Posted on 02/20/2021 5:58:20 AM PST by Hebrews 11:6
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| Ch. 4 | GOD HUMBLES THE PROUD KING |
| Ch. 5 | Handwriting on the Wall |
| Ch. 6 | Into the Lions' Den, 1 |
| Ch. 6 | Into the Lions' Den, 2 |
| Ch. 6 | Into the Lions' Den, 3 |
| Ch. 7 | Daniel's Vision of Four Beasts |
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H U M B L E S T H E K I N G |
New International Version, emphases added Abrdgd: the complete text is in your Bible . |
To read DANIEL 4 in full To hear MAX McLEAN reading it To hear a DRAMATIZATION of it HIGHLY recommended by Maudeen! To see an ANIMATION of Daniel |
5 8 2 B. C. |
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CHAPTER 4
1 King Nebuchadnezzar,
To the nations and peoples of every language, who live in all the earth:
May you prosper greatly!
2 It is my pleasure to tell you about the miraculous signs and wonders that the Most High God has performed for me.
3 How great are his signs,
how mighty his wonders!
His kingdom is an eternal kingdom;
his dominion endures from generation to generation.4 I, Nebuchadnezzar, was at home in my palace, contented and prosperous. 5 I had a dream that made me afraid. As I was lying in bed, the images and visions that passed through my mind terrified me. 6 So I commanded that all the wise men of Babylon be brought before me to interpret the dream for me. 7 When the magicians, enchanters, astrologers and diviners came, I told them the dream, but they could not interpret it for me. 8 Finally, Daniel came into my presence and I told him the dream. (He is called Belteshazzar, after the name of my god, and the spirit of the holy gods is in him.)
9 I said, “Belteshazzar, chief of the magicians, I know that the spirit of the holy gods is in you, and no mystery is too difficult for you. Here is my dream; interpret it for me. 10 These are the visions I saw while lying in bed: I looked, and there before me stood a tree in the middle of the land. Its height was enormous. 11 The tree grew large and strong and its top touched the sky; it was visible to the ends of the earth. 12 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.
13 “In the visions I saw while lying in bed, I looked, and there before me was a holy one, a messenger, coming down from heaven. 14 He 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. 15 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. 16 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.
17 “‘The decision is announced by messengers, the holy ones declare the verdict, so that the living may know that the Most High is sovereign over all kingdoms on earth and gives them to anyone he wishes and sets over them the lowliest of people.’
18 “This is the dream that I, King Nebuchadnezzar, had. Now, Belteshazzar, tell me what it means, for none of the wise men in my kingdom can interpret it for me. But you can, because the spirit of the holy gods is in you.”
19 Then Daniel (also called Belteshazzar) was greatly perplexed for a time, and his thoughts terrified him. So the king said, “Belteshazzar, do not let the dream or its meaning alarm you.”
Belteshazzar answered, “My lord, if only the dream applied to your enemies and its meaning to your adversaries! 20 The tree you saw, which grew large and strong, with its top touching the sky, visible to the whole earth, 21 with beautiful leaves and abundant fruit, providing food for all, giving shelter to the wild animals, and having nesting places in its branches for the birds— 22 Your Majesty, you are that tree! You have become great and strong; your greatness has grown until it reaches the sky, and your dominion extends to distant parts of the earth.
23 “Your Majesty saw a holy one, a messenger, coming down from heaven and saying, ‘Cut down the tree and destroy it, but leave the stump, bound with iron and bronze, in the grass of the field, while its roots remain in the ground. Let him be drenched with the dew of heaven; let him live with the wild animals, until seven times pass by for him.’
24 “This is the interpretation, Your Majesty, and this is the decree the Most High has issued against my lord the king: 25 You will be driven away from people and will live with the wild animals; you will eat grass like the ox and be drenched with the dew of heaven. Seven times will pass by for you until you acknowledge that the Most High is sovereign over all kingdoms on earth and gives them to anyone he wishes. 26 The command to leave the stump of the tree with its roots means that your kingdom will be restored to you when you acknowledge that Heaven rules. 27 Therefore, Your Majesty, be pleased to accept my advice: Renounce your sins by doing what is right, and your wickedness by being kind to the oppressed. It may be that then your prosperity will continue.”
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"Nebuchadnezzar's Dream: the Felled Tree". .
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by TED LARSON
"Dream of the Great Tree".
28 All this happened to King Nebuchadnezzar. 29 Twelve months later, as the king was walking on the roof of the royal palace of Babylon, 30 he said, “Is not this the great Babylon I have built as the royal residence, by my mighty power and for the glory of my majesty?”
