Daniel 4:28: The Kings Problem

Daniel 4:28–33 and Nebuchadnezzar’s Pride

Daniel chapter 4, starting in verse 28. We'll read through to verse 33. Here now the inspired Word of God. All this happened to Nebuchadnezzar, the king. Twelve months later, he was walking on the roof of the royal palace of Babylon.

The king reflected and said, is this not Babylon the great, which I myself have built as a royal residence by the might of my power and for the glory of my majesty. While the word was in the king's mouth, a voice came from heaven saying, King Nebuchadnezzar, to you it is declared.

Sovereignty has been removed from you and you will be driven away from mankind and your dwelling place will be with the beasts of the field. You will be given grass to eat like cattle and seven periods of time will pass over you until you recognize that the Most High is ruler over the realm of mankind and bestows it on whomever he wishes.

Immediately the word concerning Nebuchadnezzar was fulfilled and he was driven away from mankind and began eating grass like cattle and his body was drenched with the dew of heaven until his hair had grown like eagles' feathers and his nails like birds' claws.

Thus far the reading of God's word. Let's pray. Father, once again as we look into your word, especially how you deal with Nebuchadnezzar, this great king from so long ago, we pray that you would teach us from his life that, Father, that we might glorify you and exalt the name of our Savior, Jesus Christ.

It's in his name we pray. Amen. Please be seated. A number of years ago a stand-up comedian was lamenting over how self-centered our society has become and he proposed that this selfishness was seen even in the names of our magazines and he went on to relate, he says, that back in the 1950s the number one selling magazine in all of the United States was Life.

Society was interested in life around the globe and it goes without saying this was before the internet and cell phones shrunk the world to where it is today but Life, everybody was concerned. After Life got a little smaller and the next magazine was People.

Not as broad a topic as Life. Society wasn't interested in all of Life, just People. The next big magazine titled was Us. We weren't as interested with all of Life and not even all the People, just Us.

Then it got worse. The following magazine was called Self and he continued to lament on what has become the Me generation. Now of course much of his routine was tongue-in-cheek but as with all good comedy there is always an element of truth in it but our major disagreement with his analysis is that pride and self-centeredness didn't start in the 1950s.

It's been with us since the fall in the garden. The history of man can be summed up with this phrase, it's all about me. We've just read the vision once again of King Nebuchadnezzar and his interpretation so I'm not going to read them again now but the king had been warned that he is going to lose his kingdom in a particularly gruesome manner.

He's going to lose his mind. He's going to become a beast and in light of that warning what do we find the king doing? Do we find him on his knees repenting? No. We find him admiring quote his unquote handiwork.

Look at verses 29 and 30 again. Twelve months later he was walking on the roof of the royal palace of Babylon. The king reflected and said is this not Babylon the great which I myself have built as a royal residence by the might of my power and for the glory of my majesty.

God’s Patient Warnings to Nebuchadnezzar

Let's reflect on what has just been said. The first point notice that after he has he was given the interpretation of the vision God gave him 12 months to contemplate his situation. Twelve months. Think about that.

The king was shown the work of Almighty God from the day the captives were brought from Jerusalem to Babylon. He started to see it right from the very beginning. Remember Daniel's request was to refrain from the king's food and wine.

This is going back a couple of months now and he convinces them the royal guards to test him and his three friends. And the results came in and if you remember the results we see it in Daniel 1 verse 18.

Then at the end of the days which the king had specified for presenting them the commander of the officials presented them before Nebuchadnezzar. So this is Daniel and his cohorts and verse 19 says the king talked to them.

And out of them all not one was found like Daniel Hananiah Mishael and Azariah. So they entered the king's personal service. Of all the captives of all the king's counselors and wise men none was found by the king's own interrogation.

And in verse 20 as for every matter of wisdom and understanding about which the king consulted them he found them ten times better than all the magicians and the conjurers and all who were in his realm.

Now this is the first encounter which shows the king that these Hebrews are different. Perhaps at this point he doesn't attribute their wisdom to their God yet. It is his first encounter. But in the next encounter there's no denying it.

