Daniel lesson 10 - Fairhaven Baptist Church

Daniel

Lesson 10

Text: Daniel 4:28-37 “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. 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. 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. 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.”

Intro: Last study we looked at the interpretation of the tree dream of Nebuchadnezzar. This study we will look at how he responded to it. Our actions will always reflect our beliefs. If we truly believe something we will respond appropriately.

The Response of Nebuchadnezzar,
1. A Year Clean,
  1. Nebuchadnezzar’s Assessment,
    1. What had taken place during those 12 months?
      - Normal life?

1. 1. 1. - Perhaps he did change his actions for a time, but it was not lasting.
      - Matthew 25:1-13 “Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. 2 And five of them were wise, and five were foolish. 3 They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: 4 But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.5 While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. 6 And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. 7 Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. 8 And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out. 9But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves. 10 And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut. 11 Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. 12 But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not. 13 Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.”
        
        notice a couple of things here,
        
        first they all come prepared at the first, the wise and the unwise, all brought their lamps,
        
        the difference was the foolish did not bring oil to replenish their supply.
        
        After a period of time, they ran out.
        
        This is the way Nebuchadnezzar may have been, at first, he took the words and lived accordingly, yet as months passed, his nature returned.
        
        Matthew 13:5 is the parable of the sower, and the seed that was sowed on the stony place had not much earth, and sprang up quickly, but was soon scorched by the sun, and withered away.
      - Nebuchadnezzar may have altered his actions for a while, but his heart was not changed.
        
        This is why we are not rebuilt and refurbished Christians, we are…
        
        II Corinthians 5:17”Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”
    2. so at the end of the 12 months, Nebuchadnezzar looked around and saw all “he” had done.

1. 1. 1. - Vs.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?”
        
        Daniel 2:21 “And he changeth the times and the seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up kings: he giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding: ”
        
        these words were spoken by Daniel after the first dream was revealed to him.
        
        Daniel 4:17 Nebuchadnezzar tells Daniel what he dreamed, and this is what the watcher (angel) said “to the intent that the living may know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will, and setteth up over it the basest of men.”
        
        Then Daniel plainly said it in vs.25
        
        Daniel 4:25 “ till thou know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will. ”
    2. So do we think Nebuchadnezzar believed this?
  2. Nebuchadnezzar’s Pride,
    1. I have built
    2. the might of My power
    3. of My Majesty
    4. Isaiah 14:12-14 “ How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! 13 For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: 14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.”
    5. it is easy to look at things and take credit for our self,
      - even for good people,
    6. Numbers 20 the nation began to get thirsty again, and desired water, even accusing Moses of bringing them out there to die.
      - And it is easy to see why Moses would get frustrated, He had done everything he could, and at every turn God was there to provide, yet they still became hostile toward Moses. And in Moses’ frustration, he prays to God, and the Lord tells him what to do, but… when he went to the nation, this is what he said…
      - Numbers 20:10 “And Moses and Aaron gathered the congregation together before the rock, and he said unto them, Hear now, ye rebels; must we fetch you water out of this rock?”
        
        did you hear that? Must we?
        
        What exactly are you going to do Moses to get that water out of the rock?
  3. The Kingdom taken form Nebuchadnezzar,
    1. vs.31 as the words were in the mouth of Nebuchadnezzar, the Lord spoke.
      - This is where Nebuchadnezzar went mad.
        
        Actually we have physical evidence of this event in human history.
        
        The east India house inscriptions record Nebuchadnezzar’s claim of vs.30
        
        there is also an inscription found that is in the British museum, that basically says for a period of time, Nebuchadnezzar found no joy in life, he didn’t show love to his children, he didn’t work for the kingdom of Babylon and so on.
        
        This all points to the time period of the seven times
    2. Thy kingdom will depart/ be taken from you.
      - Remember it would return, but for a time, he would be removed,
    3. Vs.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.”
      - he was driven to the field,
      - hair grew like feathers
      - nails like claws,
        
        I have always felt that there are spiritual problems when a person lets themselves go to this point,
        
        Mark 5 gives us the event of the Demonic at the Gadara, in vs.15 after he was delivered, they found him dressed and in his right mind.
  4. At the End of the Days Appointed,
    1. vs.34, this is what we call a coming to Jesus moment,
      - notice the first thing he does when his intelligence returns,
        
        He turns his attention to the Lord,
        
        He gives God honor, I Blessed (Kneeled) Him, I Praised Him, I Honored and recognize Him as living for ever,
        
        All people are nothing along side Him,
        
        Man cannot stop Him,
        
        Man cannot question Him,
    2. Vs.36, when his mind came back, he was restored to the kingdom,
    3. Nebuchadnezzar’s greatest statement,

1. 1. 1. - Vs.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.”
      - He repented.