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31 Even as the words were on his lips, a voice came from heaven, “This is what is decreed for you, King Nebuchadnezzar: Your royal authority has been taken from you. 32 You will be driven away from people and will live with the wild animals; you will eat grass like the ox. Seven times will pass by for you until you acknowledge that the Most High is sovereign over all kingdoms on earth and gives them to anyone he wishes.”
33 Immediately what had been said about Nebuchadnezzar was fulfilled. He was driven away from people and ate grass like the ox. His body was drenched with the dew of heaven until his hair grew like the feathers of an eagle and his nails like the claws of a bird.
34 At the end of that time, I, Nebuchadnezzar, raised my eyes toward heaven, and my sanity was restored. Then I praised the Most High; I honored and glorified him who lives forever.
His dominion is an eternal dominion;
his kingdom endures from generation to generation.
35 All the peoples of the earth
are regarded as nothing.
He does as he pleases
with the powers of heaven
and the peoples of the earth.
No one can hold back his hand
or say to him: “What have you done?”36 At the same time that my sanity was restored, my honor and splendor were returned to me for the glory of my kingdom. My advisers and nobles sought me out, and I was restored to my throne and became even greater than before. 37 Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and exalt and glorify the King of heaven, because everything he does is right and all his ways are just. And those who walk in pride he is able to humble."
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by TED LARSON
"Nebuchadnezzar’s Exile". .
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"The Wretched King Nebuchadnezzar". .
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by CHARLES HORNE, 1909
"The Madness of Nebuchadnezzar". .
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by CARL SCHULER, 1850
"Nebuchadnezzar's Madness". .
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by MARTIN JAMISON, 2011
"Nebuchadnezzar’s Madness". .
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by ARTHUR BOYD, 1969
"Nebuchadnezzar with Blue Flowers and White Dog". .
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→ a n d…. f i n a l l y ← . .
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by WILLIAM BLAKE
"Nebuchadnezzar". .
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Preview of
COMING
ATTRACTIONS. .
SNEAK PEEK: Next time,
HANDWRITING
ON THE WALL. .
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R E S O U R C E S . .
If you'd like to see for yourself the Bing page
which yielded most of the works above, here is the link:Nebuchadnezzar's Madness Image Sources are provided for most individual works.
Where no attribution appears below a work,
the source did not provide the artist's name.
Works are numbered to facilitate your commenting.. .
Links to three masters who painted Biblical scenes prolifically: REMBRANDT HARMENSZOON van RIJN GUSTAV DORÉ
241 wood engravings for
La Grande Bible de ToursJAMES TISSOT
180 watercolors depicting Bible scenes. .
Links to two Bibles with comprehensive illustrations: The Art Bible (1896) The Maciejowski-Morgan Bible (c.1245) . .
This series keeps moving from one Bible passage to another,
so here is a fascinating and enjoyable link to assist in following along:
BIBLE TIMELINE. .
Finally, what God did to initiate The Bible In Paintings:
HOW GOD STARTED THIS SERIES
BY SHOWING ME JUST ONE PICTURE. .
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SPECIAL THANKS
to FReeper left that other site
who allowed God to make her His conduit
for incomparable enthusiasm, encouragement,
education, advice and technical assistance!. .
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NOTES ON MY SELECTION CRITERIA The Bible and its Author are my focus, not the art: this is The Bible in Paintings, not "Great Paintings" nor even "Good Paintings." Indeed, occasionally photographs illustrate the text. So, works need not be masterpieces to qualify for inclusion here—they don't need to be housed at the Louvre nor auctioned by Sotheby's. They only need to illustrate successfully some aspect of the Biblical text or, frankly, just tickle my fancy, which I'm always asking the Holy Spirit to guide.
A r t
Q u a l i t yOften, artists misrepresent the Scripture, but unless the error is material, licentious or heretical I usually include the artwork, trusting that the Spirit is perfectly capable of defending Himself. So, with such forgiving filters, it means that you're seeing practically everything I'm finding.
The Protestant Canon does not (for several reasons) follow a strictly chronological sequence. There are many examples where, for God's good purposes, stories are told out-of-order. Nevertheless, for the sake of simplicity, clarity, and my sanity, I have chosen to proceed linearly and methodically from Genesis onward, illustrating each Bible passage as we come to it. Where two passages cover the same incident I omit the second telling, excepting the four Gospels which I will treat synoptically. Now, onward!
