Study # 1
November 13, 2022
Broadlands, Louisiana
(Download Audio)
Thesis: God's resistance of the proud resulted in the king being removed from his throne in insanity for seven years and he was brought to understanding by his experience.
Introduction: In our studies thus far, we have seen the experiences of Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah as strong evidences of the legitimacy of believing the words of God. These strong evidences were given in historical terms of divine deliverance according to the words of God through Habakkuk. These strong evidences were also given in a time of deep apostasy by Judah in the face of the biblical principle of
Matthew 24:12 -- "...because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall grow cold...". There is never any "excuse" for the people of God to cease to love God, but there are "reasons", though they are
illegitimate. And these strong evidences endure to us through the written record of Daniel who is recorded by Ezekiel as one of three men whose "faith" was exemplary among all of humanity up to the days of the Babylonian Captivity (
Ezekiel 14:14,
16,
18, and
20).
Now, this evening we are going to look into the "counter-thesis": what happens when men refuse to believe the words of God. This answer, given in the words of Nebuchadnezzar at the end of chapter four, is this: "Now I Nebuchadnezzar praise, exalt, and honor the King of Heaven, for all His works are true and His ways just, and He is able to humble those who walk in pride".
- I. A Brief Summary Of Daniel, Chapters Two Through Four.
- A. Chapter two: the God of History and the History of God.
- B. Chapter three: faithfulness toward God and the faithfulness of God.
- C. Chapter four: judgment with mercy (the arrogance of man vs. the everlasting dominion of God).
- II. The Message Of Chapter Four.
- A. An extended record of the personal testimony of King Nebuchadnezzar: 4:1-3.
- 1. Its general content: "to declare the signs and wonders which the Most High God has done for me".
- 2. Its major impact: "God's rule is both everlasting and present in time".
- B. The record of a second disturbing dream given to the King: 4:4-27.
- 1. Its details: 4:4-17.
- a. A dream of a large, magnificent, and fruitful tree (4:10-12) cut down (4:13-14), banded (4:15), and identified as a man (4:15-16).
- b. A dream intended for "the living" (4:17).
- 2. Its interpretation: 4:18-27.
- a. Daniel's reluctance to tell the interpretation to the King.
- b. Daniel's interpretation.
- 1) The tree is the King.
- 2) The destruction of the tree is God's judgment upon the King.
- 3) The destruction will be reversed by God once the King has learned "that Heaven rules".
- C. The record of the fulfillment of the dream (4:28-36).
- D. The "Message": 4:37.
- 1. Nebuchadnezzar declares his own "conversion".
- 2. This conversion is rooted in God's true works and just ways as the basis for the conclusion: God "is able to humble those who walk in pride".
