Nebuchadnezzar was very proud. We are all subject to being proud at some point in our lives. God has a way of using the humble and humbling the proud.
Daniel 4:1-4 (ESV) "King Nebuchadnezzar to all peoples, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth: Peace be multiplied to you! It has seemed good to me to show the signs and wonders that the Most High God has done for me. How great are his signs, how mighty his wonders! His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and his dominion endures from generation to generation. I, Nebuchadnezzar, was at ease in my house and prospering in my palace."
This portion of the chapter seems to be written in the 1st person by Nebuchadnezzar. Of course we don't know for sure. But what we do see is that he praises God at the beginning and then again at the end of the chapter. Is this the same Nebuchadnezzar that is seen in the first 3 chapters? We do not know. Some believe that it was Nebuchadnezzar II. He was the son of Nabopolassar. He was the founder and first king of the Neo Babylonian Empire 626-605 B.C. He led a revolt against the Neo-Assyrian Empire. He could have been named after his grandfather Nebuchadnezzar I 500 years earlier Babylonian Empire known for defeating the Elamites and recovering the idol of Marduk. Nebuchadnezzar II grew Babylon to great power and former glory. He built huge structures, canals, the Hanging Gardens (one of the 7 wonders of the ancient world), the Temple of Marduk. He built the Babylon Gate to the Gods or heaven. He also built a very tall building; The House of the Foundation of heaven of earth. It may have been built in the same location as the tower of Babel. They believed this was where their god descended. The Ishtar Gate was built with blue bricks with lions, bulls and dragons which represented their gods Marduk and Ishtar. This gate had the following inscription; "Nebuchadnezzar, King of Babylon, the faithful prince appointed by the will of Marduk, the highest of princely princes, Beloved of Nabu, of prudent counsel, who has learned to embrace wisdom, who fathomed their divine being and reveres their majesty. The untiring governor, who is constantly concerned with the well-being of Babylon and Borsippa, the wise, the humble, the first born son of Nabopolassar."
Others believe that it could have been Nabonidus. (Babylon had 3 kings in 6 years after Nebuchadnezzar II, they were violently removed) Then Nabonidus came to power. He is not from royal blood. He was probably a general with connections to priesthood. He pushed out Marduk and brought in the mood god Sin. He moved the capital to Teyma and built a palace in the desert oasis. He was focused on securing trade routes and archaeology of temples. His son Belshazzar is the king in chapter 5 of Daniel. In the 1800's the Nabonidus cylinder was found that had Belshazzar's name engraved on it. Belshazzar was the last king. In the 50's a Dead Sea Scroll was published that included the Prayer of Nabonidus which describes a similar story.
Which is it? We don't really know, but a powerful King in the most powerful empire and proud.
Daniel 4:5-19 (ESV) "I saw a dream that made me afraid. As I lay in bed the fancies and the visions of my head alarmed me. So I made a decree that all the wise men of Babylon should be brought before me, that they might make known to me the interpretation of the dream. Then the magicians, the enchanters, the Chaldeans, and the astrologers came in, and I told them the dream, but they could not make known to me its interpretation. At last Daniel came in before me- he who was named Belteshazzar after the name of my god, and in whom is the spirit of the holy gods- and I told him the dream, saying, 'O Belteshazzar, chief of the magicians, because I know that the spirit of the holy gods is in you and that no mystery is too difficult for you, tell me the visions of my dream that I saw and their interpretation. The visions of my head as I lay in bed were these: I saw, and behold, a tree in the midst of the earth, and its height was great. The tree grew and became strong, and its top reached to heaven, and it was visible to the end of the whole earth. Its leaves were beautiful and its fruit abundant, and in it was food for all. The beasts of the field found shade under it, and the birds of the heavens lived in its branches, and all flesh was fed from it. I saw in the visions of my head as I lay in bed, and behold, a watcher, a holy one, came down from heaven. He proclaimed aloud and said thus: 'Chop down the tree and lop off its branches, strip off its and scatter its fruit. Let the beasts flee from under it and the birds from its branches. But leave the stump of its roots in the earth, bound with a band of iron and bronze, amid the tender grass of the field. Let him be wet with the dew of heaven. Let his portion be with the beasts in the grass of the earth. Let his mind be changed from a man's, and let a beast's mind be given to him; and let seven periods of time pass over him. The sentence is by the decree of the watchers, the decision by the word of the holy ones, to the end that the living may know that the Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he will and sets over it the lowliest of men.' This dream I, King Nebuchadnezzar, saw. And you, O Belteshazzar, tell me the interpretation, because all the wise men of my kingdom are not able to make known to me the interpretation, but you are able, for the spirit of the holy gods is in you."
I. Have compassion for your enemies
Matthew 5:44 (ESV) "But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,"
Don't be like Jonah! He was mad at God when he showed mercy to his enemies.
As the king told Daniel his dream, Daniel knew the interpretation. Was Daniel worried about telling the king, or did Daniel have compassion on his enemy?