Remember the image, I call it the image of multi-metals. When the king has this dream about the statue with the head of gold, remember he's panic-stricken. He's in a bad way. He promises a reward for for answering the the riddle and death for those who fail.

Now those are important points but not for now. We'll get to those at some future time. But remember how Daniel gives them the interpretation. And Daniel's words are important. Listen carefully. Now we're in Daniel 2 verse 27 and 28.

Daniel answered before the king and said, as for the mystery about which the king has inquired, neither wise men, conjurers, magicians, nor diviners are able to declare it to the king. That's important information.

Daniel admits there's nobody, there's no man of any ilk that can tell the king what he wants to know. Verse 28, however, there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries. And he made known to King Nebuchadnezzar what will take place in the latter days.

This was your dream and the visions in your mind while you're on your bed. So in this instance there's no question the king is told the power lies with the Lord God Almighty. It's not in men. And he even acknowledges that fact in verse 47 of chapter 2.

The king answered Daniel and said, surely your God is a God of gods and a Lord of kings and a revealer of mysteries. So at this point we have to admit that Nebuchadnezzar has seen the power of God. He knows there's something special about the God of Israel.

Now that should have been enough for the king. He should have been able to bow before the God of Israel right at that point. But it wasn't. For when he erects the golden statue and commands everyone to bow down and worship, again violating God's law, he seeks to punish Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego for being righteous.

He cast them into the furnace and then is amazed when they come out unscathed. Remember, not even the smell of smoke, not a hair singed. They're walking around in the midst of the furnace. And he says in verse 28 of chapter 3, Nebuchadnezzar responded and said, blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego who has sent his angel and delivered his servants who put their trust in him.

And then in verse 29 he says, therefore I make a decree that any people, nations, or tongue that speaks anything offensive to the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego shall be torn limb from limb and the house reduced to a rubbish heap in as much as there is no other God who is able to deliver in this way.

Surely by now the king says, I'll bow my knees. He's the God of heaven. Should have been enough to humble him and bring him to the one true God, but it doesn't. He remained firm in his pride and his self-reliance.

And so God gives him another vision in chapter 4, which is what we're up to. The vision of the tree that we've been examining. And if you remember, this vision was something that alarmed Daniel. Daniel said he was appalled what he saw was going to take place.

And we read those two verses 29 and 30, which shows that he just continued in arrogance. He looked around and said, look what I have done. And that even after a personal plea from Daniel in verse 27, he does not change his ways.

Listen again to what Daniel says. This is after Daniel interprets the dream for him. Listen to what he says. Therefore, O King, may my advice be pleasing to you. Break away now from your sins by doing righteousness and from your iniquities by showing mercy to the poor, in case there may be a prolonging of your prosperity.

Notice what Daniel says. Pleads with him. Repent. There's a chance. God is a merciful God. That's the implication. If God is a merciful God, if you repent, there's a chance this might not happen to you.

Twelve months later. Is this not Babylon the great, which I myself have built as a royal residence? By the might of my power and for the glory of my majesty. And we read that while the words were still in his mouth, the voice came from heaven.

King Nebuchadnezzar, to you it is declared sovereignty has been removed from you. And you will be driven away from the mankind and your dwelling place will be like the beast with the beasts of the field.

You'll be given grass to eat like cattle and seven periods of time will pass over you until you recognize that the Most High is ruler over the realm of mankind and bestows it on whom he ever wishes. And it happened quickly.

From that point, notice what verse 33 says. Immediately, immediately the word concerning Nebuchadnezzar was filled. And he was driven away from mankind and began eating grass like cattle. His body was drenched with the dew of heaven.

His hair had grown like eagles feathers and his nails like birds claws. What a horrible fate. I have to pause here and make a couple of comments. First, look how patient God was with the king. Several times his power and sovereignty was demonstrated right before King Nebuchadnezzar's eyes.

