Believing [Daniel Chapter four]

If there is one thing I enjoy it is a testimony. It is a very effective way of communicating the power of the Gospel. How often we preach and preach and wonder does anyone really believe what we say? When a soul stands up and says, “ I was that sinner who heard the gospel, I was the one whom God has set wonderfully free,” then we have before us, living proof of the transforming, saving and keeping power of our Lord Jesus Christ

The other effect of a testimony on God’s people is that it encourages them, once again to believe in the power of the gospel. Sometimes we get this notion into our heads that God is no longer interested perhaps even no longer able or no longer willing to save souls. When we hear again from the lips of a born again child of God something of his wonderful power we perhaps believe again that our God is able.

We mentioned before the thought of living a godly live in an ungodly world as a theme for this book. Here in this testimony we find encouragement to live that godly life. The secret to living a godly live is surely, believing in God, not believing in the senses of saving faith but believing in God practically and experientially from day to day.

As we begin to look in Chapter four we want to pose this question, do you believe in God? I trust as we study the testimony of Nebuchadnezzar, our faith might be strengthened.

In Mark nine the Lord Jesus Christ with three of his disciples came down from the mount of transfiguration. When they arrive at the bottom they discover a problem.

Mark 9:17 And one of the multitude answered and said, Master, I have brought unto thee my son, which hath a dumb spirit;

Here we find a father whose son was completely held captive by the devil.

Mark 9:18 And wheresoever he taketh him, he teareth him: and he foameth, and gnasheth with his teeth, and pineth away: and I spake to thy disciples that they should cast him out; and they could not.

The Lord Jesus gives this Dad the best advice possible in verse nineteen.

Mark 9:19 He answereth him, and saith, O faithless generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him unto me.

The father explains the extent of this young boy’s problems look at verse twenty two.

Mark 9:22 And ofttimes it hath cast him into the fire, and into the waters, to destroy him: but if thou canst do any thing, have compassion on us, and help us.

The father cries unto the Lord, “If thou canst do anything.” Notice Jesus’ reply in verse twenty-three.

Mark 9:23 Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.

It’s the word of the father I want us to think about.

Mark 9:24 And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.

This should be our prayer as we study this chapter together, Lord, I believe, help thou mine unbelief.”

Do you believe that God is worth sharing?

Do you believe that which God has given you is so precious that you don’t want to keep it to yourself, you must tell others, you must witness to your friends family to everybody? If we believe that God is worth sharing then we will certainly live a godly live in this ungodly world. Let’s look at a man who after having an experience with God, felt that it was well worth sharing.

This is the account of his conversion. He is only saved and he wants the whole world to know what the Lord has done for him. That should challenge all our hearts.

Notice the first three words of verse one.

Daniel 4:1 Nebuchadnezzar the king,

This is a royal document for circulation; here is the testimony of a king. Can you imagine the shock waves that went through Babylon, when this king of the idolatrous capital of the world tells of his conversion? What a blessing to have a saved monarch.

Dr Ironside recalls the story of a heathen chieftain who came to visit Queen Victoria. He said, “Tell me the secret of England’s progress and greatness?” The queen took a book and presented it to him and said, “this will tell you.” It was the word of God, oh that we had a government who loved God’s holy word. Look at the rest of verse one.

Daniel 4:1 Nebuchadnezzar the king, unto all people, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth; Peace be multiplied unto you.

“Unto all people, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth,” Nebuchadnezzar

Wanted the whole world to know about his conversion. He believed that this God, this salvation was worth sharing with all people, nations and languages that dwell upon the earth. He was crying out like the Psalmist.

Psalm 66:16 Come and hear, all ye that fear God, and I will declare what he hath done for my soul.

How long is it from you told anyone what the Lord has done for you? Do you still believe it’s worth sharing?

Nebuchadnezzar wanted to tell them of something God could give.

Daniel 4:1 Nebuchadnezzar the king, unto all people, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth; Peace be multiplied unto you.

