Daniel 4 God Delights in Mercy King Nebuchadnezzar II (634 – 562 BC) ”Absolute" monarch of Babylon Not so! GOD RULES King Nebuchadnezzar II (634 – 562 BC) ”Absolute" monarch of Babylon Not so! God must teach a lesson (we are all slow to learn). GOD RULES

God Delights in Mercy Nebuchadnezzar destroyed Jerusalem, 587BC ”My gods are stronger than yours!” Jerusalem destroyed by the Babylonians under King Nebuchadnezzar, 587BC ”My gods are stronger than yours!”

God Delights in Mercy Nebuchadnezzar desroyed Jerusalem, 587BC Surviving Jews taken as slaves to Babylon

Where was the God of Israel? Where is this mercy? Long patience Fall after fall Rockbottom But hope is clearer, promises clearer Rescuer is coming!

God is in Babylon! Not just the God of Israel How can the Creator of everything be so limited as to be a tribal god?

God Delights in Mercy "It has seemed good to me to show the signs and wonders that the Most High God has done for me." What a contrast! King tells his own story:- Opening Greeting - what a statement! V1-3 "It has seemed good to me to show the signs and wonders that the Most High God has done for me." No longer just a god (one of many), but the Most High God, Who is & rules forever, and "for me" (getting personal). No apostle, preacher can excel it. What a contrast with previous Chapter 3, 4-6 ”who is the god who will deliver you out of my hand?” when he boasted and threatened! Peace, not violence. He, not me!

1. God Rules in the Everyday Events of Life 2. God Rules in Judgment 3 1. God Rules in the Everyday Events of Life 2. God Rules in Judgment 3. God Rules in Mercy

God Rules in the Events of Everyday Life The Setting - many years later. Wars & conquests over - v4, at rest, flourishing. The Setting - many years since Nebuchadnezzar's humbling over his idol & Daniel's 3 friends - see God Humbles Man's Pride. Wars & conquests over - v4, at rest, flourishing. (peace, plenty) - a man who had "made it", who had "got it all together". Great gifts from God (Acts 17:25 "He gives to all life, breath and all things"), but no security in them (health, money, peace, power) - He can take these away any time, and often will for our good. We forget that we are only stewards, caring for & using the gifts & goods of Another. Flourishing, but about to be withered - a mercy of God, rather than let him go on to his ruin.

God Rules in the Events of Everyday Life Neb's Second Dream - v5 … a bad night! Neb's Second Dream - v5 - afraid, troubled, in midst of all his peace and plenty. Nebuchadnezzar's great power and wealth could not get him a good night's sleep. God needs no great army to trouble a great king - a little dream will do ("it's only a dream...").

God Rules in the Events of Everyday Life Calls for Hopeless Helpers Magicians, astrologers, Chaldeans, soothsayers But they are not able to explain it (v7,18) Calls for Hopeless Helpers as he did in Chapter.2 - see God Rules, God Reveals - v6,7 magicians, astrologers, Chaldeans, soothsayers; this time Nebuchadnezzar tells them the dream, but they are not able to explain it (v7,18) despite their boasting before (Chapter 2:4,7). Today's astrologers, palm readers, clairvoyants, white witches, Tarot readers, etc. are their descendants, and give just as much help (none! - they are not able).

God Rules in the Events of Everyday Life … at last Daniel is called But at Last Daniel is called (Poor memory? Bad conscience? Dread that Daniel would tell him, & he won't like it?) Must know! Cannot rest - he knows Daniel's God is able v8,9 ("the spirit of the holy gods is in you")- see how he spurs Daniel on v9, 18, 19 (even though Daniel is shaken).

God Rules in the Events of Everyday Life The Dream Told v10-12 great & lovely tree food, shelter, for all fills the whole earth reaching to heaven (like Tower of old Babel). The Dream Told - v10-12 great & lovely tree - food, shelter, for all - fills the whole earth, reaching to heaven (like Tower of old Babel).

God Rules in the Events of Everyday Life But... - v13,14 Angel comes down with shout & chainsaw But... - v13,14 angel comes down with shout & chainsaw - chop it down, cut off its branches, strip off its leaves, scatter its fruit. Yet its stump is left in the ground - protected with durable metal. A Shift (as dreams often do)- v15 "Let his portion be with the beasts in the grass of the earth" v16 "let a beast's mind be given to him". The dream is no longer about a tree, but a man.

God Rules in the Events of Everyday Life Chop it down! Yet its stump..... But... - v13,14 angel comes down with shout & chainsaw - chop it down, cut off its branches, strip off its leaves, scatter its fruit. Yet its stump is left in the ground - protected with durable metal. A Shift (as dreams often do)- v15 "Let his portion be with the beasts in the grass of the earth" v16 "let a beast's mind be given to him". The dream is no longer about a tree, but a man.

God Rules in the Events of Everyday Life But ”Let his mind be changed from a man's...” ”...and a beast's mind be given him...” ”...and let 7 times pass over him.” A Shift (as dreams often do)- v15 "Let his portion be with the beasts in the grass of the earth" v16 "let a beast's mind be given to him". The dream is no longer about a tree, but a man.

God Rules in the Events of Everyday Life And The Reason Given – v17 so that "that the living may know that the Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he will and sets over it the lowliest of men." And The Reason Given - v17 - God's decree - not chance! - so that "that the living may know that the Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he will and sets over it the lowliest of men."

God Rules in the Events of Everyday Life Daniel Explains Its you O king! Good news & bad news Daniel Explains the Dream - though stunned by it (he loved his king, despite his faults) v19 - Its you O king! V22 (great tree - good news) - Its you O king v24...(cut down - bad news) - yet stump means kingdom safe, once you know that God rules.