And each time the king acknowledged the power of God, but then goes right on exalting himself. The king had all the evidence he needed to submit to the Lord God Almighty and he didn't. Sinclair Ferguson has an excellent comment on this portion of Scripture.

He says this, all God's revelation is adequate to show his majesty and power and to evoke in us a consciousness of our need to turn to him. Those who do not seek him or submit to him are without excuse.

That was true of Nebuchadnezzar. It is no less true today. Paul addresses this extensively in the first chapter of the book of Romans. Paul talks about everybody is without excuse. No one is condemned for lack of knowledge.

It's a matter of the will. I will not. Just like Nebuchadnezzar refused to submit in light of all the evidence presented to him. And what is the ultimate reason that he refused? His pride. Pride is an insidious sin and it caused the removal of all the king's sovereignty.

The last vision is a straight head-on warning to the king. Then the added plea of Daniel, please repent. Yet the king's pride remained intact. Why is this sin of pride so insidious? Why is it so so heinous?

The Nature of Pride in Proverbs and Human Sin

Let me give you one more quote from Sinclair Ferguson. He says, here is a central element in the dream. The cosmic tree is obviously a reflection of Nebuchadnezzar's self-image. His sense of his own worth was made plain in chapter 3.

It has not diminished in the events of chapter 4. He sees himself as Lord of the universe, as a beneficent despot providing for the nations in his empire. And adding to that William Temple says, the essence of sin is that in a host of ways I make myself the center of the universe.

That's pride. That's pride. There's a lot going on in these first four chapters of Daniel. There are more implications and applications to be made from these first four chapters. There are many more lessons to be learned from Nebuchadnezzar.

However, this lesson of pride, I believe, takes center stage. And the applications and implications are so relevant to us today in our society that I must pause and address this subject once again. Now I say once again not because we've studied Nebuchadnezzar before, we haven't, but because we have addressed pride.

Numerous times from this pulpit we've studied the sin of pride. And one of the ways that we know pride is serious is that pride is a major theme in the book of Proverbs. Pride is set, in the book of Proverbs, in opposition to wisdom.

Proverbs 11 to when pride comes then comes dishonor but with the humble is wisdom. Notice the antithesis. Pride, dishonor, humility, wisdom. Pride is a serious matter and it comes just when you least expect it.

Reminds me that the Jaws 2 commercial. Just when you thought it was safe to go back in the water, boom, Jaws 2. Just when you think you're safe, boom, pride comes in. I can remember one of the presidents of Moody Bible Institute telling, addressing a group of pastors and he said he was asked to pray at a very large group of people, prestigious group of people.

And he said, so I was praying to the Lord before I got up to pray, saying, Lord please let me pray a humble prayer. So I went up and I prayed. I prayed exactly what I wanted to. I walked back and said, now that was a humble prayer.

He says, and I just collapsed in my chair. He says pride came in by, I was proud of my humility. Pride is a great hindrance to wisdom. The Apostle Paul said in 1st Corinthians 10 12, therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.

Pride comes naturally to our fallen nature. So it's not surprising that Proverbs has a great deal to say about it. So let's get a working definition of pride. What exactly is pride? Perhaps the best definition is found right in Proverbs 28 26.

He who trusts in his own heart is a fool, but he who walks wisely will be delivered. The proud man is one who trusts in himself. He's one who looks at his accomplishments and glories in what he himself has done.

He attributes even the gifts of God to the works of his own hands. He's the craftsman who stands back after he completes the project, says look I've done this. He doesn't realize that even his ability is a gift from God.

A proud man places his intellect and abilities as the standard by which everything else is to be measured. His heart is focused on himself. The proud man's actions flow from his heart. Proverbs 21 24, proud, haughty, scoffer are his names who acts with insolent pride.

Pride is a sin that is not easily hidden. A proud man can be picked out of a crowd when he walks into the room. The proud man doesn't have to be boisterous. Sometimes he's quite subtle. Proverbs 30 verse 13, there is a kind.

