Daniel 4- A King humbled

This is a unique passage! It’s not written by Daniel or a prophet. The write isn’t even Jewish. The writer is King Nebuchadnezzar and he’s writing to all people of the earth! He has this letter translated into every language! Something major happened in his life!

Amazing the man who was bringing war to all nations is bringing peace!

What happened to this King?

God humbled him

Theres a Biblical truth & principal: God hates pride & loves humility, humbleness, and meekness

Matthew 23:12 “And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.”

Proverbs 8:13 “The fear of the Lord is to hate evil: Pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, And the froward mouth, do I hate.”

Proverbs 16:18-19 “Pride goeth before destruction, And an haughty spirit before a fall. Better it is to be of an humble spirit with the lowly, Than to divide the spoil with the proud.”

Micah 6:8 “He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; And what doth the Lord require of thee, But to do justly, and to love mercy, And to walk humbly with thy God?”

Luke 18:14 “I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.”

In this life either we can humble our selves or God will do it

Luke 14:11 “For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.”

In this story God humbles an arrogant and prideful king! As we go through this let us beware of pride and it’s consequences!

I. The King’s Pride

In the Chapter before he had literally made a statue of him self to be worshipped

Idolatry and bad worship

He forgot it was God who set him up

Daniel 4:30 “The king spake, and said, Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for the house of the kingdom by the might of my power, and for the honour of my majesty?”

He was comfortable

Daniel 4:4 “I Nebuchadnezzar was at rest in mine house, and flourishing in my palace:”

He was trusting stuff more than the provider of that stuff

How often do we find our selfs doing the same things and thinking similar thoughts?

II. The King’s position

Notice the mercy of God here! God gave this evil and prideful king a chance to repent!

Daniel 4:27 “Wherefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable unto thee, and break off thy sins by righteousness, and thine iniquities by shewing mercy to the poor; if it may be a lengthening of thy tranquillity.”

God too gives us the chance to repent from our pride.

We too have a chance to repent from pride. 1 Peter 5:5-7 “Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.”

Nebuchadnezzar chose not to repent and it cost him dearly.

Turn from pride

III. The King’s proclamation

God humbled the king because he didn’t turn from his pride.

It’s best we turn from pride

Nebuchadnezzar was humbled!

Results of humility: Praise, worship, realizing God’s position

If you’re here and dealing with pride. HUMBLE YOURSELF