Pride and Humility
Notes
Transcript
When I started this sermon series off, I used these words. Welcome to Babylon. And I talked about how many of us now find ourselves living in an America that we do not recognize, that this country isn’t the same one that we grew up in and we feel often that we are now living as foreigners here in reverent fear. That we as followers of Christ are the exiles who have been carried off into Babylon. Well today’s message is the culmination of what can happen to this world if believers decide to live out their faith in foreign places in reverent fear of the God who has placed them there. Today we are looking at the final words recorded by Nebuchadnezzar himself, as he reflects upon his rule as King of Babylon.
Many of us know this year is an election year. And just this week I finally finished registering to vote…not sure what happened during the move back in September, but Amy’s voter registration transferred just fine, whereas mine did not. But yes, I am officially registered to vote now in Clearfield County, and that is important to me. That should be important to each and every one of us as believers because that is how we let our voice be heard. But being that this is an election year, tensions are already growing within our country. Is there hope for America? Is there hope for this Nation?
Yes but it is going to require something. It is going to take leadership such as we haven’t seen in a long time. It is going to require a humble repentance from how far we have strayed and a humble leader to model what it means to place our faith and trust and hope in Christ alone. And as a nation we have had these leaders in the past.
I came across this proclamation this past week from March 30, 1863
A Proclamation
Whereas the Senate of the United States, devoutly recognizing the supreme authority and just government of Almighty God in all the affairs of men and of nations, has by a resolution requested the President to designate and set apart a day for national prayer and humiliation; and
Whereas it is the duty of nations as well as of men to own their dependence upon the overruling power of God, to confess their sins and transgressions in humble sorrow, yet with assured hope that genuine repentance will lead to mercy and pardon, and to recognize the sublime truth, announced in the Holy Scriptures and proven by all history, that those nations only are blessed whose God is the Lord;
And, insomuch as we know that by His divine law nations, like individuals, are subjected to punishments and chastisements in this world, may we not justly fear that the awful calamity of civil war which now desolates the land may be but a punishment inflicted upon us for our presumptuous sins, to the needful end of our national reformation as a whole people? We have been the recipients of the choicest bounties of Heaven; we have been preserved these many years in peace and prosperity; we have grown in numbers, wealth, and power as no other nation has ever grown. But we have forgotten God. We have forgotten the gracious hand which preserved us in peace and multiplied and enriched and strengthened us, and we have vainly imagined, in the deceitfulness of our hearts, that all these blessings were produced by some superior wisdom and virtue of our own. Intoxicated with unbroken success, we have become too self-sufficient to feel the necessity of redeeming and preserving grace, too proud to pray to the God that made us.
It behooves us, then, to humble ourselves before the offended Power, to confess our national sins, and to pray for clemency and forgiveness.
Now, therefore, in compliance with the request, and fully concurring in the views of the Senate, I do by this my proclamation designate and set apart Thursday, the 30th day of April, 1863, as a day of national humiliation, fasting, and prayer. And I do hereby request all the people to abstain on that day from their ordinary secular pursuits, and to unite at their several places of public worship and their respective homes in keeping the day holy to the Lord and devoted to the humble discharge of the religious duties proper to that solemn occasion.
All this being done in sincerity and truth, let us then rest humbly in the hope authorized by the divine teachings that the united cry of the nation will be heard on high and answered with blessings no less than the pardon of our national sins and the restoration of our now divided and suffering country to its former happy condition of unity and peace. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the United States to be affixed.
Done at the city of Washington, this 30th day of March, A. D. 1863, and of the Independence of the United States the eighty-seventh.
ABRAHAM LINCOLN.
Is there hope for our nation. Yes but only if we like our forefathers, bow low before an Almighty God in whom we have offended and neglected as a nation. And follow the warnings of scripture which over and over again say things like…
“God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.” - James 4:6 or
5 In the same way, you who are younger, submit yourselves to your elders. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.”
18 Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall. 19 Better to be lowly in spirit along with the oppressed than to share plunder with the proud.
or
23 Pride brings a person low, but the lowly in spirit gain honor.
or 2 Chronicles 7:14
14 if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.
It is going to take humility and not pride. It is going to take leaders who humbly acknowledge their dependance upon the only God above. It is going to take a miraculous salvation like one we will witness today in Daniel Chapter 4.
Background
Background
1 King Nebuchadnezzar, To the nations and peoples of every language, who live in all the earth: May you prosper greatly! 2 It is my pleasure to tell you about the miraculous signs and wonders that the Most High God has performed for me. 3 How great are his signs, how mighty his wonders! His kingdom is an eternal kingdom; his dominion endures from generation to generation.
King Nebuchadnezzar writes this account himself and Daniel saw fit to include the kings own words into this chapter. And this is the final time we will hear about King Nebuchadnezzar.
