Daniel Lesson 9 - Fairhaven Baptist Church

Daniel Lesson 9

Text: Daniel 4:1-27

The Hard Lessons,
1. The King’s Dream,
  1. When did this take place?
    1. Some scholars believe this event actually took place twenty to thirty years after the fiery furnace incident.
      - Remember that Nebuchadnezzar was king from 609-561 B.C. About 50 years.
      - And this is getting close to the end of his rule which we will see in the next chapter.
    2. It goes to show us that most of our life is filled with those mundane events that help prepare us for the big moments.
      - I have used this on a number of occasions, how we only know a little about the apostles, and their ministry, there are years unaccounted for, we only see the big moments. But there were days, weeks and even years where they just did the daily routine of life, getting ready for the moments that define them.
  2. This is the second dream Nebuchadnezzar had,
    1. or at least it is the second with a spiritual meaning.
      - The first one was the statue with the golden head.
      - He was troubled about it as well,
      - in fact, Ch.2:3 tells us he was “troubled” and 4:5 says he was “afraid”
        
        ch.2 he was “agitated” from the tapping, like a drum or fingers
        
        ch.4 angry to fear or be “dreadful” from the root to crawl, as in fear.
  3. Increasing in knowledge but never learning,
    1. II Timothy 3:7 “Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.”
      - what is the modern answer for the definition of insanity? Doing the same thing expecting different results?
      - The king in ch.2 had already tried to use all his wise men and others to come up with an interpretation, but found they were lacking, then he got Daniel.
      - Why wouldn’t he simply go to Daniel first?
      - It is the difference between acknowledging and accepting again.
        
        He acknowledge “Daniels God as great” and Daniel as the one who could interpret dreams, then he acknowledge the God of Shadrac Meshack and Abednego, as great,
        
        however after 20-30 years, without a true change he sinks back to where he was.
        
        Off subject, I have heard many people say, if I got a raise I would work harder, it’s not true, perhaps for a while, but not for long. If their character doesn’t change, then their actions will soon follow.
        
        This brings us to the next point,
2. The King’s Danger,
  1. Pride,
    1. the problem with the king, and much of the world today can be summed up in one word, pride.
      - Look at all the personal pronouns in the first few verses of ch.4, and then again at vs 30
      - vs.2– I, Me, 4– I, mine, my, 5- I, me, my, my, me
      - vs.30 “I have built” “Might of my power” “my majesty”
    2. Proverbs 16:18 “Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.”
    3. James 4:6 “…Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.”
  2. The Tree is You,
    1. years before, Daniel had told the king the Gold head is you,
    2. now he is saying this tree is you,
      - at first, he must have thought it was a good thing. This big beautiful tree.
    3. First, it tells us that Daniel thought about it for a hour, and that he was troubled.
      - He knew he had to deliver bad news.
        
        But bad news is part of the job.
        
        Nathan had to bring and confront David. II Sam 12:7
        
        Elijah confronted Ahab, the husband of Jezebel I Kings 18:17
        
        Isaiah did Hezekiah Isaiah 39
        
        John the baptist with Herod Mark 6:14-29
      - Warren Weirsby “Preachers who tailor their message to please people will never enjoy the blessings of God.”
      - But he did try to soften the blow by saying, paraphrase, I’m sorry, but this interpretation will be for your enemies, no one else will be pleased. vs.19
    4. vs.11& 20-22 You king have grown strong, your influence has reached across the known world
    5. vs.13-14 & 23, a watcher came down, and pronounced judgment,
    6. the judgment, vs.15-17 & 25-27
      - you will be brought down, tree cut down
      - but not destroyed, a stump will be left, but you will return
      - You will eat with the beast of the field,
      - and 7 times will pass over you…
      - and all this until you learn your lesson
  3. 7 times,
    1. two thoughts on this,
      - time frames will be important as we continue through this book,
      - many commentators place this at 7 years. Even Warren Weirsby.
      - The word time & times used here is not found in the regular Hebrew test,
        
        remember this was written in Aramaic.
        
        To translate this word, it simply means a period of time. Could be an hour, a month, a year,
        
        this bring us to the second thought,
      - the second is how the Babylonians counted years. They were comprised of two parts, winter and summer,
        
        therefore 7 times under this idea is 3 ½ year, however this is in difference to the common interpretation of the times, time, and half time listed in ch.7&12
        
        which equal 2 years, 1 year, and half year.
  4. You need to REPENT, vs.27
    1. Let my counsel be acceptable to you
      - be beautiful/ pleasant

1. 1. 1. - who’s report are you going to believe
      - Isaiah 53:1 “Who hath believed our report ? and to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed?”
      - John 12:37-40 “But though he had done so many miracles before them, yet they believed not on him: 38 That the saying of Esaias the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spake, Lord, who hath believed our report? and to whom hath the arm of the Lord been revealed? 39 Therefore they could not believe, because that Esaias said again, 40 He hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart; that they should not see with their eyes, nor understand with their heart, and be converted, and I should heal them.”
      - So Daniel was trying to get the king to find his words to be a comfort, and accept them.
      - As a result of accepting…

1. 1. 1. Break off thy sins
      - break off/ discontinue
      - what sins? The primary sins we see in the life of Nebuchadnezzar is pride.
      - And make no mistake about it, pride is sin.
    2. Show Mercy to the poor
      - Matthew 3:7&8 “But when he (John the Baptist) saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8 Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance:”
      - showing mercy to the poor, here is being kind to those less fortunate. Who is less fortunate than Nebuchadnezzar? Pretty much everyone.
    3. To lengthening of thy tranquility
      - to prolong thy safety
      - Brings to mind a question? If He would have repented here, would God have stopped what was fixing to happen?
        
        Think about Nineveh?