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Weekly Message | February 24th, 2008
Passage: Daniel 4:1-37
Key Verse(s): Daniel 4:34
The book of Daniel is so deep and inviting to our souls. Each chapter is uniquely divine and personal. The story of the sovereign, Most High God is woven into the pages of world history through the lives of people like Daniel and his 3 friends. In this chapter, it’s amazing to see King Nebuchadnezzar take center stage as the author. This is such a drastic change to the ruthless king previously presented--whose greatest aim was to cut people into pieces and turn their houses into rubble. How can this be?
Through the king’s testimony we see how God wins the heart of the proud. Pride is one of the most devastating weapons of Satan. All the way back to Genesis, we see the root of sin in pride and ingratitude. As an American, I can say with confidence, one of our biggest spiritual problems as a nation is also pride. Looking at Nebuchadnezzar’s life is like looking at our own. Without God, in some way we all were, are, or will be like him. In today’s passage, let’s see how God works to win the hearts of the proud and stubborn people of the world.
First, “How great are his signs, how mighty are his wonders!” (1-3) Look at verses 1: “King Nebuchadnezzar, To the peoples, nations and men of every language, who live in all the world: May you prosper greatly!” This time the king had something truly wonderful to share, his personal experience with God. He made his address available to the peoples, nations, and men of every language, who live in the whole world.
Look at verse 2: “It is my pleasure to tell you about the miraculous signs and wonders that the Most High God has performed for me.” Nebuchadnezzar wanted to testify to the grace of God in his life. In the past he was godless and unbelieving. But through God's training he became a new person. He wanted to share his experience with the whole world. This desire came from the wellspring of joy overflowing in his heart. It was a true “first love” experience. The thermometer of his heart was boiling at 212 degrees Fahrenheit.
Verse 3 reads, “How great are his signs, how mighty his wonders! His kingdom is an eternal kingdom; his dominion endures from generation to generation.” Once Nebuchadnezzar thought he was the greatest and the mightiest. He thought his kingdom and rule would last forever. Finally, his spiritual eyes were opened, and he discovered the truth about God, God’s eternal kingdom, and God’s dominion that lasts forever. This proclamation is different from his previous decree that did not involve himself. This time Nebuchadnezzar personally and earnestly invites people to know God and to be a part of God’s kingdom. It is coming from his deep love for God and real appreciation of God’s rule and the majesty of his kingdom. It also demonstrates his love for the people that he once oppressed and even cut into pieces.
Here, we notice King Nebuchadnezzar’s invitation spirit. He had never invited other people unless it had some useful purpose for himself. But now, he was inviting all his people to the living God he came to love. This is the natural expression of his love for God and love for his people. Likewise, as God’s chosen people and royal priesthood we invite people to God. Each week we teach the Bible one-to-one and go out on campus to invite others to Bible study. This summer we have the great opportunity to invite people to know God and his vision for the world through the 2008 Purdue International Summer Bible Conference. The conference theme is, “For God so loved the world…” This year we are much more prepared to use any means to invite people, even through email and the internet. Let’s watch our invitation video. Let’s invite people to God, to know the truth about his kingdom, and to discover his vision for the world.
Second, “Renounce your sins by doing what is right ...” (4-27) The setting of Nebuchadnezzar’s testimony begins at his home in his palace, contented and prosperous. Verse 5 reads, “I had a dream that made me afraid. As I was lying in my bed, the images and visions that passed through my mind terrified me.” His comfortable life was abruptly interrupted. He had a terrifying dream—like a nightmare. So he commanded all the wise men of Babylon to come. He told them the dream, but they could not interpret it for him.
Look at verses 8: “Finally, Daniel came into my presence and I told him the dream.” The king acknowledged that the spirit of the holy gods was in Daniel and that no mystery was too difficult for him. In his dream he saw an enormous tree in the middle of the land. It grew large and strong and its top touched the sky. It was visible to the ends of the earth. Its 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.
Then a messenger, a holy one, came down from heaven. 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. 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. 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.” Then the king asked Daniel with anxious expectation, “Tell me what it means.”
Daniel was greatly perplexed for a time, his thoughts terrified him. He loved the king and did not know how the give him such disturbing news. The king said, “Do not let the dream or its meaning alarm you.” He assured Daniel that all he wanted was the plain truth about the dream. Daniel replied, “My lord, if only the dream applied to your enemies and its meaning to your adversaries!”
First, Daniel described all the good and wonderful things about the tree. Then he said, “You O king 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.” Then, Daniel gave his interpretation of the dream. The king would be driven away from people and live with the wild animals. He would eat grass like cattle and be drenched with the dew of heaven. Seven years would pass by until he acknowledged that the Most High is sovereign over the kingdoms of men and gives them to anyone he wishes. The stump of the tree that remained meant that his kingdom would be restored when he acknowledged that Heaven rules.
