Daniel 4 - The Lord of humility
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Big Idea:
Big Idea:
The sovereign Lord wants you to surrender and be saved.
Intro:
Intro:
Two announcements:
Clarify child dedication.
Cookie fundraiser?
Hey everyone,
It’s Super Bowl Sunday, so I’m gonna try and be quick, so we can get out of here and to the game. Just kidding. But seriously, we have a lot of content to get through today - you know, that’s the thing about going verse-by-verse thru Daniel.. the chapters are really long! So, let’s jump in.
Today, we start in chapter four.
Chapter 1 - Daniel and his friends are brought to Babylon.
Chapter 2 - Daniel interprets king Nebuchadnezzar’s dream.
Chapter 3 - the 3 friends are thrown into the fire, but are supernaturally saved by God.
And chapter 4 begins possibly 30 years after the fiery furnace incident…
King Nebuchadnezzar to all peoples, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth: Peace be multiplied to you!
Exegesis:
Exegesis:
This chapter is king Nebuchadnezzar’s letter to the entire world. He believes everyone needs to hear this story. And before we continue, I want to make sure that we understand this is for us too!
For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.
Everything in the Bible is for us, including this letter from the Babylonian king. And - as Paul tells us - if we’ll listen, it can bring us hope! So, let’s pay attention!
It has seemed good to me to show the signs and wonders that the Most High God has done for me.
How great are his signs,
how mighty his wonders!
His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,
and his dominion endures from generation to generation.
When Janelle and I were first dating, I remember showing her a VHS tape (remember those) of me street racing. Back in the day, I was really into modifying Hondas. This is what my car looked like - I miss that car. It was a 1997 Honda Civic Hatchback.
Those rims are SSR Type -Ms. That may mean nothing to you, but they were super rare and only weighed 11lbs. Good for racing.
You can’t really see it, but there’s also a carbon fiber hood on it. I’m still convinced I was the first person in San Diego to have one!
But what you can’t see is the motor under that hood. I had swapped the motor for a much faster one. And this thing could fly. I never officially timed it, but I was beating cars that were running high 13-second 1/4 miles.
Anyways, I’m showing Janelle these videos. And she’s pretending to be interested because we had just started dating. But there was one part that stood out…
If I remember correctly, the video was taken from the inside of the car, so looking out the front windshield. It was me and another person talking. I’m in line waiting to race. And there’s this voice droppin four-letter words left and right. Bleep-bleep… bleep-bleep-bleep.
Janelle looks over and says, “Who is talking?” I say, “Oh that’s me.” She looked over in disbelief. “No way!”
You see, when Janelle and I met, I had just started following Jesus. I was still new. Maybe a few months in. But Jesus had changed my life. Even to the point where the idea of me cussing was foreign to anyone who met the new-me. I was radically different.
And as I read the first few verses of chapter 4, I feel the same way about the king. Something is different about Nebuchadnezzar. He’s not just praising the God at the end of the chapter, like he’s done before. He’s starting with praise! And he seems genuine! What happened?
Well, he’s about to tell us…
I, Nebuchadnezzar, was at ease in my house and prospering in my palace. I saw a dream that made me afraid. As I lay in bed the fancies and the visions of my head alarmed me.
One thing that has happened is he’s had another dream. But don’t miss what he writes before that, because I believe it’s there for a reason. He was “at ease and prospering.”
This story happened 2000 years ago, on the other side of the world, but things haven’t changed much. Like today, there was a high value on comfort and success.
Don’t get me wrong. Comfort is not bad. And neither is success. God gives both. Where they become problems is when they are prioritized over God. And He loves us too much to let us live this way - so He’ll warn us! And for the king, that warning came in the form of another dream.
But this also makes me think of this: God is always speaking. Sometimes He chooses to use dreams, sometimes not. Regardless of how He speaks, the question is, “Are we listening.”
I said a couple of weeks ago that “Nebuchadnezzar has problems.” But I have to give him credit. He also listens. Can we say that about ourselves?
Are we listening?
Do you come to church every Sunday and tune out?
Are you so distracted that even if God speaks, you wouldn’t hear him.
Let’s learn from this pagan king. Today, listen for what God might be speaking. Additionally, take time to understand His message… because that’s what the king does next…
So I made a decree that all the wise men of Babylon should be brought before me, that they might make known to me the interpretation of the dream. Then the magicians, the enchanters, the Chaldeans, and the astrologers came in, and I told them the dream, but they could not make known to me its interpretation.
