Daniel 4
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This chapter carries on the theme of the book of Daniel.
- To people in exile. God’s Got this.
No matter what it looks like, no matter what it feels like, God’s Got All This
Sovereignty: God’s all-encompassing rule over the entire universe.
God is the one who raises rulers kings and kingdoms into power and the one who brings them down.
As we approach this passage I want us to look at 2 particular themes
Comparing God’s Power and Man’s Power
• What is God’s power like?
• What is human power like?
2. Conversion and Redemption
• How does God save Nebuchadnezzar?
• What does true conversion require?
The book of daniel gives us accounts of several different kings but the one that gets the most coverage is Nebuchadnezzer.
We are coming to the end of his story here in chapter 4.
REVIEW:
Ch 1 Nebuchadnezzar witnesses the young men’s good health as a result of devotion to their God
Ch 2 Nebuchadnezzar sees God’s power and acknowledges his greatness and gives glory to Daniel for interpreting the dream
Ch 3 Sees God’s power and authority and acknowledges his worthiness of respect
what has he learned so far?
God is great and can do some pretty neat stuff
God’s people are VERY devoted to him and he actively cares for them
God is a powerful god, maybe the most powerful
1 King Nebuchadnezzar sent this message to the people of every race and nation and language throughout the world: “Peace and prosperity to you! 2 “I want you all to know about the miraculous signs and wonders the Most High God has performed for me. 3 How great are his signs, how powerful his wonders! His kingdom will last forever, his rule through all generations.
ok this is a change in tone.
“MOST high God”
“performed for me”
“His kingdom will last forever”
This sounds like a changed heart.
The Dream
The Dream
4 “I, Nebuchadnezzar, was living in my palace in comfort and prosperity. 5 But one night I had a dream that frightened me; I saw visions that terrified me as I lay in my bed. 6 So I issued an order calling in all the wise men of Babylon, so they could tell me what my dream meant. 7 When all the magicians, enchanters, astrologers, and fortune-tellers came in, I told them the dream, but they could not tell me what it meant.
This sounds familiar.
When you got a dream, wanna know what it means? Who you gonna call? Call Daniel!
8 At last Daniel came in before me, and I told him the dream. (He was named Belteshazzar after my god, and the spirit of the holy gods is in him.) 9 “I said to him, ‘Belteshazzar, chief of the magicians, I know that the spirit of the holy gods is in you and that no mystery is too great for you to solve. Now tell me what my dream means. 10 “ ‘While I was lying in my bed, this is what I dreamed. I saw a large tree in the middle of the earth. 11 The tree grew very tall and strong, reaching high into the heavens for all the world to see. 12 It had fresh green leaves, and it was loaded with fruit for all to eat. Wild animals lived in its shade, and birds nested in its branches. All the world was fed from this tree. 13 “ ‘Then as I lay there dreaming, I saw a messenger, a holy one, coming down from heaven. 14 The messenger shouted, “Cut down the tree and lop off its branches! Shake off its leaves and scatter its fruit! Chase the wild animals from its shade and the birds from its branches. 15 But leave the stump and the roots in the ground, bound with a band of iron and bronze and surrounded by tender grass. Now let him be drenched with the dew of heaven, and let him live with the wild animals among the plants of the field. 16 For seven periods of time, let him have the mind of a wild animal instead of the mind of a human. 17 For this has been decreed by the messengers; it is commanded by the holy ones, so that everyone may know that the Most High rules over the kingdoms of the world. He gives them to anyone he chooses— even to the lowliest of people.” 18 “ ‘Belteshazzar, that was the dream that I, King Nebuchadnezzar, had. Now tell me what it means, for none of the wise men of my kingdom can do so. But you can tell me because the spirit of the holy gods is in you.’
I think the king was WELL aware of who and what the dream was about. That’s why he was so distraught
The Dream Explained
The Dream Explained
19 “Upon hearing this, Daniel (also known as Belteshazzar) was overcome for a time, frightened by the meaning of the dream. Then the king said to him, ‘Belteshazzar, don’t be alarmed by the dream and what it means.’ “Belteshazzar replied, ‘I wish the events foreshadowed in this dream would happen to your enemies, my lord, and not to you!
This interaction indicates at least some level of friendship/concern and care between daniel and the King
20 The tree you saw was growing very tall and strong, reaching high into the heavens for all the world to see. 21 It had fresh green leaves and was loaded with fruit for all to eat. Wild animals lived in its shade, and birds nested in its branches. 22 That tree, Your Majesty, is you. For you have grown strong and great; your greatness reaches up to heaven, and your rule to the ends of the earth.
He does not dispute the kings human greatness. “Yup! you’re the guy!”
23 “ ‘Then you saw a messenger, a holy one, coming down from heaven and saying, “Cut down the tree and destroy it. But leave the stump and the roots in the ground, bound with a band of iron and bronze and surrounded by tender grass. Let him be drenched with the dew of heaven. Let him live with the animals of the field for seven periods of time.”
24 “ ‘This is what the dream means, Your Majesty, and what the Most High has declared will happen to my lord the king. 25 You will be driven from human society, and you will live in the fields with the wild animals. You will eat grass like a cow, and you will be drenched with the dew of heaven. Seven periods of time will pass while you live this way, until you learn that the Most High rules over the kingdoms of the world and gives them to anyone he chooses. 26 But the stump and roots of the tree were left in the ground. This means that you will receive your kingdom back again when you have learned that heaven rules.