Look at verse 27: “Therefore, O king, 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.” Daniel advised the king to repent and humble himself before God. The specific preventive actions Daniel suggested were: (1) Renounce your sins by doing what is right; (2) Renounce your wickedness by being kind to the oppressed. Daniel had met Nebuchadnezzar when he was very young. Nebuchadnezzar was the powerful and ruthless king. He was quite an unlikely person who would ever come to know and love God. Yet, Daniel prayed for him while working for him. On many occasions he testified to the goodness and majesty of God. Daniel heard his personal stories, dreams, concerns and worries. Daniel became his confidant. The time came for Daniel to lead the king to the living God.
What is the true quality of shepherd life? Like Daniel, we must love and pray for people who seem so unlikely to love God. Shepherd life does not just happen in a moment. It takes time and energy to build a trust relationship that God can use. A shepherd is ready at the critical moment to intervene and be a spiritual champion. Be patient with them. Pray for them. Teach them the truth, and wait for the right moment to plant the truth of God. At that time, be prepared to be truthful and clear in presenting God. Be hopeful in providing specific and practical suggestions that people can follow.
Third, “At the end of that time, I, Nebuchadnezzar, raised my eyes toward heaven…” (28-37). Look at verses 28-30: “All this happened to King Nebuchadnezar. Twelve months later, as the king was walking on the roof of the royal palace of Babylon, 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?’” Without deep and sincere repentance, pride dominated his heart once again. God had seen enough.
The words were still on his lips when a voice came from heaven and pronouncing God’s decree to the king. Immediately what had been said about Nebuchadnezzar was fulfilled. For seven years he was driven away from people and ate grass like cattle. 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.
Look at verse 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.” He experienced what it was like to be stripped of the honor and glory God had bestowed on him. He was no more than a wild and miserable beast. He was despised, mistreated and laughed at. He came to know the miserable outcomes of the vain pride. Finally, at the end of 7 years, the king raised his eyes toward heaven. Then, he saw the truth of God’s rule in this world.
Look at verses 35-37: “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? At the same time my sanity was restored, my honor and splendor were returned to me for the glory of my kingdom. My advisors and nobles sought me out, and I was restored to my throne and became even greater than before. 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’”. This is a wonderful testimony. Just read this and appreciate what this king was saying. What is the lesson for us? God is able to restore sinners—even from the depth of misery. When God restores us, we become beautiful. Our glory returns. Life in this world becomes wonderful again.
In the relative size of my ego, I was like Nebuchadnezzar. My achievements were far more modest—a local wrestling champion, a salutatorian, and many times in school I was the student of the week. Within my own mind, I had built the vast empire of my life. Eventually I faced the consequences of my intense pride. I inherited the mind and practices of the hippies of the 1960’s. My degradation continued to decline until I was certifiably crazy and in and out of mental institutions. This process lasted about 7 years. These were very painful years for me, my family, and friends. But God had mercy on me. My brother Jeff prayed for me and loved me. God used Missionary Peter Park to invite me back to Toledo. I enjoyed the fellowship with God’s people. Slowly my sanity was restored. I experienced the love of God. God has blessed me with a godly wife, meaningful work and most of all God’s purpose. Then, I see the beauty of this world with his good and wonderful people around me. God opposed me when I was proud; God had mercy on me as I humbled myself.
God has blessed America. Our forefathers wanted to establish one nation under God. Biblical truth and principle are woven into the fabric of our democratic republic. Popular songs teach us we should be proud to be an American. Many peoples of nations choose to live in this country as their new homes. We welcome them. Our military strengths and economic powers have their limits. God is able to humble any peoples and nations that oppose him. America cannot prosper apart from God’s blessings. We must lift our eyes to God and appreciate his dominion.
In his great mercy God disciplines some proud sinners, but not all. God allows many to reap the miserable outcomes of their selfish pride and die in their sins. The fact that God disciplines such people and changes them is a sign of God’s great mercy. God’s disciplines operate in many forms. Basic spiritual disciplines (e.g., regular worship, Bible studies, fellowship and daily morning devotion) prepare us to stay humble and strong in the Lord. God sends his servants to speak his truths, urge us to repent and change our ways. If we listen, it is wonderful. If not, we choose our own paths and God shows his hands of disciplines through hard circumstances. Even so, we must not despair in unbelief but lift our eyes to the God of heaven. In his great mercy God is able to restore his people. We praise and exalt and glorify this God as King Nebuchadnezzar did.
February 24, 2008. Toledo UBF.
Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved.