This time he doesn’t make them guess the dream before the interpretation. Makes no difference. They still can’t help him.
At last Daniel came in before me—he who was named Belteshazzar after the name of my god, and in whom is the spirit of the holy gods—and I told him the dream, saying,
Pause…
I find it interesting that as Nebuchadnezzar uses both the Hebrew and Babylonian names for Daniel. I’m not completely sure why, but my guess is it speaks to do how Nebuchadnezzar is now different.
When the story happens, Nebuchadnezzar referred to Daniel as Belteshazzar, which gave honor to Babylon’s god. But now he’s different. Now, as he’s tells the story, he calls him Daniel, which means “God is my judge.” The king was once one way, now he is different. And his words show this…
Also, maybe some of us are put off by Nebuchadnezzar saying, “Daniel - you have the spirit of the holy gods.” Like, what do you mean gods - as in plural? That’s not theologically accurate! True, but…
Remember, the king is telling a story that happened in the past. He’s different now, but that doesn’t change what he said before. And before, he was a polytheist.
Also, the translation is difficult. And it is possible to translate it, “Spirit of the holy God.” If that makes you feel any better…
“O Belteshazzar, chief of the magicians, because I know that the spirit of the holy gods is in you and that no mystery is too difficult for you, tell me the visions of my dream that I saw and their interpretation. The visions of my head as I lay in bed were these: I saw, and behold, a tree in the midst of the earth, and its height was great. The tree grew and became strong, and its top reached to heaven, and it was visible to the end of the whole earth. Its leaves were beautiful and its fruit abundant, and in it was food for all. The beasts of the field found shade under it, and the birds of the heavens lived in its branches, and all flesh was fed from it.
“I saw in the visions of my head as I lay in bed, and behold, a watcher, a holy one, came down from heaven.
FYI - the holy one (or watcher) is simply an angel.
He proclaimed aloud and said thus: ‘Chop down the tree and lop off its branches, strip off its leaves and scatter its fruit. Let the beasts flee from under it and the birds from its branches. But leave the stump of its roots in the earth, bound with a band of iron and bronze, amid the tender grass of the field. Let him be wet with the dew of heaven. Let his portion be with the beasts in the grass of the earth. Let his mind be changed from a man’s, and let a beast’s mind be given to him; and let seven periods of time pass over him. The sentence is by the decree of the watchers, the decision by the word of the holy ones, to the end that the living may know that the Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he will and sets over it the lowliest of men.’ This dream I, King Nebuchadnezzar, saw. And you, O Belteshazzar, tell me the interpretation, because all the wise men of my kingdom are not able to make known to me the interpretation, but you are able, for the spirit of the holy gods is in you.”
That was the king’s dream. Now, here is Daniel’s response…
Then Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, was dismayed for a while, and his thoughts alarmed him. The king answered and said, “Belteshazzar, let not the dream or the interpretation alarm you.” Belteshazzar answered and said, “My lord, may the dream be for those who hate you and its interpretation for your enemies!
What an interesting response from Daniel! It almost seems like Daniel cares for the king.
This man who is responsible for destroying his home.
The man who tried to burn his friends alive.
The reason Daniel hasn’t seen Jersualem in decades.
Is he just giving the king an insincere response? Possibly. But I personally believe it’s something else…
The prophet Jeremiah had a message for the God’s people in Babylon…
This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, the God of Israel, says to all the captives he has exiled to Babylon from Jerusalem: “Build homes, and plan to stay. Plant gardens, and eat the food they produce. Marry and have children. Then find spouses for them so that you may have many grandchildren. Multiply! Do not dwindle away! And work for the peace and prosperity of the city where I sent you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, for its welfare will determine your welfare.”
In a sense, Jeremiah was telling them to be a blessing in Babylon. To be a light in the darkness. To remember their purpose as a people!
God had told Abraham - the father of the Jewish people…
Now the Lord said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”
Israel was supposed to be a people who pointed the world to the One True God. They failed at doing that, which is part of the reason they’re exiled. But the mission never changed. And in Babylon they were to continue being a blessing to the all the families of the earth. But why?
Jesus gives us an answer…
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
Why be a blessing to the nations? Why pray for Babylon? Because God loves the whole world.
Why does Daniel speak kindly to the king?
Because Daniel loves the king.
Because God loves the king.
And Daniel shares God’s heart.
Do we do this? Do we share God’s heart for all people? Or do we pick and choose who is worthy of our love?