“Seven periods of Time” this terminology most often means a year, so seven years is the most likely meaning
What did Daniel suggest to avoid this judgment?
27 “ ‘King Nebuchadnezzar, please accept my advice. Stop sinning and do what is right. Break from your wicked past and be merciful to the poor. Perhaps then you will continue to prosper.’
the boldness here is remarkable
Repentance: acknowledging sinfulness and your need for a savior, turning away from sinfulness towards God
English Standard Version Chapter 5
30 And the Pharisees and their scribes grumbled at his disciples, saying, “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?” 31 And Jesus answered them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. 32 I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.”
What did he need to repent of?
He was providing for all the people!
Why did they need him? Because he had subjugated them
English Standard Version Chapter 2
14 What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? 17 So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.
18 But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. 19 You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder!
English Standard Version Chapter 1
27 Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.
The Dream (Nightmare) Comes True - God’s Judgment
The Dream (Nightmare) Comes True - God’s Judgment
28 “But all these things did happen to King Nebuchadnezzar. 29 Twelve months later he was taking a walk on the flat roof of the royal palace in Babylon. 30 As he looked out across the city, he said, ‘Look at this great city of Babylon! By my own mighty power, I have built this beautiful city as my royal residence to display my majestic splendor.’
Obviously has NOT heeded Daniel’s words. If anything he has become MORE proud
“The palace had a flat roof so that the king could relax and walk there in the cool breeze. From the roof he looked down on the processional avenue which he had “paved with limestone and decorated with lion figures.” He could also see the famous Hanging Gardens he had built for his wife. A little farther down he saw the temple he had built for his god Marduk. And next to it the ziggurat tower consisting of seven levels, the top being 288 feet high—a thirty-story tower. He could also see many of the fifty-three temples he had built or beautified. Then there was the double inner wall with its large defensive towers. And beyond the inner wall he could see the huge double outer wall he had built and some of the eight massive gates that gave access to the city. “Babylon was one of the preeminent cities of history and during Nebuchadnezzar’s reign … the most magnificent (and probably the largest) city on earth.””
From a human perspective he has something to be proud of. He has accomplished more and risen to a level of power only achieved by a few people in human history.
The root of pride is saying that we can do without God.
James Montgomery Boice
Other sins are against God’s law, but pride is against God’s sovereignty.
Thomas Manton
Pride is directly opposed to what it means to be a follower of Jesus
Isa 53:2 For he grew up before him like a young plant,
and like a root out of dry ground;
he had no form or majesty that we should look at him,
and no beauty that we should desire him.
3 He was despised and rejected by men,
a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief;
and as one from whom men hide their faces
he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
Phil 2:5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
31 “While these words were still in his mouth, a voice called down from heaven, ‘O King Nebuchadnezzar, this message is for you! You are no longer ruler of this kingdom. 32 You will be driven from human society. You will live in the fields with the wild animals, and you will eat grass like a cow. Seven periods of time will pass while you live this way, until you learn that the Most High rules over the kingdoms of the world and gives them to anyone he chooses.’ 33 “That same hour the judgment was fulfilled, and Nebuchadnezzar was driven from human society. He ate grass like a cow, and he was drenched with the dew of heaven. He lived this way until his hair was as long as eagles’ feathers and his nails were like birds’ claws.
some type of insanity
It does not say he became an animal, just that he behaved like one. a lot of ink has been used talking about what exactly this disease was that afflicted the King. I dont think it matters all that much
he we unable communicate
he was unable to rule
he was unable to take basic care of himself or function in human society so much so that he was driven to live outside (there must have been chaos in the kingdom on some level)
his position was the lowest a human can be in BUT humilty does not = righteousness
Nebuchadnezzer Repents and Believes
Nebuchadnezzer Repents and Believes
34 “After this time had passed, I, Nebuchadnezzar, looked up to heaven. My sanity returned, and I praised and worshiped the Most High and honored the one who lives forever. His rule is everlasting, and his kingdom is eternal. 35 All the people of the earth are nothing compared to him. He does as he pleases among the angels of heaven and among the people of the earth. No one can stop him or say to him, ‘What do you mean by doing these things?’
In his humility he sees God’s greatness and the greatness of his need - He acknowledges God’s sovereignty and his weakness
He submits to God and His will and plan
36 “When my sanity returned to me, so did my honor and glory and kingdom. My advisers and nobles sought me out, and I was restored as head of my kingdom, with even greater honor than before. 37 “Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and glorify and honor the King of heaven. All his acts are just and true, and he is able to humble the proud.”
His repentance and belief lead to changed life
So What?
So What?
Just like Nebuchadnezzer we need to repent and believe
Just like Nebuchadnezzer we need to repent and believe
Luke 15: 11 And he said, “There was a man who had two sons. 12 And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of property that is coming to me.’ And he divided his property between them. 13 Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took a journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property in reckless living. 14 And when he had spent everything, a severe famine arose in that country, and he began to be in need. 15 So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs. 16 And he was longing to be fed with the pods that the pigs ate, and no one gave him anything. 17 “But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have more than enough bread, but I perish here with hunger! 18 I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me as one of your hired servants.” ’ 20 And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. 21 And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ 22 But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. 23 And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate. 24 For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to celebrate.
2. We need to remember, even in the face of incredible human power God is sovereign