God's Response to Main Character Energy (Dan 4)

🔥 Icebreaker / Opening Question

Have you ever been grounded? A time where you broke a rule or needed to learn a lesson, so you got grounded, or punished, or something like that?

Have you ever had to do that to someone else—like put a kid in timeout or discipline your sibling?

How do we feel about the idea of God doing that to us?

🌎 Intro / Context Recap

We’ve been journeying through the book of Daniel—a story set not in the comfort of Israel but in exile in Babylon.

Chapter 1: Daniel and his friends are ripped from their homeland, thrust into the heart of pagan culture. Even in Babylon, they resolve not to defile themselves with the king’s food, showing that faithfulness is possible—even in exile.

Chapter 2: Nebuchadnezzar has a terrifying dream of a giant statue shattered by a stone, revealing that God sets up and tears down kingdoms. Daniel interprets the dream, and Nebuchadnezzar acknowledges Daniel’s God—but only superficially.

Chapter 3: Despite what he learned, Nebuchadnezzar builds a giant golden statue and commands worship. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego refuse to bow, are thrown into a fiery furnace—and are miraculously rescued by a mysterious fourth figure. Nebuchadnezzar praises God again—but still doesn’t fully humble himself.

and that brings us to Dan 4.

Probably about thirty years had transpired between the events of chap. 3 and those recorded here. Daniel would now have been about fifty years of age

Stephen R. Miller, Daniel, vol. 18, The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1994), 128.

And in Dan 4, we’re going to track the story in a 5 part movement: Revelation → Exhortation → Humiliation → Restoration → Proclamation

Proclamation(v1-3)

🎤 V.1-3 From Tyrant to Testimony

Daniel 4:1–3 ESV

King Nebuchadnezzar to all peoples, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth: Peace be multiplied to you! 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.

V.1–3: but we actually start our story at the end. With Proclamation...from Neb??

Why is it crazy that Nebuchadnezzar is writing a chapter in our Bible:

Which is crazy: Nebuchadnezzar—the guy who was throwing people in furnaces and threatening to tear people limb from limb—literally wrote a chapter of the Bible.

It’s easy to think that some people are too far gone—that God could never reach “that” person. Yet, God has been changing the hearts of “that” person all throughout history. Nebuchadnezzar joins a long list of converts people once thought were unsaveable.

💬 Discuss:

Who is “that person” for you?

Who, if I said, “Tell them about Jesus” or “Invite them to church,” would make you think: “No way. No point in doing that—nothing’s going to change”?

It’s easy for us to read about God changing Nebuchadnezzar—but then limit God in our own lives.

God takes the tyrant and gives him a testimony. His encounter with God has changed him so much, he has to share.

When we have a real encounter with the living God, we can’t not share. People talk about what’s changed them.

CrossFit

Diets

Essential oils

Parenting hacks

You know the CrossFit people because they tell you immediately. Why? Because they talk about what’s changed them!

I wonder if sometimes, I get scared to share the gospel because it’s not changing me as much as it should. People in a sweaty warehouse are having a greater experience of transformation than people worshiping the living God. Maybe?

Revelation (v4-18)

Daniel 4:4–18 ESV

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. 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. 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, “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. 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.”

🏰 V.4 — Disrupting Comfort

What state do we find Neb in in verse 4?

Nebuchadnezzar was chilling. He was retired. FIREd. He was... Comfortable. So many of us think the goal of life is comfort. Theologically we know that’s wrong—but practically, we often live, pray, and talk like our comfort and ease is the highest good.

Yet, comfort and peace without God is actually destructive. It’s cancer.

God, in His mercy, will often disrupt our comfort. He won’t let us prosper in our palace without knowing Him. If He does—that’s about the worst thing He can do. (Romans 1 — “He turned them over to the desires of their hearts.”)

💬 Reflect:

Where are you being drawn to comfort and ease?

What’s something you need so badly that if you don’t get it, you throw a fit? Your phone? A relationship? Security?

What’s the thing you’re chasing, thinking, “If I just get that, life will be okay”?

Maybe God is withholding that very thing to show you more of Himself.

Pray a bold prayer: “God, disrupt my comfort if it shows me and the world more of You.” That’s a scary prayer—but for those who love God, it’s the best thing we could ever have: more of Him.

