Daniel:                   Excellence in Exile

Lesson Five:         Every Knee Shall Bow (God’s Judgment on a proud ruler – Nebuchadnezzar)

Text:                       Daniel 4:1-37

INTRODUCTION

If the Bible were an ordinary book, historians would treasure this chapter. It would be cited in textbooks and displayed in museums because it preserves intact an official Babylonian document. Moreover, it is a personal message from that Empire’s most famous king. It contains a riveting, personal account of how this once mighty monarch lost his sanity and was treated like a wild beast. But the Bible is not an ordinary book, and this is not an ordinary document. Official? Yes. Ordinary? Definitely not!

The historian rejects Daniel 4 because of its subject matter. It is deemed unsuitable for secular minds because it declares the existence of an eternal, sovereign God who rules in the affairs of men. Written by Nebuchadnezzar and distributed to all his subjects (probably in several languages), it tells how this proud king was made to kneel before the God of heaven and acknowledge His authority. Under the direction of the Holy Spirit, Daniel included this “secular” document in his book in place of his own personal observations. By doing so, he allows Nebuchadnezzar to tell us in his own words how he came to know God personally.

I. The Preamble – Verses 1-3

A preamble is a brief statement that introduces a document. From this preamble, we learn that what follows is:

A Public Address – verse 1. It is directed to all people, languages and races.

A Personal Account – verse 2.

– Nebuchadnezzar is announced as the author, employing first person, personal pronouns to tell his story.

– Although published as an official document, we are to understand that this is the king’s personal testimony of his faith in God.

A Powerful Admission – verse 3.

– This is the king who commanded that all his advisors be killed, tried to force all men to worship the image he erected, and in a fit of rage ordered three trusted servants to be thrown into a blazing furnace.

– Something dramatic must have happened to convince Nebuchadnezzar of the absolute sovereignty of God and the eternal nature of His kingdom.

II. The Presentation – Verses 4-36

1. A. Reporting the events (4-7)
2. 1. Peace – I … was at rest in mine house.
   1. No enemies threatened his borders. No problems troubled his household.
   2. Nebuchadnezzar was enjoying a feeling of security, a sense of wellbeing.
3. 2. Prosperity – … and flourishing
   1. Isaiah 14:4 calls Babylon the golden city.
   2. The Greek historian Herodotus visited Babylon some 90 years after Nebuchadnezzar had reigned. He tells of the lavish display of gold throughout the city.
   3. At this point in history, Nebuchadnezzar had built a kingdom that was greater than any other that had existed up to his time.
4. 3. Panic – …afraid … troubled
   1. God upset the king’s sense of wellbeing with a disturbing dream.

When Nebuchadnezzar awoke from his dream, he was troubled, or terrified. He was thrown into a state of panic.

He was to learn what many never learn, that peace and prosperity are not an indication that all is right between a man and God. See, for example, Luke 12:15-21

1. The king was further frustrated by the fact that none of his Chaldean astrologers or advisors could tell him what his dream meant.

Why was Daniel not called first? To answer, we must try to view this drama through the eyes of this pagan king. Nebuchadnezzar had never lost a battle. He had defeated every nation in what was considered the civilized world. In his day, military victories indicated that you served a superior God. Now, at the pinnacle of success, how could he maintain his pride if he admitted his gods were inferior to the God of one of the nations he had conquered? Although he had previously confessed that Daniel’s God was superior to his own, you can be sure that he did not like having to do this. That he is again being challenged with the truth about God shows that he had not really been convinced by his previous confrontations.

1. B. Recalling the dream (8-18)
2. 1. God’s man
   1. Notice the reference in verse 8 to “my god” and the “holy gods.”
   2. Nebuchadnezzar recognized a difference in Daniel and the God he served. It was this difference that gave him confidence that Daniel could correctly interpret the dream.

Note: Remember, Daniel did not edit this text. With the zeal of a new Believer, Nebuchadnezzar is trying to explain something brand new to him before he has had a chance to learn the “correct” terminology.

