Daniel 4:19 -37 OUR SOVEREIGN GOD Defined: his absolute right to do all things (or anything) according to his own good pleasure (Matthew 20:15) Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? C.H. Spurgeon said: “Men will allow God to be everywhere except on his throne.” The idea that God has the right to do what he wants, when he wants, with whom he wants, is a most hated doctrine. I. GOD’S SOVEREIGNTY REJECTED – v. 30 The king spake, and said, Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for the house of the kingdom by the might of my power, and for the honour of my majesty? -Nebuchadnezzar completely ignores and rejects any possibility of God. He leaves God completely out of the picture.
A. Seen In His Indifference To God's Person - 24 This is the interpretation, O king, and this is the decree of the most High, which is come upon my lord the king: B. Seen In His Indifference To God's Power - 25 That they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field, and they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and they shall wet thee with the dew of heaven, and seven times shall pass over thee, till thou know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will C. Seen In His Indifference To God's Patience - 26 And whereas they commanded to leave the stump of the tree roots; thy kingdom shall be sure unto thee, after that thou shalt have known that the heavens do rule. Luke 13:7 Then said he unto the dresser of his vineyard, Behold, these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and find none: cut it down; why cumbereth it the ground? D. Seen In His Indifference To God's Pronouncement - 27 Wherefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable unto thee, and break off thy sins by righteousness, and thine iniquities by shewing mercy to the poor; if it may be a lengthening of thy tranquillity. Note Daniel's :- (a) Gracious Admonishment "Wherefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable unto thee," (b) Good Advice "break off thy sins by righteousness, and thine iniquities by shewing mercy to the poor" (c) Godly Admonition "if it may be a lengthening of thy tranquillity." Proverbs 3:32 For the froward is abomination to the LORD: but his secret is with the righteous.
-Pharaoh does the same thing in Exodus 5:1-2 And afterward Moses and Aaron went in, and told Pharaoh, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Let my people go, that they may hold a feast unto me in the wilderness. 2 And Pharaoh said, Who is the LORD, that I should obey his voice to let Israel go? I know not the LORD, neither will I let Israel go.
II. GOD’S SOVEREIGNTY EXPERIENCED – v. 31-33 While the word was in the king’s mouth, there fell a voice from heaven, saying, O king Nebuchadnezzar, to thee it is spoken; The kingdom is departed from thee. 32 And they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field: they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and seven times shall pass over thee, until thou know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will. 33 The same hour was the thing fulfilled upon Nebuchadnezzar: and he was driven from men, and did eat grass as oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven, till his hairs were grown like eagles’ feathers, and his nails like birds’ claws. A. The Restraint Of His Punishment -V. 29 At the end of twelve months he walked in the palace of the kingdom of Babylon Ecclesiastes 8:11 Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil. 1 Peter 3:20 Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water. B. The Reason For His Punishment v. 30 The king spake, and said, Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for the house of the kingdom by the might of my power, and for the honour of my majesty? Sent For :- His Pride (He Refused To Repent), His Presumption, His Pre- Occupation for the honour of my majesty C. The Result Of His Punishment - V. 31-32 Nebuchadnezzar lost his :- (a) Power The kingdom is departed from thee (b) Position v.32 And they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field (c) Peace they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen (d) Pride v.32 and seven times shall pass over thee, until thou know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will. D. The Recovery Of His Punishment - 32 And they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field: they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and seven times shall pass over thee, until thou know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will “Oh, God would never do anything so cruel as that”
-However if such treatment was necessary to bring Nebuchadnezzar to a knowledge of God, then it was a gracious act and not a cruel act at all!
Psalms 119:67 Before I was afflicted I went astray: but now have I kept thy word. 1 Peter 2:25 For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls. III. GOD’S SOVEREIGNTY ACCEPTED – v. 34 And at the end of the days I Nebuchadnezzar lifted up mine eyes unto heaven, and mine understanding returned unto me, and I blessed the most High, and I praised and honoured him that liveth for ever, whose dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom is from generation to generation: 1. I lifted up mine eyes, 2. mine understanding returned, 3. I blessed the most High,
A. There Is A Revelation Of Heaven's Rule I Nebuchadnezzar lifted up mine eyes unto heaven, B. There Is A Realization Of Heaven's Rule and mine understanding returned unto me Luke 15:24 For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry. Luke 8:35 Then they went out to see what was done; and came to Jesus, and found the man, out of whom the devils were departed, sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed, and in his right mind: and they were afraid. Psalms 14:1 The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good. 34 - Nebuchadnezzar finally realizes that what he needs is a personal relationship with the God of the Hebrews. He realizes that God has been right all along. He realizes that he is a sinner and turns to the Lord in repentance. C. There Is A Reception Of Heaven's Rule 34 and I blessed the most High, and I praised and honoured him that liveth for ever - There is an obvious change in the attitude of Nebuchadnezzar. Before, he either ignored God or just gave Him mere lip service. Now, he begins to praise the Lord and to glorify God's works. Compare Daniel 4:30 with 4:37. 30 The king spake, and said, Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for the house of the kingdom by the might of my power, and for the honour of my majesty? 37 Now I Nebuchadnezzar praise and extol and honour the King of heaven, all whose works are truth, and his ways judgment: and those that walk in pride he is able to abase. His Personality Was Changed, His Priorities Were Changed His Preoccupation Was Changed, His Perspective Was Changed His Praise Was Changed
2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. IV. GOD’S SOVEREIGNTY DESCRIBED – v. 34-37 A. The Superiority of His Kingdom – v. 34 And at the end of the days I Nebuchadnezzar lifted up mine eyes unto heaven, and mine understanding returned unto me, and I blessed the most High, and I praised and honoured him that liveth for ever, whose dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom is from generation to generation:
B. The Insignificance of His Creatures – v. 35 And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing:
C. The Sovereignty of His Will – v. 35 and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth:
D. The Sureness of His Power – v. 35 and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou?
E. The Supremacy of His Person – v. 37 Now I Nebuchadnezzar praise and extol and honour the King of heaven,
F. The Singleness of His Character – v. 37 all whose works are truth, and his ways judgment:
G. The Strength of His Position – v. 37 and those that walk in pride he is able to abase.