God Rules in the Events of Everyday Life You will be driven from among men You will eat grass like an ox You will be wet by the dew of heaven Until 7 times pass over you

God Rules in the Events of Everyday Life yet stump means kingdom safe, ”once you know that God rules”. Daniel gives good advice - turn from your sins & do good, & perhaps God will turn from His judgement Daniel Explains the Dream - though stunned by it (he loved his king, despite his faults) v19 - Its you O king! V22 (great tree - good news) - Its you O king v24...(cut down - bad news) - yet stump means kingdom safe, once you know that God rules. Daniel gives good advice - turn from your sins, & perhaps God will turn from His judgement. Note: God's mercy is all of grace (i.e., we don't deserve it); the "perhaps" tells us this - our good works don't make God turn from just judgment. If He does, it must be mercy. (It is Jesus' good works alone that count; we do deserve punishment, and Jesus alone has suffered in my place; but that is another story, or rather, another part of the same story).

God Rules in Judgement v28 "All this came upon King Nebuchadnezzar." "at the end of twelve months" - Nebuchadnezzar seems to have forgotten - again! (as at end chapter 2 and 3)

God Rules in Judgement his "I" disease v30 "Is not this great Babylon, which I have built by my mighty power as a royal residence and for the glory of my majesty?" his "I" disease - v30 "is not this great Babylon which I have built, ... my mighty power ... my majesty ? "I" disease at root of his fall - pride always is - Lucifer, Adam, Eve. "I did it my way...". Now, it is important to see that there is nothing wrong with pleasure in doing something well; we all should! Adam was to have delighted in his work. But the essence of pride is to leave God out, and make me the centre of the universe - He serves me! People even come to church wanting God to serve them (help for my problems, etc.). Fact is He does help us, but it is as we make Him our centre, and think less of "myself".

God Rules in Judgement God seems slow with justice? Not so - He acts when the time is ripe. For Nebuchadnezzar, it is now, "While the words were still in the king's mouth" God seems to be late with justice (we are impatient - we should be thankful He does delay) - Not so - He acts when the time is ripe. For Nebuchadnezzar, it is now - while he is boasting, the dreaded voice comes v31.32. "While the words were still in the king's mouth"

God Rules in Judgement his reason leaves him, insanity drives him from men, and he lives as an animal, eating grass, sleeping in fields, hair long and dirty, nails like claws. God seems to be late with justice (we are impatient - we should be thankful He does delay) - Not so - He acts when the time is ripe. For Nebuchadnezzar, it is now - while he is boasting, the dreaded voice comes v31.32. "While the words were still in the king's mouth" his reason leaves him - insanity drives him from men, and he lives as an animal, eating grass, sleeping in fields, hair long and dirty, nails like claws. (only grass? God can do it - but maybe his servants, on Daniel's orders, left other food where the mad king would find it, wandering in the King's park - it does not matter - God was behind it in judgement, and that does matter!).

God Rules in Mercy v34 "at the end of the time..." Mercy 7 times, whatever they were, are over

God Rules in Mercy v34 "at the end of the time..." Mercy in giving warnings over many years.

God Rules in Mercy v34 "at the end of the time..." Mercy in giving him a wise and godly counselor like Daniel.

God Rules in Mercy Mercy in only "seven times" months, years? anyway, long enough, and as long as God had determined, and not forever.

God Rules in Mercy Mercy in lifting his eyes to heaven "I will lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth." Psalm 121:1,2 in lifting his eyes to heaven - God is where our only help is. What thanks we should give that He gives us His word to teach us. "I will lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth." Psalm 121:1,2

God Rules in Mercy Mercy in healing his madness We should thank Him for wits to read His Word, and hearts to embrace the Saviour we find there.

God Rules in Mercy Mercy in teaching him his lesson - v34,35 God Rules Mercy in teaching him his lesson - v34,35 God Rules - kings & governments rule for a little time (everyone knows that "O King, live forever!" is a fiction), by God's permission, but God Himself rules forever. Have you learnt this lesson yet? Must God make 7 times pass over you first? Well, "Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love (and not just His rule) endures forever!" Psalm 107:1. May He correct you now, while there is mercy free in Christ. "Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts..." Psalm 95:7,8. Do not die rejecting His great mercy - no hope then - NONE!

God Rules in Mercy Mercy in preserving Nebuchadnezzar's kingdom "and still more greatness was added to me" for which he praises God. No coup! No assasination!

God Rules in Mercy Mercy in bringing him to know the one and only God. V37 Not afraid to add his own testimony

God Rules in Mercy Mercy ”Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the King of heaven, for all his works are right and his ways are just...”

God Rules in Mercy Mercy ”...and those who walk in pride he is able to humble.”

God Rules in Mercy 'Famous Last Words!' Is Nebuchadnezzar in heaven? I think so! Is Nebuchadnezzar in heaven? These last words God that records for us from the king's own lips give me every encouragement to think so. See how he ends confessing his sin and God's justice "those who walk in pride he is able to humble." Will your last words be like this, and give comfort to those who you leave behind, that you have gone to a better place with God, and not to a worse without Him?

God Rules in Mercy What will your last words be? Will your last words be like this, and give comfort to those who you leave behind, that you have gone to a better place with God, and not to a worse without Him?

God Delights in Mercy Let Nebuchanezzar teach you If you are still walking in pride ...let Nebuchanezzar teach you. If you are looking for a Rescuer ...let Nebuchadnezzar point you to ”God Most High”, to Jesus the Saviour of all who come to Him.

God Delights in Mercy For my notes on Daniel 4, see http://tardus.net And click ”MyGod” ”DanielFiles”