Week #9 A Tribute to God's Grace Daniel Chapter Four, Part I Daniel 4:1-27

Transcription

1 Week #9 A Tribute to God's Grace Daniel Chapter Four, Part I Daniel 4:1-27 Presented Live February 28, 2016 I. Introduction and Review. A. In relation to spiritual absolutes, God never honors compromise. B. What gave Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah the strength to stand in the face of this test? 1. They knew that God was sovereign; a. That He exists; b. That He was involved in the affairs of men; c. That God always brings about the results He wants. d. If God is sovereign, it's not foolish to entrust your life to Him. 2. They knew the Scriptures. a. They refused to bow down because they knew God had forbidden it. b. They understood that God instructs us through His Scriptures. c. They are our only trustworthy and inerrant authority. 3. They were willing to die for their convictions. a. They were willing to pay the price of obedience. b. Job 13:15 "Though He slay me, I will hope in Him. Page 1 of 8

2 II. Nevertheless I will argue my ways before Him. c. Psalm 31:14-15 But as for me, I trust in You, O LORD, I say, "You are my God." 15 My times are in Your hand; Deliver me from the hand of my enemies and from those who persecute me. C. Type of anti-christ and his statue to worship. (Rev.13: 11-18). D. God always has a reason(s) for everything that He does 1. How many reasons does He have? 2. Do we get to know all of them? 3. Do we get to know any of them? 4. What are the reasons that God had for bringing Nebuchadnezzar over to invade Judah and besiege Jerusalem a. To punish Judah for refusing to follow the law (1) 70 Sabbath weeks of rest had been missed for the land b. To correct her addiction to idolatry and the evil it entails c. To build Daniel and his companions into the kind of men He wanted them to be d. To save Nebuchadnezzar E. The efforts of God to get to Nebuchadnezzar 1. The success of Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah in Chapter 1 2. The Dream that God gave to Nebuchadnezzar a. The relating of the dream to Nebuchadnezzar and giving God the credit b. The meaning: the future plans of God revealed to Nebuchadnezzar 3. Witnessing Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah refuse to compromise and their failure to burned 4. Seeing Jesus in the Fiery furnace with them F. Now comes the last act, Nebuchadnezzar s last chance Nebuchadnezzar's Tribute to God's Grace. Page 2 of 8

3 A. The principal from Nebuchadnezzar's life is that uncontrolled pride brings self-destruction. B. The vision - Dan. 4: "At ease" or "at rest" is idiomatic for "to be prosperous". 2. "To flourish" literally meant to "grow green" or "to be covered with leaves". a. It also is an idiom for prosperity. b. It speaks of or foreshadows his upcoming dream. c. And it is a play on words. d. But these words also allow us to see that this dream is not the result of some psychological trauma or condition 3. This dream, like his last, left Nebuchadnezzar fearful full of a sense of foreboding 4. Why couldn't the "other wise men" interpret the dream? a. Obviously they did not possess the Spirit of the Holy God b. They may have been afraid to tell the king what the dream meant c. They may have known that if they had tried to interpret it, Daniel would come along behind them and set the record straight 5. Why didn t Daniel come in with the first group a. It could be that he wanted to let the other wise men fail first b. Or it that Nebuchadnezzar, fearing what the dream meant, did not summon him for fear that Daniel might tell him something he did not want to hear c. Could it be that Daniel had left the capital on kingdom business and had just returned home when he was summoned to the king s chambers? 6. The king sets the stage for what God intends to do by recognizing the presence of God in Daniel s inner man a. God or gods Page 3 of 8