People ask Janelle and I, “Why in the world would you move from San Diego to Glastonbury?” Probably the thing we get asked the most. They also ask, “Why do you love living here? We’re tying to get out of this place.”
Why do I love Glastonbury?
Why do I love a community with a bunch of people who do not believe or agree with what I believe?
Because God loves Glastonbury.
From one man he created all the nations throughout the whole earth. He decided beforehand when they should rise and fall, and he determined their boundaries.
“His purpose was for the nations to seek after God and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him—though he is not far from any one of us.
My friends… if we follow Jesus and live here in New England, whether we like it or not, we are called to love the people of this community. God placed us here for a reason. It’s not for our ease or prosperity. It is so that our neighbors would seek after God and find him - ideally because we’ve been a blessing to them!
Daniel continues with the interpretation…
The tree you saw, which grew and became strong, so that its top reached to heaven, and it was visible to the end of the whole earth, whose leaves were beautiful and its fruit abundant, and in which was food for all, under which beasts of the field found shade, and in whose branches the birds of the heavens lived— it is you, O king, who have grown and become strong. Your greatness has grown and reaches to heaven, and your dominion to the ends of the earth. And because the king saw a watcher, a holy one, coming down from heaven and saying, ‘Chop down the tree and destroy it, but leave the stump of its roots in the earth, bound with a band of iron and bronze, in the tender grass of the field, and let him be wet with the dew of heaven, and let his portion be with the beasts of the field, till seven periods of time pass over him,’ this is the interpretation, O king: It is a decree of the Most High, which has come upon my lord the king, that you shall be driven from among men, and your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field. You shall be made to eat grass like an ox, and you shall be wet with the dew of heaven, and seven periods of time shall pass over you, till you know that the Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he will.
That last sentence is repeated multiple times in this chapter. Meaning it’s important. All of this is happening so that Nebuchadnezzar knows “that the Most High rules.” In other words, that he would know the Lord.
Isn’t that fitting for us too? Our 2024 Vision (what we are focused on as a church this year) is “Jesus is Lord.”
Today, God’s word sits before us, as it did Nebuchadnezzar… so that we too may know that “Jesus is Lord.” But are we listening?
And as it was commanded to leave the stump of the roots of the tree, your kingdom shall be confirmed for you from the time that you know that Heaven rules. Therefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable to you: break off your sins by practicing righteousness, and your iniquities by showing mercy to the oppressed, that there may perhaps be a lengthening of your prosperity.”
Daniel tells the king, “You have a choice. God is warning you ahead of time, because He loves you. Turn from your sin. Do what is right, so that you can continue to live in God’s blessings.”
Again, is this word for us?
Is God warning us today?
Do we need to break off our sins and practice righteousness?
What is happening in your life right now that needs to change?
Maybe you’ve continued to ignore God’s command to seek first His kingdom, because you’d rather seek first ease and prosperity.
Maybe you continue to practice sin, even in secret. And nothing’s happened so far, so you think you’re getting away with it. You’re not. God’s just being patient with you…
Maybe you don’t share God’s heart and are unwilling to love and forgive people.
But now God’s warning sits before us. And we have a choice. How will we respond?
How did the king respond?
All this came upon King Nebuchadnezzar. At the end of twelve months he was walking on the roof of the royal palace of Babylon, and the king answered and said, “Is not this great Babylon, which I have built by my mighty power as a royal residence and for the glory of my majesty?”
The king responds like we us. Even when we hear God speak, we don’t obey…
One of my favorite Bible stories is the Christmas story out of Luke 2. I love it because when the gospel comes to the shepherds (who represent the lowliest of people), it reveals the gospel is for everyone.
And I believe this story preaches the same message, but in reverse! In one sense, the king is unlike any of us. One bible commentator mentions that he may have been the most powerful ruler ever.
Currently, we live in the most powerful nation. But even our President has limits and checks in his power. Nebuchadnezzar had NONE. What he decreed was final. There was no one like him.
And yet, at the same time, he is just like us. We too, hear God’s word and warnings, and ignore them. The king’s story matters to us, because it’s our story too.
While the words were still in the king’s mouth, there fell a voice from heaven, “O King Nebuchadnezzar, to you it is spoken: The kingdom has departed from you, and you shall be driven from among men, and your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field. And you shall be made to eat grass like an ox, and seven periods of time shall pass over you, until you know that the Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he will.” Immediately the word was fulfilled against Nebuchadnezzar. He was driven from among men and ate grass like an ox, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven till his hair grew as long as eagles’ feathers, and his nails were like birds’ claws.
