Sanity
Daniel 4
October 27, 2002
Intro:
A. [Joke] Insanity is heredity. You can get it from your children.
B. That may be true, but there is another way to go insane and we learn about it in the fourth chapter of Daniel.
I. Salutation
Daniel 4:1-3 (NIV), King Nebuchadnezzar, To the peoples, nations and men of every language, who live in all the world: May you prosper greatly! 2 It is my pleasure to tell you about the miraculous signs and wonders that the Most High God has performed for me. 3 How great are his signs, how mighty his wonders! His kingdom is an eternal kingdom; his dominion endures from generation to generation.
A. Daniel has recorded an official proclamation by King Nebuchadnezzar.
1. Daniel was inspired by the HS to include this proclamation in His book.
2. So what we have here is one of the most wicked kings to ever rule writing in the Word of God.
3. The events of this chapter are a second dream that God gave Nebuchadnezzar.
4. This shows us that God doesn’t just reveal Himself to the super-Holy.
5. God doesn’t just speak to people who are super-spiritual.
6. God doesn’t just work in the lives of super-religious people like Billy Graham and Mother Theresa.
7. God works through and speaks to whomever He pleases.
8. So don’t let Satan tell you that you aren’t religious enough for God to work in your life or speak to you.
9. Because God doesn’t evaluate people’s spirituality in order to determine whether they’re holy enough for Him to speak to them or work in their lives.
10. Nebuchadnezzar wrote this chapter and God has seen fit to include it in His Word.
B. These opening verses are simply the introduction or the salutation of his proclamation.
1. He begins by stating who wrote it and to whom he wrote it.
2. He gives a greeting of prosperity and then gives the reasons for the proclamation…
a. He wants to tell of the miraculous signs and wonders that God performed for him.
b. He wants to tell how great God’s signs and wonders are.
c. And he wants to tell why God’s kingdom is the greatest kingdom anywhere.
3. This is what he learned as a result of the events that unfolded in this chapter.
4. These verses tell us what Nebuchadnezzar learned from the following story.
5. So now lets look at the dream, which I call the…
II. Revelation
Daniel 4:4-18 (NIV), I, Nebuchadnezzar, was at home in my palace, contented and prosperous. 5 I had a dream that made me afraid. As I was lying in my bed, the images and visions that passed through my mind terrified me. 6 So I commanded that all the wise men of Babylon be brought before me to interpret the dream for me. 7 When the magicians, enchanters, astrologers and diviners came, I told them the dream, but they could not interpret it for me. 8 Finally, Daniel came into my presence and I told him the dream. (He is called Belteshazzar, after the name of my god, and the spirit of the holy gods is in him.) 9 I said, "Belteshazzar, chief of the magicians, I know that the spirit of the holy gods is in you, and no mystery is too difficult for you. Here is my dream; interpret it for me. 10 These are the visions I saw while lying in my bed: I looked, and there before me stood a tree in the middle of the land. Its height was enormous. 11 The tree grew large and strong and its top touched the sky; it was visible to the ends of the earth. 12 Its leaves were beautiful, its fruit abundant, and on it was food for all. Under it the beasts of the field found shelter, and the birds of the air lived in its branches; from it every creature was fed. 13 "In the visions I saw while lying in my bed, I looked, and there before me was a messenger, a holy one, coming down from heaven. 14 He called in a loud voice: ’Cut down the tree and trim off its branches; strip off its leaves and scatter its fruit. Let the animals flee from under it and the birds from its branches. 15 But let the stump and its roots, bound with iron and bronze, remain in the ground, in the grass of the field. "’Let him be drenched with the dew of heaven, and let him live with the animals among the plants of the earth. 16 Let his mind be changed from that of a man and let him be given the mind of an animal, till seven times pass by for him. 17 "’The decision is announced by messengers, the holy ones declare the verdict, so that the living may know that the Most High is sovereign over the kingdoms of men and gives them to anyone he wishes and sets over them the lowliest of men.’ 18 "This is the dream that I, King Nebuchadnezzar, had. Now, Belteshazzar, tell me what it means, for none of the wise men in my kingdom can interpret it for me. But you can, because the spirit of the holy gods is in you."