Oh how lofty are his eyes and his eyelids are raised in arrogance. You ever speak to someone who was trying to be nice but their eyes just gave away their true feelings? I'm reminded of a little Garfield cartoon.

I love Garfield. Garfield has a little stuffed animal called Pookie and he says Pookie. I'm tired talking about myself. You talk about me for a while. That's the essence of pride even in Garfield. The Apostle Paul sheds further light on the behavior of the proud man in Galatians 5 26.

Let us not become boastful challenging one another envying one another. The proud man is the one who always has a better way. You don't know what you're talking about. He's been there done that and bigger and better.

So how do we identify a proud man? Well firstly by his self-important attitude. Proverbs 26 12. Do you see a man wise in his own eyes? And listen carefully to this. Do you see a man wise in his own eyes?

There is more hope for a fool than for him. What a picture that is. If you understand that a man who thinks highly of himself who raises his own importance has less hope than a fool. A fool in Scripture especially in Proverbs is one who imposes God.

He says in his heart there is no God. If there's no hope for a fool a proud man has less than no hope. Think of that for a minute. We're not thinking about Nebuchadnezzar for a moment even though he's the perfect poster boy for this.

We must examine ourselves. Do you wrestle with pride? If you give in there is less hope than for a fool. And the amazing thing is the fool, the proud man doesn't see any of this. That's the second mark is self-deception.

Proverbs 28 26. He who trusts in his own heart is a fool but he who walks wisely will be delivered. The proud man is so convinced that he is right that he refuses to listen to anyone else. He's convinced that he's smarter and wiser than anyone so he ignores wise counsel.

Third mark of a proud man is self-promotion. Proverbs 25 27. It's not good to eat much honey nor is it glory to search out one's own glory. Remember that Proverbs is a very practical book and here it paints the picture of seeking your own glory with eating honey.

Now I have confession to make. I love honey and I have been known, I've been caught taking a jar of honey and putting my spoon into it and taking a nice big spoonful of honey. Letting it roll around in your mouth and just know it's just so sweet and so good and that's followed by another and then sometimes I just have to have that third one but that's a mistake because after a while the honey begins to turn in your stomach.

It's just too sweet. Proverbs is like that. Self-praise is like that. When you first start you may be satisfied. It may be sweet but before long it turns on you and doesn't satisfy any longer and those are just three marks for prideful man.

What is the end, the fate or the consequences of this sin? Well first pride leads to shame. Here again is the practicality of the book of Proverbs. Pride will lead to shame even in this life. Proverbs 11 2 we've read it before.

When pride comes then comes dishonor. Pride will set you up for shame. It has to based upon its characteristics. It's focused on the self and self-importance and self-promotion and is self-deceptive.

In other words the proud person thinks more highly of himself than he ought to think. So pride brings shame but also worse because it brings destruction. Proverbs 16 18 pride goes before destruction and a haughty spirit before stumbling.

See pride is so contrary to God's Word in God's nature that it's inevitable that instruction follows and that's because the proud man is abomination before God. Proverbs 16 5 everyone who is proud in heart is an abomination to the Lord as surely he will not be unpunished.

As you study the scriptures, especially Proverbs, you will see that there are certain things that God calls abominations. Things that are God sets apart as especially abhorrent to him. These things are utterly detestable to him.

Pride is near the top of that list. Proverbs 8 13 the fear of the Lord is to hate evil pride and arrogance and the evil way and the perverted mouth I hate. God hates pride. Proverbs 21 4 haughty eyes and a proud heart the lamp of the wicked is sin.

The proud heart, haughty eyes, the arrogant looks, the condescending mannerisms have no place in God's kingdom. They are sin and they must be dealt with. As we read these verses we can see why God dealt with Nebuchadnezzar as he did.

The fact is God was quite merciful to him as we will see next week. So what can be done? How do we defeat pride? If this sin is so serious it should be a priority to deal with it. So how do we conquer it in our daily lives?

