Last Sunday after the service I was talking with someone who asked a question that - as we’ve been looking at Daniel - I think many of us have wondered about.  “After all the things that God did right in front of Nebuchadnezzar’s face - demonstrating to Nebuchadnezzar who God is, why doesn’t Nebuchadnezzar get it?  Especially - after the dream about a statue in chapter two - how God is in control over everything - why then, in chapter three, why is Nebuchadnezzar putting up this golden statue and demanding worship?  Why doesn’t Neb get it?”  Have you wondered that?

Its a great question.  Daniel chapter four - where we’re coming to this morning - chapter four is Nebuchadnezzar’s personal testimony.  His testimony of how he finally “gets it.”

Last Sunday - remember the golden statue - the music - the really really hot furnace?  The bottom line of last Sunday was a fundamental choice - the choice of who we value - who we honor - who we worship - who we trust with our lives.  God - or something else.  Remember this?

The obvious answer to, “Who do we value?”  Is who?  “God.”  Intellectually - in our heads - we get that.  Its a Sunday School answer.  Most Sunday School questions can be answered with God - Jesus - prayer - because its in the Bible.  Intellectually we understand:  Value God.

But in our heart - deep down - when our faith hits the hard asphalt of life - we struggle.  When it comes to times when we need courage - to trust God - to stand for Him like at work or at school - when we need courage when things are coming apart at the seams in our families and we need to stick to doing what we know is right - in those times - not just intellectually - but in our hearts - at the core of who we are we need to value God more highly than anything else - than anyone else.

That’s where we’re going this morning - how Nebuchadnezzar moved from an intellectual acknowledgement of God to a heart trusting of God.

If your not there yet, please turn with me to Daniel chapter four.  As you’re turning - let me set this chapter into the sequence of what God is doing in Neb’s life.  Looking at Neb looking intellectually at God.

In Daniel chapter one the account revolves around the question of whether or not to eat Nebuchadnezzar’s food - vegetables or food sacrificed to Babylon’s gods.  It was issue of indoctrination for Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego.  Bottom line:  Follow the one true God or be assimilated into Babylonian culture and society.  Remember this? 

At the end of the chapter - Nebuchadnezzar finds the boys - who have decided to remain faithful to God - Neb finds these four boys to be 10 times more wise and understanding than anyone else.  Neb appoints them to his personal service - taking advantage of what God has done in their lives.  Neb is on the learning curve.  Intellectually he understands that their God takes care of His people - blessing them with wisdom and understanding.

Chapter two revolves around the dream Nebuchadnezzar had of a statute showing all the kingdoms that were coming down through history - and ultimately God’s eternal kingdom which is supreme over all others.  Remember this?  None of Nebuchadnezzar’s wise guys can tell him the dream.  But God reveals the dream and the interpretation to Daniel.

So Neb - again on the learning curve - intellectually understands that God is sovereign over the affairs of mankind.  But still Neb doesn’t get that God’s sovereignty applies to him personally as well.  That’s why - in chapter three he’s building this golden statue and demanding worship. 

And chapter three the boys get tossed into the really really hot furnace and God delivers them.  Neb finally praises the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego who’s delivered them.  Declares that everyone should treat their God - as well as his gods - with respect.

The bottom line:  In all this Neb never “gets it” that God is speaking to him - wanting to get personal with him - wanting Neb to give God sovereignty over his heart.

Daniel 4:1:  Nebuchadnezzar the king to all the peoples, nations, and men of every language that live in all the earth:  “May your peace abound!  It has seemed good to me to declare the signs and wonders which the Most High God has done for me.

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.”

These first three verses are Nebuchadnezzar’s introduction to his personal testimony.  The most powerful man on earth explaining to everyone that he can share with - what he now knows to be true about God.  Starting in verse 4 is Nebuchadnezzar’s explanation - how God finally got a hold of his life and brought him to this personal trust in God.