A. So now once again, Nebuchadnezzar is troubled by a dream that he has had.
1. In chapter two Nebuchadnezzar had been troubled by another dream that Daniel had interpreted for him.
2. That first dream was the dream of the great statute with the gold head that represented Nebuchadnezzar’s kingdom.
3. But then the chest and arms of silver represented another kingdom that would rise up after Nebuchadnezzar.
4. And then a third kingdom would come along which was represented by the belly and thighs of bronze on the statue.
5. Then a fourth kingdom would come represented by the legs of iron and feet of clay.
6. Then the huge rock which represented the final kingdom, would come and destroy the entire statue and would remain forever.
B. Now Nebuchadnezzar has received another dream or revelation.
1. This dream was of a huge tree.
1. Nebuchadnezzar saw an enormous tree in the middle of the land.
2. It grew until its top touched the sky.
3. It was visible throughout the earth.
4. It was a beautiful tree with abundant fruit that fed all of the creatures of the earth.
5. But then Nebuchadnezzar saw a messenger from heaven come and call out with a loud voice that the tree was to be cut down and the branches trimmed off and the leaves stripped off and the fruit was to be scattered.
6. Only the stump and the roots were to be left and they were to be bound with iron and bronze and remain in the grass of the field.
7. And the messenger said he was to be drenched with the dew of heaven and live with the animals and his mind be changed from that of a man and let him be given the mind of an animal for seven times.
8. The messenger said that this decision was made so that every living thing may know that God is sovereign over the kingdoms of men and gives them to anyone he wishes and sets over them the lowliest of men.
9. That was the revelation that Nebuchadnezzar had a received in the dream, but he had no idea what it meant.
10. He had already asked the magicians, enchanters, astrologers, and diviners, but none of them could interpret the dream, so now he has turned to Daniel and Daniel did indeed give the…
III. Interpretation
Daniel 4:19-27 (NIV), Then Daniel (also called Belteshazzar) was greatly perplexed for a time, and his thoughts terrified him. So the king said, "Belteshazzar, do not let the dream or its meaning alarm you." Belteshazzar answered, "My lord, if only the dream applied to your enemies and its meaning to your adversaries! 20 The tree you saw, which grew large and strong, with its top touching the sky, visible to the whole earth, 21 with beautiful leaves and abundant fruit, providing food for all, giving shelter to the beasts of the field, and having nesting places in its branches for the birds of the air-- 22 you, O king, are that tree! You have become great and strong; your greatness has grown until it reaches the sky, and your dominion extends to distant parts of the earth. 23 "You, O king, saw a messenger, a holy one, coming down from heaven and saying, ’Cut down the tree and destroy it, but leave the stump, bound with iron and bronze, in the grass of the field, while its roots remain in the ground. Let him be drenched with the dew of heaven; let him live like the wild animals, until seven times pass by for him.’ 24 "This is the interpretation, O king, and this is the decree the Most High has issued against my lord the king: 25 You will be driven away from people and will live with the wild animals; you will eat grass like cattle and be drenched with the dew of heaven. Seven times will pass by for you until you acknowledge that the Most High is sovereign over the kingdoms of men and gives them to anyone he wishes. 26 The command to leave the stump of the tree with its roots means that your kingdom will be restored to you when you acknowledge that Heaven rules. 27 Therefore, O king, be pleased to accept my advice: Renounce your sins by doing what is right, and your wickedness by being kind to the oppressed. It may be that then your prosperity will continue."
A. Daniel was terrified for a while because of what he heard about the dream and what he knew the interpretation to be.
1. Nebuchadnezzar saw that Daniel was terrified and told him not to be alarmed, but to go ahead and tell the king what it meant.