“Peace be multiplied unto you”. Here is the very man who took young boys captive, here is the man who slew the sons of Zedekiah and now he is talking about peace. God took a vile wretched sinner and made him a child of his own. This man of war now spoke about peace, is this peace you have tonight worth sharing with others?

Peace is a very important theme in the word of God, consider the following scriptures.

Romans 15:33 Now the God of peace be with you all. Amen.

2 Thes. 3:16 Now the Lord of peace himself give you peace always by all means. The Lord be with you all.

Isaiah 9:6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

Ephes. 6:15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;

The peace the Bible speaks of is not like the peace the world has in mind.

John 14:27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

The world’s peace usually doesn’t last; the world’s peace only thinks of the external circumstances. The peace that the Lord has given us is different. It doesn’t depend on external consequences. What a wonderful peace we have tonight?

Romans 5:1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:

We have peace with God through faith in Jesus Christ, no longer are we enemies of God.

Col. 1:20 And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.

Christ has paid the price for this peace in his own precious blood. Do we have a peace that is worth sharing?

Oh the world hasn’t got this peace, the peace of being justified before a righteous and a holy God. The unsaved know nothing of this great peace they are in danger of falling under the wrath of god as Isaiah warned.

Isaiah 48:22 There is no peace, saith the Lord, unto the wicked.

We not only have peace with God, that is positional peace, which can never be taken away. We also have the peace of God that is experiential peace. How do we find this peace? What did Paul say in Philippians?

Philip. 4:6 -7 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Consider an example from scripture of what this peace means to God’s people.

We find peace through his presence in times of danger.

John 20:19 Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.

We find peace through his power in times of doing.

John 20:21 Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.

We find peace through his promises in times of doubt.

John 20:26 And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you.

Nebuchadnezzar believed he had a peace worth sharing.

He wanted them to know because it was good.

Daniel 4:2 I thought it good to shew the signs and wonders that the high God hath wrought toward me.

Notice again what Nebuchadnezzar said, “I thought it good to shew the signs and wonders that the high God hath wrought.towards me.” What a personal word of testimony, it was all about what the Lord had wrought. Nebuchadnezzar felt it was good to tell others.

Nebuchadnezzar wanted to tell because of the greatness of his God.

Daniel 4:3 How great are his signs! and how mighty are his wonders! his kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and his dominion is from generation to generation.

Look at the words he uses in connection with God. Great, mighty, everlasting. How great thou art, Nebuchadnezzar could certainly sing. The word great could be used in connection with God in so many ways. How great is your God?

Great in what we can say.

Psalm 145:3 Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised; and his greatness is unsearchable.

Luke 1:32 He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David:

Hebrews 4:14 Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.

Great is what he has shown us.

Ephes. 2:4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,

Psalm 31:19 Oh how great is thy goodness, which thou hast laid up for them that fear thee; which thou hast wrought for them that trust in thee before the sons of men!

Psalm 57:10 For thy mercy is great unto the heavens, and thy truth unto the clouds.

Great is what he has suffered.

Luke 22:44 And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.

Great is our standing in him.

Luke 24:52 And they worshipped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy:

2 Peter 1:4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

Hebrews 2:3 How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him;

Great is the sight we will behold.

Titus 2:13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;

Rev. 21:10 And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God,

Great is the story we have to tell.

Mark 5:19 Howbeit Jesus suffered him not, but saith unto him, Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had compassion on thee.

Psalm 126:3 The Lord hath done great things for us; whereof we are glad.

The Ephesians, as you can see from Acts nineteen, had no bother saying shouting about a false goddess, “Great is Diana.” Nebuchadnezzar was going to tell how great his God was. What about you and I? Would we cry with the Psalmist?

Psalm 77:13 Thy way, O God, is in the sanctuary: who is so great a God as our God?

Do you believe that God can change situations?

Let us look at verse four and notice his situation.

Daniel 4:4 I Nebuchadnezzar was at rest in mine house, and flourishing in my palace:

Here we find the king at rest, he had conquered all his enemies, and he was just sitting back on his laurels. He hadn’t a care in the world. He was flourishing, he was prospering. In the original it means to be green, like a tree with a great crop of leaves. This is significant as later he is described as a tree. Here is a man in his sins and he is at rest and flourishing.

