OPENING SCRIPTURE: Daniel 4:1-3

This is the last chapter in Daniel involving King Nebuchadnezzar, Babylon’s most powerful king. If I were to put a subtitle to our message, it could be: the memoirs of a crazy king; or the downfall of a prideful king. Here’s the bottom line: dude was pridefully crazy!

Many scholars believe the timing of Daniel chapter 4 to be about 30 years following the episode in the fiery furnace. What’s unique about Chapter 4, is that Daniel did not write it. It was written by King Nebuchadnezzar. Question: What is so important that God has a this pagan King write this message to you and I today? As a matter of fact, it is the only chapter in the whole entire Bible to be written by a pagan king. The original language here is not Hebrew but Aramaic. As a matter of fact we made that switch back in Chapter 2 and will keep in Aramaic until chapter 7. Why? Audience.

Aramaic is the language of diplomacy, of politics. The switch is made in order to address a global audience. Daniel was fluent in both. Prophets are fluent in 2 languages: the language of God and the language of man.

I, King Nebuchadnezzar sent this message to the people of every race and nation and language throughout the world: “Peace and prosperity to you!² “I want you all to know about the miraculous signs and wonders the Most High God has performed for me. ³ How great are his signs, how powerful his wonders! His kingdom will last forever, his rule through all generations. (Daniel 4:1-3 NLT)

• Now does this sound like the words of a crazy king. Absolutely not. This sounds so good! King Nebu is saying all the right things. But how can we trust his words?
• Did he not say in Chapter 2:47 – “Truly your God is the God of all gods, the Lord of all kings”. But then turns around 18 years later and builds a golden statue of himself.
• Did he not say in Chapter 3:28 – “Blessed is the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego who sets His angels and delivered His servants”
• But what has changed now, 30 years later. Nothing at all!

TRANSITION: I believe there’s a relevant message for us here.

• Without the filter of the Holy Spirit, the compass of the Word of God, and the guidance of our Heavenly Father, we might be miss God all together. We might miss what God wants to do and asking of us and instead focus our attention on the eloquent words of man.
• In these chaotic and confusing times, not just here at home but also around the world, it is important that we take our cues from scriptures instead of the newspapers.
• Going back to King Nebu’s introduction- Again absolutely nothing wrong!
• But we know that saying the right things is not good enough

PROFESSION DOES NOT MEAN POSSESSION

• What do I mean by that? Speaking “Christianese” does not mean that God possesses your heart.
• Listen to what Jesus says: “These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me” (Matthew 15:18)
• In psychology, it’s called: virtue signaling. It’s publicly expressing an opinion that is socially acceptable, that’s politically correct, but that’s disingenuous.
• Here’s my sanctified version: Being Fake!
• If we want to be honest here this morning, we have all struggled in that area.
• Since we are being honest here: It’s called pride! The word says: Pride comes before the fall!
• Verse 4 reveals the King’s heart

“I, Nebuchadnezzar, was living in my palace in comfort and prosperity” (Daniel 4:4 NLT)

• First it was about how amazing God is. Then pride reveals the true intent: How great I am!

PRIDE MUST HAVE A VOICE!

• Pride can never be silent. Pride starts in the heart but requires a physical demonstration.
• Pride is a tool of the enemy that leads to abuse of power and a corrupted heart
• British historian, Lord Acton said: “Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely”
• Right there on the balcony of his palace, King Nebu has a troubling dream

¹⁰ “‘While I was lying in my bed, this is what I dreamed. I saw a large tree in the middle of the earth. ¹¹ The tree grew very tall and strong, reaching high into the heavens for all the world to see. ¹² It had fresh green leaves, and it was loaded with fruit for all to eat. Wild animals lived in its shade, and birds nested in its branches. All the world was fed from this tree. (Daniel 4:10-12 NLT)

• Blinded by his own pride, King Nebu loved that dream but soon after he saw something else

¹³ “‘Then as I lay there dreaming, I saw a messenger, a holy one, coming down from heaven. ¹⁴ The messenger shouted, “Cut down the tree and lop off its branches! Shake off its leaves and scatter its fruit! Chase the wild animals from its shade and the birds from its branches. ⁵ But leave the stump and the roots in the ground, bound with a band of iron and bronze and surrounded by tender grass. Now let him be drenched with the dew of heaven, and let him live with the wild animals among the plants of the field. ¹⁶ For seven periods of time, let him have the mind of a wild animal instead of the mind of a human. (Daniel 4:13-16 NLT)

• Vanity will always lead to insanity
• Daniel revealed the meaning to the King: That tree is you. That animal is you.

