Daniel has a reputation for knowing the truth and telling the truth. And yet Daniel is a man who wants to speak the truth in love.

Transcription

1 Introduction There are several important words in the Book of Daniel. Two key words are dreams and visions. There are several important key verses in Daniel. Some scholars suggest the key verse in the book is Daniel 4:17; This decision is by the decree of the watchers, And the sentence by the word of the holy ones, In order that the living may know That the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, Gives to whomever He will, And sets over it the lowest of men. The book of Daniel has been described as the the greatest book in the Bible on godless kingdoms and the Kingdom of God (W. Graham Scroggie, Know Your Bible Vol.1 p.199). The book includes Israel s fall; Gentile supremacy and Israel restored. In this chapter the king of Babylon falls and is eventually restored. The king has issued a proclamation of praise testifying of God s awesome power (vv.1-3). In that proclamation the king revealed the particulars of a disturbing dream (vv.4-18). The king sees a large tree spreading out and then cut down (vv.4-12). Divine beings order the tree cut down and pronounces judgment. The king calls for the wise men of Babylon to offer an interpretation and explanation. They are unable (v.7). Daniel is asked to solve the puzzle (v.18). In this section the king reveals Daniel s reaction to the dream (v.19); Daniel s revelation of the meaning and interpretation of the dream (vv.20-26). The dream is a warning! Nebuchadnezzar s pride is putting him at risk for judgment. But then something remarkable happens. Daniel begs the king to repentant (v.27). Daniel s Reaction To The Dream (v.19) Daniel 4:19 (NKJV)19Then Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, was astonished for a time, and his thoughts troubled him. So the king spoke, and said, Belteshazzar, do not let the dream or its interpretation trouble you. Belteshazzar answered and said, My lord, may the dream concern those who hate you, and its interpretation concern your enemies! How does Daniel react to the king s dream? He is astonished and his thoughts troubled him. There is an awkward silence for a time (an hour KJV). Daniel is not astonished because the dream is unintelligible. Daniel is reluctant to reveal God s judgment to the king. Why? Is Daniel afraid of the king? Clearly this king has already demonstrated a volatile temper. We need not go beyond what the Bible records. Daniel has a reputation for knowing the truth and telling the truth. And yet Daniel is a man who wants to speak the truth in love. 1

2 What is happening in our text? The silence thunders. The king s inward terror intensifies. What is Daniel going to say? The king breaks the silence. Belteshazzar, don t let the dream or its interpretation trouble you. Tell me the truth. It would seem Daniel s concern for the king is genuine. Daniel is deeply grieved. How is it that possible? This king was responsible for the destruction of thousands of his people and ordered the destruction of Jerusalem. Would it be wrong to read into the text genuine love for this king? Would it be an exaggeration to say that Daniel forgave this king? Or is this Daniel s kind way of preparing the king to hear the truth? How is it possible to genuinely care for someone who has caused so much harm? Forgiveness is the only answer that makes sense. Daniel is able to speak and say to this king what no other human being in his kingdom was willing or able to say (vv.6-7). Daniel s Revelation Of The Dream (vv.20-26) 20 The tree that you saw, which grew and became strong, whose height reached to the heavens and which could be seen by all the earth, 21whose leaves were lovely and its fruit abundant, in which was food for all, under which the beasts of the field dwelt, and in whose branches the birds of the heaven had their home 22it is you, O king, who have grown and become strong; for your greatness has grown and reaches to the heavens, and your dominion to the end of the earth. Daniel repeats the content of the dream. In the ancient near east kings were often depicted as life-giving trees that provided shade and rest and fruit. Trees protected and sustained life; but if the king acted wickedly the tree of life could become a tree of death. If the tree dies it can no longer provide shade or fruit. Nebuchadnezzar and the Babylonian kingdom were indeed impressive. 23 And inasmuch as the king saw a watcher, a holy one, coming down from heaven and saying, Chop down the tree and destroy it, but leave its stump and roots in the earth, bound with a band of iron and bronze in the tender grass of the field; let it be wet with the dew of heaven, and let him graze with the beasts of the field, till seven times pass over him ; 24this is the interpretation, O king, and this is the decree of the Most High, which has come upon my lord the king: 25They shall drive you from men, your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field, and they shall make you eat grass like oxen. They shall wet you with the dew of heaven, and seven times shall pass over you, till you know that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whomever He chooses. 2

