Daniel 4:1-37
Preached Sunday February 19, 2012

Introduction:

There are two basic ways that we can be motivated to change our behavior. The best way is to learn and live. This happens when we hear the Word of God, or wise counsel and adjust our behavior to match the wisdom we have just acquired. This is the most rewarding and least painful way to learn. The other motivation God uses is for us to live and learn. God uses consequences that are directly ties to our actions to motivate us to adjust our behavior in order to achieve better outcomes in the future. When the first motivator does not work, often God uses the latter as His backup plan.

King Nebuchadnezzar thought that he was the most powerful man in the universe. He was proud of his kingdom. I believe that he thought that the vision he had in Daniel chapter 2 was somehow a sign from God that even God believed that Nebuchadnezzar was the greatest king of all time. I believe that this is the reason that the King made a statue of solid gold 90 feet tall. It would seem that Nebuchadnezzar was impossible to reach with the truth, but God knew how to break the king of his pride. God knew how to reach him.

Little by little, God showed Nebuchadnezzar that there was One greater than he. The great Chaldeans magicians could not offer any real supernatural aid. Three young Hebrew men turned out to be fire proof. Tonight’s passage is actually written in the first person by King Nebuchadnezzar. This is a story of a prideful and powerful king who was given two chances to learn.

I. The Personal Testimony of a Changed Man.

Daniel 4:1-3
Nebuchadnezzar the king, unto all people, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth; Peace be multiplied unto you. 2 I thought it good to shew the signs and wonders that the high God hath wrought toward me. 3 How great are his signs! and how mighty are his wonders! his kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and his dominion is from generation to generation.

A. A message of peace
B. A personal lesson that must be shared with the world.

1. Great signs and wonders.
2. An everlasting kingdom.

II. The Chance to Learn and Live

Daniel 4:4-7
4 I Nebuchadnezzar was at rest in mine house, and flourishing in my palace: 5 I saw a dream which made me afraid, and the thoughts upon my bed and the visions of my head troubled me. 6 Therefore made I a decree to bring in all the wise men of Babylon before me, that they might make known unto me the interpretation of the dream. 7 Then came in the magicians, the astrologers, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers: and I told the dream before them; but they did not make known unto me the interpretation thereof.

A. God came to the king in a dream.
B. The Babylonian wise men were powerless again,
C. The king remembered the God of Daniel.

Daniel 4:8-9
8 But at the last Daniel came in before me, whose name was Belteshazzar, according to the name of my god, and in whom is the spirit of the holy gods: and before him I told the dream, saying, 9 O Belteshazzar, master of the magicians, because I know that the spirit of the holy gods is in thee, and no secret troubleth thee, tell me the visions of my dream that I have seen, and the interpretation thereof.

D. Daniel interpreted the king’s dream

1. The tree = Nebuchadnezzar.

Daniel 4:20-22
20 The tree that thou sawest, which grew, and was strong, whose height reached unto the heaven, and the sight thereof to all the earth; 21 Whose leaves were fair, and the fruit thereof much, and in it was meat for all; under which the beasts of the field dwelt, and upon whose branches the fowls of the heaven had their habitation: 22 It is thou, O king, that art grown and become strong: for thy greatness is grown, and reacheth unto heaven, and thy dominion to the end of the earth.

2. The watcher = an angel of judgment.

Daniel 4:23-25
23 And whereas the king saw a watcher and an holy one coming down from heaven, and saying, Hew the tree down, and destroy it; yet leave the stump of the roots thereof in the earth, even with a band of iron and brass, in the tender grass of the field; and let it be wet with the dew of heaven, and let his portion be with the beasts of the field, till seven times pass over him; 24 This is the interpretation, O king, and this is the decree of the most High, which is come upon my lord the king: 25 That they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field, and they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and they shall wet thee with the dew of heaven, and seven times shall pass over thee, till thou know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will.

3. The stump = a second chance.

Daniel 4:26-27
26 And whereas they commanded to leave the stump of the tree roots; thy kingdom shall be sure unto thee, after that thou shalt have known that the heavens do rule. 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.

III. The chance to live and learn.

A. Pride was the reason for his fall.

Daniel 4:28-31
28 All this came upon the king Nebuchadnezzar. 29 At the end of twelve months he walked in the palace of the kingdom of Babylon. 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? 31 While the word was in the king’s mouth, there fell a voice from heaven, saying, O king Nebuchadnezzar, to thee it is spoken; The kingdom is departed from thee.

B. Sanity was removed for a time.

Daniel 4:32-33
32 And they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field: they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and seven times shall pass over thee, until thou know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will. 33 The same hour was the thing fulfilled upon Nebuchadnezzar: and he was driven from men, and did eat grass as oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven, till his hairs were grown like eagles’ feathers, and his nails like birds’ claws.

C. The sweet relief of a humble heart.

Daniel 4:34-36
34 And at the end of the days I Nebuchadnezzar lifted up mine eyes unto heaven, and mine understanding returned unto me, and I blessed the most High, and I praised and honoured him that liveth for ever, whose dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom is from generation to generation: 35 And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou? 36 At the same time my reason returned unto me; and for the glory of my kingdom, mine honour and brightness returned unto me; and my counsellors and my lords sought unto me; and I was established in my kingdom, and excellent majesty was added unto me.

James 4:7-10
7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. 9 Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. 10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.

D. Declare God’s salvation.

Daniel 4:37
37 Now I Nebuchadnezzar praise and extol and honour the King of heaven, all whose works are truth, and his ways judgment: and those that walk in pride he is able to abase.