The Insanity of Sin
Book of Daniel Series
Text: Daniel 4 CSB
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Introduction:
As some of you know, I grew up with a very broken home life.
My parents split up when I was 5, and they both had various romantic attachments throughout my youth. From 5 years old until I left home, I was kicked back and forth among my family members, with the longest time being a three year stretch with my father and his new wife. When I was 16, I ended up at my mothers house due to some drama, but it didn’t last long.
Right before I turned 17, I got into a huge fight with my mom and her boyfriend, packed up my stuff into an old sea bag of my fathers, and left home.
I remember walking down the street at the time, “No more stupid rules! I’m free”
I felt elated and finally able to live my life on my own terms, with my own job, and I’ll find my own place.
I ended up rooming with a friend who had just turned 18 and got his own place- a tiny studio apartment where I slept on the floor.
I still attended high school for another quarter and then dropped out.
I ended up being in a downward slide to rock bottom in my life, which would occur a year later when I was arrested at a party. My dad came to bail me out and brought me to live with him again.
When I sobered up, my dad came to my bedroom and sat down and had a long talk with me. He asked me a question- “Is this all you want? No high school diploma, partying all of the time? Scrapping by on minimum wage.
Dumb and drunk is no way to go through life son. Figure this out, because I’m not bailing you out again”
It was a gut check for me- I had let my sin and rebellion push every good thing away from me, and run away from any authority in my life, and was now dealing with the consequences.
Even though I didn’t know it at the time, I was starting to realize the insanity of sin.
I’ve stood at the brink of destruction. Had I chosen wrongly, I know I’d be dead by now and most likely in hell.
In the decades since then, I’ve come to learn this truth- Sin is fundamentally irrational.
Sin blinds the heart- it’s like the shot you get at the dentist office to numb your mouth. Sin deadens the pain of a violated conscience so it can continue its destruction.
Sin and rebellion distort reality. In order to keep experiencing its continued promise of pleasure, you have to lie to yourself about what is actually truth.
If left unchecked, sin will always lead a person into self-destruction.
That’s the cliff I was standing on at 18 years old.
That’s why Scripture repeatedly warns that rebellion against God results in disaster, yet countless individuals chose to continue down that path of sin, believing themselves to be immune to its consequences.
All of that to introduce the scripture we will be studying this morning.
The story of King Nebuchadnezzar in Daniel 4 is a powerful illustration of the insanity that sin causes. This scripture will show us how sin leads to a spiritually insanity that produces a pride that leads to spiritual destruction.
However, it also shows that repentance brings restoration.
In this passage, Nebuchadnezzar, the most powerful ruler of his time, is humbled by God in a dramatic fashion.
His experience serves as a warning to all who walk in pride and a reminder that only in submission to the Lord can we find true wisdom and peace.
Daniel Chapter 4 is unique in two ways. First, it’s written in Aramaic as are chapters 2-7, and Second, Nebuchadnezzar is it’s author.
It’s the only chapter in the bible that was written by a pagan as a memoir of him becoming a believer.
This entire chapter is what we believers call a testimony.
Just like I started the message giving you some of my testimony of God’s work in my life, Nebuchadnezzar proclaims the grace of God in his life and him coming to belief.
Because of chapter 4’s length, we will tackle it section by section.
Versus 1-4 is a preface of King Nebuchadnezzar’s testimony, and it begins by praising God before he goes into how God had to humble him.
Dan 4:1-3 (CSB) King Nebuchadnezzar, To those of every people, nation, and language, who live on the whole earth: May your prosperity increase. (2) I am pleased to tell you about the miracles and wonders the Most High God has done for me. (3) How great are his miracles, and how mighty his wonders! His kingdom is an eternal kingdom, and his dominion is from generation to generation.
Prayer- power of testimony to destroy the insanity of sin________________________________________
In the verses we just read, we see that Nebuchadnezzar’s attitude toward God and life has changed and the rest of this chapter he tells us how God got him to this point.
Nebuchadnezzar begins by sharing how arrogant and selfish he was in life.
I. The Arrogance of the King (Daniel 4:4-18)
That arrogance of King Nebuchadnezzar is shown in several ways
The first thing he show us was-
A. His Self-Sufficiency (v. 4-5)
Nebuchadnezzar begins his testimony by describing his life of luxury and ease: "I, Nebuchadnezzar, was at rest in my house and flourishing in my palace." (Daniel 4:4). He was at the pinnacle of earthly power, enjoying the success and security of his own accomplishments. Yet, despite his worldly success, he was deeply disturbed by a troubling dream (v. 5).
This is a clear warning for us today: prosperity often lulls people into a false sense of security.
Many assume that success means God's approval, but that isn’t always true. As we have seen in earlier messages in the Book of Daniel, sometimes the devil will allow comfort to lull you into a false sense of security. Because success lulls you into a feeling of self-sufficiency, you are not realizing the enemy is creating a cage that he will use to trap you inside eventually.
