4.2.29.a 6.15.2021 Proud of Yourself? (OBCSC Junior High Week) Daniel 4 (2)

Start

Entice: Tonight, I have the unique honor of discussing a man who went insane. The text is long. I want to start with his preliminary statement which frames what is to follow

Daniel 4:1–3 ESV

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.

Engage: What we will learn is that before the Most High God did something for him, he did something to him. Let me tell you the story.

Expand: Once upon a time Nebuchadnezzar had a dream that scared him. His local think-tank could not help him so he got Daniel (who he called Belteshazzer) to help because of his connection to God and because he had done this kind of thing before. In his dream Neb. saw this huge tree in which all the fauna of the world basked. Next an angelic being came down from heaven, proclaiming the destruction of the tree , cutting off its branches, stripping it it of leaves and fruit and leaving it a stump for the purpose of proclaiming judgement over it. Daniel was upset because what the dream indicated was not that good for Neb. It was a dream proclaiming a specific judgement on Neb. He was to be driven away to live like an ox, disheveled and damp with dew, unkempt and unapproachable.

Daniel 4:27 ESV

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.”

Neb. apparently did not get the message.

Daniel 4:28–33 (ESV)

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?”

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.”

33 Immediately the word was fulfilled against Nebuchadnezzar.

Excite: Daniel had responsibility and opportunity in these circumstances because of his integrity. His influence can be clearly seen in the words of Nebuchadnezzar's repentance. He had been humbled by Daniel's God and though we cannot really know how deeply he believed in Daniel's God he was not going to exalt himself again. The lesson for us is that…

Explore:

You cannot live a life of praise while living a life of self-serving pride.

• Explain: This is a long, detailed, repetitive passage. I am less interested in you knowing exactly what happened than I am in having you learn what Nebuchadnezzar learned.

Those lessons come in

Daniel 4:36–37 ESV

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.

1. God's Rule.

God deserves our faithful response

Praise

Extol

Honor

God's domain is universal

2. God's Righteousness.

His works are right.

His ways are just.

3. God's Reach.

Santa Clause! Santa Clause! God makes the surveillance of Santa look amateurish. God knows you He knows me. From the most renowned to the least significant.

He knows who walks in pride.

He humbles those who walk in pride.

Shut Down:

• I am a Christian. We need to find grace and gospel in this odd story. Nebuchadnezzar was a Pagan. He had oppressed God's people

Yet Daniel's faith made an impact on him. It was not through political power, palace intrigue, or constant whining about being a poor exile. He did his job; even when it was uncomfortable. He Lived faithfully. He was present.

• Daniel had so much influence that when Nebuchadnezzar repented it looks like he took the words right out of Daniel's mouth.

• The world is not fair and our society is filled with inequalities. There are needs. There is pain. There are people looking for answers. And there are guys like Nebuchadnezzar: full of himself, drunk on pride and power, convinced that he himself has made the world. If that proud man could find the face of God in his own madness…maybe there is hope for us after all.