2. Nebuchadnezzar knew that it wasn’t good news, but he wanted Daniel to tell him the truth.
B. Daniel told Nebuchadnezzar that he was the tree in the dream.
1. Daniel said that Nebuchadnezzar was the king and his kingdom was stretched out over the whole earth like the tree.
2. His kingdom was enormous and beautiful providing food for everyone one and everything.
3. His kingdom was great and strong and his greatness had reached the sky as well as the distant parts of the earth.
4. But then there was the messenger who came down from heaven and said that the tree should be cut down and destroyed.
5. Nebuchadnezzar would be dethroned and his kingdom taken away.
6. He would be driven away from people and would live with the wild animals and would eat grass like cattle and be drenched with the dew of heaven.
7. The king was going to loose his very sanity.
8. And Daniel said seven times would pass over until Nebuchadnezzar acknowledged that God was greater than himself.
9. The stump with the band meant that his kingdom would be restored when Nebuchadnezzar acknowledged that God is supreme and most sovereign.
10. That was the interpretation and now we see the…
IV. Realization
Daniel 4:28-37 (NIV), All this happened to King Nebuchadnezzar. 29 Twelve months later, as the king was walking on the roof of the royal palace of Babylon, 30 he said, "Is not this the great Babylon I have built as the royal residence, by my mighty power and for the glory of my majesty?" 31 The words were still on his lips when a voice came from heaven, "This is what is decreed for you, King Nebuchadnezzar: Your royal authority has been taken from you. 32 You will be driven away from people and will live with the wild animals; you will eat grass like cattle. Seven times will pass by for you until you acknowledge that the Most High is sovereign over the kingdoms of men and gives them to anyone he wishes." 33 Immediately what had been said about Nebuchadnezzar was fulfilled. He was driven away from people and ate grass like cattle. His body was drenched with the dew of heaven until his hair grew like the feathers of an eagle and his nails like the claws of a bird. 34 At the end of that time, I, Nebuchadnezzar, raised my eyes toward heaven, and my sanity was restored. Then I praised the Most High; I honored and glorified him who lives forever. His dominion is an eternal dominion; his kingdom endures from generation to generation. 35 All the peoples of the earth are regarded as nothing. He does as he pleases with the powers of heaven and the peoples of the earth. No one can hold back his hand or say to him: "What have you done?" 36 At the same time that my sanity was restored, my honor and splendor were returned to me for the glory of my kingdom. My advisers and nobles sought me out, and I was restored to my throne and became even greater than before. 37 Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and exalt and glorify the King of heaven, because everything he does is right and all his ways are just. And those who walk in pride he is able to humble.
A. Now we see that it turned out exactly the way that God said it would.
1. It should come as no surprise that Nebuchadnezzar experienced the realization to the dream in due time.
2. Nebuchadnezzar said that one year later, it happened just the way it was foretold.
B. Historians tell us that one year later, Nebuchadnezzar expanded the city of Babylon and built himself a new palace.
1. Nebuchadnezzar rebuilt the city itself by restoring and enlarging all of the buildings.
2. He refurbished the streets.
3. He rebuilt and expanded the wall around the city.
4. And after it was completed, Nebuchadnezzar went up on the roof of his new palace and was admiring his beautiful new city that he had just built.
5. “Is not this the great Babylon I have built as the royal residence, by my mighty power and for the glory of my majesty?”
6. Nebuchadnezzar had clearly missed or forgotten the whole point of the dream.
C. And instantly a messenger from heaven came and said exactly what was prophesied would happen.
1. The voice from heaven said, “This is what is decreed fro you, King Nebuchadnezzar: Your royal authority has been taken from you.”
2. “You will be driven away from people and will live with the wild animals; you will eat grass like cattle.”
3. “Seven times will pass by for you until you acknowledge that the Most High is sovereign over the kingdoms of men and gives them to anyone he wishes.”
D. And immediately what had been said about Nebuchadnezzar was fulfilled.
1. Nebuchadnezzar was driven away from people and ate grass like cattle.
2. His body was drenched with the dew of heaven until his hair grew like the feathers of an eagle and his nails like the claws of a bird.
3. The king literally lost his sanity.
E. But then after seven years, King Nebuchadnezzar raised his eyes toward heaven and his sanity was restored.
1. He acknowledged that God was sovereign and his sanity was restored.
2. And at the same time that his sanity was restored, his kingdom was restored.
3. And as a result, King Nebuchadnezzar wrote this proclamation so that everyone would know what he learned—the hard way.
