Sermon Tone Analysis

Intro- Last week we looked at the fiery furnace with Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.

We discussed their faith, their reasons to believe that God would perhaps allow them to be burned, and ultimately God’s deliverance.

At the end of this chapter we find Nebuchadnezzar praising God.

However, he still wasn’t quite converted.

He still held on to his pagan beliefs, and practices as we will see in this chapter.

“Overview of the events”- He had another dream about a large tree that provided for all the animals and people.

A command came from heaven to cut the tree down and to band it with bronze and iron to preserve it.

Daniel informed him that he was that tree, he was great and powerful and it was time for him to be cut down, He ended up losing his mind and behaving like an animal until he turned to God, and God restored his mind and his kingdom to him.”

The most unusual chapter in all the Bible.

This is the only chapter of scripture that issues from a pagan king.

The events of chapter 4 likely took place in the eighteenth year of Nebuchadnezzar’s reign which would have made these events almost immediately follow what we read in chapter 3.

Nebuchadnezzar sent out an official letter/statement throughout his kingdom detailing these events.

This statement begins with the conclusion- “Most High God, Everlasting kingdom”

If you look at Verses 1-27 it seems to be written in the 1st person from King Nebuchadnezzar.

V. 28-33 are written in 3rd person.

V.34-37 are back to 1st person.

I think it was likely the case that Daniel simply recorded writings of the king and added details that the king left out.

The Babylonian chronicles : (Show image) was more than likely where the king recorded this record.

In any event, this chapter primarily comes to us from a once pagan king.

The sin that brought down a king

Nebuchadnezzar was a world renowned builder.

He conquered many nations and expanded the boarders of his empire more than anyone else in ancient times.

He was the builder of what is known as the “Hanging gardens” which was one of the 7 wonders of the ancient world.

He states that he was at ease and prospering.

It would be the equivalent of a man who has retired well-off

-

Daniel 4:

The sin that ultimately brought down this king was pride.

Some would jokingly say, “it’s not bragging if it’s true”

I don’t think we can overstate in our Bible study the emphasis on humility and the disdain that God has for the proud.

In his book, “The cost of discipleship” Dietrich Bonhoeffer wrote, “When Christ calls a man, He bids him to come and die .”

This wasn’t only a new testament teaching, any person who wanted to follow God must kill the pride that lived in them.

in 2000 USA today surveyed 2000 millionaires and asked them to spell out what the key to success was.

99% said hard work, 97% said intelligence and good sense, 32% cited luck.

No one credited God.

Granted some of them probably believed in God, but it does speak to some degree to the state of the human heart.

The King’s Humiliation

It is almost as if God took this man who viewed himself as mightier and an of more value than any person, and he placed him beneath all people, like an animal.

It is interesting to note that there is a such thing as clinical lycanthropy.

Which is a rare mental disorder that makes people behave like animals, and believe they have become an animal.

It has been recorded as afflicting England’s King George III

It is likely that God simply made this disorder fall on King Nebuchadnezzar and last until the time was right.

7 periods of time, likely symbolic of completeness.

Meaning, he would be in that condition until it pleased God to remove it from him

Historically speaking we do not know much about Nebuchadnezzar’s final 30 years of life.

We do know that his son Amel- Murdak reigned in his absence.

When King Nebuchadnezzar returned he threw his son in prison and when Nebuchadnezzar died, his son mutilated his father’s corpse and had his body drug through the street… not the best relationship.

Big Picture:

Pride will destroy anyone who doesn’t destroy it.

God is in control of governing authorities

Does not mean God approves of all authority, and government, He did not approve of many in Bible times and i’m quite certain He does not approve of many now.

However, we must not lose sight of the fact that our God is in control.

There is only one true King and kingdom.

This once proud king seems to finally grasp that it is not the kingdoms of the world that matter.

Do we struggle with grasping this today?