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.) 9I 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. 10These are the visions I saw while lying in my bed: I looked, and there before me stood a tree in the middle of the land. Its height was enormous. 11The tree grew large and strong and its top touched the sky; it was visible to the ends of the earth. 12Its leaves were beautiful, its fruit abundant, and on it was food for all. Under it the beasts of the field found shelter, and the birds of the air lived in its branches; from it every creature was fed.
Finally, Daniel came onto the scene. He was called Belteshazzar, the name by which he was known to the king’s Babylonian subjects, to whom this royal edict was addressed. The king addressed Daniel as one in whom “the spirit of the holy gods” was present. The king continued to think and speak like the heathen he was. He was a man who worshiped many gods.
Nebuchadnezzar shared with Daniel the details of the frightening dream. In his dream the king had seen a huge tree. We know from Daniel’s interpretation that the tree symbolized Nebuchadnezzar himself, a man whose power and prestige were unrivaled in his day. The tree continued to grow until its top touched the sky; it was visible to the ends of the earth. The effects of King Nebuchadnezzar’s rule were felt all over the world at that time. Just as birds and beasts found food and shelter in the tree of Nebuchadnezzar’s dream, many people were benefited by the empire Nebuchadnezzar headed.
God had a purpose in establishing the Babylonian Empire, as he has for any government he establishes. The Lord of nations has a good purpose in letting rulers become powerful, and that purpose is to benefit people and, specifically, to further the course of the gospel. In God’s plan kings don’t rule for their own benefit. Governments exist to help people, to provide the conditions that will enable people to lead quiet and peaceable lives (Romans 13:4; 1 Timothy 2:2).