When king Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon had a dream which none of the wise men could interpret, he sent for Daniel to explain its meaning.
1. The king's dream is interpreted, vv. 20-27. The king saw in his dream a
tall, strong tree which would be toppled with only the stump allowed to
remain. Daniel explained that it was the king himself who was pictured by
the tree. God would remove the kingdom from him and bring him to a state of
utter humiliation. In time the king would be restored to his reason and
position.
2. The king's dream comes to pass, vv. 28-33. Nebuchadnezzar is humiliated
in order that he might learn his nothingness and the greatness of the Lord
of glory.
3. The king's confession, vv. 34-37. The Lord taught Nebuchadnezzar to exalt and magnify the Lord, not himself. The king proclaimed the absolute sovereignty of God over all things.