Scripture: Daniel 4:1-9

C.I.: Humbling a King

In this series we have seen how God teaches His people - to relate to a world as strangers in a strange land.
The theme of the Book of Daniel, is, “God Rules”! Believers accept this – but what about unbelievers…?!
Reprise the chapter: dream – interpretation – fulfillment – and conclusion!

I. God Dearly Wants to Reach the Unbeliever, (Daniel 4)

A. “Now these were the visions in my mind as I lay on my bed,” (vs. 10-27)

1. As in his 1st dream (see Chapter 2), Nebuchadnezzar’s wisest secular counselors were of no help.
a. (v. 7), “Then the magicians, conjurors, the Chaldeans and diviners came in and I related the dream to them, but they could not make the interpretation known to me.”
1) Its no wonder they failed – when people look for worldly solutions to sp. problems…failure!
2) Examples: calling spiritual problems, “diseases,” “syndromes,” etc. – instead of a choice!
3) (Psa. 1:1), “How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked.”
2) (Col. 2:8), “See to it that no one takes you captive through phil. & empty decept, according
to the traditions of men, according to the elementary principles of this world, rather than….”
3) If we truly want to help – we need to use the tool of God’s word, (II Tim. 3:16-17)!!!

2. The king relates his dream, (vs. 10-18)
a. (vs. 10-12), “There was a tree in the midst of the earth & its height was great - visible to the whole earth – in it there was food for all – beast found shade under it - birds dwelt in it …
1) Whatever this dream means – it certainly begins in prosperity.
b. (vs. 13-15a), “…as I lay on my bed, behold a watcher, a holy one, descended from heaven. – He
spoke as follows, ‘Chop down the tree, cut its branches. Strips its foliage, scatter the fruit, let the
beasts fee from under it and the birds from its branches. – Yet leave the stump w/.roots under it.”
1) An angel descends and the picture changes – we go from prosperity to tragedy.
2) Yet, there is some hope left – the very last bit of tree is left – so that it might grow again.
c. (vs. 15b-17), “And let him be drenched with the dew of heaven, and let him share with the beasts
in the grass of the earth. – Let his mind be changed from that of a man & let a beast’s mind.”

3. Daniel relates the interpretation, (vs. 19-28)
a. (v. 20), “The tree which you saw, which became strong and grew large … it is you, O king…!”
1) In v. 15, we move from a “tree” to a “him” – this vision is about some man.
2) Once you recognize that Neb. is the tree – the rest of the vision’s interpretation is easy!
b. (v. 25 ),“…and seven periods of time will pass over you, until you recognize that the Most High is
ruler over the realm of mankind and bestows it on whomever He wishes.
1) “7 periods of time” does NOT = years! – Apocalyptic language 7 = divine completeness!
2) Thus, this would remain Nebuchadnezzar’s situation – until he was ready to repent!!!
3) Purpose: God rules in the lives of unbelieving kings – just as He does for believing slaves!

B. “The king reflected and said, ‘Is this not Babylon the great which I myself have built…” (vs. 30-37)

1. (vs. 29-30), “12 months later he was walking on the roof of the royal palace in Babylon. – The king reflected and said, ‘Is this not Babylon the great which I myself have built – as a royal residence by the might of my power and for the glory of my majesty?’”
a. Truly, Babylon was great – ILLUST.: size & splendor, I.S.B.E., Vol I, p.
b. If “selfishness” is the root of all sin – then “pride” is its first and choicest fruit!
1) Yet, how much of this do we see today…
1) “What a great business I have built” – “Book I have written” – “Education I have earned”…!
2) God unceasingly warns us about danger of pride – (Pro. 16:18; I Cor. 10:12; I Pt. 5:5).

2. What God promises to do is what He does!
a. (vs. 31, 33), “While the word was in the king’s mouth, a voice came from heaven, saying, ‘King Neb., to you it is declared; sovereignty has been removed from you’ … Immediately the word concerning Neb. was fulfilled; - and he was driven away from mankind and began eating grass like cattle, and his body was drenched with the dew of heaven – until his hair had grown like eagle’s feathers and his nails like birds’ claws.”
1) What God promises to do is what He does!

3. What “God’s Discipline” is…
a. Discipline = to bring to a sound mind – ILLUST.: We’ve done it w/our children all the time…
1) (Heb. 12:6), “For those whom the Lord love He disciplines.” Disc. = Come to a sound mind
2) If God disciplines only those whom He loves – who then does He discipline – Jn. 3:16!!!

b. How people must respond to “God’s Discipline”…
1) (Ezk. 18:20, 23; Rom. 2:4; II Pt. 3:9), “Do I have any pleasure in the death of the wicked,’
declares the Lord, ‘rather than that he should turn from his wicked way and live?’” – “Do
you think lightly…” – “God does not desire for any to perish, but for all to come to repent....”
2) Title = “Humbling a King” – Every area in our lives where God is not sovereign – He will
discipline us: jobs lost – health taken away – finances ruined – relationships destroyed…!

c. How God responds to us…
1) In the Book of Jonah – when the people repented – God relented… (Jonah 3:10), “When God saw their deeds, that they turned from their wicked way, then God relented concerning the calamity which He had declared He would bring upon them.”
2) So when disciple occurs – we can go in one of two directions (Acts 3:19; Rom. 2:5).

4. God responds to Nebuchadnezzar, (Read vs. 34-37).
a. In previous chapters – Neb. glorified God – but it was only temporary – (Dan. 2:47; 3:28).
b. So how do we know that this confession of faith – isn’t just a quickie statement soon forgotten?
1) How many chapters in the Bible do you know of –were written by unsaved, non-believers?!
2) (Read 4:1-3)
c. God is always ready to save those who turn to Him – He does all He can to reach them…
1) God will do His part – we must do ours – Rom. 10:9; Acts 22:16!