The Bigger They Are...
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
Pride!
Coaching football
1/2 speed drill story
Humility!
This is something God teaches us...
YouVersion: The Bigger They Are...
Daniel 4:1-37 (whole chapter)
2 weeks ago I mentioned “chiastic order”
A-B-C-C-B-A
A - Four kingdoms - image/beasts
B - Faith when faced with death - furnace/lion’s den
C - Interpretations - 2nd dream/writing on the wall
Today we’re at the first C before going back
1 King Nebuchadnezzar to all peoples, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth: Peace be multiplied to you! 2 It has seemed good to me to show the signs and wonders that the Most High God has done for me.
3 How great are his signs,
how mighty his wonders!
His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,
and his dominion endures from generation to generation.
Wow, gentile king Neb is making a guest appearance in Daniel’s book!
This is a very unique chapter
Not written by Daniel, but by Nebuchadnezzar
ONLY Scripture written by Pagan king (although a believer)
Incredible situation
Babylon is a mixed bag
Thousands of reps from the known world
And yet the Hebrew God stands out as special
Notice Neb’s language: HIS KINGDOM IS AN EVERLASTING KINGDOM
Last week he said his was an everlasting kingdom
Now he gives credit to God
Partially from what we’ve seen (dream and furnace)
Also from what we see today
Now Neb tells the story...
4 I, Nebuchadnezzar, was at ease in my house and prospering in my palace. 5 I saw a dream that made me afraid. As I lay in bed the fancies and the visions of my head alarmed me. 6 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. 7 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. 8 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, 9 “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.
Neb gets hit like most of us do
Everything is great, then BAM!
ANOTHER terrible dream (this on different)
Again he calls the wise men in to interpret
Probably never takes them serious
Because he’s possibly waiting for Daniel to return
(Again, this may be why he wasn’t in the furnace)
He’s not angrily threatening his wise men
Hey, anyone have an idea while I wait for Daniel?
They could fake an answer...
Nope! They don’t want to be proven wrong by Daniel
Plus, the dream is not good news
At this point, Neb is still focused on wrong things
Named after my god
You’d think he’d let him go back to Daniel - but not yet
He calls him Daniel at the time of writing
But Belteshazzar at the time of the events
2. Spirit of the holy gods is in you
Notice spirit and gods are all lowercase
He’s not talking about Yahweh - Hebrew God
That’s a big mistake!
Again, he says this at the event, not the time of writing
Neb skips the testing - tells him the dream
Just like the last dream, we’re looking at three things
Content of the dream
Meaning of the dream
Outcome of the dream
CONTENT:
CONTENT:
We’ll move kinda quickly through the content
10 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. 11 The tree grew and became strong, and its top reached to heaven, and it was visible to the end of the whole earth. 12 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.
Break down the tree
Big tree
Whole earth
Abundant provision
Offers comfort (shade), shelter (branches) and food (fruit)
Here’s where things get interesting:
13 “I saw in the visions of my head as I lay in bed, and behold, a watcher, a holy one, came down from heaven. 14 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.
A watcher (probably an angel) makes a declaration
Tree is chopped down
Not just left there, it’s totally dismantled
Leaves stripped, fruit scattered
As a result, animals and birds all leave
But that’s not the end of the tree:
15 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. 16 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. 17 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.’
Still a stump left behind
Band of iron and bronze
Then the language changes - about a man, not a tree
The angel says for 7 years you live and act like an animal
This is coming from the angels - why?
To show 3 things
1.) God is sovereign
2.) He chooses who will be in charge
3.) He chooses the humble and the weak
18 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.”
19 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!
Neb puts complete faith in Daniel
Again, for the wrong reason
Lowercase spirit of the holy gods
It should say “God, the Holy Spirit
Daniel doesn’t want to say what it means
Daniel cares for Neb
He says, “I sure hope this isn’t for you! I hope it’s for your enemies!”
But it’s not
Still, Neb knows he’ll get an honest answer from Daniel
He’s not going to kiss up or manipulate
Those are good friends to have
I told Marshall just two weeks ago
I appreciate that he will give a thorough and thoughtful response
I got an email from him saying he had concerns
I instantly had fear — why?
Not because he’s always negative...
If he’s concerned, he’s probably right
Those are good friends to have
The only way to learn hard truths, is talking to honest people
Noël Coward: “It's discouraging to think how many people are shocked by honesty and how few by deceit.”
That’s a huge problem for the American church
Talks about hell, sin, inadequacies are rejected
Anything that isn’t positive - that’s not right! Jesus wouldn’t do that!
THAT IS UNTRUE!
Jesus absolutely called people on their junk!
He called Peter Satan
He called the Pharisees hypocrites, vipers, evil and stiffnecked
He called his disciples fools
He whipped people and turned over tables
He talks about hell 60 times
Jesus wasn’t mean, He had authority and honesty
I’m not saying we start threatening hell all the time
Jesus talks about hell in 3% of His Bible quotes
He talks about heaven in 10%
That means He talks about this life in at least 87%
I’m saying we learn to be honest with people
We have to remember we don’t have His perfect knowledge...
But we should be open to people calling out truth to us
Neb gets that right, don’t worry Daniel
So now, Daniel gives bad news to Neb
MEANING:
MEANING:
20 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, 21 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— 22 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.
Trees are a symbol of plans, power and provision
Neb’s kingdom is huge!
First city EVER to reach 200,000 people - size of Chicago
No skyscrapers, plumbing, highways, etc.
Empire would beat CA for 3rd largest state behind TX and AK
He was powerful!
23 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,’ 24 this is the interpretation, O king: It is a decree of the Most High, which has come upon my lord the king, 25 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. 26 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.
So the tree represents power, and it is ordered to be chopped
In Isaiah, a tree symbolizes God’s people of Israel
33 Behold, the Lord God of hosts
will lop the boughs with terrifying power;
the great in height will be hewn down,
and the lofty will be brought low.
34 He will cut down the thickets of the forest with an axe,
and Lebanon will fall by the Majestic One.
This refers to Israel’s chopping which has already happened!
That’s why Daniel is in Babylon!
And Daniel is part of the stump, the remnant
The point of the stump is it can be regrown
Remove the damaged, diseased, dying parts
Let new growth start fresh
That’s why this passage comes in Isaiah 11
1 There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse,
and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit.
2 And the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him,
the Spirit of wisdom and understanding,
the Spirit of counsel and might,
the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord.
Israel is a tree, chopped to a stump, and new growth comes for God’s plan
Who is this new growth? JESUS!
And so Neb is seeing this same type of tree-based imagery
This time, Babylon is the tree
Daniel says, “Your kingdom is going to be chopped down
BUT just like Israel, a stump will remain
This stump has a brass and iron band around it though, why?
Either to protect it, or restrict it from growing back
Either way, it will be restricted or preserved so it can grow back later
In the meantime, remember the language shifts to a man - Neb
V.23: “..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”
How do you get wet with the dew of heaven?
You sleep outside
What is is cut of the deal?
The same as the animals
How long?
Seven periods
7 days? Not enough for dreadlock feathers or claws
Also 7 weeks, and months
Maybe seven seasons...
Probably years
But it is still avoidable!
Sometimes in Scripture, people can repent
Hezekiah defeated invaders and was healed - both miraculously
Nineveh repented and was spared for years after Jonah’s warning
Daniel tells Neb he has that same chance:
27 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.”
He says stop being bad...
AND start being good!
Telling your king to quit sinning is probably not easy
Probably just as hard to say, “Start being good!”
Let’s see if Neb listens
OUTCOME:
OUTCOME:
28 All this came upon King Nebuchadnezzar. 29 At the end of twelve months he was walking on the roof of the royal palace of Babylon, 30 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?”
It’s one year later and he’s at 1 of 3 palaces
He’s dealing with something we all do at times
C.S. Lewis: “A proud man is always looking down on things and people; and, of course, as long as you are looking down, you cannot see something that is above you.”
That is so true
Pride is what makes an idol out of ourselves
God has designed us like the birds
We are meant to soar with grace
Freedom to explore the blessings of heaven
Pride is like gold
It looks so valuable, in fact the world tells you it’s valuable
And so we pile it on our backs to take with us
We fly around, showing people how much we are worth
Then we gain confidence, so we add more
And we keep adding more until we can no longer take flight
We find ourselves stuck at our lowest point
Not until we drop that worthless pride will we can once again take flight
18 Pride goes before destruction,
and a haughty spirit before a fall.
North Carolina
Self-reliant, but nothing without God
I believe He had to set up one final work before senior pastor
I wonder how much pride is on your back?
How many things are wrong in your life
But you don’t include your church family?
We think we have to put on our best face at church
THAT’S A LIE!
That’s what Satan wants
God wants us to share our pain with each other
To compliment each other’s weaknesses
To help each other, if we have a little humility
If you don’t, your world will come crashing down
Maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow, but it will
Just like it does for Neb:
31 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, 32 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.”
Seems like Neb forgot about the dream...
Bet he’ll remember now!
He heard the same words here that he heard in the dream
At that very moment, Neb lost his ever-loving mind
33 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.
Neb exhibited signs of delusional metamorphosis
Some are clinical zoanthropy/lycanthropy: believing you’re an animal
Still exists today, although only 56 documented cases
Some are wolves, rhinos, frogs, horses, birds, tigers and even bees
Usually with other disorders: bipolar, schizophrenia, drug use
Neb specifically had boanthropy: delusions of being an ox or cow
Pastoral counseling degree is a blend of theology and psychology
There is a battle with people over Christian psychology
Some believe counselors have destroyed the role of the pastor
Some believe psychologists mask demonic activity
Others believe demons are an old way to explain psych disorders
Here, I think we see they work together
God made Neb crazy
We cannot forget our worlds are connected
He had long, ratty dreadlocks, soaked in the rain, and his nails grew long
Interesting fact - No record of Neb’s royal orders from 582BC to 575BC
That’s a seven year period!
Now the text goes back to first person:
34 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;
35 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?”
Now Neb gets it right
This had to be humbling
Every time he holds court: MOOOO!
He could only see his weakness once he recognized God’s strength
Interesting: When he came to reason, he also came to worship
How many sins come from our irrationality?
How much wickedness begins with our own lunacy?
I often look back at my own sin and wonder, “What was I thinking?”
Neb’s perspective has shifted
He no longer revels in his own greatness
Not that he hates himself - he just doesn’t look there
C.S. Lewis: Humility is not thinking less of yourself — it’s thinking of yourself less.
If I may add, it’s thinking about God instead...
And look at this:
36 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. 37 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.
Wow, think of God’s grace
Grace is one of my favorite things about God
We named a kid after it!
6 But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”
From Proverbs 3:34
He gave everything back to Neb, AND MORE!
God fulfilled His promise
Remember why He did this? He said it in v.17:
“...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.”
Neb has realized that he is only worth what God made him
16 So the last will be first, and the first last.”
God does His best work with people who don’t try to be about themselves
Zac Poonen: “Sin came through the pride of Lucifer and salvation came through the humility of Jesus.”
Maybe God is saving your best work until you see something
I want to close with the words of the Apostle Paul
9 For I am the least of the apostles, unworthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. 10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me.
Prayer
Prayer