seems that all that generated in him an inner insecurity and fear, which manifested itself in troubled dreams”²⁸ .Nebuchadnezzar had the greatest human power and immense earthly treasures to do whatever he wished (cf. Dan 5:19). But still, insecurity laid hold of him and he couldn’t shake it off. What humans think can give them security do not – because they cannot – give them security. Christians do find it hard to embrace this true reality. We say, “Let’s be realistic. We live in a real world.” Do you?

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²⁵ 2 Thessalonians 3:16 ²⁶ Iain M. Duguid, 19 ²⁷ Christopher J. H. Wright, Hearing the Message of Daniel: Sustaining Faith in Today’s World (Zondervan, 2017), 43 ²⁸ Christopher J. H. Wright, 43