How can the wicked seem to get things so easy at times? Even those involved in wicked business such as pornography, alcohol and many evil vices and there seems to be those that are at rest and flourishing. How can this be?

Three psalms looked into this problem and shed some light on the issue.

Psalm 37:1-2 Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity. [2] For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb.

Remember they will reap a harvest that will not be enviable. Compare this with the upright man.

Psalm 37:37 Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright: for the end of that man is peace.

Psalm forty-nine is another we could consider.

Psalm 49:6-7 They that trust in their wealth, and boast themselves in the multitude of their riches; [7] None of them can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him:

Yes they seem to have everything money can buy, remember you have the best that money couldn’t buy.

Psalm 49:19 He shall go to the generation of his fathers; they shall never see light.

We see many that are at rest and flourishing in their sins but its not true peace, its not true riches we have both in Christ.

When Barbara Hutton died, the wealthy heiress of the Woolworth fortune, Time magazine noted her numerous unhappy marriages to the powerful and popular of the world, her chronic illnesses, she was called the poor little rich girl. She had everything and yet had nothing.

Another Psalm, which considers this observation, is Psalm seventy-three.

Psalm 73:2-3 But as for me, my feet were almost gone; my steps had well nigh slipped. [3] For I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.

This is the danger as we see the wicked flourish, as we see them at ease. We want to copy them. The temptation is surely great. The psalmist here has nearly given in. But look at other verses from the psalm as he realises his futility.

Psalm 73:17 Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then understood I their end.

Psalm 73:22 So foolish was I, and ignorant: I was as a beast before thee.

Here is Nebuchadnezzar and he is unconcerned about his soul, like so many unconverted people. Can God do anything about it? Do you believe God can change circumstances?

Over in the book of Job we read this, [Job 33:14] For God speaketh once, yea twice, yet man perceiveth it not. God was speaking to Nebuchadnezzar. In chapter two he had the dream of the great image and how Daniel with God’s help revealed to Nebuchadnezzar, What would be in the end, God had spoken once. God spoke again in chapt three, there Nebuchadnezzar could see in the fiery furnace one like the son of God, as we reflected in or studies of that passage, he was privileged to see among other things, God’s protection, presence and power upon his own.

God was about to speak again to Nebuchadnezzar. We noticed his situation now let us see the stirrings of God.

God hadn’t finished with Nebuchadnezzar, God hadn’t given up. Don’t you give up; keep on praying that the Lord will step in and change things in some sinners life. Look at verse five.

Daniel 4:5 I saw a dream which made me afraid, and the thoughts upon my bed and the visions of my head troubled me.

What a turn around, the rest and flourishing are not mentioned. Now it was, “afraid,” and “troubled.” The words, “made me afraid” speak of extreme terror or fright, only God can do this to a sinner, only the Holy Spirit can strike fear into the heart of a sinner. Do you believe God can still do this?

God spoke to him in his bed and how often has that been the case, when we are away from all that would crowd our minds God’s still small voice begins to deal with sinful hearts. No one could trouble Nebuchadnezzar, nothing was a bother to him. He was at the pinnacle of his career, top of his profession but then God took hold of him and he is troubled.

Lets notice something stupid Nebuchadnezzar does in verse six.

Daniel 4:6 Therefore made I a decree to bring in all the wise men of Babylon before me, that they might make known unto me the interpretation of the dream.

Twenty five years earlier he had made this mistake. Remember when we looked at chapter two, he asks the wise me for their interpretation of his dream and they had nothing to say. Look at verse seven.

Daniel 4:7 Then came in the magicians, the astrologers, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers: and I told the dream before them; but they did not make known unto me the interpretation thereof.

In they come and once again they have no answer to Nebuchadnezzar’s great need. The world has no answer to sinful mans greatest need.

Then we notice something sensible in verse eight.

Daniel 4:8 But at the last Daniel came in before me, whose name was Belteshazzar, according to the name of my god, and in whom is the spirit of the holy gods: and before him I told the dream, saying,

Notice it says, at the last, very often the last place people look to is the man of God. Here was the only help that Nebuchadnezzar could depend on.

