Sermon Tone Analysis

Introduction

Do you believe in the Sovereignty of God? Now before you answer that let me define what I mean by Sovereignty.

By this I mean that God does all that He wills, He reigns supreme over all creation.

Nothing happens outside of His will, He rules over all things, major or minor.

A sparrow cannot, does not fall to the ground without His knowledge.

He rules over our existence from before creation.

Nothing can happen in your life or mine that is outside of His control.

The flat tire you had, the blessings of your marriage and your children, how many children you have or will have.

Here is the definition that King Nebuchadnezzar gives you: “His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and his dominion endures from generation to generation.”

So here we see God’s power and His rule

So do you believe in His sovereignty as I have generally defined it?

Here is a second question: Are you submitting to His sovereignty in your life?

Or are you bucking against it?

Here in our text we see what happens to a person who thinks life revolves around them.

This king believes he is the king of his life and his empire.

He thinks he calls the shots in life.

You may think the same thing.

You may think that you are free to do as you please, that your life is yours that your body is yours to do with what you want.

But all you have to do is look at what is happening in our country to see how that works out for people.

Just look at your own life-how is living life according to you working out for you now?

out text today helps us to get eyes on the right way to view your life.

I don’t know how far we will get in this chapter, but there are 5 pieces to this narrative section.

And the main thrust or theme is

THE MOST HIGH GOD RULES IN HEAVEN AND EARTH.

HE RULES THE KINGDOM OF MEN.

V.3,17, 24, 25, 26, 32, 34-35, 37

Those verses make this truth clear enough even a blind man can see it.

Thus we have a five piece article that teaches this:

1. the introduction of the truth the Most high Rules 1-3

2. the terrifying dream that declares the means in which the truth will be revealed, 4-18

3. the dream applied to the life of the king so that he will realize this truth, 19-27

4, the dream fulfilled demonstrating this truth in the kings life, v.28-33

5. the King restored bringing full circle that reality of this truth and His Worship of the Most High God who rules over men, .34-37

points 1 and 5 go together as the king declares the Most High God rules THese bookend the truth.

points 2-4 show how he comes to that conclusion, by revelation of God through the dream, by application of this truth to the kings, by the experience of this truth in the life of the king.

the king is restored and once again declares the truth he has come to know and understand.

I.

The Declaration of God’s rule, v.1-3

This is a fascinating statement from this king.

It is the fronting or introduction to this chapter which declares this truth that God rules in the kingdom of men.

In this intro.

the king addresses his entire kingdom.

A. His audience,

He wants every one in his kingdom, those under his rule to know that God rules.

Now this is amazing, a pagan king, whose life has been marked by years of autonomous rule, complete sovereignty over his kingdom.

He had absolute authority over everyone under his rule.

Here is this absolute king who wants everyone under him to know that it is God who rules.

Not himself.

But not just those under his rule, but all other nations as well.

He is making a very absolute, clear statement about the Most High God.

He is not speaking of any of his gods, not Bel/Baal, or Marduk or any other of the gods of the babylonian pantheon.

He is speaking explicitly, and exclusively of the God of Daniel, of YHWH, whom he calls the MOST HIGH GOD.

B. his greeting,

Peace be multiplied to you.

His message or the result of his message to them of this truth is that it results in peace toward those who heed it.

Lit.

‘let peace grow great’ This is a rest, an inner peace that calms all the turmoil in the soul.

Understanding this truth and submitting yourself to that truth leads to a peace that passes all understanding.

It transcends the temporal peace when things all go according to your plan.

But it permeates the soul even when life shocks you, or jolts you awake.

The peace he speaks of comes from understanding and believing this truth.

C. the message

Nebuchadnezzar the king, unto all people, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth; Peace be multiplied unto you. 2 I thought it good to shew the signs and wonders that the high God hath wrought toward me. 3 How great are his signs!

and how mighty are his wonders!

his kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and his dominion is from generation to generation.

4 I Nebuchadnezzar was at rest in mine house, and flourishing in my palace: 5 I saw a dream which made me afraid, and the thoughts upon my bed and the visions of my head troubled me.

6 Therefore made I a decree to bring in all the wise men of Babylon before me, that they might make known unto me the interpretation of the dream.

7 Then came in the magicians, the astrologers, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers: and I told the dream before them; but they did not make known unto me the interpretation thereof.

8 But at the last Daniel came in before me, whose name was Belteshazzar, according to the name of my god, and in whom is the spirit of the holy gods: and before him I told the dream, saying, 9 O Belteshazzar, master of the magicians, because I know that the spirit of the holy gods is in thee, and no secret troubleth thee, tell me the visions of my dream that I have seen, and the interpretation thereof.