The Story
The Story
Pride Comes before the Fall
Daniel 4:4–26 (NIV)
4 I, Nebuchadnezzar, was at home in my palace, contented and prosperous. 5 I had a dream that made me afraid. As I was lying in bed, the images and visions that passed through my mind terrified me. 6 So I commanded that all the wise men of Babylon be brought before me to interpret the dream for me. 7 When the magicians, enchanters, astrologers and diviners came, I told them the dream, but they could not interpret it for me. 8 Finally, Daniel came into my presence and I told him the dream. (He is called Belteshazzar, after the name of my god, and the spirit of the holy gods is in him.) 9 I said, “Belteshazzar, chief of the magicians, I know that the spirit of the holy gods is in you, and no mystery is too difficult for you. Here is my dream; interpret it for me. 10 These are the visions I saw while lying in bed: I looked, and there before me stood a tree in the middle of the land. Its height was enormous. 11 The tree grew large and strong and its top touched the sky; it was visible to the ends of the earth. 12 Its leaves were beautiful, its fruit abundant, and on it was food for all. Under it the wild animals found shelter, and the birds lived in its branches; from it every creature was fed. 13 “In the visions I saw while lying in bed, I looked, and there before me was a holy one, a messenger, coming down from heaven. 14 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. 15 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. 16 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. 17 “ ‘The decision is announced by messengers, the holy ones declare the verdict, so that the living may know that the Most High is sovereign over all kingdoms on earth and gives them to anyone he wishes and sets over them the lowliest of people.’ 18 “This is the dream that I, King Nebuchadnezzar, had. Now, Belteshazzar, tell me what it means, for none of the wise men in my kingdom can interpret it for me. But you can, because the spirit of the holy gods is in you.” 19 Then Daniel (also called Belteshazzar) was greatly perplexed for a time, and his thoughts terrified him. So the king said, “Belteshazzar, do not let the dream or its meaning alarm you.” Belteshazzar answered, “My lord, if only the dream applied to your enemies and its meaning to your adversaries! 20 The tree you saw, which grew large and strong, with its top touching the sky, visible to the whole earth, 21 with beautiful leaves and abundant fruit, providing food for all, giving shelter to the wild animals, and having nesting places in its branches for the birds—22 Your Majesty, you 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. 23 “Your Majesty saw a holy one, a messenger, coming down from heaven and saying, ‘Cut down the tree and destroy it, but leave the stump, bound with iron and bronze, in the grass of the field, while its roots remain in the ground. Let him be drenched with the dew of heaven; let him live with the wild animals, until seven times pass by for him.’ 24 “This is the interpretation, Your Majesty, and this is the decree the Most High has issued against my lord the king: 25 You will be driven away from people and will live with the wild animals; you will eat grass like the ox and be drenched with the dew of heaven. Seven times will pass by for you until you acknowledge that the Most High is sovereign over all kingdoms on earth and gives them to anyone he wishes. 26 The command to leave the stump of the tree with its roots means that your kingdom will be restored to you when you acknowledge that Heaven rules.
The Warning
The Warning
27 Therefore, Your Majesty, 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.”
The warning for Nebuchadnezzar was clear… King, if you repent…if you turn from your sin of pride. If you renounce that and do what is right by being kind to the oppressed then this might not befall you.
The Fall
The Fall
Daniel 4:28–32 (NIV)
28 All this happened to King Nebuchadnezzar. 29 Twelve months later, as the king was walking on the roof of the royal palace of Babylon, 30 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?” 31 Even as the words were on his lips, a voice came from heaven, “This is what is decreed for you, King Nebuchadnezzar: Your royal authority has been taken from you. 32 You will be driven away from people and will live with the wild animals; you will eat grass like the ox. Seven times will pass by for you until you acknowledge that the Most High is sovereign over all kingdoms on earth and gives them to anyone he wishes.”
One year later, after the King’s dream…the King was walking on the roof of his palace. Surveying his city. And what a city it had become! From this vantage point he could clearly see the success of Babylon, which had become one of the most famous cities in the whole world. It’s walls were around 40 feet tall and so wide that a couple chariots could ride side by side on top of them. The city had over 50 temples within and shrines to Babylonian Gods everywhere. The mighty Euphrates River ran through the center and gardens and palm groves, orchards and farmland dotted the countryside provided more than enough food for everyone in the city. And to top it all off, King Nebuchadnezzar had built on of the seven wonders of the ancient world when he built the hanging gardens of babylon for his wife. These gardens were planted in layered terraces and water had been pumped from the Euphrates to irrigate them.
It’s no wonder then that as the King was walking along the palace roof, he was overcome with his accomplishments and these words came out of his mouth, revealing the pride within his heart…
30 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?”
The Punishment
The Punishment
33 Immediately what had been said about Nebuchadnezzar was fulfilled. He was driven away from people and ate grass like the ox. 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.
We need to be careful here. Pride is a deceptive and sneaky predator, and we all can fall prey to the sin of pride if we do not heed the warnings throughout scripture.
Pride boiled down to it’s most basic form is nothing short of idolatry. But it’s the idolatry of self.
Pride is the idolatry of the self. It is the nature of pride as competition with God – the displacing of God by the self at the center – that has led many Christian thinkers through the ages to regard pride as the mother sin and the essential element in all sin. Pride is what led Satan to be cast out of Heaven.