Let’s read verse nine.

Daniel 4:9 O Belteshazzar, master of the magicians, because I know that the spirit of the holy gods is in thee, and no secret troubleth thee, tell me the visions of my dream that I have seen, and the interpretation thereof.

Notice what Nebuchadnezzar says about Daniel, “I know that the spirit of the holy gods is in thee,” When a man belongs to God others will surely know it. He also says, “no secret troubleth thee,” it will be no bother for Daniel to make sense out of it. God’s man, God’s people can understand that which baffles others. Daniel knew why the king was troubled. Do you believe God can still change situations?

Do you believe God can help you speak for him?

Let’s see his vision here from verse ten onwards.

Daniel 4:10 Thus were the visions of mine head in my bed; I saw, and behold a tree in the midst of the earth, and the height thereof was great.

Nebuchadnezzar saw a tree a tree all by its own in the midst of the earth.

Daniel 4:11 The tree grew, and was strong, and the height thereof reached unto heaven, and the sight thereof to the end of all the earth:

This tree could be seen throughout the earth, it reached to the heavens.

Daniel 4:12 The leaves thereof were fair, and the fruit thereof much, and in it was meat for all: the beasts of the field had shadow under it, and the fowls of the heaven dwelt in the boughs thereof, and all flesh was fed of it.

It was a fruitful and prosperous tree, which provided for many, many depended on this tree.

Daniel 4:13-14 I saw in the visions of my head upon my bed, and, behold, a watcher and an holy one came down from heaven; [14] He cried aloud, and said thus, Hew down the tree, and cut off his branches, shake off his leaves, and scatter his fruit: let the beasts get away from under it, and the fowls from his branches:

Notice in verse fourteen the tree becomes a man, a symbol we find in scripture on other occasions. See psalm one for instance.

Psalm 1:3 And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.

The tree is to be cut down, shaken, the leaves scattered, and it will be abandoned.

Daniel 4:15 Nevertheless leave the stump of his roots in the earth, even with a band of iron and brass, in the tender grass of the field; and let it be wet with the dew of heaven, and let his portion be with the beasts in the grass of the earth:

The man now becomes a beast for seven years. What a dream, what a message no wonder the king was troubled. We see judgement here tampered with mercy the stump is left and there is still hope. We then find the purpose for these actions in verse seventeen.

Daniel 4:17 This matter is by the decree of the watchers, and the demand by the word of the holy ones: 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.

That is the lesson God wanted to teach from this incident. The most high ruleth in the kingdoms of men. God is sovereign, God is on the throne. Look at verse eighteen.

Daniel 4:18 This dream I king Nebuchadnezzar have seen. Now thou, O Belteshazzar, declare the interpretation thereof, forasmuch as all the wise men of my kingdom are not able to make known unto me the interpretation: but thou art able; for the spirit of the holy gods is in thee.

Daniel now has to make known the interpretation. A man in spiritual trouble with whom the Lord was dealing faced Daniel. Daniel was there as God’s mouthpiece. Do you believe that God can use Daniel here to speak for him? Do you believe that God can use you to speak for him? Do you have excuses for not speaking? Just like Moses.

Exodus 4:10 And Moses said unto the Lord, O my Lord, I am not eloquent, neither heretofore, nor since thou hast spoken unto thy servant: but I am slow of speech, and of a slow tongue.

Do you believe God’s word is sure?

The scriptures teach the preciousness of God’s word. They confirm the certainty we can attach to it.

Psalm 19:7 The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple.

Psalm 93:5 Thy testimonies are very sure: holiness becometh thine house, O Lord, for ever.

Psalm 111:7 The works of his hands are verity and judgment; all his commandments are sure.

Daniel 2:45 Forasmuch as thou sawest that the stone was cut out of the mountain without hands, and that it brake in pieces the iron, the brass, the clay, the silver, and the gold; the great God hath made known to the king what shall come to pass hereafter: and the dream is certain, and the interpretation thereof sure.