10 Thus were the visions of mine head in my bed; I saw, and behold a tree in the midst of the earth, and the height thereof was great.

11 The tree grew, and was strong, and the height thereof reached unto heaven, and the sight thereof to the end of all the earth: 12 The leaves thereof were fair, and the fruit thereof much, and in it was meat for all: the beasts of the field had shadow under it, and the fowls of the heaven dwelt in the boughs thereof, and all flesh was fed of it.

13 I saw in the visions of my head upon my bed, and, behold, a watcher and an holy one came down from heaven; 14 He cried aloud, and said thus, Hew down the tree, and cut off his branches, shake off his leaves, and scatter his fruit: let the beasts get away from under it, and the fowls from his branches: 15 Nevertheless leave the stump of his roots in the earth, even with a band of iron and brass, in the tender grass of the field; and let it be wet with the dew of heaven, and let his portion be with the beasts in the grass of the earth: 16 Let his heart be changed from man’s, and let a beast’s heart be given unto him; and let seven times pass over him.

17 This matter is by the decree of the watchers, and the demand by the word of the holy ones: to the intent that the living may know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will, and setteth up over it the basest of men.

18 This dream I king Nebuchadnezzar have seen.

Now thou, O Belteshazzar, declare the interpretation thereof, forasmuch as all the wise men of my kingdom are not able to make known unto me the interpretation: but thou art able; for the spirit of the holy gods is in thee.

19 Then Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, was astonied for one hour, and his thoughts troubled him.

The king spake, and said, Belteshazzar, let not the dream, or the interpretation thereof, trouble thee.

Belteshazzar answered and said, My YHWHlord, the dream be to them that hate thee, and the interpretation thereof to thine enemies.

20 The tree that thou sawest, which grew, and was strong, whose height reached unto the heaven, and the sight thereof to all the earth; 21 Whose leaves were fair, and the fruit thereof much, and in it was meat for all; under which the beasts of the field dwelt, and upon whose branches the fowls of the heaven had their habitation: 22 It is thou, O king, that art grown and become strong: for thy greatness is grown, and reacheth unto heaven, and thy dominion to the end of the earth.

23 And whereas the king saw a watcher and an holy one coming down from heaven, and saying, Hew the tree down, and destroy it; yet leave the stump of the roots thereof in the earth, even with a band of iron and brass, in the tender grass of the field; and let it be wet with the dew of heaven, and let his portion be with the beasts of the field, till seven times pass over him; 24 This is the interpretation, O king, and this is the decree of the most High, which is come upon my YHWHlord the king: 25 That they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field, and they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and they shall wet thee with the dew of heaven, and seven times shall pass over thee, till thou know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will.

26 And whereas they commanded to leave the stump of the tree roots; thy kingdom shall be sure unto thee, after that thou shalt have known that the heavens do rule.

27 Wherefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable unto thee, and break off thy sins by righteousness, and thine iniquities by shewing mercy to the poor; if it may be a lengthening of thy tranquillity.

28 All this came upon the king Nebuchadnezzar.

29 At the end of twelve months he walked in the palace of the kingdom of Babylon.

30 The king spake, and said, Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for the house of the kingdom by the might of my power, and for the honour of my majesty?

31 While the word was in the king’s mouth, there fell a voice from heaven, saying, O king Nebuchadnezzar, to thee it is spoken; The kingdom is departed from thee.

32 And they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field: they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and seven times shall pass over thee, until thou know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will.

33 The same hour was the thing fulfilled upon Nebuchadnezzar: and he was driven from men, and did eat grass as oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven, till his hairs were grown like eagles’ feathers, and his nails like birds’ claws.

34 And at the end of the days I Nebuchadnezzar lifted up mine eyes unto heaven, and mine understanding returned unto me, and I blessed the most High, and I praised and honoured him that liveth for ever, whose dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom is from generation to generation: 35 And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou?

36 At the same time my reason returned unto me; and for the glory of my kingdom, mine honour and brightness returned unto me; and my counsellors and my YHWHlords sought unto me; and I was established in my kingdom, and excellent majesty was added unto me.

37 Now I Nebuchadnezzar praise and extol and honour the King of heaven, all whose works are truth, and his ways judgment: and those that walk in pride he is able to abase.

This blows me away.

This doesn’t happen in our world.

If it did the media would have a field day mocking, screaming, running to their safe rooms and crying foul.

They would be calling for censorship.

Here is a king, a complete sovereign ruler declaring for all in his kingdom and the nations abroad that The Most High rules in the kingdom of men.

Could you imagine what would happen if President Trump made this declaration?

You already know what has happened to VP Pence and his own statement of faith as a Christian.

But this is King Nebuchadnezzar’s testimony.

This is what he declares.