That’s where Nebuchadnezzar is right now- in a comfortable cage built in pride, arrogance, and self-sufficiency.
But God doesn’t let the devil keep Nebuchadnezzar there, and that sends us a powerful message for our lives.
It shows us that up until the day that you take your last breath on this earth-
God’s spirit will aways be poking, prodding, trying to speak truth into your life. You may surround your heart with the deep callus of pride and rebellion. You may stop up your ears so you can’t hear his voice, but the author of Hebrews assures us-
Heb 4:12 (CSB) For the word of God is living and effective and sharper than any double-edged sword, penetrating as far as the separation of soul and spirit, joints and marrow. It is able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
Even in this evil pagan king- God’s spirit was still working, still drawing him, and still trying to bring conviction in his life.
However, Nebuchadnezzar’s hardness of heart is blocking the work of the Holy Spirit.
Still looking for answers, and unwilling to humble himself and seek God for his answers, Nebuchadnezzar instead repeats the mistake he made a few years before this. He puts his trust in a worldly answer and calls his wise me.
That show us the-
B. The Futility of Worldly Wisdom (v. 6-7)
Instead of yielding to God, The king calls upon the occult in seeking out the council of his magicians, astrologers, and wise men to interpret his dream, but just as before in the dream of the statue, they fail (v. 6-7).
How many of us do the same thing?
When we get impatient with God or are in a situation where God is calling us to trust in HIS plan, we instead seek and answer through tarot cards, horoscopes, and psychics, or astrology.
And you would think Nebuchadnezzar would know better.
He is doing the same thing he did in the earlier chapters of Daniel.
And he got the same result. His attempts at using his mystics and wise men failed.
There is a famous quote, usually attributed to Albert Einstein which says-
“Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result”
Doesn’t that statement highlight the insanity that sin can cause in our lives?
Well, as usual these pagan men fail him, so Nebuchadnezzar grows desperate and finally calls for the only person who can help him- the prophet of God- Daniel.
C. The Divine Revelation (v. 8-18)
Daniel arrives and interprets the dream, revealing that Nebuchadnezzar’s prosperity is about to be stripped away.
The dream shows a tree, cut down and its branches stripped away. Daniel tells Nebuchadnezzar that God is saying “Nebuchadnezzar if you don’t repent, I will strip you of your kingdom, your luxury’s and even your sanity.”
What could be more terrifying for a man like Nebuchadnezzar? A man so full of himself with this giant ego, being stripped of everything that makes him important, admired, and even feared.
Which is why God stripped it away.
Another example of this was the Apostle Paul. Paul was the most educated and influential Pharisee of his age. He memorized much of the Old Testament, and was so zealous for the law, he persecuted the early Christians, even approving executions for what he called heresy against the Jewish faith.
Then on the way to find more Christians, Paul meets the Resurrected Jesus. Christ’s appearance was so bright, that Paul was blinded and fell off his horse.
For three days, he was blind.
For three days the only place he could look was inward, and it was there that Paul saw the depth of his foolishness and failure.
Let’s take this and make it personal.
There may have been times in your life when you went through some hardships.
Instead of kicking and screaming about how miserable life is at that moment, stop and ask God- “What are you trying to do in my life? What are you trying to teach me LORD, or what part of me do I still need to surrender to your will?”
Often, during those times, God is trying to expose and strip away areas of pride, rebellion, and love of sin.
Keeping that in mind- I want to point out an important thing that this vision show us-
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II. God’s Mercy, Even During These Very Difficult Times
A. God's Mercy in this vision (v. 13-15)
Dan 4:13-15 "While I was in bed, having this vision, a holy angel came down from heaven (14) and shouted: 'Chop down the tree and cut off its branches; strip off its leaves and scatter its fruit. Make the animals leave its shade and send the birds flying from its branches. (15) But leave its stump and roots in the ground, surrounded by grass and held by chains of iron and bronze. 'Make sure that this ruler (Nebuchadnezzar) lives like the animals out in the open fields, unprotected from the dew.
Looking at this from our 21st century perspective, this judgment seems terrible. He is going from first to worst. From the most powerful man in this part of the world to a homeless, insane bum on skid row.
However, there is a vital truth we need to see here.
In verse 15- Nebuchadnezzar is pictured as a majestic and huge tree being chopped to only a stump. Look at again at verse 15-God orders angels to protect that stump with a circle of iron and bronze. Make sure it’s roots stay nourished, and it’s held in place so that the tree can grow again when God says it’s ready.
What this shows us about God, and what I’ve seen in my life, and in the lives of others.
Even in times of sin and rebellion when we are doing things that are against God, HIS Word, and HIS character.
God protects those areas of our lives that are still sensitive to HIM.
In Nebuchadnezzar’s case- there wasn’t a lot that was sensitive to God- just a barren stump, but what was there, God protected as a foundation to rebuild his life once he was humbled enough for God to bless again.
