Sermon Tone Analysis

The Desolation of Dragon Pride & Re-birth as a Servant of the Lord! ,

Dear Congregation of our Lord Jesus Christ,

Last two chapters - end with Neb's praise, this one breaks pattern, less suspense - begins and ends with praise -even though a crisis inmiddle.

But begs us to ask question: "what leads to Neb' joyful outburst" and a letter, official proclamation - if pagan king - is there any authority and air of reality when I praise my God ….

Pride is not just a morally bad thing, it is a spiritually bad thing.

A morally bad thing may get you a slap on the wrist a punishment.

It may also wreck your life; and the lives of those around you.

But a spriitually bad thing - is not only cosmic reberllion against God - it is suicide of your life - We see both desolations of the dragon pride at work in Neb and his empire - and though God’s people -his suffering humbled people may fear and cower ,even envy those proud Babylonians, the events of contain a message you and I must heed a message three times repeated, once by the Angel, the watcher in Daniel’s dream , Once by Daniel as he intreprets the dream ; and once by Neb himself as he learns from his dream:

Key Truth : Your pride must be utterly slayed, if you are to escape the desolation of pride, and humbly become s servant of the LORD

What sets apart this episode of God’s work from last last two chapters - Both ch 2 and 3 end with Neb's praise.

Obviously Neb not truly getting what God is teaching.

But this one breaks pattern, less suspense - begins and ends with praise -even though a crisis in middle.

But begs us to ask question: "what leads to Neb' joyful outburst" and a letter, official proclamation - This is a pagan king declaring ot the world - I am humbled, I don’t rule God does and I want everyone to know it.

I*f Neb experienced this - w/o X, how official how much zeal and any authority and air of reality when I praise my God ….

Whether

Last two chapters - end with Neb's praise, this one breaks pattern, less suspense - begins and ends with praise -even though a crisis in middle.

But begs us to ask question: "what leads to Neb' joyful outburst" and a letter, official proclamation - if pagan king - is there any authority and air of reality when I praise my God ….

= "I want my world to know" It onlly takes a spark… not just spontaneous -but mission = proc to world!

A. The Problem of Pride (vv.4,19-22)

Can you imagine if everyone set their clock willy nilly - chaos ensued… my time is right no mine is.

So what do we do - Greenwich Mean time - Living inthis town in England - Axis of the World.

Clockmakers like Mr. Ten Boom - travel to big city astronimical clock and take his very best watch - set all the othersi n the shop by it.

A.

Well this tree as Ezekiel shows in similar prophecy to Babylonian king - represents idea of kingship - dominant picture in ANE - the cosmic tree in the middle of the Land = axis mundi… = symbol of fertility, growth, prosperity, not only life, but life-giver, provide, sustain, protect!

Represents the divine world order maintained by the king as the repof the god Assur, emobdied in the winged disk hovering above the tree!

As a matter of fact, Nebuchadnezzar’s kingdom stretched from what is today Egypt to western Iran and from modern Syria into Saudi Arabia, encompassing many different cultures and language groups.

And while an image-bearer - rep God - Adam and ultimately Christ was to reign on earth.

Daniel reveals that Neb you don’t just think of yourself as a regent ruling on behalf of God; no you think you are the tree!

Daniel

And the main message of the dream is no - God is sovereign and you are not!

Neb partly get s that lesson in way didn’t before and with an urgency he is declaring that everywhere in his world!

MAP - be kind of like in time of Reformation - true gospel to neighbouring cities, lands… do we have a part in this enterprise are we ZEALOUS for it!

Not just a moral lesson be humble, but spiritual lesson how we live by faith, humbly yet boldly not fearing circumstances of kings of this world, announcing Reign of LORD!

This whole chapter is in the form of royal proclamation, language Daniel seemed to help write - and he confesses in v.3 as he walks the balconey roof of his house… like Rich Fool - taking stock of kingdom he built… and was a master buildre - heart captured by his business, his success.

He shows what his heart was fixated on:

Main point 3x on Angel's lips, Daniel's Lips, from Heaven: v.17,25,32 = the most High rules the kingdom of men, and gives it to whom he will!

- not just a moral lesson but connected to how we live by faith, humbly yet boldly not fearing circumstances of kings of this world!

What is your heat fixated on?

What do you day dream about?

Daniel says - like Nathan many years later - you the man!

Must have realized something bad - in that tree vision - only goes to Daniel as last resort - maybe pros can counsel me otherwise.

Nothing.

= Neb and many of us are living as if no one rules kingdom of men - what is Neb's aim, where does he see himself heading = we should be able to answer that question!

Same question God asks of the rich fool in Jesus parable - said soul take your ease -

But God said to him, ‘Fool!

This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’

He is acknowledging no room in his thoughts for God - no time for listening to God's voice = he was living evading God! - ever so focused - so impressed with yourself - days full of evading God

Hebrew mindset because edict is probably written with Daniel's help to praise the LORD…

Buthen this dream, revealtino from God intrudes on his prosperity and contentment.

Doubt and fear enter!

And look a this pride even hear the messag of Lord, 2x his wonders - still no change in his life, a whole year passes - the Lord giving opprtunity to repent; and his sin grows to fullest moment and look what happens:

Hre is the capstone of his pride: That was the capstone of his pride: Is not this great Babylon, which I have built by my mighty power as a royal residence and for the glory of my majesty?

