Divine Restoration

Introduction

Nebuchadnezzar, after facing dNebuchadnezzar, after facing divine humiliation found himself divinely restored but only after genuine repentance.

Focus Passage: Daniel 4:34-37

Daniel 4:34–37 NKJV

34 And at the end of the time I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted my eyes to heaven, and my understanding returned to me; and I blessed the Most High and praised and honored Him who lives forever: For His dominion is an everlasting dominion, And His kingdom is from generation to generation. 35 All the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing; He does according to His will in the army of heaven And among the inhabitants of the earth. No one can restrain His hand Or say to Him, “What have You done?” 36 At the same time my reason returned to me, and for the glory of my kingdom, my honor and splendor returned to me. My counselors and nobles resorted to me, I was restored to my kingdom, and excellent majesty was added to me. 37 Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the King of heaven, all of whose works are truth, and His ways justice. And those who walk in pride He is able to put down.

Brokenness that leads to repentance (v.34)

For a solid twelve months, Nebuchadnezzar ignored the warning of Daniel to repent (Dn. 4:26)

Daniel 4:26 NKJV

26 “And inasmuch as they gave the command to leave the stump and roots of the tree, your kingdom shall be assured to you, after you come to know that Heaven rules.

We found within our text last week as a testimony against Nebuchadnezzar, At the end of the twelve months he was walking about the royal palace of Babylon (Dan. 4:30 NKJV). Nebuchadnezzar’s sin built over time and for twelve months, like most, he resisted God’s warnings and finally judgment came. As judgment came, God provided a glimmer of mercy. We read, seven times shall pass over you, until you know that the Most High rules…And at the end of the time (Dan. 4:32a, 33a NKJV). As one reads through Old Testament prophets such as Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and even here in Daniel, one finds that in the midst of God’s judgment, He always provides mercy and an opportunity to repent and be restored.

As we continue our review of our text last week, we see that Nebuchadnezzar was broken as the hand of God came upon him (v.33). Nebuchadnezzar truly fell to the spiritual law of reaping and sowing. As he succumbed to wolf man disease God broke him. This brokenness would lead to Nebuchadnezzar’s repentance as God said it would, until you know that the Most High rules. As we look at verse thirty-four, we see a transitional process.

Daniel 4:34 NKJV

34 And at the end of the time I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted my eyes to heaven, and my understanding returned to me; and I blessed the Most High and praised and honored Him who lives forever: For His dominion is an everlasting dominion, And His kingdom is from generation to generation.

Just as his sins grew in number and took time to build upon, Nebuchadnezzar’s repentance came through a process. As we look at our text we see the process of repentance.

The process of repentance

Nebuchadnezzar had a change of focus

Nebuchadnezzar’s previous focus was on self and self glory, but after God broke him and stripped him bare through divine humiliation, we see that he no longer focuses on self but begins to focus on God, lifted my eyes to heaven. The first step in repentance will always be humility and followed by a change of focus. As we change our focus, we see the second step in repentance.

Nebuchadnezzar’s understanding returned to him

When we are lost in our sin and entrapped by our sin, our comprehension is dulled. Our view of the world around us and the understanding of our relationships and those around us are all skewed. Sin makes us be as Nebuchadnezzar was, a mad man. However, when we repent and begin to focus on the Lord, we find happen to us what happened to Nebuchadnezzar, my understanding returned to me.

Nebuchadnezzar became a follower of God and truly worshiped God

As Nebuchadnezzar repented of his sin and his senses came back, we find that truly comes into a relationship with the Lord. This relationship is based of genuine belief and worship, and I blessed the Most High and praised and honored Him who lives forever. As Nebuchadnezzar grows in his relationship with the Father, we find that Nebuchadnezzar acknowledges the greatness and sovereignty of God, For His dominion is an everlasting dominion, And His kingdom is from generation to generation. This is a show of our view of God when we spend more and more time with Him. As our senses are returned to us and as we begin to truly worship the Lord we begin to grow in our view of God.

Not only did Nebuchadnezzar’s brokenness lead to repentance, it gave him what many need in the church today, a reality check.

Brokenness that leads to a reality check (vv.35,37)

Nebuchadnezzar came to a sober revelation that he was nothing

This was a far cry from what he was saying the moment God brought judgment to him. Remember, While the word was still in the king’s mouth (v.31), bringing a sobering reminder that God’s judgment can come at any moment, Nebuchadnezzar was glorifying himself rather than the God of heaven. Because as he was stating, is not this great Babylon, that I have built for a dwelling by mighty power and for the honor of my majesty (v.30), God brought a judgment that would break him. After a time of breaking and after he repented of his sin and pride, we see his view change drastically, as he states, All the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing (v.35). He realized the truth that Daniel had already revealed to him previously, For the God of heaven has given you a kingdom, power, strength, and glory (2:36). We are who we are because of God and God alone. We must do as Paul has said, have a sobering view of our selves and not think more highly of ourselves than we ought, and always be reminded we are we are because of God.

Romans 12:3 NKJV

3 For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith.

1 Corinthians 15:10 NKJV

10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all, yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.

Nebuchadnezzar came to a sobering revelation that God was sovereign

It took him some time, an unknown amount of time, but time nonetheless to see God was sovereign. He was in control. But after feeling the judgment of God, he states, He does according to His will. He further states that nothing man may do will restrain Him for having His will, No one can restrain His hand. He goes further and states that no one can question His sovereignty, or say to Him, what have You done.

Nebuchadnezzar came to a sobering revelation of that the kingdom of God would last beyond all kingdoms and have no end

Nebuchadnezzar’s kingdom would come to a close. He would come to an end. The kings of the earth would lose their kingdoms, but God would not die nor would His kingdom ever come an end, For His dominion is an everlasting dominion, And His kingdom is from generation to generation (v.35).

Nebuchadnezzar came to a sobering revelation that God was just in His judgment and resisted the proud

Daniel 4:37 NKJV

37 Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the King of heaven, all of whose works are truth, and His ways justice. And those who walk in pride He is able to put down.

His brokenness would lead Him to repentance and within repentance, there would be a reality check, but most merciful and gracious of all, Nebuchadnezzar’s would lead to something even better. For Nebuchadnezzar would have a…

Brokenness that leads to restoration (v.36)

When Nebuchadnezzar repented of his sin, humbled himself before God, and began to praise the King of kings and the Lord of lords, there was a final effect caused by his repentant heart, restoration.

Nebuchadnezzar’s mental stability was restored to him - ‘At the same time my reason returned to me…’

Nebuchadnezzar’s kingdom was restored to him - ‘…and for the glory of my kingdom…I was restored to my kingdom…’

Nebuchadnezzar’s power and influence was restored to him - ‘…my honor and splendor returned to me. My counselors and nobles restored to me…and excellent majesty was added to me…’

Conclusion

God will break us to restore us. Will He have to break you to restore you? God resist the proud and gives grace to the humble. Will God have to break you and humble you to get you to repent? For only in repentance, will you find restoration.