T e x t
S e q u e n c i n gThe pace here may seem appallingly snail-like to those eager to see their favorite events illustrated. My commission is to search for art on each Bible passage in sequence: if I find enough, then it becomes the next installment, even if undramatic (but where there is little or no art, that Bible passage goes untold here).
P a c i n g Then, there is the human element: this is not actually a daily series, because I can only research, compose, edit and post five or six of these installments weekly. And because I only get to do this series once, I'm taking my time, chiefly by posting everything; if I find lots of art, I don't cherry-pick some and discard the rest. Rather, I line up all of them and then sort them into manageable bunches, often resulting in multiple days' episodes of the same story. Obviously, I like being thorough. Were you in a big hurry?
The Bible is a thick book, as you know; but we'll get there eventually, Lord willing—this is His project, after all. And always remember:
love, joy, peace, patience kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness & self-control is a fruit of the Spirit!. .
Art is merely the Toy Department of Bible study,
so I'm just having fun here—I hope you are, too!
Thank you for your understanding.Hebrews 11:6
Dan Lewis
DodgerDan
'55 '59 '63 '65 '81 '88 '20
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Thank you. These are some of the most powerful, dramatic paintings yet posted here.
Did you have any favorites which stood out to you? (By the way, #17 looks to me like a cross between Gollum and Phil Robertson.)
Good Morning, Dan! :-)
Same to ya, Mary-Lou!
I like #17. It has a completely different approach. It could be the basis of a Led Zeppelin rock concert poster or album cover!
I like the powerful angel in #12.
#22 looks like it was done by a mind as disturbed as Nebuchadnezzar’s. It is thoroughly creepy.
Creepy is in the eye of the beholder. Our eyes agree.
To satisfy my appreciation of manuscripts, #1 and 2. Love Ted Larson’s rendition of the tree. Above the earth, in splendid colors. Ted Larson is a digital artist and he has done some very beautiful rendition of Bible stories.
So, a week ago I sent him an email requesting his permission and assistance in posting them here. So far, he has not responded.
I like #19 the best.
It reminds me of what a scared animal does as it’s eating. His eyes are aware of things moving and he seems scared, and ready to head for cover.
From the most powerful man in the known World, to a cowardly lamb hiding from all that could be dangerous to him.
He was truly lowered by the Almighty, and knew it.
Don't know if you've ever noticed--most people haven't--but prey animals' eyes are on the sides of their heads for greater peripheral vision, because of their need for constant vigilance, as you suggested; whereas predators' eyes both face straight ahead, to aid in hunting. Ergo, we are predatory.
When I think of this scene, I always think of William Blake’s image.
Although the picture with the tear in his eye may have captured the moment he returned to sanity. I like that too.
20 Martin Jamison is the artist.
When I taught Daniel as a class at college, one of my students commented that she always thought Nebuchadnezzar came to complete repentance and worshipped God the last few years of his life.
What do you think?
I hope EVERYONE reaches saving faith--yes, including the most heinous--though I know only a minority will. So, I begin by rooting for Crazy Neb.
Next, I stipulate that we will never KNOW until we reach heaven ourselves. But you didn't ask what we know, but what we think.
The seven years of Neb's unhoused madness are as severe an ordeal as God is ever likely to impose. God's humbling of him had several obvious purposes. It was a cautionary tale to everyone, duly recorded in a famous venue for all to see. But God cares for every person and does everything He can to reach them. Neb's grandiosity took a full seven years to break.
That investment ostensibly paid off: Sane-again Neb's public testimony revealed his abject humiliation and newfound deep, reasoned belief. I agree with your student. I am as big and vile a sinner as anyone, and those who join me in claiming God's gracious salvation are my kin: Brother Neb.
“You addressed your inquiry to yourself. A new version of the Socratic method?”
Heh. I love the Socratic method, especially when debating. But I addressed everyone who reads it.
Yes, I hope that Neb is saved too. The student convinced me of his journey from chapters 2 to 3 to 4. Each time his reaction toward God is more intense.
We’ll know everyone’s state eventually. God’s judgment will be public and detailed and just.
This story really lent itself to illustratiion. Love the Larson one.
I thought so, too, so I was surprised I didn't find more attempts.
Interesting. Somewhere in the back of my mind I vaguely remember someone telling me that one time.
One of the tidbits of information I think I got from a skilled hunter. Something I am not. Thus its would have slipped my mind.
Maybe that is why I noticed it, In my subconscious that fact may have came to mind without me realizing it.
That is His design for a world full of human evil, while He is eradicating it. But He tells us a time is coming when predation ceases and the lion lies down with the lamb.
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