2 Peter 1:19 We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:

What a blessing in a world of uncertainties we have something sure to rest upon.

Do you believe this tonight? Do you believe God’s word means what it says?

Daniel believed God’s word was sure look at verse nineteen.

Daniel 4:19 Then Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, was astonied for one hour, and his thoughts troubled him. The king spake, and said, Belteshazzar, let not the dream, or the interpretation thereof, trouble thee. Belteshazzar answered and said, My lord, the dream be to them that hate thee, and the interpretation thereof to thine enemies.

Daniel couldn’t speak for one hour, his thoughts troubled him. Why? Because God had revealed what was going to happen Nebuchadnezzar. Let’s apply this to God’s people today. God has revealed in his word much about the destiny of man, consider the following verses for instance.

Mark 9:43-44 And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched: [44] Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.

The Lord Jesus speaks about unending fire, unending existence and unending pain. Do you believe that? Daniel was so troubled about the temporal punishment that Nebuchadnezzar would receive. Are we really troubled about the eternal punishment souls will suffer?

Daniel was troubled, are you concerned tonight? Do you really believe the word of God? Look at Nebuchadnezzar’s response in verse nineteen.

Nebuchadnezzar was saying in our words, “ Give me the message, I want the truth,”

Remember what God told Samuel about Eli?

1 Samuel 3:11 And the Lord said to Samuel, Behold, I will do a thing in Israel, at which both the ears of every one that heareth it shall tingle.

1 Samuel 3:13 For I have told him that I will judge his house for ever for the iniquity which he knoweth; because his sons made themselves vile, and he restrained them not.

Samuel was reluctant to tell Eli what God had said.

1 Samuel 3:15 And Samuel lay until the morning, and opened the doors of the house of the Lord. And Samuel feared to shew Eli the vision.

But Eli just like, Nebuchadnezzar, wanted to hear the truth.

1 Samuel 3:17 And he said, What is the thing that the Lord hath said unto thee? I pray thee hide it not from me: God do so to thee, and more also, if thou hide any thing from me of all the things that he said unto thee.

May God raise up men who will not be afraid to declare God’s word to needy souls. Daniel makes it clear the message would please his enemies of Nebuchadnezzar. This was bad news for Nebuchadnezzar but Daniel must deliver the message.

From verse twenty to twenty six Daniel interprets the dream and lets Nebuchadnezzar know what the Lord has to say to him.

In verse twenty two Daniel discloses that the tree represents Nebuchadnezzar.

Daniel 4:22 It is thou, O king, that art grown and become strong: for thy greatness is grown, and reacheth unto heaven, and thy dominion to the end of the earth.

We are told in verse twenty-three to twenty four that the tree will be cut down.

Daniel 4:23-24 And whereas the king saw a watcher and an holy one coming down from heaven, and saying, Hew the tree down, and destroy it; yet leave the stump of the roots thereof in the earth, even with a band of iron and brass, in the tender grass of the field; and let it be wet with the dew of heaven, and let his portion be with the beasts of the field, till seven times pass over him; [24] This is the interpretation, O king, and this is the decree of the most High, which is come upon my lord the king:

Daniel explains this in verse twenty-five.

Daniel 4:25 That they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field, and they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and they shall wet thee with the dew of heaven, and seven times shall pass over thee, till thou know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will.

Nebuchadnezzar is going to be driven from ordinary association with men and will dwell with the beasts of the field. But Daniel holds out hope for the King in verse twenty six.

Daniel 4:26 And whereas they commanded to leave the stump of the tree roots; thy kingdom shall be sure unto thee, after that thou shalt have known that the heavens do rule.

When you recognise who God is then thy kingdom shall be restored unto thee. No wonder Daniel was troubled. The king would behave like an animal. He would dwell in the fields. That brings me to the next point.

Do you believe that God hates sin?

Daniel has some good advice for Nebuchadnezzar in verse twenty seven.

Daniel 4:27 Wherefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable unto thee, and break off thy sins by righteousness, and thine iniquities by shewing mercy to the poor; if it may be a lengthening of thy tranquility.

