Daniel (6)

Introduction: The Bible tells us in Psalm 47:8 This truth reminds us that God is ruling over all the peoples of the world. He is not worried or tired, rather, He sits in complete authority on His holy throne.

Psalm 47:8 ESV

God reigns over the nations; God sits on his holy throne.

Today , we are going to be studying a perfect example of God’s rulership in Daniel chapter 4; as we observe a testimony from a pagan king. King Nebuchadnezzar has an encounter with the true and living God, and is compelled to declare truth about God. If you’ll turn there in your Bibles, its on page___ of little blue Bible. Follow along as we read the first 3 verses.

Psalm 47:8 ESV

God reigns over the nations; God sits on his holy throne.

Read: Daniel 4:1-3

The Introduction 4:1-3

a. The events of this chapter are being recorded after the fact. As a first person testimony by King Nebuchadnezzar, but also notice the third person perspective while he’s out of his mind.

b. Also, keep in mind the testimony of this book to those “peoples, nations, and languages” (vs. 3:4;29 & 4:1) The original writings from chapter 2:4-end of chapter 7 is in the common language of the day, Aramaic. Point: Daniel was writing to his own people, but also to the nations, revealing the greatness of God. That even while placing His people in exile, God still rules. And the pagan King Nebuchadnezzar is at the top of the list for learning this truth.

c. Notice the major change in tone from 3:29.

d. Signs and Wonders. Signs and wonders are synonyms. Refer to supernatural acts or events.

e. It is good to be ready and willing to personally proclaim what God has done for us.

The Dream 4:4-18

a. Nebuchadnezzar was able to recognize the activity of the Almighty in Daniel. Steadiness & faithfulness is Re-occuring theme that we notice in the life of the prophet Daniel. As a young child, as a middle aged man, and an old man.

b. Application: Oh that this would be true of us, Church. That those whom God places in our lives, or places us in theirs.... would be able to call out to us as their friends, family, co-workers, parents, etc.. because they can see that we have the Holy Spirit dwelling in us. How would they know?? Certainly, somehow, God makes them able to see. But also, they simply observe the testimony of our faithfulness to Christ. The consistency of our attitudes and actions. And then seek our counsel, and help.

c. Question: Am I living in such godly devotion that I can be an example to those around me. A help to those in my family, school, work place. i am sure that if we are true Christians , we are aware of our inconsistency. Areas of our lives where we need to grow. But are we growing in faithfulness? Are we actually becoming more mature in Christ, or have we grown content to go through the motions and become stagnant in our faith? God help us to keep growing and remain faithful. For His glory, and for the good of those we might help along the way.

The Warning 4:19-27

a. Daniel, in distress, answered with compassion and truth. He gave a clear invitation to respond. Daniel experienced some difficulty, challenge to speak the truth.

b. Daniel shows us a way of speaking to others about Christ. Ephesians 4:15 tells us to… Speak the truth in love. Our motivation as Christians to evangelize and give clear answers must be truth in love. Without truth, we end up becoming guilty of liberal licentiousness and enable folks to be content with falsehood. Without love, we end up becoming guilty of self righteous pride and enable folks to label us as disgruntled bigots.

c. Daniel shows us the way of Christ. Speaking the truth with a heart full of mercy, love, and compassion. He cared for King Nebuchadnezzar, and he cared enough to tell him the truth. To offer him a true way of escape!

Transition:

The Consequence 4:28-33

a. All that Daniel had interpreted concerning his dream came upon Nebuchadnezzar.

b. A year later. How easily we can be distracted to turn back to our own ways during a season of peace. Some have labeled this as fox hole religion. When God gets someone's attention, but they do not truly turn from sin and trust in Christ. They simply have an experience with “the Almighty”, and as soon as life gets back to normal they get back to their prideful ways. This is not true religion. This is not what it means to follow Christ. This boasting in personally glory, this kind of pride will suffer the consequence.

d. Once upon a time, there was a man who had a terrible car accident. He was life flight-ed to an emergency hospital where his life was in the balance for the next 48 hours. All of a sudden, his body took a turn for the better and he started to recover. After several surgeries and rehabilitation he is now living life back to normal. Interestingly, He readily gives God credit for saving his life. Willingly acknowledges the supernatural power of almighty God. But he still is not a Christian.

This should reminds us, God has shown general grace to every human being. God sends rain on the just and unjust. But particular grace... justifying/ saving grace brings about saving faith. Which means, not everyone who has a testimony of God’s supernatural activity in their life are actually Christians. God may have supernaturally blessed you with a tremendous life changing experience. Maybe your a cancer survivor or heart attack survivor. Perhaps your aware of His blessing you by having you live in a country that up to this point practices religious freedom and you have ready access to God’s word and the gospel. Maybe your aware that He has supernaturally blessed you with Christian parents or family members. Maybe you give him credit for your job, or for getting you out of trouble, or some other sign or wonder. But are you a Christian?? Only when we turn from sin and trust in Christ alone do we then belong to Christ and have hope of eternal life. Have you actually responded to God’s particular grace, evidenced through repentance and faith in His Son, Jesus the Christ? Perhaps you are here today and are finally realizing that you are the sinner to whom Christ died to pay the guilt of your transgressions against God. Break off your sins by turning to Christ and trusting in His righteous sacrifice to forgive you of your sins and be made right with God.