3 26 And inasmuch as they gave the command to leave the stump and roots of the tree, your kingdom shall be assured to you, after you come to know that Heaven rules. Daniel makes sure that the king understands that the watchers are acting under the authority of the Most High God. The source of the judgment was the God revealed secrets in chapter 2. The source of the judgment was the God who preserved the three Jewish men from the fiery furnace in chapter 3. The judgment was pronounced through angelic beings (v.24). Nebuchadnezzar would be removed as king in his own kingdom. He would no longer live in a lavish palace but would dwell among the animals in the open air. Not only would he dwell with animals but he himself would think like an animal and act like an animal. Scholars have suggested the king suffered from a condition known as lycanthropy or bo-anthropy which causes the individual to think and act like a cow. Seven periods shall pass over you. The judgment will last seven years. Imagine you are sentenced to prison for seven years. Not only is it a significant amount of time but it represents a loss of productivity. Note the word times will be used again in chapter 7:25 where it will once again reference years. But king please note; the supernatural beings gave command to leave the stump and the roots of the tree; your kingdom shall be assured to you; after you come to know that Heaven rules (v.26). Here heaven is synonymous with Heaven s King. God has two thrones: one in highest heaven and the other in the lowest heart. The stump and the band (v.15;23) is the guarantee that God will remain intact and the king will return and rule. You mean there is hope? The answer is yes. The king s pride has placed his mind at risk. His vanity is the gateway to insanity. But there is hope. The kingdom will last beyond for a season beyond the judgment; after you know or until you know that Heaven rules. Daniel bluntly reveals the purpose of the judgment. Ron Rhodes writes; For years Nebuchadnezzar had been full of pride, acting like a god before the subjects of his kingdom. He apparently thought of himself as divine. Now Nebuchadnezzar must be shown the truth. The cutting down of the tree represents the breaking down of Nebuchadnezzar s pride (40 Days Through Daniel; p.113). The severe humiliation was to teach him that the Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he will. 3

4 What is God willing to do to me and you to get His message through to us? In Psalm 107:40 the Lord declares His judgment on self-exalted rulers: He pours contempt on princes and makes them wander in trackless wastes. The Psalmist says It is God who executes judgment, putting down one and lifting up another (Psalm 75:7). The Lord declares It is I who by my great power and my outstretched arm have made the earth, with the men and animals that are on the earth, and I give it to whomever it seems right to me (Jeremiah 27:5). The God who easily gives can just as easily take away. Make sure you give people hope. What if the person is convinced there is no hope? Remind them of the Bible s promise (Psalm 71:20); Though you have made me see troubles, many and bitter, you will restore my life again; from the depths of the earth you will bring me up. The Apostle Paul prayed this in Ephesians 1:18-19; I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power fo us who believe. Never deprive someone of hope it may be all they have. I ll never forget what Muhammad Ali said; If they can make penicillin out of moldy bread, they can sure make something out of you. Daniel s Recommendation To The King (v.27) 27Therefore, O king, let my advice be acceptable to you; break off your sins by being righteous, and your iniquities by showing mercy to the poor. Perhaps there may be a lengthening of your prosperity. Daniel prophesies (vv.20-26) and then preaches (v.27) to the king. Daniel pleads with the king to change his ways. Make a clean break with sin. It is not good enough to simply turn from sin the king must be willing to embrace righteousness. The king is called on to make a break with sin and iniquity. The proof will be manifest in his willingness to show mercy to the poor. What can we learn from Daniel s very brief sermon? It is two simple sentences. The first sentence is a statement of what the king can do. The second sentence is the possibility that action might post-pone judgment. What is repentance? Repentance is made up of three essential elements: 1. There is a change of mind. 4