Daniel 4:20-27 (ESV) "The tree you saw, which grew and became strong, so that its top reached to heaven, and it was visible to the end of the whole earth, whose leaves were beautiful and its fruit abundant, and in which was food for all, under which beasts of the field found shade, and in whose branches the birds of the heavens lived- it is you, O king, who have grown and become strong. Your greatness has grown and reaches to heaven, and your dominion to the ends of the earth. And because the king saw a watcher, a holy one, coming down from heaven and saying, 'Chop down the tree and destroy it, but leave the stump of it's roots in the earth, bound with a band of iron and bronze, in the tender grass of the field, and let him be wet with the dew of heaven, and let his portion be with the beasts of the field, till seven periods of time pass over him,' this is the interpretation, O king: It is a decree of the Most High, which has come upon my lord the king, that you shall be driven from among men, and your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field. You shall be made to eat grass like an ox, and you shall be wet with the dew of heaven, and seven periods of time shall pass over you, till you know that the Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he will. And as it was commanded to leave the stump of the roots of the tree, your kingdom shall be confirmed for you from the time that you know that Heaven rules. Therefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable to you: break off your sins by practicing righteousness, and your iniquities by showing mercy to the oppressed, that there may perhaps be a lengthening of your prosperity."
II. Don't water down the truth
Ephesians 4:15 (ESV) "Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ,"
III. Call to repent
Romans 2:14 (ESV) "For when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law."
We as believers should call people to repent. We can't live a life like we want to and sprinkle a "little of Jesus" on top and expect to be saved. It doesn't work that way.
How hard was it for Daniel to share the truth with the king? How hard is it for us to share the truth with those around us?
Daniel 4: 28-29 (ESV) "All this came upon King Nebuchadnezzar. At the end of twelve months he was walking on the roof of the royal palace of Babylon,"
The king did not lose his mind for 12 months. He did not repent.
IV. God is Patient, but eventually time runs out.
2 Peter 3:9 (ESV) "The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance."
Daniel 4: 30-37 (ESV) "and the king answered and said, 'Is not this great Babylon, which I have built by my mighty power as a royal residence and for the glory of my majesty?' While the words were still in the king's mouth, there fell a voice from heaven, 'O King Nebuchadnezzar, to you it is spoken: The kingdom has departed from you, and you shall be driven from among men, and your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field. And you shall be made to eat grass like an ox. and seven periods of time shall pass over you, until you know that the Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to who he will.' Immediately the word was fulfilled against Nebuchadnezzar. He was driven from among men and ate grass like an ox, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven till his hair grew as long as eagles' feathers, and his nails were like birds' claws. At the end of the days I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted my eyes to 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; all the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing, and he does according to his will among the host of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth; and none can stay his hand or say to him, 'What have you done? At the same time my reason returned to me, and for the glory of my kingdom, my majesty and splendor returned to me. My counselors and my lords sought me, and I was established in my kingdom, and still more greatness was added to me. Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the King of heaven, for all his works are right and his ways are just; and those who walk in pride he is able to humble."
V. God can save even the "most lost"
1 Timothy 1:15 (ESV) "The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost."
There is no one that God cannot save!
VI. God is sovereign over all earthly powers
Psalms 2: 10-12 (ESV) "Now therefore, O kings, be wise; be warned, O rulers of the earth. Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and you perish in the way, for his wrath is quickly kindled. Blessed are all who take refuge in him."
Daniel 2: 21 (ESV) "He changes times and seasons; he removes kings and sets up kings; he gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding;"
VII. Good times can make us prideful
Deuteronomy 8: 11-14 (ESV) "Take care lest you forget the LORD your God by not keeping his commandments and his rules and his statutes, which I command you today, lest, when you have eaten and are full and have built good houses and live in them, and when your herds and flocks multiply and your silver and gold is multiplied and all that you have is multiplied, then your heart be lifted up, and you forget the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery,"
When we get prideful...humility is coming!
CS Lewis Mere Christianity "the great sin"
"There is one vice of which no man in the world is free; I have heard people admit that they are bad-tempered, or that they cannot keep their heads about girls or drink, or even that they are cowards. I do not think I have ever heard anyone who was not a Christian accuse himself of this vice (pride). There is no fault which makes a man more unpopular. And no fault which we are more unconscious of in ourselves. And the more we have it ourselves, the more we dislike it in others. Christians are right ; it is pride which has been the chief cause of misery in every nation and every family since the world began. Other vices may sometimes bring people together: you may find good fellowship and jokes and friendliness among drunken people or unchaste people. But pride always means enmity- it is enmity. And not only between man and man, but enmity to God."
VII. God uses hard times to bring his people back.
That is what the exile is all about. It is always good for all of us to examine our own hearts.
Proverbs 3:11-12 (ESV) "My son, do not despise the LORD's discipline or be weary of his reproof, for the LORD reproves him whom he loves, as a father the son in whom he delights."
Closing Scriptue
Psalm 25:8-10 (ESV) "Good and upright is the LORD; therefore he instructs sinners in the way. He leads the humble in what is right, and teaches the humble his way. All the paths of the LORD are steadfast love and faithfulness, for those who keep his covenant and his testimonies."
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