Transition:

The Return 4:34-37

a. Verse 36. God re-established Nebuchadnezzar because it was a part of His plan to do so. God humbled him, and God showed Him mercy. God uses whomever He desires to bring about His glory. And to bring about the good for His people.

b. Was Nebuchadnezzar now a God fearing Jew trusting in the promises of God and keeping God’s law? Perhaps, but doubtful. He did finally repent after he suffered the weight of hitting rock bottom. Which is true of all of us who turn to Christ. We must know the conviction of our sin before we look up to Christ. Nebuchadnezzar does seem to change at least to the point of having this testimony recorded. He wants the nations to know what Almighty God has done. However, we do not see this in the influence upon his kingdom, and certainly not his son. It seems like Nebuchadnezzar was more than willing to give the”Most High” God credit, but was also unwilling to reject his little gods. Which gets to the heart of true salvation. Nebuchadnezzar reveals a very similar attitude represented in a multitude of people in our culture. More than willing to acknowledge God as a supreme Being, but remain in unbelief and rejection of humbling themselves to Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of their sins.

Something interesting here is that not only is God using Daniel to testify, declare truth in love to Nebuchadnezzar, but God is also using this pagan King to declare God’s rule to the nations of the earth. His testimony begins and ends with the same declaration about God. What does this reveal to us? It reminds us of the bigger picture of what is happening in this true account. God is making His glory known among the nations. God has always been a God of the nations because He created all the peoples of the world. Further more God has always had a purpose to reveal His majesty among the peoples of the earth. Keeping in mind the trouble that God’s chosen people were in. In comparison, the Kings of Judah, the kings of those whom Daniel and his companions where from, were not any more faithful to lead God’s people to expand God’s name on the earth.Rather, They permitted false worship in their kingdoms, which eventually lead them to this senioro where God gave them over the Babylon. Now, God is using this Babylonian king to make His glory known among the earth. Question: Church, as those who are the redeemed of God. Those trusting in His Son Jesus Christ. Are we really expanding His glory on the earth? We would do well to be warned by both these examples. The nation of Israel are humbled because in pride they failed to honor God. Nebuchadnezzar is humbled, because he failed to honor God. However, in both examples of humility God was using their humility for the good of making His name known among the earth. Which points us to Jesus… which points us to the cross. Jesus, who did not fail, who did not yield to pride, was still humbled. He suffered the death of innocent execution in our place, for our sins. And Philippians 2:8-11 tells us…

Philippians 2:8–11 ESV

And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

We would do well church to live like our Savior, and humble ourselves. It is a better way, rather than being humbled by our faithful God.

GOD RULES.

Conclusion: This is a kind of last will and testament for king Nebuchadnezzar. The last record in book of Daniel of any of his words or activity. What's the testimony? GOD RULES!! Today, because God is patient, we each still have opportunity to Lift our eyes to Christ! Look to Jesus! This is the only sensible thing to do.

b. What are some of the challenges we face in responding to those who are in crisis? Recognizing the difference between religious liberty and religious pluralism. Religious liberty means that a person is free to worship whom and how they want. Religious pluralism is the assessment that all forms of worship are right.

Key verses: 4:27, 4:37

(Next week address: What is the result of God breaking pride and producing humility?)d. King Nebuchadnezzar offers a warning of his own. 37c. Those who walk in Pride… He is able to humble. James , God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble. God ruled over king Neb, whether he knew it of not. Gave Jehoiakim into his hand (1:2), Gave skill and better diet than the king gave 1:17-20), Gave Daniel dream/and interpretation (2), Gave 3 young men faith through King’s fire (3), Now chapter 4:34-37… Verses 34-35 are a restatement of his introduction.

1 Peter 5:5-11 and James 4:6

Possible questions to address:

Are there lessons here to be articulated regarding the character of God and personification of pride?

What are the characteristic results of God humbling a man? What do we see change in Nebuchadnezzar?

His treatment of others.

His response to God. he had already spoken true things about God. 2:47, 3:28-29,

How does this direct us to Jesus?

EXTRAS:

Examples: “hand of God”, Nebuchadnezzar’s confessions. Darius's confession 6:26 Confessions of God’s sovereign power upon the mouths of pagan kings. Theme of humility: The rise and fall of nations. The rise and fall of kings. The power we have is not our own, and not one of us will keep it, but rather must give an account for how we stewarded the strengths we have been given. BEWARE OF PRIDE!

5. What will it take to stir our hearts to be fully devoted to Christ? Daniel was already praying and practicing habits of godliness before his enemies attack. As a matter of fact, it was his diligence and devotion that made them find a way to get him out of the way. They knew he wouldn’t stop what he was doing, because they knew he was a man of devotion and integrity to His God.

If we think our casual and convenient Christianity will remain faithful and steadfast through the crisis of enemy attack, we are wrong. If we think our compulsive knee jerk reaction to (for example) our government forcing idolatry upon us or attempting to take away our religious freedoms is a display of true devotion, we are sadly deceived. Fox hole religion, flash in the pan devotion, will not prove faithful through the hard times. As Jesus taught from parable of the sower. It was true in the days of Noah. It was true in the days of Moses. It was true in the days of Daniel. It was true in the days of Jesus. It has been true throughout the days of church history. It is true of our day. Just think of the flocks of people who turned up their devotion and flooded church facilities after September 11th, 2001. And shortly after, returned to their idolatry. This is why it is not wise to be aroused by crowds of Christians who demand that we rally against some immediate attack of evil or injustice. No, rather we need to discipline ourselves for godliness today, in the normal and nitty gritty matters of our hearts and habits. Then, when the attacks of injustice come, and they will come, we do not need to become faithful, simply we remain faithful. Get in line with patterns of godliness now.... if we wait for the lions den, it will be too late. Daniel continued to do in the den of lions that which he had already been devoted to. Simply, he had a change of location. Sometimes we think that we will be a better Christian if I change jobs, change churches, change Bibles, change spouses, change pastors, or change clothes. We must realize, that it is our own hearts that need changing. Even as a church, we must already be doing what we are called to by God to be the people He desires upon the earth. He can act upon evil in the way He has planned. We must honor Him, and need not fret against the so called attacks; or the real attacks of the devil.