Two things for us to consider:
God always fulfills His word. What He says will happen, will happen. This should encourage us to obey.
In a way, what we see happen to Nebuchadnezzar is the result of God’s grace being withdrawn from our lives.
The Bible says, “Every good and perfect things comes from the Father above…” Jesus said God provides the sun and rain to all people. Furthermore, all humans have God’s image stamped upon them? Therefore, any expression of goodness experienced is sourced from God, whether recipient knows it or not. That being said, do you know what happens when God is removed from the picture? All goodness goes away. And humans become nothing more than beasts.
Do we not see glimpses of this truth in our world today? As we remove God from every space, the atrocities grow.
And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done. They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips, slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless.
Without God, we are nothing more than ruthless animals. And Nebuchadnezzar personally experienced this. And unfortunately, our culture seems to be headed down that path. But the story isn’t over yet. There’s still hope in…
At the end of the days I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted my eyes to heaven, and my reason 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 endures from generation to generation;
all the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing,
and he does according to his will among the host of heaven
and among the inhabitants of the earth;
and none can stay his hand
or say to him, “What have you done?”
It took 7 years, but the king finally repented. He surrendered to the Lord.
At the same time my reason returned to me, and for the glory of my kingdom, my majesty and splendor returned to me. My counselors and my lords sought me, and I was established in my kingdom, and still more greatness was added to me.
God restored all things (and more) to Nebuchadnezzar. And today, some of us need to hear this. God is not out to destroy you. He loves you. But He loves you too much to let you destroy yourself. So, He will do whatever He needs to - even taking every temporary thing away from you - so that you can one day find eternal life in Him. Whatever situation you are in today, there is hope, if you will surrender to the Lord.
The king finishes his letter with this…
Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the King of heaven, for all his works are right and his ways are just; and those who walk in pride he is able to humble.
It’s interesting. I think many Christians are hesitant to say Nebuchadnezzar was transformed by God’s grace. I understand why. His life is messy. But again, aren’t we all? I actually think his spiritual messy journey adds to the authenticity because it looks just like my journey - and yours. And it preaches the gospel. It reminds us that eternal life isn’t earned by perfection, but by trusting in Jesus who saved us when we were without hope.
But as we begin to close, here’s what I’d like for us to understand:
No matter where you are today, you can choose to surrender to the Lord. And he will save you.
Lay down your pride. Pride can be defined this way… it’s saying “I am lord” instead of “Jesus is Lord.” Wasn’t that how Nebuchadnezzar initially responded? And it’s what we do too.
I get to pick how I live.
I get to pick who I like.
But remember the king’s powerful words, “…for those who walk in pride, God is able to humble.”
Humility is a great teacher. But the lessons are hard. And yet, we can also choose to skip those lessons if we’re willing to surrender by faith. So…
We can be humble.
Or, we can be humbled.
How will you respond today?
Response:
Response:
As we close [and the worship team comes up], wherever you are today, here’s a next step that I believe can help us all. In verse 34, the king said, “I lifted my eyes to heaven…”
God is speaking to us. And His message is clear, “Know Me as Lord.” And the way we do that is simple: Lift your eyes to heaven. Look up to Jesus, surrender, cry out for help, and let Him save you.
[There is a great opportunity to practice this. Lent starts this Wednesday - on Valentines day. This is a season (40 days) set apart to prepare our hearts for Easter. And I think it can also help us respond to God’s word today.
Lent often involves some sort of fast. A removal or denial of something (food, drink, hobby) that often demands our attention. And in fasting, we remove those things to make room for more Jesus.
If you’ve found yourself too distracted or hard-hearted to “lift your eyes to Jesus,” maybe this Lent is an opportunity for that to change.
Starting this Wednesday, ask God to speak to you about what you should give up. Then, listen for the answer.
When you hear an answer, respond in obedience by faith. Remove that thing from your life.
But don’t just remove it, replace it with more Jesus. More prayer, more worship, more Bible reading. More of anything that causes you to “lift your eyes to heaven.” And watch how Jesus changes your life.
Hopefully, by Easter, people will look at you and say, “Something is radically different!”]
Let’s pray…
Jesus, today we set our eyes on You. We know that You are in control. We know that You can do whatever You want. And whatever You want is good. So we trust You. We have listened to Your word and are ready to obey. Show us our next step. And give us faith to walk towards You, even if it requires us to be humbled. In Jesus name, amen.