“You will be driven from human society, and you will live in the fields with the wild animals. You will eat grass like a cow, and you will be drenched with the dew of heaven. Seven periods of time will pass while you live this way, until you learn that the Most High rules over the kingdoms of the world and gives them to anyone he chooses. ²⁶ But the stump and roots of the tree were left in the ground. This means that you will receive your kingdom back again when you have learned that heaven rules.” (Daniel 4: 25-26 NLT)

• Daniel was deeply grieved and saddened by what was going to happen to the King. Even though, he did not agree with the King’s ways, he honored him as King.

STATEMENT: YOU CAN HONOR GOD IN AN UNGODLY ENVIRONMENT

• You do that by honoring the person whom God has placed above you. You honor the position. You honor the office. You leave the rest to God!

TRANSITION: Let’s take another pit stop here and consider these a few things

• Does God impart authority within the family? Yes
• Does God impart authority within the government? Yes
• Does God impart authority within the church? Yes
• How do we know this? Romans 13:1

Everyone must submit to governing authorities. For all authority comes from God, and those in positions of authority have been placed there by God. (Romans 13:1 NLT)

• That’s all authority – from our President to our Police
• Can human beings misrepresent God’s authority? Yes
• But remember this: God is not mocked whatever is sowed will be reaped
• You honor the authority as long as the authority is not forcing you to sin against God. You leave the judgment to God.
• Listen to this quote from John Bevere, author of the book Honors Reward: “When we oppose God’s delegated authority, we oppose God Himself.”
• This is how Daniel responded to the King:

²⁷ “‘King Nebuchadnezzar, please accept my advice. Stop sinning and do what is right. Break from your wicked past and be merciful to the poor. Perhaps then you will continue to prosper.’ (Daniel 4:27 NLT)

STATEMENT: We serve a gracious and merciful God. He is slow to wrath, slow to get angry. Slow does not mean never!

• God knows when and where to draw the line.
• The same is true for you and I – God in His Grace and Mercy still has to draw a line

TWELVE MONTHS LATER he was taking a walk on the flat roof of the royal palace in Babylon. ³⁰ As he looked out across the city, he said, ‘Look at this great city of Babylon! By my own mighty power, I have built this beautiful city as my royal residence to display my majestic splendor.’ (Daniel 4:29-30 NLT)

• God is so patient and long suffering with Nebuchadnezzar. He gives him 1 year extra year.
• He is 1 year older but not 1 year wiser. He’s 1 year prouder and louder.
• As the words were still in his mouth, God spoke: “You are no longer ruler of this kingdom.³² You will be driven from human society. You will live in the fields with the wild animals, and you will eat grass like a cow”
• For 7 years he ate grass like a cow, and he was drenched with the dew of heaven. He lived this way until his hair was as long as eagles’ feathers and his nails were like birds’ claws.
• Some lessons take 7 years to learn. Some lessons take 7 years of humbling. Some lessons take 7 years of pain and suffering.

STATEMENT: Playing God is exhausting. (The moral to Nebuchadnezzar’s story)

Our landing spot this morning is this: GOD IS ALWAYS SEEKING OUR REPENTANCE.

• God’s patience is geared towards our repentance

⁹ The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being PATIENT FOR YOUR SAKE. HE DOES NOT WANT ANYONE TO BE DESTROYED, BUT WANTS EVERYONE TO REPENT. (2 Peter 3:9 NLT)

STATEMENT: OUR REPENTANCE LEADS TO HIS RESTORATION.

• God is in the restoration business
• At the end of the 7 years, God restored Nebuchadnezzar and here are his final words:

³⁶ “When my sanity returned to me, so did my honor and glory and kingdom. My advisers and nobles sought me out, and I was restored as head of my kingdom, with even greater honor than before. ³⁷ “Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and glorify and honor the King of heaven. All his acts are just and true, and he is able to humble the proud.” (Daniel 4: 36-37 NLT)

• Have you been trying to keep your head above water? You don’t have to try anymore. All you have to do is surrender to God. Let Him uphold you with His righteous right hand!

 

• Have you been trying to put back together what the enemy has destroyed? You don’t have to anymore. All you have to do is surrender to God. Let Him make the enemy pay back 7-fold!

CONCLUSION: If you have never surrendered your life to the Lordship of Jesus Christ, I want to invite you right to do so.