How to Defeat Pride Through Humility and Christlikeness

Word of God tells us first have to change the way you think. Start thinking correctly because sin especially pride always starts in the mind. Romans 12 verse 3 for through the grace given to me I say to every man among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think but to think so as to have sound judgment as God has allowed it to each a measure of faith.

In order to get a correct view of yourself you need to read the Word of God. This is why we constantly talk about setting up Bible programs, daily devotionals, things of that nature. Read 1st Corinthians 1 26 and following for instance.

You want to get an accurate view of yourself? Let's read. For consider your calling brethren. There are not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble. But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong.

And the base things of the world and the despised God has chosen. The things that are not that he might nullify the things that are. That no man should boast before God. Find yourself in that list? I see myself all over that list.

How do we defeat pride? When you read the word develop a fear of God. God is an awesome God and you're only going to do that, you're only going to get to know him and have that godly fear by reading the word and praying, praying biblically.

Second way, stop talking so much. Proverbs 30 32, if you have been foolish and exalting yourself or if you have plotted evil, put your hand on your mouth. Proverbs says shut up. Keep, just keep your mouth shut.

Too much talking will always lead to trouble. Third, watch out who you associate with. Proverbs 16 19, it is better to be of a humble spirit with the lowly than to divide the spoil with the proud. If you're around proud people, more than likely it will rub off on you.

On the other hand, have you ever been in the presence of a truly humble person? Someone who is really good at what they do and yet humble, makes you take stock in yourself. I can remember one time, I was, I used to be a pretty good bowler at one point, bowled in major leagues and stuff and I wound up being partnered in a tournament with a pro.

He did nothing but encourage me the whole time. I actually beat him in the game that we bowled together and he was so thrilled that I, that I beat him and I came away from that and said, boy that's, that's one of the most humble men I have ever met in my life.

Made me feel like a fool. Fourth, put your boasting where it belongs. Galatians 6 14, but may it never be that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ through which the world has, has been crucified to me and I to the world.

And first Corinthians 1 31, that just as it is written, let him who boasts, boast in the Lord. Whenever you feel like you have to brag about something, how about just boasting in the Lord? Telling everybody what your Savior has done.

Now there's, there's some boasting put to good measure. Fifth, look to the example of Jesus Christ. Philippians chapter 2 verse, starting in verse 3, do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind, let each of you regard one another as more important than himself.

Do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. Have this attitude or this mind in yourselves, which is also in Christ Jesus, who although he existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, taking the form of a bondservant and being made in the likeness of men, and being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

The humility of Christ is a great example for all of us. He humbled himself for us. And lastly, true exaltation only comes from true humility. Proverbs 1533, the fear of the Lord is the instruction for wisdom, and before honor comes humility.

And Proverbs 22, for the reward of humility and the fear of the Lord are riches, honor, and life. I just love the book of Proverbs. It's such a practical book, and it gives us wisdom for everyday life.

Just one last word from Proverbs, Proverbs 3 -5, trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. So regardless of what the stand-up comic says, pride and self-centered has been with us since the beginning of time.

And seeing how God dealt with Nebuchadnezzar should be a warning for us. He was literally at the top of society, the greatest king in the world at his time. And God had gifted him in so many ways. He took those gifts and proclaimed that they were rightly the product of his own ambition.

And God gave him numerous opportunities to repent, and even gave him the favor of a faithful servant in Daniel. What a blessing it was for the king to have a counselor like Daniel. Daniel was able to be faithful, this is interesting, he was able to be faithful to the king and still be faithful to God Almighty.

That's quite an accomplishment, rare even as we look in the scriptures. So the king had every reasonable opportunity to repent, and he didn't. So the prophecy of the vision came true. His sovereignty was removed.

He lost his mind, became like the beast of the field, slept with the beast, waking up with the dew from the heavens, and even eating grass like the beast. But even at his low point, God offered him hope.

And we'll look at that next week. Meanwhile, take the lesson from Nebuchadnezzar, humble yourself, call upon the name of the Most High God, repent of your sin, and be saved. Let's pray.