Pride in Daniel ch 4

Thought of the day: Pride is a less human emotion

Read Daniel 4:1-3

1 This is written by Nebuchadnezzar after God drives him mad. The end of the story first then an explanation of how it got there.

2 See the repentance; It appears as if Neb is genuine. This is the last the bible speaks of him.

3 He finally personalizes and experiences what God has been working on showing him since Daniel 1.

Read Daniel 4:4-9

6 He doesn’t threaten to kill them, quite the change!

7 No paranoia this time - this is the end of his reign, there aren’t his father’s wise men. He trusts them.

9 Neb has known Daniel for a while, He’s seen the God of Daniel save Shad, Me, Aben… He has faith in Daniel’s relationship with God - it’s interesting that he doesn’t go to God himself.

Read Daniel 4:10-18

12 Like Neb’s last dream, it started pleasant

13 and again God destroys the great thing that was made

15 let “him” we went from a stump to “him”

17 “verdict” this isn’t a whim it’s a judgement

God is going to use Neb’s kingdom and power to proclaim His own strength.

Developing this tool:

God uses pride, wicked kings, wicked.

God uses the good works of the righteous.

God uses sin to glorify Himself.

God uses love.

God uses us to glorify Himself.

Whether you want to be on the joyous side of that or not you will glorify God.

The primary responsibility of all things is to be used by God to show His character.

Read Daniel 4:19-27

24 you have been judged by God, of course this puts to rest the idea that the king is supreme and not judged

25 is sovereign, Daniel’s definition is simple: gives the kingdoms of man to anyone he wishes. Chapter 5 “is sovereign over all kingdoms on earth and sets over them anyone he wishes.”

Kingdoms are God’s to give however He chooses.

26 he will give it to you if you are humble

Read Daniel 4:28-33

30 I have built, he made it 12 months before he sank back down into his pride. If this is him looking over his completed building project that places this 30 years from the furnace. It’s like God could see the pride welling up in Neb as the completion of his project came near.

By my might and power, and for the glory of MY majesty.

33 This is the climax of God revealing Himself to Neb. Daniel tells, Daniel shows, Shad-me-ab show, God crushes

34 The name Daniel is interesting, it loosely means God is my Judge. Pride, that inhumane thought, seeks to usurp God’s unique right to judge and the book of Daniel isn’t having any of it.

Read Daniel 4:34-37

35 I am nothing compared to the surpassing glory of the one I serve

37 What Neb took from the whole thing is that God is able to crush the proud.

Outro

You cannot perform any Christian duty in pride… why? Because it is literally the opposite of what you were made for.

This is not a Jewish king because it’s more than a Jewish/Christian/God’s people principle. It’s a basic human truth.

The story of the tower of Babel, of Daniel and Neb happen in every one of our hearts. God gives each of us a portion, a talent a good thing, God has made you to reflect His image. There are 2 responses

Look what I’ve done

or

Look what God has done

God will get the glory either way, I’m begging you choose joy, choose humility, you are more than pride.