4. And of course the most difficult thing for Nebuchadnezzar to learn was the very last sentence: “And those who walk in pride he is able to humble.”
V. Application
Daniel 4:37 (NIV), And those who walk in pride he is able to humble.
Daniel 4:27 (NIV), Therefore, O king, be pleased to accept my advice: Renounce your sins by doing what is right, and your wickedness by being kind to the oppressed. It may be that then your prosperity will continue."
A. Now notice this: Why did Nebuchadnezzar have to go through this loss of sanity?
1. Was it to teach Nebuchadnezzar a lesson?
2. Sure it was—but think this through with me…
a. Did Nebuchadnezzar HAVE to go through this to learn this lesson of humility?
b. The answer is possibly not!
c. Daniel interpreted the dream and then told Nebuchadnezzar that this did not have to happen.
d. Daniel told Nebuchadnezzar that there was a way to avoid it.
e. Daniel said, “Therefore, O king, be pleased to accept my advice: Renounce your sins by doing what is right, and your wickedness by being kind to the oppressed. It may be that then your prosperity will continue."
f. If Nebuchadnezzar would have renounced his sin by doing what is right, it was possible that his prosperity might continue.
B. Do you see that this is usually what the prophets actually did?
1. The prophets usually said that if you don’t repent, such and such was going to happen.
2. The prophets were pleading and begging with people to get themselves right with God so that something bad didn’t happen to them.
3. The prophets pleaded with people and did all kinds of crazy things to try to get people to realize the seriousness of their sin and the necessity of repenting.
4. But sadly many, many, like Nebuchadnezzar, did not heed the warnings of the prophets and suffered the consequences of their sin.
C. But let me make something else absolutely clear…that even if we do wise up and repent of our sin—it DOES NOT automatically take away the consequences of our sin.
1. When David committed adultery with Bathsheba and got caught, he repented.
2. David repented and cried out to God for forgiveness and got himself right with God.
3. But even though God forgave the sin, he did not take away the consequences of that sin, the child still died.
4. And when we repent God WILL forgive us, but He may or may not take away the consequences of that sin.
5. We should not think of God as a magic fairy that we cry out to when we get caught with something we shouldn’t have and then think that if we tell God we’re sorry, He is somehow obligated to take away the consequences of our sin.
7. Forgiveness does not equal rescue from consequences.
D. But we still need to repent nonetheless!
1. Daniel told Nebuchadnezzar, Renounce your sins by doing what is right.
2. Now notice that Daniel told Nebuchadnezzar how to renounce his sin.
3. Notice first that Daniel didn’t just tell Nebuchadnezzar to renounce his sin verbally.
4. Daniel didn’t just tell Nebuchadnezzar to renounce his sin with his mouth.
5. No, Daniel told Nebuchadnezzar how to renounce his sin: by DOING what is right.
6. Renouncing our sin is verbal.
a. Renouncing our sin is verbally saying that we are wrong and we are sorry for what we have done.
b. Renouncing or repenting of sin is verbally admitting we have done wrong.
c. Verbal acknowledgement of sin is certainly including in repentance.
d. But that’s not all there is to it; it is more that just admitting that what we are doing is wrong.
8. No, renouncing sin also includes doing what is right.
a. We can’t just say that we know that pride is wrong; we must start being humble.
b. We can’t just say that we know lying is wrong; we must start telling the truth.
c. We can’t just say that gossip is wrong; we must start encouraging others.
d. We can’t just say that stealing is wrong; we must start helping the poor.
9. Daniel told King Nebuchadnezzar, “Therefore, O king, be pleased to accept my advice: Renounce your sins by doing what is right, and your wickedness by being kind to the oppressed. It may be that then your prosperity will continue."
D. How many of you want your prosperity with God to continue?
1. Now, how many of you think you can do that with your own abilities and intellect?
a. How many want your children to inherit the consequences of your bad decisions?
b. How many want your grandchildren to inherit the consequences of your bad decisions?
c. Do you see that many things are passed down from generation to generation?