Verse 4:  “I, Nebuchadnezzar, was at ease in my house and flourishing in my palace.  I saw a dream and it made me fearful; and these fantasies as I lay on my bed and the visions in my mind kept alarming me.  So I gave orders to bring into my presence all the wise men of Babylon, that they might make known to me the interpretation of the dream.  Then the magicians, the conjurers, the Chaldeans and the diviners came in and I related the dream to them, but they could not make its interpretation known to me. - Does this sound familiar?

But finally Daniel - should have started with Daniel in the first place - But finally Daniel came in before me, whose name is Belteshazzar according to the name of my god, and in whom is a spirit of the holy gods; and I related the dream to him, saying, O Belteshazzar, chief of the magicians, since I know that a spirit of the holy gods is in you and no mystery baffles you, tell me the visions of my dream which I have seen, along with its interpretation. 

Now these were the visions in my mind as I lay on my bed; I was looking, and behold, there was a tree in the midst of the earth and its height was great.  The tree grew large and became strong and its height reached to the sky, and it was visible to the end of the whole earth.  Its foliage was 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 sky dwelt in its branches, and all living creatures fed themselves from it.

I was looking in the visions in my mind as I lay on my bed, and behold, an angelic watcher, a holy one, descended from heaven.  He shouted out and spoke as follows, ‘Chop down the tree and cut off its branches, strip off its foliage and scatter its fruit; let the beasts flee from under it and the birds from its branches.  Yet leave the stump with its roots in the ground, but with a band of iron and bronze around it in the new grass of the field; and let him be drenched with the dew of heaven, and let him share with the beasts in the grass of the earth.  Let his mind be changed from that of a man and let a beast’s mind be given to him, and let seven periods of time pass over him.

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.’

This is the dream which I, King Nebuchadnezzar, have seen.  Now you. Belteshazzar, tell me its interpretation , inasmuch as none of the wise men of my kingdom is able to make known to me the interpretation; but you are able, for a spirit of the holy gods is in you.”

Let’s pause and notice 3 things

First:  Nebuchadnezzar is flourishing.

Between chapters 3 and 4 there’s a span of history that’s taken place during which Nebuchadnezzar has obliterated his enemies  Pretty much every empire around has been ground under Nebuchadnezzar’s heel.  He is the sole force in the world to be reckoned with.  There’s no one greater.  He’s flourishing.  Prosperous.  At ease - content - in his palace.  Nebuchadnezzar is on top of the heap of mankind with the ego and pride to go along with his position.

Second:  Nebuchadnezzar again goes to Daniel for help.

Once again all of his wise men fail him.  So Nebuchadnezzar again turns to Daniel.  And as Neb shares his testimony he’s being very honest with us.  At that point when he went to Daniel it wasn’t because Neb was impressed with God or because he personally knew God.  Neb goes to Daniel for help because intellectually he knows that Daniel is somehow in touch with the gods - plural.  Daniel is some kind of holy person.

Third:  We need to see God’s grace here.

While Nebuchadnezzar may not have personally known God - God knows Nebuchadnezzar.  God once again is trying to get a hold of Nebuchadnezzar’s life.  God’s talking to Neb.  God has placed Daniel there - a man who knows God - put Daniel there to interpret the dream.

Verse 19:  Then Daniel, whose name is Belteshazzar, was appalled for a while as his thoughts alarmed him.  The king responded and said, “Belteshazzar, do not let the dream or its interpretation alarm you.”  Belteshazzar replied, “My lord, if only the dream applied to those who hate you and its interpretation to your adversaries!  The tree that you saw, which became large and grew strong, whose height reached to the sky and was visible to all the earth and whose foliage was beautiful and its fruit abundant, and in which was food for all, under which the beasts of the field dwelt and in whose branches the birds of the sky lodged - it is you, O king; for you have become great and grown strong, and your majesty has become great and reached to the sky and your dominion to the end of the earth.

In that the king saw an angelic watcher, a holy one, descending from heaven and saying, ‘Chop down the tree and destroy it; yet leave the stump with its roots in the ground, but with a band of iron and bronze around it in the new grass of the field, and let him be drenched with the dew of heaven, and let him share with the beasts of the field until seven periods of time pass over him,’ this is the interpretation, O king, and this is the decree of the Most High, which has come upon my lord the king:  that you be driven away from mankind and your dwelling place be with the beasts of the field, and you be given grass to eat like cattle and be drenched with the dew of heaven; and seven periods of time will pass over you, until you recognize that the Most High is ruler over the realm of mankind and bestows it on whomever He wishes.  And in that it was commanded to leave the stump with the roots of the tree, your kingdom will be assured to you after you recognize that it is Heaven that rules. 