💀V.5 - The Dread of the Unbeliever

What is Nebs reaction to this dream?

Why?

So Neb is scared. He feels a pull to the eternal, but he doesn’t understand it.

I’ve heard it said “ don't underestimate the despair of your non believing friends” many of them know that something greater is out there but they don't understand it and they’re scared to face it.

Numb, drown out etc. - they don't want to think about the big questions

🪄 V.6–7 — The World’s Solutions Fall Short

The solution to your dissatisfaction will never be found in what the world has to offer—not even if it seems spiritual. (“Magicians, enchanters, astrologers”—which is all the rage these days.)

Svigel story, L. Ron Hubbard will let you down!

💡 V.8–9 — Revelation Through Character

What some sources of Revelation that Nebuchadnezzar has in this chapter? i think there's three

The first source of revelation Nebuchadnezzar receives in this chapter is not the dream—it’s the life and character of Daniel.

I’ve heard the cliché quote, but it’s true:

“You may be the only Bible someone reads.”

Daniel, through faithfulness and obedience, had developed reputation, favor, and credibility with Nebuchadnezzar.

💬 Reflect:

Do you have this kind of credibility with your unbelieving friends?

Are you the person people call when their lives fall apart?

If we work hard, show unwavering hope and peace in chaos—people are drawn to that. (Philippians 2: we shine as lights when we don’t grumble or complain.)

But my fear for my life—and much of the church—is that we don’t look any different from the world. And so when people hit a crisis, they don’t come to us.

The first piece of revelation God gives to a lost world is His people. Daniel gets to speak to the king of Babylon because he’s been wise, hardworking, faithful, and different.

Are you like Daniel?

The believer is effective in Babylon by being in the culture, but flourishing outside the ways of the culture. Is that you?

🌳 V.10–18 — Revelation Through a Dream

The second piece of revelation comes in the form of a dream from God.

What are some things we see in this dream?

🌳 V.10 - An Interesting Tree

Talk to me about trees. Why do you think Nebuchadnezzar is pictured as a tree here?

Trees are alive, strong, and provide much benefit—but they have very little control over their success. A tree can’t plant itself, can’t water itself, can’t stop itself from being chopped down. It’s utterly dependent on forces outside its control.

👁️ V.13 — “Watcher, Holy One”

Literally “the awake one.” This is the only time in the Bible this title is used for an agent of God (like an angel).

Interesting questions arise—Do we have guardian angels? Not super clear from this text. But there are clearly beings watching us who have agency in this world.

🪓 V.15–16 — The Tree Humbled

There’s a pronoun shift—the “it” becomes a “he.”

This tree is about to get a humbling. Is the tree just hated? No. The point of the chopping is discipline. Notice it’s not totally destroyed. There’s wounding, but not annihilation.

🎯 V.17 — The Purpose

“...to the end that the living may know that the Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom He wills and sets over it the lowliest of men.”

God wounds to heal. He sets the bone so it heals correctly. He’s not just chopping trees for firewood. The thing the tree needs to learn is:

God is in control of it all.

Yet how often do we theologically agree God controls everything, but practically live as if He’s not?

Why? Because we desperately want to be in control.

Exhortation (v19-27)

Daniel 4:19–27 ESV

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! 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. 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.”

💔 V.19 — Daniel’s Compassion

How does Daniel respond when he knows God has pronounced judgment?

How is that different than how some people use theological truths, particuallry messages of judgement, today?

He doesn’t gloat over the king. He doesn’t put him on blast. He’s not posting a Youtube titled “10 Ways Neb is going to Get OWNED”

Daniel’s response to the judgment is dismay and alarm.

there was a quote about famous evangelist D.L. Moody that said “I only listen to DL Moody talk about hell, because he’s the only one who does it with tears

🙌 V.27 — The Right Response

What’s the right response to the revelation that God is in total control and that everything good we have is from Him?

Break off sin through righteousness.

Break off iniquity through mercy to the oppressed.

Why? Because everything we have is a gift from God. So we don’t cling tightly to our resources—they’re not ours in the first place. Kingship is stewardship, not self-exaltation.

We practice righteousness because we know God sees and watches all. His path is the path to flourishing—for ourselves and for the world.

💭 Thought Experiment:

What could have happened here? What would the right response have looked like?