Even if what is God sensitive or God honoring in a person’s life has shrunk to the size of a mustard seed, that’s enough.
The scripture is filled with stories of God sending HIS power and HIS Spirit to breath life into impossible circumstances, bringing life where sin was causing only death and destruction.
Jesus illustrated this for us
Luk 13:6-9 Jesus then told them this story: A man had a fig tree growing in his vineyard. One day he went out to pick some figs, but he didn't find any. (7) So he said to the gardener, "For three years I have come looking for figs on this tree, and I haven't found any yet. Chop it down! Why should it take up space?" (8) The gardener answered, "Master, leave it for another year. I'll dig around it and put some manure on it to make it grow. (9) Maybe it will have figs on it next year. If it doesn't, you can have it cut down."
God is patient and will always protects that seed inside us that carry’s His image within us during our life.
But if we continue to resist God, once our life ends, God will honor our choice to live apart from HIM, and continue that choice into eternity.
That choice to live apart from God is called hell.
God does not take pleasure in the eternal death of the wicked.
In fact, sometimes God’s mercy is seen in allowing us to go through hell on earth to save us from the eternal hell.
That’s what God is about to do with Nebuchadnezzar. We will see that Nebuchadnezzar continues to resist God and stoke his pride.
B. The Folly of Ignoring God's Warnings (v. 28-30)
A full year has passed since the dream and it’s interpretation. Nebuchadnezzar pride and arrogance remains unchanged. He is out looking over the capital city Babylon and boasts:
"Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for a royal dwelling by my mighty power and for the honor of my majesty?" (v. 30).
The warning didn’t soften his heart at all.
I mentioned earlier- Pride blinds us to spiritual realities.
Now it’s time to God to move. God needs to shock Nebuchadnezzar to open his eyes to see where his sin is taking him, so he gives him that taste of hell on earth for 7 years.
And it comes suddenly
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III. The Judgment of God (Daniel 4:31-33)
A. The Suddenness of Judgment (v. 31-32)
The scripture says that while the words of pride are still on his lips, a voice from heaven declares that the kingdom is taken from him. God’s judgment falls immediately.
B. The Depth of His Humiliation (v. 33)
Nebuchadnezzar is driven from human society, eating grass like an ox, his body drenched in dew, his hair and nails growing wildly.
This is more than mere punishment or the mercy of God’s discipline—it is a vivid picture for us today of the insanity of sin.
But that is not the end of Nebuchadnezzar’s story. Remember, this story is written by him as a testimony of God’s greatness and mercy.
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IV. The Restoration Through Repentance (Daniel 4:34-37)
Let’s look at the end of the 7 years, and Nebuchadnezzar’s response.
The first thing he does is-
A. Lifting His Eyes to Heaven (v. 34)
After his season of humiliation, Nebuchadnezzar finally acknowledges God: "I lifted my eyes to heaven, and understanding returned to me" (v. 34). True wisdom begins with looking to God. When a person repents, their mind is restored. That stump, preserved through God’s protection and wrapped in iron and bronze is renewed, and can grow again, this time under God’s direction.
Nebuchadnezzar also acknowledges and confesses-
B. God's Sovereignty (v. 35-36)
Nebuchadnezzar now sees reality clearly: "All the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing; He does according to His will in the army of heaven" (v. 35).
This is a striking contrast to his former pride. He recognizes that all power belongs to God alone.
We see through this confession of faith that Nebuchadnezzar now understands, and is showing the proper fear and respect toward God-
C. The Restoration of His Kingdom (v. 36-37)
As soon as Nebuchadnezzar humbles himself, his kingdom is restored. But more importantly, he now praises and honors the true King of Heaven.
This reveals an essential biblical truth: humility leads to exaltation. As James 4:6 says, "God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble."
It shows the main lesson of Daniel Chapter 4-
God did not destroy Nebuchadnezzar completely; He disciplined him so that he might be restored.
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Conclusion: The Insanity of Sin and the Call to Repentance
Nebuchadnezzar’s story teaches us that unrepentant sin leads to spiritual insanity.
We have seen that the consequences of pride are severe—sin warps the mind, corrupts the heart, and leads to destruction.
However, for us this morning and for anyone listening through the podcast- there is hope.
The events of Daniel chapter 4 are a powerful example of God’s love and mercy.
No matter how far a person falls, if they humble themselves and turn to the Lord, they can be restored.
All rise-
Application:
1. Examine Your Own Heart: Are there areas in your life where pride has taken root? Are you attributing success to your own strength rather than to God's grace? Are you saying, “I’m self-sufficient, and don’t need God’s help with anything?”
If that is you-
2. Respond to God's Warnings: Do not ignore His call to repentance. If He has been convicting you of sin, turn to Him today before judgment falls.
3. Trust in God's Power and Sovereignty: The world is not in your hands—it belongs to God. True peace comes not from control but from surrender.
Altar Call- John 3:16-17