Therefore, O king, may my advice be pleasing to you:  break away now from your sins by doing righteousness and from your iniquities by showing mercy to the poor, in case there may be a prolonging of your prosperity.”

Pause with me.

First:  Notice the coming devastation.

Daniel hesitates.  The dream is so shocking - so alarming - the implications for Nebuchadnezzar so devastating - that Daniel hesitates.  Maybe he might wish this on his worst enemies.  Have you ever had to tell someone something that you knew was going to devastate their lives - be so hurtful - so painful - that you really didn’t want to tell them?  This is really hard stuff.

Second:  Notice again God’s grace.

Daniel - God’s man - after he’s given the interpretation - makes an appeal, “Repent while there’s still time.”  God - through Daniel - is appealing to Nebuchadnezzar.  The future isn’t written.  Turn back.  Turn to God.

Then notice that there are 7 definite periods of time - probably years.  Again that’s God’s grace.  For 7 years Nebuchadnezzar is going to be put out to pasture.  But after that, he’s going be restored - even get his kingdom back.

Imagine - another word for “politician” is “target.”  Anybody who’s upset about anything or just wanting to push their own agenda will use any opportunity to attack political leadership.  Every time President Bush sneezes someone screams about conspiracies tries to use it against him.  There must have been a long list of people who would have moved quickly to take advantage of the situation - while Neb was a man out standing in his field - take advantage of the opportunity and put themselves in power.

But God by his grace establishes limits - protects Nebuchadnezzar - gives reassurance of restoration. 

Third - we need to see the purpose of all this.

Verse 26:  “You’re going to be restored after you recognize that it is Heaven that rules.”

When I was in High School - not so long ago - every Friday during football season we had a noon rally in the gym.  The varsity cheerleaders would do a routine.  The JV cheerleaders would do a routine.  The Donamics - which was our version of the Radio City Rockets - would do a routine.  The band would play.  The coach would get up and introduce the football team and make some speech about how we were going to devastate our opponent.  We’d be led in some cheer - like “We’re number one.” Or, “SC Rules.”  Then that night we’d go out and get creamed.

Every been to rally like that?  Every school has them.  Main point:  “We’re the force to be reckoned with.”

That’s the point here.  “Heaven Rules!”  Say that with me:  “Heaven Rules!”  Louder:  “HEAVEN RULES!”  That’s the truth isn’t it?

Neb’s problem was that he thought he was the force to be reckoned with.  That he was number one.  But, God that rules from Heaven.  Whatever Neb had wasn’t because of his own abilities or cleverness or strength - it was because the real ruler over the realm of mankind had allowed him to reign.  That’s what God in His grace was working to get this proud flourishing king to understand.

Verse 28:  All this happened to Nebuchadnezzar the king.  Twelve months later he was walking on the roof of the royal palace of Babylon.  The king reflected and said, “Is this not Babylon the great, which I myself have built as a royal residence by the might of my power, and for the glory of my majesty?”

While the word was in the king’s mouth, a voice came from heaven, saying, “King Nebuchadnezzar, to you it is declared:  sovereignty has been removed from you, and you will be driven from mankind, and your dwelling place will be with the beasts of the field.  You will be given grass to eat like cattle, and seven periods of time will pass over you until you recognize that the Most High is ruler over the realm of mankind and bestows it on whomever He wishes.”

Immediately the word concerning Nebuchadnezzar was fulfilled; and he was driven away from mankind and began eating grass like cattle, and his body was drenched with the dew of heaven until his hair had grown like eagles feathers and his nails like birds claws.

Two things to notice.

First:  Once again God’s grace.