Get yourself right with God by breaking of thy sins, get yourself right with man by showing mercy to the poor.

Do you believe in a God that hates sin?

Is this the message you deliver to those who are out of Christ? Break of thy sins.

Is this the message the Lord has for even some believer? Break of thy sins.

Here was an opportunity for Nebuchadnezzar to repent and turn from his evil ways, here was a way out from God’s punishment, break of thy sins.

We need to preach the necessity of repentance from sin.

Paul preached that message.

Acts 24:25 And as he reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come Felix trembled, and answered, Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee.

John the Baptist preached that message.

Matthew 3:8 Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance:

Peter preached that message

Acts 8:22 Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee.

The Lord Jesus preached that message.

Luke 13:3 I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.

All who believe in a Holy God who hates sin will preach that message, “break of thy sins.”

Daniel believed in a God who hated sin, and he was bold to warn this king. It would be eight years before this message would sink into Nebuchadnezzar’s heart.

Vance Havner said that his sermons sometimes were like time bombs; you don’t know when they will go of. Don’t be afraid to drop that word in season, perhaps it will take years to bear fruit but remember God’s promise to you as found in Isaiah.

Isaiah 55:11 So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.

Do you believe in a God who can save?

Let’s read verse twenty-nine.

Daniel 4:29 At the end of twelve months he walked in the palace of the kingdom of Babylon.

One year passes and the trouble has left Nebuchadnezzar. He soon forgot about his experience. When God’s grace is at it’s finest, man shows his folly. Look at Nebuchadnezzar’s boasting in verse thirty.

Daniel 4:30 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?

Is not this great Babylon that I have built? Notice the use of “I” and “my”, what a proud sinful heart this man possessed. He was right in one way, it was great Babylon.

It took two million men to build the city.

It was at least fifteen miles square, some say twenty.

The walls were three hundred feet high and seventy feet wide.

It had one hundred solid brass gates.

Amongst the sights were the famous hanging gardens of Babylon built on top of buildings for one of his queens, so that she could remember the mountain scene from which she came.

No expense was spared to make the most beautiful city in the world, magnificent in size, architecture, parks and ornaments.

No wonder Nebuchadnezzar was filled with pride. But pride is number one in God’s hate parade.

Proverbs 6:16-17 These six things doth the Lord hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: [17] A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,

Newspaper cartoonist H T Webster once wrote twenty letters to people who as far as he knew had done nothing worthwhile. He just put one word on the letter saying, congratulations. yet each person so flattered each wrote back a letter thanking him, all twenty assumed they had done something worthy of congratulations.

He was right. It was great Babylon. He was wrong for he hadn’t built it. He had forgotten about God; now God was going to carry out his promise, look at verse thirty-one.

Daniel 4:31 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.

The axe of God’s judgement was swinging, he was cut down, and God declares the kingdom is departed from thee. Verse thirty-two continues with God’s judgement.

Daniel 4:32 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.

Nebuchadnezzar would live and behave like an animal. Recently some have made animal noises and claimed they were being spiritual! In the word of God it is associated with sinfulness. Verse thirty three describes the fulfilment of God’s word regarding Nebuchadnezzar.

Daniel 4:33 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.

All his accomplishments, achievements and ambitions were now up in smoke. Nebuchadnezzar was lifted up with pride but God had cut him down. Nebuchadnezzar had been bragging but a voice came from heaven. Nebuchadnezzar’s life was turned upside down in a moment, that same hour was the thing fulfilled.

Nebuchadnezzar’s kingdom was gone. He had forgotten God in all his plans and purposes; he had forgotten God in all his bragging and boasting. Now for seven years he would remain in this condition and yet the kingdom remained intact. God preserved it.

Nebuchadnezzar’s kingdom and his power even his very mind was gone. He wasn’t recognisable. There is a disease called lycanthrophy, when a man thinks he is an animal.

Oh what a lesson for us all, we can be building our own little kingdom, our business, and our home. We can look at our kingdoms and pat ourselves on the back and forget about God. We could discover that overnight our little kingdom is gone. Consider what Paul said to Timothy.

