God's People under the Wrong Rule

Scripture: Daniel 4:1-9

C.I.: The Conversion of a King

The theme of the Book of Daniel, is, “God Rules”! Believers accept this – but what about unbelievers…?!
Today we will see He rules in the lives of unbelieving kings – just as much as He does in the lives of believing slaves!

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

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

•  ( 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.”
a. As in his 1 st dream, Nebuchadnezzar's wisest secular counselors were of no help.

•  It's no wonder they failed – when people look for worldly solutions to spiritual problems… failure is the result!

•  World never says, “You are making bad spiritual choices!” – but, “You have a disease/addiction/syndrome.”

•  But God warns us - ( Col. 2:8 ), “See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy & empty deception,- according to the traditions of men,- according to the elementary principles of this world, - rather than according to God.”

•  God uses seemingly trivial events in people's lives - to get their attention, (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 …- Whatever this dream means – it clearly begins in prosperity.

b. But then something happens – and the picture changes. – It goes from prosperity to tragedy.
1 ( vs. 13-14 ), “…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 flee from under it and the birds from its
branches.

2) Yet, some hope remains – the very last bit of tree is left – so that it might grow again.

3) ( v. 15a ), “ Yet leave the stump with its roots under it – but with a band of iron & bronze around it.”

c. Things go from bad to worse…

1) ( 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 be given to him.”
2) Why? – ( v. 17 ), “In order that the living may know – that the Most High is ruler over the realm of mankind.”

3) This is the deal - the worldly counselors were unable to provide the king – with the answers to his problem.

•  So God uses His people to convey His message to a lost and dying world, (vs. 19-28)

•  ( v. 20 ), “The tree which you saw, which became strong and grew large … it is you, O king…!”

•  Clearly, Neb. was the earth's greatest king - Babylonian Empire was the greatest on earth at that time.

b. ( v. 25 ), “…seven periods of time will pass over you, until you recognize that the Most High is ruler over the realm of mankind.”

•  “7 periods of time” – How long was this?!
a) We know it's not “days” – for that word is used in Dan. 1:12 , “Test your servants for 10 days ….”
b) Nor is it “months” – ( Dan. 4:29 ), “12 months later he was walking on the roof….”
c) Nor is it “years” – ( Dan. 1:5 ), “…that they should be educated 3 years ….”

•  The number 7 when used apocalyptically (as it is here) – is the godly number for “Completeness.”
a) ( Rev. 1:4 ), “John to the 7 churches that are in Asia.”
b) ( Rev. 4:5 ), “…which are the 7 spirits of God.”
c) ( Rev. 5:1 ), “…a book written inside and on the back, sealed up with 7 seals.”
d) So this would remain Nebuchadnezzar's situation – until God's work was complete (i.e., he repented)!

c. ( v. 27 ), “Therefore O king, may my advice be pleasing to you, - break away now from your sins by doing righteousness.”
1) Was Neb. converted? God was working in his life (dream) – God's people were sharing His message? 2) Nope! – He didn't make any changes. – BUT GOD WAS NOT DONE WITH HIM YET!!!

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

•  ( 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. If “selfishness” is the root of all sin – then “pride” is its first and choicest fruit!

•  God unceasingly warns us about danger of pride …
a) ( Pro. 16:18 ), “Pride goes before a fall, and a haughty spirit before destruction.”
b) ( I Cor. 10:12 ), “Let him who stands take heed lest he fall.”
c) ( I Pt. 5:5 ), “God is opposed to the proud, but gives greater grace to the humble.”

•  Yet, how much of this do we see today… “What a great: business I have built – Book I have written – Education I have earned – family I have created,” etc!

•  ( 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' talons.”

•  Why did God do such a thing to Nebuchadnezzar?
1) Because God loves Him! – His pride would destroy him – but God loves him too much for that to occur.
a) ( Heb. 12:6 ), “For those whom the Lord love He disciplines.” - Discipline = To be brought to a sound mind.

•  If God disciplines only those whom He loves – then who does He love – Jn. 3:16!!!

•  This then is an answer to the question, “Why does God allow bad things to happen?”

•  The “Prodigal's Famine – the “Thief on the Cross' penitence - Saul or Tarsus' blindness – YOU!!!

•  When God gets our attention – instead of blaming Him – perhaps we should make some changes…?

b. How then must we respond to God's discipline…

1) ( Ezk. 18:20, 23 ), “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?'”

2) ( Rom. 2:4 ), “Do you think lightly of the riches of God's kindness and forbearance and patience, – not knowing…”

3) ( II Pt. 3:9 ), “God does not desire for any to perish, but for all to come to repentance.”

4) We can't blame God for our choices – ( Gal. 6:7-8 ), “Do not be deceived….”

5) So when God disciplines us – we need to turn away from our selfishness & ask, “What is God showing me?”

c. When God's discipline occurs – we can go in one of two directions…
1) ( Acts 3:19 ), “Repent therefore & return, that your sins may be wiped away, in order that the times of refreshing....”
2) ( Rom. 2:5 ), “But because of your stubbornness and unrepentant heart you are storing up for yourselves wrath in….”

d. How does God respond to our repentance…

•  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.”

•  Nebuchadnezzar responds to God, ( Read vs. 34-37 ), “But at the end of that period, I, Neb., raised my eyes toward heaven, and my reason returned to me, and I blessed the Most High and praised and honored Him who lives forever; - for His dominion is an everlasting dominion, and His kingdom endures from generation to generation. – And all the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing, - but He does according to His will in the host of heaven – and among the inhabitants of the earth; and no one can ward off His hand – or say to Him, “What have You done?”'”

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) Not everyone is converted on their first hearing of God's message. – But God is relentless. – He will not give up
on people until their last breath!

2) How many chapters in the Bible do you know of – that were written by unsaved non-believers?!

3) ( Dan. 4:1-2 ), “Neb. the king to all the peoples, nations, and men of every language who live in all the earth: ‘May your
peace abound! – It has seemed good to me to declare the signs and wonders which the Most high has done for me.”

c. God is always ready to save those who turn to Him – He does all He can to reach them…
1) Members: Keep growing – stay humble – and keeping working with God – by sharing God's message w/them.

2) Visitors: If we are willing to accept God's message - He will do His part – Acts 22:16!