Babylon contained two of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, the Hanging Gardens and the city walls.

The location of the Hanging Gardens is in doubt but the walls have been traced.

The outer wall stretched for more than 8 kilometers and, according to Herodotus, had enough space on top to enable a four-horse chariot to turn around.14

Nebuchadnezzar had much to do with the greatness of Babylon.

= he gave the orders, he paid the bills - but pride blinds from braoder reality - that only do these thigns as God gave… ie Deut in the land - our wealth…

Word still on lips, and this time after long time of warning, instant judgment from LORD

Word still on lips, and this time after long time of warning, instant judgment from LORD

B. Pride Must be Dismantled and We Must Be Banded (vv.23-27)

Story that gives rise to praise

Dream Report4-18

Now the plot thickens.

The watcher - divine figure in ANE - messengere from heaven in v. 14 Bark orders - dismantle the tree - chop, lop , strip , scatter- bronze band around stump = though tree is to be desolate - it is not to be killed = roots are not touched , band of iron and bronze - no botancial practice, but move to imagery of a beast - bound for 7 times/years

He speaks in the first person, employing a form similar to neo-Babylonian royal inscriptions.9

He begins by stating his prosperity and contentment.

THEN dream intrudes and doubt and fear enter!

Call pros

Have you had a Neb experience with Daniel, David with Nathan - first working of the Holy Spirit - you are the man - you have a pride problem don’t even realize it - conviction - confession lead to change!

But it must go further look at what the watcher concludes with -

Think of how pride comes before the fall.

How God raises kings and kingdoms up - to show nothing lasts, nothing is absolute - Did you see the picture of Sadam Hussein and his sons… Megalomaniac - power corrupts - - "A man who thinks he is like a god, must become a beast to learn that he is only a human being."

Name for this disease in ancient world!

ellwell, appropriate judgment - "A man who thinks he is like a god, must become a beast to learn that he is only a human being."

Insania Zoanthropica - think yoru a beast and imitate them!

Lycanthropia - afflicted one imagines himself to be a wolf - recognized widely in ancient times - ie Dead Sea Scrools say last king of Babylon - Nabonidus suffered for 7 years.. Too.. king was out of it and direct judgment from God - other governments too France, Denmark, England, Bavaria - Charles IV, Christian VII, George III, Otho… went mad.

Self-made alienation and isolation -

Seven years of dreadful inward solitary confinement - whole personality tragically deformed

Wallace = "There is no doubt that today what is wrong with so many of us, whether we belong to church or not, is that we will not listen to the word of God; we will not carefully face all the issues that require to be resolved between him and us - won't stop to ask which is the good way the best, way leads to lblessing = lead to bewilderment - who am I what doing … Need counsellor like Daniel - lead to listen to Word again ..

If in West building a Babylon without God, may come a time when we have to go through 7 years of chaotic darkness, deprivation - to learn way of Lord again …

And so Daniel like the porohets thundering their message - not relishing to give the bad news but knowing he must out of love - he gives the counsel of what Neb should have done before the judgment fell, butr certianly in the middle of it:

These are no to simple moral changes for Neb to make.

Daniel is exhorting the King to exhibit the qualities that another King the Messiah has been propehsied to exhibit - The most humble king - who with all his power truly servant of all!

in not showing mercy to wretched and oppressed!

- Christ will rule the poor in a just, wise and gentle way - give ear to complaints! = method of violence and oppression, and self-glorification = Anti-Christ… = no place left for Christ, sevants of the Lord even in arena of family, church, education, = SIN not manifesting the image of God, of Christ, but self-glorification!

Christ didn't seek glory for himself, yet so many Xns say I want my own way, I refuse to give up my rights my comfort.

Look after outselves with little regard for others!

Where is Christ's image reflected inyour life?

Where is he present?

But look what must happen, during the banding of the kingdom and the king:

Note the description person with claw lifke hands, eagles talons - creative hands forw into claws to destroy one another… Powerful rules of this earth and all their counseleors… insane beast like actions… Book of Revelation human culture births an Anti-Christ, a beast rising out of the sea, among turbeulent nations… possessed of the insanity of the devil… course of history not unfetterered progresss, but relfected in miniature in the story of Neb….

The kings heart becomes a beast… kingdms depreciating value - gold, silver, bronze, iron and clay feet

Christ's work is to stop the devil work and restore God's image to us!

As soon as Christ becomes operative in our lives, we find it impossible to to go on glorifying oureslves… atone for inqiuities by caring for poor… reform life - or sin of pride will start detroyingyourlife… Plea to have communion with Christ to be re-made in his image, not to continue in slavery to sin…

By way of application - understand not only that you must kill your pride, but like Daniel - when we see weakness, pride and sin in others - we are called with love to not just drop a judgment, but with specificty perosnally call pepole to the Lord and His will.

Problem with so much counselling, only take you so far - but gets them focused on themselves, obseessed with their problems.

Need Daniel’s in our lives, to be Daniel’s to each other - speak beyond the dreams of this world , in the darkest trials of our life - need those who know the solution is with the LORD.

C) When God Slays our Pride, He Will Raise Us Up As Humble Servants & Zealous Proclaimers (vv.34-37)

At the end of the appt time, seven-times -

Not botanical gardening practice to band trees with iron and bronze, but image changes in the second half of the dream - - realize pride has made him beast like -