1. 2. God’s message
   1. In the beginning of his dream, Nebuchadnezzar saw a beautiful tree that grew to cover the earth. Its fruit fed the multitudes and its branches sheltered them.
   2. As the dream continued, Nebuchadnezzar saw an angelic messenger pronounce a curse on the tree. The tree was to be cut down and a band of iron was to be placed upon its stump. At this point, it becomes obvious that the “tree” was in fact a person and the dream was foretelling a terrible judgment that would come upon this person. See verses 15-16
   3. The king apparently did not understand the symbolism of the dream, but the words of the “watcher” recorded in verse 17 were unmistakable. There is one God, the Most High, whose will governs the kingdoms of this world. This one God promotes and demotes rulers according to His plans and purposes. Promotion is not necessarily a sign that the person is qualified to rule, but only that the person is suitable to fulfill the purpose of God.

1. C. Revealing the meaning (19-27)
2. 1. Daniel’s anguish before the king. (19a)
   1. The word astonied means to be devastated, rendered immovable, stunned, or dazed.
   2. This tells us something of the affection that Daniel had for this pagan king. Daniel’s response is a lesson for every Christian. Instead pointing a finger and relishing in the fact that the king was about to get his “just desserts,” Daniel was deeply grieved. Daniel possessed a soulwinner’s compassion as well as a prophet’s convictions. We would do well to remember that the two are not incompatible.
3. 2. Daniel’s answer to the king.
   1. Daniel first states that what he has to say will be good news to the king’s enemies.
   2. Then, recalling the details of the great tree, Daniel tells the king, “It is thou, O King.”The flourishing tree represented the present state of Nebuchadnezzar’s kingdom. The cutting down of the tree was a symbol of a future divine judgment; that Nebuchadnezzar would be removed from power, driven to insanity, and live as a wild animal.
   3. Verse 25 reveals the reason for the judgment. Nebuchadnezzar had believed that he alone was responsible for the greatness of his kingdom and had refused to acknowledge God’s purpose. The judgment would last seven times (months or, more probably, years), until the king confessed his acceptance of God’s sovereign will – that he was just a chosen servant of God.
   4. Verse 26 lets us know that the purpose of God’s judgment was not to destroy Nebuchadnezzar, but to redeem him.
4. 3. Daniel’s advice to the king (27)
   1. Daniel still does not display any satisfaction in delivering this message.
   2. Instead, he gave the king a course of action that might delay God’s judgment. Proud leaders often oppress and afflict those whom they rule. To them, it demonstrates their power, prestige, and position. Daniel was suggesting that Nebuchadnezzar could be spared God’s judgment by acknowledging God’s part in putting him on the throne and using his position to promote godly values.

1. D. Recording the fulfillment (28-36)
2. 1. Nebuchadnezzar’s conceit (28-30)
   1. After a year had passed, when the warning of the dream had likely been forgotten, the king began to boast of “his” accomplishments.
   2. Contemplating his kingdom, he was convinced that it witnessed of his power and majesty.
3. 2. God’s condemnation (31-33)
   1. As soon as the words were out of his mouth, a heavenly voiced announced that the prophesied judgment had begun.
   2. True to the prophecy, this king who had believed he was the ideal specimen of humanity lost his sanity and was treated like a domestic animal.
   3. Seven years of madness governed his life until he was ready to acknowledge the superior Person and Power of God.
4. 3. Nebuchadnezzar’s confession (34-36)
   1. Nebuchadnezzar’s sanity returned when he lifted his eyes to heaven. This was his way of acknowledging his need of God.
   2. He then began to worship the Lord and acknowledge him as God:

• The One who is not limited by mortality, but lives forever.
• The One whose kingdom cannot be conquered.
• The One whose will can be opposed, but not hindered.

1. As soon as the king made his confession, his sanity returned and his kingdom was restored.

III. The Proclamation – Verse 37

In the preceding chapters, Nebuchadnezzar came to know about God. Through this experience, Nebuchadnezzar came to know God personally. Now, he proclaims that knowledge throughout his kingdom with words of praise, also warning that “those that walk in pride He is able to abase.” These final words seem to say, “No matter what a person or men think, one day they will appear before God and eventually, every knee shall bow and confess Him as Lord.”

Today, we have God’s completed revelation. We know that he has provided men a Savior in Jesus Christ. The Bible plainly declares, “Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.“ But to those who do not accept Him as Savior, there is a day when they will bow before Him and acknowledge that He is Lord – only then, it will be too late. From there, those who died as unbelievers will have their place in the lake of fire (Revelation 21:8).

This chapter also has an application to believers. The same God who rules in history directs our lives today. If he puts us in a position of leadership, He does not do it for our glory, but in order to use us to demonstrate His power and promote His glory. Should we walk in pride, He will humble us (1 Peter 5:5-6).

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