4 b. The word could be translated either way c. But the word translated spirit is sigular d. Therefore I believe the best translation is God, singular 7. So the king relates the dream to Daniel, in front of the entire court [4:10-17] 8. Then he requests that Daniel tell him what it means C. Consider Daniel's response. (4:19) 1. How could Daniel be so deeply grieved at the fate of Nebuchadnezzar? 2. This was the man responsible for the destruction of his homeland. 3. Nebuchadnezzar had taken him as captive and "destroyed" his life. a. He had plans for his future b. Those plans would have included a wife c. He was now a servant of the state d. And possibly a castrated one at that 4. Nebuchadnezzar nearly had him killed the last time he had a dream. 5. He had tried most recently to kill Daniel's best friends. 6. But Daniel had forgiven him, and because of that, God was able to use him. (Remember God wants to show Nebuchadnezzar his grace.) 7. How did that forgiveness come about 8. Daniel also loved Nebuchadnezzar Why? 9. Could you serve someone who has mistreated you, your family, and your nation in this manner? 10. God's love can change anyone. D. Daniel's interpretation. (Dan. 4:20-27) 1. Not the appearance of Daniel when he came to understand what the dream meant a. Was it a fake demonstration to ingratiate himself with the king, or was it done for dramatic effect to Page 4 of 8

5 heighten the suspense of his revelation, or was it a real reflection of his heart? 2. The king is depicted as the tree in the dream [4:20-22] a. In the ancient world a tree was often used as an idiom for an empire b. One of Nebuchadnezzar s inscriptions which has been recovered uses a tree as a metaphor to picture the Babylonian empire protecting and providing for all of its subjects c. So the king has used a tree to describe himself and his kingdom 3. What is being done to the king is as a result of the decision of the one true God [4:23a & 24] a. In the dream the term: messenger or watcher in some translations b. It means one who is awake and watching c. This refers not as much to the messenger function of angels but to a being that has oversight of human affairs and exercises God s judgments once pronounced 4. God s decimation of the tree [4:23] 5. What will happen to the king? [4:25-26] a. Periods of time = 7 years b. But only if the king turns his heart E. Daniel's advice. [4:27] 1. Forsake your sin - eliminate your pride. 2. How does God feel about the pride of men? a. Proverbs 6:16-19 There are six things which the LORD hates, Yes, seven which are an abomination to Him: 17 Haughty eyes, a lying tongue, And hands that shed innocent blood, 18 A heart that devises wicked plans, Feet that run rapidly to evil, 19 A false witness who utters lies, And one who spreads strife among brothers. Page 5 of 8

6 III. 3. How does Daniel propose to breaking away from sin? 4. By substituting righteousness in its place. Application for us A. Consider once again Daniel 4:17 "This sentence is by the decree of the angelic watchers And the decision is a command of the holy ones, In order that the living may know That the Most High is ruler over the realm of mankind, And bestows it on whom He wishes And sets over it the lowliest of men." 1. One of the most difficult lessons to learn is that God is sovereign. 2. He is above all the government, business and religious leaders in the world 3. Those of us who live in freedom and with a relatively high degree of autonomy find this difficult at times to accept 4. Many believe that they are free to do what they choose, but God is sovereign over all plans and desires B. Daniel was one of the most righteous men to ever live 1. See Ezekiel 14:14 even though these three men, Noah, Daniel and Job were in its midst, by their own righteousness they could only deliver themselves," declares the Lord GOD. 2. If Daniel is willing to relate to us his secret to righteous living, should we listen to what he has to say and endeavor to incorporate it into our lives? 3. Substitutional righteousness what is it? how do you do it? a. Two key types of sins: wrongful thoughts and wrongful actions b. Wrong actions, how do you substitute? (1) Before you do them, substitute righteous activities (2) Reading and studying the Bible (3) Memorizing passages from the Scriptures (4) Attending worship services Page 6 of 8

7 (5) Sharing your faith with unbelievers (6) Testifying to God s goodness (7) Writing songs and poetry to His faithfulness, sovereignty, and love (8) Using those in times of worship, both public and private c. Wrong thoughts, how do you substitute? (1) Reviewing memory work (2) Meditating on God s: (a) Word (b) His promises (c) His attributes (3) Singing songs which redirect your attention to your Master, whether out loud or to yourself (a) Eph. 5:19 Speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord; Listen Again and Again at and Believers Bible Class, & Douglas W. Brady Page 7 of 8

8 Notes the kind you write yourself... to yourself... to friends to take the place of a string around your finger. Go ahead Use this space to be creative. I dare you! Page 8 of 8