Imagine Nebuchadnezzar tearing his clothes, praying to God, repenting of his sin, and instituting national reforms. It happened with Nineveh!

Now does your life look like this alternate ending? When you’re confronted with God’s revelation and exhortation, do you respond with repentance, justice, and humble obedience?

Humiliation (v28-33)

Daniel 4:28–33 ESV

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?” 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.

🏛️ V.28–30 — The Danger of Forgetting

Or do you look like this?

You hear the revelation, but after some time you go back to the cruise control of your own life.

You’re walking in your palace, thinking:

“Is this not great Babylon, which I have built by my mighty power and for the glory of my majesty?”

And to be fair—Babylon at this point was pretty great! Two of the ancient wonders of the world were there. Nebuchadnezzar built the hanging gardens for his wife, and the city walls were so massive you could ride chariots on top of them. Alexander the Great saw the city and wanted to make it his capital.

“I have built by my mighty power…” — he misses the source of his wealth. “For the glory of my majesty…” — it’s all about him.

💬 Reflect:

In what ways—even though you know God’s Word and what He’s calling you to do—do you slip into the mentality that you’re the main character?

What does that look like in your life?

We do this when:

We justify sin.

We justify coldness toward others.

We think we “deserve” things.

We try to seize control over dating, work, reputation, or our circumstances.

It’s a heart sickness that wants to put ourselves at the top. And it’s an act of mercy for God not to let us stay there.

🌾 V.31–33 — The Mercy of Humbling

God in His mercy humbles Nebuchadnezzar.

The worst thing that could happen is that we live as if we’re the center of the universe. It’s an immense kindness for God to bring us low so we might learn that He is the center—not us.

💬 Discuss:

How has God humbled you in your life?

How might He be doing that right now?

Some of us are in hard seasons and praying for God to change them. Yet perhaps this season is the best thing He can give us if it brings us closer to Him.

“God disciplines those He loves.” He could have simply killed Nebuchadnezzar—but He didn’t.

🐂 Why an Ox?

An ox has a lot of power, but very little agency. An ox can gore a human easily, but humans had domesticated them completely as beasts of burden.

The phrase “beasts of the field” also harkens back to Genesis 1. Humanity was created to rule over the beasts. But when we exalt ourselves to be God, we don’t rule over anything—we become like the beasts we were meant to rule.

💬 Reflect:

What are ways God humbles us today? Most of us aren’t stripped from kingship and made to eat grass. But God still humbles us:

Takes away comfort.

Takes away position.

Takes away faculties (injury, sickness).

Leads us to places we didn’t want to go.

Withholds things we think we need.

Restoration and Proclamation (v34-37)

Daniel 4:34–37 ESV

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?” 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. 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.

👀 V.34–36 — Looking Up

How does Nebuchadnezzar get his reason back? He looks to heaven.

And after being humbled by God, Nebuchadnezzar’s response is not anger, rage, or bitterness—it’s worship and praise.

Why? Because it was a kindness not just to be spared—but to be restored. Nebuchadnezzar knew he had no right to be restored—but God, in His mercy, did it anyway.

🏁 Ending Reflection Questions

Maybe some of you are like Nebuchadnezzar at the start of our story —you’re comfortable, and God is asking you to use your resources, talents, and abilities for His fame—not your own. would you pray that prayer tonight? “God take away my comfort if it shows me or the world more of you”

Maybe some of you are like Nebuchadnezzar, in the process of being humbled right now. God has stripped away your comfort, your not in the place you want to be. Maybe there’s a lesson to learn—that God has a bigger story, and your own personal world is only a tiny part of it.

What does it look like for you to “look up to heaven” and acknowledge God?

Maybe some of you need to be more like Daniel:

Are you someone unbelievers come to when life falls apart because you’ve been different and they know you love them?

How can you love people better and gain more credibility in your community?

Maybe some of you need to take the step of Nebuchadnezzar and proclaim what God has done for you.

If God is moving and shaping you, you’ll want to talk about it. Ask God for open doors and courage.

And lastly:

Who is your Nebuchadnezzar?

Who is the person you think is so far gone that you’d never invite them to church or talk to them about Jesus?

Think of that person—and commit to pray for them this week. If the chance comes, maybe take the step to share.

Big takeaway:

God is the true King. Our kingdoms are temporary. And the greatest mercy God can show us is to humble us so we see Him—and worship.