1 Tim. 6:17 Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy;

Don’t forget about God, lets read on.

Daniel 4:34 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:

He had looked around. Then he looked like an animal now he looked up and was saved. He was saved by good looks. That’s how we are saved. Consider the following verses.

Isaiah 45:22 Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else.

Psalm 121:1-2 I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. [2] My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth.

He had been like a beast. He was looking to the earth. Now he is a saint he has his sights set on things that are above. Consider what he says about God.

Notice how he really praises the Lord. Nebuchadnezzar said mine understanding returned unto me, a man will only see sense when he looks to the Lord. What a mighty God. Would you have ever believed that this man could be saved?

Do you believe that God can save?

God can save whoever he wants, wherever and whenever he wants. Nebuchadnezzar was saved while he was on all fours like a beast. Paul was saved on the side of the road. The demonic was saved in a graveyard. Matthew was saved at his work; Philippians jailer was saved after an earthquake. God can save whomever he wants, wherever and whenever he wants

One Sunday afternoon, a number of ballplayers entered a pub. They saw a group of people playing instruments and singing God’s praises and testifying of God’s power to save from sin. One young ball player remembered a log cabin in Iowa, his godly mum and an old church. He said, “Boys I’m through with this,” with tears in his eyes he turned to the pacific garden mission. He said “I called upon God’s mercy, I staggered out of my sins into the outstretched arms of the saviour, I became a new creature in him,” Billy Sunday was his name.

God can save, whoever, wherever and whenever he wants. A man might be as black as sin can make him and as far as sin can take him, but God can save him. Let us notice finally.

Do you believe that God is sovereign?

This was the lesson Nebuchadnezzar had to learn; this truth is confirmed on a number of occasions in this chapter. Look at the following verses.

It is God who raises up rulers and gives kingdoms, it is God who takes them away.

On the morning of the battle of Waterloo Napoleon said, “We will put the infantry here, the cavalry here, the artillery here and at the end of the day England will be at the feet of France and Wellington will be prisoner of Napoleon.

One of the Commanding officers said, “But we must not forget that man proposes but God disposes.”

Napoleon said, “Napoleon proposes and Napoleon disposes.”

From that moment Waterloo was lost. He forgot God was in control.

Do you believe that God is sovereign, let us say something about the sovereignty of God looking at various scriptures.

Unmeasurable.

Job 11:7-9 Canst thou by searching find out God? canst thou find out the Almighty unto perfection? [8] It is as high as heaven; what canst thou do? deeper than hell; what canst thou know? [9] The measure thereof is longer than the earth, and broader than the sea.

Undeterred.

Proverbs 21:1 The king's heart is in the hand of the Lord, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will.

Unequalled.

Isaiah 45:6 That they may know from the rising of the sun, and from the west, that there is none beside me. I am the Lord, and there is none else.

What had Nebuchadnezzar to say about a sovereign God?

Daniel 4:34 -35 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: 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?

Lets divide it up to make it easy to understand. God is:

Almighty – “the most high”

Alive – “liveth for ever”

Active – “his dominion is from generation to generation”

Able - “and none can stay his hand,”

Answerable to none – “or say unto him, what doest thou?”

What does Nebuchadnezzar say about man? [Daniel 4:35] “And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing”

Man is nothing; God is everything in creation, redemption and salvation.

God had to take Nebuchadnezzar to his knees in order for him to realise the bankruptcy of Babylon and the sovereignty of God.

Notice Nebuchadnezzar’s progress through the book of Daniel thus far in relation to his knowledge of God.

He realised God was better than any of his Gods.

Daniel 2:47 The king answered unto Daniel, and said, Of a truth it is, that your God is a God of gods, and a Lord of kings, and a revealer of secrets, seeing thou couldst reveal this secret.

He next confesses that it’s possible to have a personal relationship with God.

Daniel 3:28 Then Nebuchadnezzar spake, and said, Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego,

Now he declares God to be the most high, everlasting, unchanging and sovereign God.

Praise God for the salvation of Nebuchadnezzar.