2. How many of you want all the blessings you can get from God?
a. It may be that then your prosperity will continue."
b. How many want all the rewards you can get in heaven?
c. How many want your children and grandchildren to receive prosperity from God?
3. Then be pleased to accept my advice: Renounce your sins by doing what is right, and your wickedness by being kind to the oppressed. It may be that then your prosperity will continue."
a. If we expect to live in God’s will and prosperity the rest of our lives, we must renounce our sin by doing what is right.
b. If we expect to live in God’s will and prosperity in our family, we must renounce our sin by doing what is right.
c. If we expect to live in God’s will and prosperity in our careers, we must renounce our sin by doing was it is right.
d. If we expect to live in God’s will and prosperity in our church, we must renounce our sin by doing what is right.
Conclusion:
A. [Seared Conscience, Citation: J. Douglas Burford, Mission, Kansas]
During my college years—in my infinite wisdom—it occurred to me that it made no sense to stop at red traffic lights when there was clearly no traffic around.
So I began to stop only briefly—just long enough to check for cars—and then proceed.
My stops became shorter and shorter, and eventually I no longer stopped at all.
I simply checked out the landscape well in advance and—if no cars were coming—proceeded full speed through the red light.
One day something changed all of that, and I’ve never run a red light since.
I was approaching an isolated light in an area where there was rarely traffic in the busiest of times.
I had already checked out the landscape and was near the empty intersection when a car topped the hill to my left.
It was too far away to pose any threat, but it did pose a problem: it was a police car.
But that is not what changed my ways, because I got the car stopped and received no more punishment than a dirty glance.
What scared me enough to put an end to that practice was what occurred in the split seconds between spotting the patrol car and getting the car stopped.
In that instant, my foot moved from the gas pedal to the brake pedal, and then back to the gas pedal!
I did not will it to do that; my foot just did it.
My foot did that because that is how I had trained my mind to respond.
I had continually ignored what had once been a clear signal to stop—a red light—and as a result that signal was no longer clear.
The same occurs with sin.
Our God-given conscience gives us warning signals, and we can heed those signals or ignore them.
If we ignore them often enough, we may eventually fail to recognize them as signals at all.
B. I want to emphasize one statement in that story: I had continually ignored what had once been a clear signal to stop—a red light—and as a result that signal was no longer clear.
1. You see God gives us a conscience, God gives us the HS, God gives us His Word, and God gives us messengers (like Daniel) to warn us about the sin in our life.
2. And if we ignore it long enough we grow calloused to it.
3. Nebuchadnezzar WAS warned, but he failed to respond to the warning.
4. God warns all of us, and when we fail to acknowledge those warnings it is the same thing that causes us to ignore them as it was for Nebuchadnezzar: pride.
5. It is pride that keeps us from responding when God warns us that sin is sin.
6. And God gives all of us the choice to respond or not, just as He did with Nebuchadnezzar.
7. God gave Nebuchadnezzar 12 months—how long will He give you before he allows you to loose your sanity?
8. And make no mistake about it—that IS what happens when we allow our pride to cause us to ignore the warnings of God against the sin in our life.
9. We loose our sanity when we ignore the warning and continue to sin.
10. Continuing to sin when God has warned us IS insanity!
11. The first thing that people start to say is, “I’m so confused.”
12. And when that phrase escapes from our lips, we know that Satan has succeeded in taking away our sanity, because confusion and insanity are from the other side!
C. How long will you continue to ignore the clear warnings of God?
1. Will it take something disastrous happening to you before you acknowledge the sovereignty of God over your life?
2. Will you have to loose everything you have before your renounce your sin by doing what is right?
3. Will you read the story of Nebuchadnezzar and allow Satan to convince you that you don’t have any pride?
4. Or will you listen to the prophet and heed his advice?
5. Will you come forward today and get down on your knees and acknowledge your sin to God?
6. Will you today, heed the warnings of God and come forward and plead for mercy?
7. Will you today, heed the warnings of God and come forward and ask Jesus to come into this particular sinful area of your life and do what is right for you?
D. #591 “Have Thine Own Way, Lord!”