5 2. There is a change of heart. 3. There is a change of life. Daniel calls on the king to make a clean break with his sins and a call to righteousness. D.L. Moody used to say; Man is born with his face turned away from God. When he truly repents, he is turned around right toward God; he leaves his old life. What might be a way to demonstrate the change of mind and the change of heart and the change of life? Show mercy to the poor. In the book of Proverbs we are told; It is a sin to despise one s neighbors; blessed are those who help the poor (Proverbs 14:1). Those who oppress the poor insult their Maker, but those who help the poor honor him (Proverbs 14:31). A.W. Tozer had his own pithy definition of repentance; To move across from one sort of person to another is the essence of repentance: the liar becomes truthful, the thief honest. If that s true what path must Nebuchadnezzar take? He is proud. He must become humble. Nebuchadnezzar is wicked. He must become righteous. God has prospered Nebuchadnezzar. In order to continue in that prosperity God calls on Nebuchadnezzar to pay attention to the plight of the poor. God gives grace to the humble. When we despise humility we are in effect saying no to grace. In the Christian life we lose to gain; we must give to obtain; we must be humbled to be exalted; we must be least to be greatest; we must die to live. Lew Wallace is most famous for writing the book: Ben Hur. It is the story of a Jewish nobleman who becomes a slave. In the original book Wallace parallels the life of Christ and the remarkable transformation of the main character Judah Ben Hur comes to Christ. Woven throughout the book are themes of brokenness, tragedy, slavery and betrayal. Wallace says Repentance must be something more that mere remorse for sins; it comprehends a change of nature befitting heaven. The Bible records a few special cases where warnings were taken to heart and judgment averted. The Lord sent a reluctant Jonah to preach repentance to the people of Nineveh. When God saw what they did, who they turned from their evil way, God relented of the disaster that he had said he would do to them, and he did not do it (Jonah 3:10). This is consistent with Jeremiah 18:7-9; If at any time I declare concerning a nation or a kingdom, that I will pluck up and break down and destroy it, and if that nation, concerning which I have spoken, turns from its evil, I will relent of the disaster that I intended to do to it. 5

6 In Acts 8 we find the story of Simon Peter and Simon Magus. Simon Magus (the sorcerer) made a profession of faith and was even baptized. But his heart never really changed. The fact that he was never saved is evident when he offered Peter money for the power to lay hands on people to receive supernatural powers. Peter said; Your money perish with you (v.20; and Peter also said, You have neither part nor portion (fellowship) in this matter, for your heart is not right in the sight of God (v.21). Repent therefore of this your wickedness, and pray God if perhaps the thought of your heart may be forgiven you. (v.23) For I see that you are poisoned by bitterness and bound by iniquity. These are strong words. Bitterness, iniquity and pride are poisonous. They do not simply pollute the soul, they paralyze the capacity to recognize truth and therefore love truth. And what is the truth? God is sovereign. Heaven rules. Jesus Christ is the Lord. Conclusion Will the king heed the warning? Nebuchadnezzar you have been given a dream a supernatural vision a gracious warning! You have been given a friend (yes) who is willing to tell you the truth. You have been given instructions on how to postpone judgment. I wish I could tell you that Nebuchadnezzar will receive the message and heed the warning. But he will not. His pride is deep. Nebuchadnezzar is given space to repent. But what about you? Has God given you a special warning? Are you able to hear and take to heart God s supernatural attempt to reach you? What is God trying to say to you about your life and your future? Let go of pride. Make a clean break with sin. Amend your ways and your doings (Jeremiah 7:3). The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, Thou wilt not despise (Psalm 51:17). Have you trusted Jesus as your Savior? 6