A whole year goes by.  Maybe Neb thought God had forgotten about him .  After one year he’s walking on the roof - overlooking his domain - basking in his own magnificence - and “poof” he’s pasteurized.  That one year is God’s grace demonstrated.  Neb could have repented - followed Daniel’s advice.  This didn’t have to happen. 

Second:  It took the full 7 years to get through to Nebuchadnezzar.

Working through Babylonian history - and the timelines here in Daniel - its probable that Nebuchadnezzar had this dream about the tree in 583 BC.  Which is really interesting - because historically - with the Babylonians - there was always something going on militarily - wars - conquests - something.  But between 582 and 575 BC - starting one year after Neb dreamed the dream - for 7 years - there were no major military operations.  No king.  No conquests. 

The historical records outside the Bible suggest this took 7 years.  God said it took 7 years.  Neb - in his testimony - with humility - admits that it took the full 7 years - and this devastating experience - for God to get through to Nebuchadnezzar’s heart.

Verse 34:  “But at the end of that period, I, Nebuchadnezzar, raised my eyes toward heaven and my reason returned to me, and I blessed the Most High and praised and honored Him who lives forever;

Notice that - its no longer Daniel’s God - or a God among many gods - but The Most High.  Neb finally “gets it.”

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.  But He does according to His will in the host of heaven and among the inhabitants of earth; and no one can ward off His hand or say to Him, ‘What have You done?’

That’s unquestioned sovereignty.  As king Neb had it.  Question his right to do whatever he wanted and you’d be torn limb from limb - your houses made into a rubbish heap - and they you’d get thrown into a blazing really really hot furnace.  What Neb’s saying here is that God is the One who alone has unquestioned sovereignty.  Even over Neb’s life.

Verse 36:  At that time my reason returned to me.  And my majesty and splendor were restored to me for the glory of my kingdom, and my counselors and my nobles began seeking me out; so I was reestablished in my sovereignty, and surpassing greatness was added to me.  Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise, exalt and honor the King of heaven, for all His works are true and His ways just, and He is able to humble those who walk in pride.”

God graciously gives it all back to Neb  And now - with all his restored majesty  - and then some - rather than boasting in himself - Neb is giving the glory to God.  His testimony is of what God has done and of who God is.  Heaven Rules!

Two questions of application.

Question #1:  What keeps you from valuing God above all else?

There is a huge difference between verse 4 and verse 34.  Verse 4:  “I, Nebuchadnezzar, was at ease in my house and flourishing in my palace.”  Verse 34:  “But at the end of that period, I, Nebuchadnezzar, raised my eyes toward heaven and my reason returned to me, and I blessed the Most High and praised and honored Him who lives forever.”

Where do you see your life?  Verse 4 or verse 34?  In between are all those things that we value so highly:  our  - homes - cars - possessions - accomplishments - talents - abilities - IRAs - portfolios - what we take pride in - stroke our egos with - find contentment in - compare ourselves to others with.  Maybe wounds - wrongs suffered - anger - bitterness.

What keeps you from valuing God above all else?

Second Question:  What will it take to get a hold of your heart?

Imagine tourists visiting Babylon, “Who was that guy we passed on the way in?  The one with the really bad manicure eating grass?”  “Oh, him.  That’s just the king - supreme ruler of all the known world.”

What will get your attention?  Bring you to your knees?  What does God need to do to knock you off your little pedestals of self?  Maybe you’re in circumstances right now that God is trying to use to get you turned towards Him.  When will we finally admit that Heaven rules?  There’s a gracious warning in Neb’s testimony that we all need to pay attention to.  Now is the time to turn.

It is so easy for us to fall into the trap of intellectually acknowledging God - doing the church thing - having our doctrine and theology correct -  and still be focused on ourselves - to miss the bottom line.  God wants to rule in our hearts - the core of who we are given totally over to Him - valuing Him - honoring Him - worshiping Him - trusting Him - above all others.

When we value anything above God, Satan will use what we value to pull us away from God.  When we value God above all else - being willing to surrender even our lives to Him - then we begin to really live - to live God’s way - courageous in any circumstance - powerful - effective for God’s kingdom - bringing glory to Him.

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Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, Copyright© 1960,1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation.  Used by permission.