Nebuchadnezzar's Second Dream

Title: Nebuchadnezzar’s 2nd Dream Script: Daniel 4:4ff

Type: Expository series Where: GNBC 10-30-22

Intro: In a National Library of Medicine article (1-24-22) researchers ask and attempt to answer the question: “Did the Coronavirus infect our sleep?” Apparently, a growing number of studies have demonstrated that the COVID-19 pandemic has severely affected sleep and dream activity in healthy people. To date of the article, no investigation had been performed to examine dream activity specifically in COVID-19 patients. As part of the International COVID-19 Sleep Study, researchers compared 544 COVID-19 participants with 544 matched-controls. A within-subjects comparison between pre-pandemic and pandemic periods computed separately for controls and COVID-19 participants were performed on dream recall and nightmare frequency. Researchers found that there was greater dream activity during the pandemic and a very strong association between increased nightmare reporting for those having had Covid-19. All told, there is a growing body of literature that strongly suggests that the Covid 19 pandemic significantly upset sleep patterns, increased insomnia, and elevated distressed dreaming and nightmares. Now, in Daniel 4 we see that King Nebuchadnezzar has had another nightmare. Now, it’s doubtful the old king had Covid. Rather, the dream was divine in origination, and it was to serve as a warning and a sentence to this prideful potentate.

Prop: Exam. Daniel 4 we’ll notice 3 important aspects surrounding Nebuchadnezzar’s nightmare.

BG: 1. Several decades have now passed since Daniel was deported to Babylon (Modern Iraq.)

2. King Nebuchadnezzar has firmly established his rule. Power is absolute. Wealth is unsurpassed. Babylon’s hanging gardens are one of the “7 Wonders of the Ancient World”.

3.

Prop: Let’s Exam. Dan. 4 so as to notice 3 Important Aspects of Nebuchadnezzar’s Nightmare.

I. Nebuchadnezzar’s 2nd Nightmare – vv. 4-8

A. The King’s 2nd Dream Comes When All is Well in his Life.

1. The Ominous Message comes when the king was apparently strong and secure.

a. V. 4 – “I was at ease in my house and flourishing in my palace.” Life was going very well for the king at that moment in time. How many nations had he conquered? How many vassals states did he have in his employ? How many wives and concubines? How much wealth? How unquestioned was his rule and absolute his authority?

b. Like Nebuchadnezzar, we all try to build up accomplishments in our lives that attempt to impress ourselves as well as others: academic, athletic, commercial, financial, professional, relational. We are all looking forward to that time when we have our world by the tail on a down hill pull so we can live “at ease”. Be very careful dear ones! I have seen many a man or woman destroy all they had worked so hard and long to build up when they reached the age of “ease”. Illust: Read II Sam. 11:1-2. “in the Spring when the kings go out to battle…” Wait, David is not going out to battle! “I’ll let Joab take care of it!” “I am too important to go out…” “I’ve gone out for years. I am going to sit on my roof in the cool of the evening and relax.” David was at his ease when disaster struck!

2. The King’s Nightmare Demonstrates God’s Ability to Get our Attention no Matter our Position.

a. Nebuchadnezzar was a tempestuous individual. He was cruel, emotionally volatile, and petty (And those were his good attributes!). He had defeated the Assyrians empire, the preeminent power of the day. He had destroyed Judah, Jerusalem, and the Temple. He had taken into captivity the best and the brightest people who were now loyally serving him. There were no challenges, there were no challengers. All his enemies were subdued. He lived in the most luxurious city of his time. His wealth was opulent. Three words described the king: Pride! Pride! And Pride!

b. Illust: Yet, as the great Baptist preacher, WA Criswell once said; “No one is strong enough or powerful enough to escape God. God reaches into his bag of terrors and affects the king’s sleep. With one bizarre dream that lion-hearted general is now a craven coward. Illust: Almost everyone knows the name “JD Rockefeller” of Standard Oil fame. In the early 20th century he was the wealthiest man in the world. But by 50 yrs of age he was overworked, exhausted, terrible health, and hated by nearly everyone. Doctor warned him that would probably not live another year. Apparently had something of a religious conversion. Began to quietly give away his wealth to various charities. In 1912 his fortune was $900 million. Yet as he began to give wealth away, something happened: hair grew back, health improved, people began to like him! Lived another 47 years! At time of death fortune was $26 million. One of the biggest skinflints in history had become the biggest philanthropist in history. Why? God got his attention.