Pride is what led Eve to eat the apple…wanting to be like God. To be in the know.
Pride takes us away from keeping God on the altar of our hearts and places our own self on that altar.
Here are some challenge questions to see if you are dealing with pride…
Q1: Am I consumed with the opinion of others, what will they think of me?
Q2: Am I unwilling to admit I was wrong?
Q3: Am I unwilling to accept help, and instead isolate myself in jealousy?
Q4: Am I unwilling to share credit or give praise?
Q5: Do I make excuses for disobedience?
Q6: Am I unwilling to genuinely repent and say I’m sorry?
Q7: Do I manipulate circumstances and situations for my own benefit?
We need to be careful to examine our own hearts…
5 In the same way, you who are younger, submit yourselves to your elders. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.” 6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. 7 Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. 8 Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 9 Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.
And also remeber this encouragement from the Apostle Paul…
That’s them…not me.
They deal with pride, I don’t…
1 Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted. 2 Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.
Be careful.
The Restoration
The Restoration
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. 35 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?” 36 At the same time that my sanity was restored, my honor and splendor were returned to me for the glory of my kingdom. My advisers and nobles sought me out, and I was restored to my throne and became even greater than before. 37 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.
There was an important lesson that God wanted Nebuchadnezzar to learn, that it wasn’t Nebuchadnezzar that built the great Kingdom of Babylon…no it was God who allowed that to happen.
For many years God was giving warning after warning to King Nebuchadnezzar. He allowed him to witness the amazing ministry of Daniel and his interpretation of dreams. He allowed King Nebuchadnezzar to witness the miraculous deliverance of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, or better known as Hananiah, Mishael, and Azeriah. For over 30 years God witnessed to King Nebuchadnezzar but the witnessing and the warnings were not enough. God had to bring the great king down to his knees and deal with his pride finally through 7 years of torment.
Finally God’s patience had wore too thin and now it was time for God’s judgement. And it was in God’s judgement that King Nebuchadnezzar learned the lesson that he sorely needed and he was restored.
The lesson that God taught King Nebuchadnezzar is found here in verse 37…
37 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.
That all those who walk in pride, God is able to humble.
The question is…are we going to willingly submit ourselves to God’s rule and reign or are we going to resist him in pride.
5 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; 7 rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross! 9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Because there will be a day when every knee will bow and every tongue confesses that God is the ruler of Heaven and Earth.
It’s amazing how well Nebuchadnezzar learned this lesson that God is the soverign God.
In fact, in king Nebuchadnezzar’s own words one of the greatest lessons we can learn from Chapter 4 of Daniel is that God is Soverign over all the affairs of human beings
Daniel 4:17 (NIV)
17 “ … so that the living may know that the Most High is sovereign over all kingdoms on earth and gives them to anyone he wishes and sets over them the lowliest of people.’
Daniel 4:25 (NIV)
25…Seven times will pass by for you until you acknowledge that the Most High is sovereign over all kingdoms on earth and gives them to anyone he wishes.
Daniel 4:26 (NIV)
… your kingdom will be restored to you when you acknowledge that Heaven rules.
Daniel 4:32 (NIV)
32 …Seven times will pass by for you until you acknowledge that the Most High is sovereign over all kingdoms on earth and gives them to anyone he wishes.”
Daniel 4:34 (NIV)
34 …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.
As we look here at Daniel 4 and the story of King Nebuchadnezzar let us look at the amazing transformation and i will close with these words and summary from Dr. Graham Scroggie: “Here we take leave of Nebuchadnezzar. How does he bid us farewell? Not only as a sane man, but as a converted man. The last thing related of him is the humble public confession which he made, and the noble testimony to the true God…with the restoration of his reason and kingdom came the regeneration of his soul. There is nothing in this book more sublime than this testimony of Nebuchadnezzar’s. To him light came at eventide, and he turned his throne into a pulpit and his State papers into sermons.”
Prayer:
God would you do it again in our generation. Would we come to you in humble reliance upon Your soverignty. Lord we look within our own hearts this morning and if we need to repent of self reliance, or self idolization, if we need to confess our pride and repent of it, give us the strength to do so. Let us humble ourselves under your mighty power. Let us turn to you and trust in Christ alone for our salvation. Lord, only as we get ourselves right before you first, then can we come before you as a church and as a nation and repent of our national sins. America is full of pride and idolatry. And as our forefathers before us proclaimed…we have grown in numbers, wealth, and power as no other nation has ever grown. But we have forgotten God. We have forgotten the gracious hand which preserved us in peace and multiplied and enriched and strengthened us, and we have vainly imagined, in the deceitfulness of our hearts, that all these blessings were produced by some superior wisdom and virtue of our own. Intoxicated with unbroken success, we have become too self-sufficient to feel the necessity of redeeming and preserving grace, too proud to pray to the God that made us.
God forgive us and bring to us a leader who will humbly acknowledge their dependance upon you alone. Heal our land, and even if you do not…prepare your church for the days ahead. We pray this in the mighty and matchless name of our God and Savior…the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen
