Daniel as Secretary of State
Daniel as Secretary of State
10/15/2008 Stan Lubeck
Daniel 4:4-37 The LIFEhouse Church
We are beginning a three week series called Christian Values in a political world. I hope you won't miss one week. Some of you think it is impossible to be a Republican and be a Christian. Some of you think that it is impossible to be a Democrat. Some of you haven't voted in a long time because you are so depressed with the system and the limited options.
Some of you, like me, are fascinated with this election. You have opinions on everything. Others of you hardly notice that there is an election…
I'm indebted to Andy Stanley – son of Charles Stanley for some of his insights on this passage.
This is the story of King Nebuchadnezzar – who can spell it? Who would name their child that?
This all happened around 580-567 BC
It was a time of peach and prosperity in Babylon. But it is a message that sin will always catch up to us. There is a false security when we think God does not know, or see or care about our sin.
I. A Divine Appointment
God is giving Daniel access to the most powerful king in the world at that time. Daniel is able to speak into the life of this world leader about a fundamental truth of all leadership on this planet. What was it that Daniel had to say? We will see that it is as if Daniel is the Secretary of State, in his influence, his stature, his opportunity to speak, what God put in his mouth to speak.
This was a Divine appointment that God arranged, and when the time was right Daniel communicated with the wonderful balance of truth and love. God gave him the words to speak at the right time, and he refused to tickle the King's ears… for favored status.
This story happens in what is considered a parenthesis in Biblical history. God had warned the nation of Israel that if you do not obey His commandments, I'm going to judge you.
God was allowing foreigners to invade the land and take over for a period of 70 years, when He was judging the nation of Israel. This story happened during that 70 year period of captivity. It is known as the Babylonian Captivity.
This was a time when God was not actively working in lives because of their disbelief. So people assumed that he was out of action permanently.
People started to think that God had left town and didn't care what was happening on earth. This could not be further from the truth. Even in this period of Babylonian Captivity, God acted and showed Himself involved, and in power.
When there is a vacuum of power other powers will arise and the god Marduk (lower g) this pagan god, is being worshiped. When people stop worshiping the true God, any god will do…
The Temple in Jerusalem has been destroyed and the walls around the city have been torn down.
How could the God of insignificant Judah, whose people had been led away in humiliation, be anything but insignificant too?[i]
But Daniel had no doubts that God could intervene in space and time.
The conquering King Nebuchadnezzar was a brilliant king. What set him apart from other ancient kings was that when he would conquer a people or a nation, he would gather together their most brilliants minds, their wisest men and he would use their wisdom to help him govern the nation.
Instead of doing what all the other kings would do, tear everything down and wipe out all the people, Nebuchadnezzar would go in and find the best and the brightest and the most talented and bring them into Babylon.
He surrounded himself with the best and the brightest regardless of nationality. He would allow them to have offices and places of responsibility in Babylon. He wasn't "prejudiced."
It was more important to him to surround himself with the sharpest people and with those with the greatest insight, than to gather those who were of his own nationality and background.
I'm sure that he irritated many who thought they deserved the favored positions because of who they knew, or the positions held, or line of succession, or career track.
Nebuchadnezzar had a teachable spirit! He didn't assume that just because the Babylonians had conquered these other nations, that somehow the Babylonians had the corner on the market of wisdom.
You could be a conquered slave, and if you were a great mathematician or a skilled craftsman, artist or scientist, or a wise counselor, Nebuchadnezzar would put you to good use in Babylon for the benefit of the empire.
You could be a slave, and yet once your talent and ability was revealed, you would be allowed to have quite the status and a place in the economy of Babylon. You could be an alien and yet practice your skill.
Consequently, Nebuchadnezzar was surrounded with the best and the brightest minds of the known world.
He was not intimidated by sharp people. In his wisdom, he surrounded himself with the best minds and most talented people in the land. What an amazing leader!
He was not like some leaders who surround themselves with "yes" men, status climbers and political opportunists.
This is why Nebuchadnezzar was such an amazing leader!
When he conquered the nation of Israel and destroyed the city of Jerusalem, he brought the best back to Babylon.
Four of those brought back were Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. We are familiar with these guys and that is how they got to Babylon, as captive slaves.
They were trained and educated in the ways of the Babylonians and over time, because of Neb's openness and the favor of God, they rose up to the position of advisors to the most powerful king in the world at that time, King Nebuchadnezzar.
This all happened in Babylon which is in modern day Iraq.
In fact Saddam Hussein wanted to recreate the kingdom of Nebuchadnezzar and re-establish his reign over the same territory as ancient Babylon. As you know, Saddam's plan didn't go over so well.
So life is good for King Neb! The empire is solid and he is benefiting from all of the conquered nations and the bounty brought in as well. He is prosperous beyond imagination and content with all that the world and unmatched power could provide.
Neb's building projects were impressive and magnificent. He built canals that carried water throughout the city, fed by the Euphrates River. He built palace gardens that gained international attention. His home would eventually be named one of the seven wonders of the ancient world.
He had the luxuriously appointed King's pad… Big Screen TV, the latest i-phone, wi-fi and a direct line to the Home Shopping Network. (I added this part)
In the midst of his expansive prosperity and success, he has a dream that rocks his world.
And that is where our story begins.
Beginning with Daniel 4:4 Neb tells his own story.
II. A Divine Announcement
Daniel 4:4-5 I, Nebuchadnezzar, was at home in my palace, contented and prosperous. I had a dream that made me afraid. As I was lying in my bed, the images and visions that passed through my mind terrified me. NIV
Nebuchadnezzar dreamed that there was this giant tree and under the tree were all these animals living and resting under it's branches. The tree provided them with plenty to eat. Life was good for all the animals and birds in the neighborhood. Everybody was happy and at peace.
It is speaking of Neb's world empire that provided for many.
Then the story turns on it's head. There is a loud voice that cries out, "cut down the tree."
Suddenly in the dream, the tree starts to be cut down and the voice says, "scatter the animals" and the animals run for their lives and the tree is cut down until it is just a stump.
Then place a metal band around the stump to protect it from total ruin. Then at the end of the dream a voice speaks up…
And we pick up the story in verse 17
III. A Divine Accomplishment
Daniel 4:17 “ ‘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 the kingdoms of men and gives them to anyone he wishes and sets over them the lowliest of men.’ NIV
This is quite a proclamation to one who thinks he is the most high.
So Nebuchadnezzar is scared to death of this dream and he calls in all the smartest men in the land. If he had a cabinet, like our President, it would be like calling in the Vice President, the Chief of Staff, Secretary of the Treasury, the Secretary of War, Homeland Security and especially the Environmental Protection Agency to protect the tree from further damage.
Neb called his closest counselors to the oval office of Babylon. He holds a meeting and tells all the most brilliant minds about this nightmare that he had.
They were clueless and had no idea what Nebuchadnezzar's dream was all about.
So finally the word gets around the Daniel. They bring him in to solve this riddle.
Daniel says, Dude!!! I wish that this dream was not a dream about you, but for your enemies. THIS is a bad news dream… your worst nightmare on Elmstreet. I can interpret this dream for you, but this does not look too good for you. Here is the prognosis.
Daniel 4:24 “This is the interpretation, O king, and this is the decree the Most High has issued against my lord the king: NIV
Notice the emphasis! The "Most High." The Babylonians had a god by the name of Marduk who was in fashion at that time. Every other nation in the area had their own god.
So when Daniel is speaking of the Most High, he is saying that the God who is above all these other lesser gods, is the one who is speaking.
He doesn't say that he is only a god, because he is in a culture full of gods (lower g).
This lowly slave by the name of Daniel, came to town as an alien, because his nation was defeated in battle, and his God hasn't been speaking much lately. Daniel is speaking of this God whose house, the temple was demolished and the walls of the surrounding city were broken down and burned… Daniel is boldly speaking and calling this God, The Most High.
From a human perspective, it looks like this MOST HIGH God is a lesser god. From THE MOST HIGH perspective, the failure rests squarely on the "unbelieving believers of Judah."
God's inactivity on behalf of His people is because of the sin of the believers. The captivity to a foreign power had nothing to do with God's ability, but everything to do with their rebellion against God's known will.
This would seem to indicate that the Babylonian god must be greater than the God of the Hebrews. In that day, Judaism was dead in the water. They were taking a long siesta from practicing their faith in the living God.
Daniel proclaims, The Most High is speaking… not a really really good God. Not a nice average size god, but THE Most High is the one who is getting your attention… and here is the message.
IV. A Divine Judgment
Daniel 4:25-26 You will be driven away from people and will live with the wild animals; you will eat grass like cattle 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 the kingdoms of men and gives them to anyone he wishes. 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. NIV
You will be restored when you acknowledge that Heaven Rules! Heaven rules whether you believe it or not!
This was a huge hit to Neb's ego! This was a paradigm shift.
Think for a moment of the risk that Daniel is taking. He is betting the farm on this dream. Daniel is risking it all. He is all in. It is no holds barred.
Daniel is making the statement, You are not God.
Marduk is not god! There is an invisible, and lately very silent God whom I serve, and He is the one who has chosen to speak to you through this dream.
He is about to make a point that is a game changer!
When everybody thinks that God is out of the way and off doing something else on this planet, He wants the world to know that He is alive and well.
It does not matter what position of leadership you hold. You might be a teacher, Principal, Team Captain, Platoon Leader, CEO, a CFO, a President, Chairman, Pastor, Elder, Husband, Emperor, Ayatollah, His Excellency… but God wants you to know something this morning!
Heaven Rules! God is on His throne. No matter how big you think you are, no matter how irreplaceable you think you are, God is the one who is ultimately in charge whether you like it or not.
God is no "respecter of persons!"
You are not the one who ultimately rules! HEAVEN Rules!
God has just been biding his time and he wants to show and demonstrate even to the most powerful man on the planet, "I'm still in charge and you are not in as much control as you think."
You think you marched into Jerusalem and destroyed Israel, but I am here to tell you, that you only did it because I allowed you to do so. I alone am The Most High God!
Daniel tells Neb, if only you will repent, if only you weren't so ARROGANT!
If you would bend your knee and acknowledge that there is a Most High God, who is the one and only God and you are NOT him!
Ø If you would make sure that there is more justice in your kingdom.
Ø If you would be more considerate of the poor.
If you would make these changes and not be like all the other arrogant kings in this world, then God might have mercy on you, and this nightmare of a dream might not become a reality.
Of course, Nebuchadnezzar isn't all to hip on the dream saying that he will eat grass like a cow?
He thinks that he is fine and disregards the words of Daniel!
He disregards the dream and goes back to his business as top dog in the land. He thinks he is above all accountability for his actions.
V. A Divine Expression of Grace
Daniel 4:29-30 Twelve months later, as the king was walking on the roof of the royal palace of Babylon, 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?” NIV
I am the greatest. Am I great or what? I am THE man! Look at what I have accomplished. I don't mind telling myself how great I am!
I worked hard, I conquered all the others low life kingdoms in the territory. I brought all their brightest minds in for my benefit. I'm the pacesetter of kings. No one can touch me. I'm invincible. I'm indestructible, I'm unbeatable and impregnable.
But the problem is, no matter how impressive and powerful Neb has become, God is greater!
There is a verse in the Bible that speaks to Neb's core failure…
Proverbs 16:18 Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall. NIV
Daniel 4:31 The words were still on his lips when a voice came from heaven, “This is what is decreed for you, King Nebuchadnezzar: Your royal authority has been taken from you. NIV
Nebuchadnezzar was probably thinking, "this cannot be happening to me!" I'm a self made man! You cannot foreclose on my kingdom! I earned everything I have. I put this empire together, and now you cannot take this from me.
God is in his face, saying, here is the point I want you to get, "you think that you have done this yourself, that you are a self made man. But once and for all I want you to know that I am the Most High God, and you are NOT.
Heaven Rules! I alone reign on this planet.
The only reason you have any success in this world is because I am allowing it!
Nebuchadnezzar is confronted with the most powerful leadership principle there is…
Leadership, whether it is family, a business, a division, a department, a team an Elder Board, a Home Owner's Association, or an elected office from mayor to the Queen Mother.
Key Point: Leadership is Delegated by God
It is a stewardship! It is a trust! This trust is temporary and you are accountable to God.
People who have been put in charge as leaders are simply stewards of God. They have that leadership and responsibility because God has enabled them and entrusted and empowered them to be that leader.
By definition a leader is accountable! Because God gave them the position.
Romans 14:12 So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God. NIV
It's also temporary, because God can take it away! Someone will one day fill your shoes, whether you like it or not.
God is saying, I'm going to take your leadership away, because it was not yours to begin with!
I can take it and I can give it, because I Am the Most High God. I am sovereign!
Daniel 4:32 You will be driven away from people and will live with the wild animals; you will eat grass like cattle. Seven times will pass by for you until you acknowledge that the Most High is sovereign over the kingdoms of men and gives them to anyone he wishes.” NIV
Most people think this is seven years…
Immediately after hearing this, Neb went crazy! He lost his mind… He lost his sanity and there the officials found him on the ground acting like a crazy man.
Some form of the disease called lycanthropy, in which a person thinks he is an animal and lives wildly, caused him to eat grass, have thick and unkept nails, shaggy hair, and behave inhumanly.[ii]
So suddenly, this mighty king is stripped of his sanity and he is broken down to the level of an animal. He is groveling around the ground and eating with his fingers.
He is a crazy man and the people in the palace evidently kept it a secret for a while. They covered for him and protected him from being found out. They answered the phone for him and kept up his email, and told people that he would be back in the office next week. So they kept the kingdom operating without him, and they certainly didn't want the surrounding nations to find out what had happened to him.
The poorest Christian is far richer than Nebuchadnezzar, because in the Word we have God’s program for the future.
The Lord gives and the Lord takes away.
Decision:
Prayer: Some of you have been fighting with God just like Nebuchadnezzar. Pride – what is the middle letter – I!
You think life is about you! You think you are a self made man, and you have the leadership you enjoy because you deserve everything you have. God can take your health, your wealth and your career in a heartbeat… not to destroy you, but to set you free to serve Him.
God brought you here for a reason. He will travel a million miles to meet you if you will take the smallest step of humbling yourself and acknowledging your need.
If that is you, I want to pray for you. Raise your hand boldly and say, yes it's me. Lord, I need a fresh touch from you. Raise your hand, so I can pray for you.
Lord, thank you for these people who want You to be real and active in their lives. Touch them Lord! Give them supernatural strength to worship you. Set them free.
Others of you don't have a relationship with Christ. You might be like Neb, you have it all, but you know in your heart "Heaven Rules!" God is calling you to Himself. Like Neb, God will allow you to experience pain, heartbreak and disappointment, so that you will see your need for Him to be your Lord and Savior.
God knows your name! He knows you pain and your hang ups and hurt. He came 2000 years ago for you!! He came to take your lust and your lies, your pain and your cussedness, and he went to the cross to pay for your sin and mine to set us free to worship Him.
Three days later He raised from that grave and He is standing before you today with his arms open wide saying, "come to me." I love you and want to give you peace and joy and purpose in your life. I want to forgive you of your sins and your lust and your addictions. He desperately wants a relationship with you and He is calling you right now. He brought you here today for a reason. He wants to give you peace, love joy and forgiveness of sins.
If you are saying, that is me, I know it and I cannot deny it any longer, I need Jesus in my life. I need Jesus to save me, to come into my life and be my Lord.
If that is you, right now, boldly without shame, I want you to raise your hand.
For some of you, the reason that God brought you to church today is to give your life to Him… don't miss it! Boldly without shame, say, God I need you. Thank you for listening to God.
Repeat this prayer after me… "God save me. God forgive me. Take away my sin. Come into my life that I might worship you as you created me to do. I need you to make me new and give me a fresh start and be my Lord. In Jesus name, Amen.
Closing Prayer: Dear Father, we thank You so much for all You’ve done for us in our lives. Thank You for life itself. Thank You that You’ve created us, You saved us, You’ve given us a purpose, You’ve guaranteed us a home in heaven. We wouldn’t have anything without You. And we’re saying to You, Whatever. Whatever, God. Whatever You want to do with our lives, we are Yours. In Your name I pray. Amen.
Next week: Daniel for Secretary of State?
What would Jesus Say to the Next President?
Why Doesn't Jesus Run for President?
Action Points:
I want to humble myself and obey God by:
q Surrendering my life to Christ
q Being baptized
q Joining the church
I want to submit to the Most High God by:
__________________________________________________
I choose to worship God as the Most High by: __________________________________________________
Wrap:
40 Days of Community Groups – I hope you will want to continue.
Notice the homework in the bulletin – that will be there every week, and I would love to see many of our groups following along.
Next week – What Jesus would say to the next President
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[i]Richards, L., & Richards, L. O. (1987). The teacher's commentary. Includes index. (439). Wheaton, Ill.: Victor Books.
[ii]MacArthur, J. J. (1997, c1997). The MacArthur Study Bible (electronic ed.) (Da 4:16). Nashville: Word Pub.