Daniel 4:28- 7: The King's Conversion

Daniel 4: Nebuchadnezzar’s Pride and the Sovereign Mercy of God

Daniel 4 verses 20 to 37. 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.

But at the end of that period, I, Nebuchadnezzar, raised my eyes toward heaven and my reason returned to me and I blessed the Most High and praised and honored him who lives forever. For his dominion is an everlasting dominion and his kingdom endures from generation to generation.

All the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing but he does according to his will in the host of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth and no one can ward off his hand or say to him what have you done.

At that time my reason returned to me and my majesty and splendor were restored to me for the glory of my kingdom and my counselors and my nobles began seeking me out so I was reestablished in my sovereignty and surpassing greatness was added to me.

Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise, exalt, and honor the King of Heaven for all his works are true, his ways just, and he is able to humble those who walk in pride. Let's pray. Father, once again as we prepare to look into your word, our prayer is simple.

Open our eyes our ears and our hearts that we would be able to see, hear, and understand what you have to say to us through these verses of scripture and by hearing them and understanding them that we would put them into practice in our lives and become more like our Savior Jesus Christ.

In his name we pray. Amen. Please be seated. Paul Harvey is a name that many people here might not remember but he was a conservative radio broadcaster during the last half of the previous century. He was extremely popular and he garnered a large share of the radio audience.

His most popular broadcasts were titled The Rest of the Story. In his unique style, and he had a very unique voice and a unique style, he would tell little-known details of a story about a famous person or a famous place or event and he did it in such a way that by the time he was nearing the end of the story your curiosity was piqued.

What is he talking about? Because he told just enough but left enough out that it was veiled in mystery and then he would bring the story together with that phrase that only he could say, and now for the rest of the story.

Harvey was a master storyteller and most of his 600 plus stories have been captured in books aptly titled The Rest of the Story and uniquely more of The Rest of the Story. I bring Mr. Harvey to your attention this morning because the story of King Nebuchadnezzar reminds me of one of his broadcasts.

The Nebuchadnezzar story. Here's what I mean. The first four chapters of Daniel feature more about King Nebuchadnezzar than Daniel or Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. He's more center stage. So we learn a lot about him in these four chapters, and if the story of Nebuchadnezzar ended in chapter 4 verse 33, we would be perfectly satisfied.

Let me read verse 33 again for you. Immediately the word concerning Nebuchadnezzar was fulfilled. He was driven away from mankind and began eating grass like cattle and his body was drenched with the dew of heaven and his hair had grown like eagles feathers and his nails like birds claws.

Why would I say we'd be content? Well last week we saw how Nebuchadnezzar had shown himself to be, how can I put this gently, arrogant, self-centered, ruthless, an egomaniac who was merciless and had a conveniently short memory.

In other words, he is not portrayed favorably in light of these first four chapters. So now if this was a work of fiction and it ended with him being relegated to the domain of beasts, eating grass, sleeping in the fields, nails and hair growing, we could be satisfied because justice had prevailed.

Let's be honest, as we've gone through the first four chapters, I dare say that none of us is looking at Nebuchadnezzar as a hero. So we could be satisfied at the end of verse 33 if that was the case.

Things have balanced out in the universe, but this isn't a work of fiction. It's a narrative of God working out his plan for his kingdom. And in fact, as we get to verse 33, I can just hear Paul Harvey's voice saying, and now for the rest of the story, for the king doesn't get what he deserves.

He gets mercy. Does that sound familiar? That's the story of the gospel. But we're getting a little ahead of ourselves here. Let's go back and observe some of the lessons from God's dealing with Nebuchadnezzar.

Remember, this is the last chapter concerning King Nebuchadnezzar in the book of Daniel. He's only mentioned twice more in the book and those are just passing references identifying Belshazzar as the son of Nebuchadnezzar.

So this is a perfect time to stop and to pause and let's, what have we learned from Nebuchadnezzar? Well, we last saw Nebuchadnezzar when his vision of the tree came to fruition in verse 33. These were the consequences for his sins of pride and arrogance and of attributing all of God's good gifts to him to the work of his own hands.

Sounds almost like our society, doesn't it? Therefore, the consequences of his sin fit the crimes he committed perfectly. The image of God was removed so far from him that he resembled the beast of the field more than the image of God.

Remember, the prophecy concerning this punishment was, however, was not meant to be permanent. He receives the word and it says this, seven periods of time will pass over you until you recognize the most highest ruler of the realm of mankind and bestows it on whomever he wishes.

In other words, the purpose of this discipline, this punishment, was to humble the king until he was ready to acknowledge the Lord God Almighty, the God of Israel, was supreme and sovereign. He had to acknowledge that the mighty kingdom of Babylon was given to him by the Most High God.

How long was this period to last? Well, this is where it gets interesting if you read the commentaries, because some say it was seven years, others say it was seven months, and there's a few reasons to support each position, but the view that I ascribe to is neither of those.

The way it's worded, seven periods of time, I think that's instructive for us. You realize there are Aramaic words for year, there's Aramaic words for months, in fact, remember that this is a portion of Scripture written in Aramaic, not in Hebrew, but those are not the words that are used.

Remember, seven in Scripture is a number referring to completeness or perfection. Creation of the world was six days, seven day rest, seven days completed, the perfect world. Remember, God declared that everything was very good.

So what does it mean in this context, seven periods of time? I believe it means that God allowed the perfect amount of time for the king to be humbled to the point where he would recognize the Most High as ruler over the realm of mankind.

Once that's accomplished, the punishment is over. And we have the rest of the story in the king's own words. Look at verse 34, but at the end of that period, whatever that period was, whatever that period was, I, Nebuchadnezzar, raised my eyes toward heaven and my reason returned to me and I blessed the Most High and praised and honored him who lives forever.

Notice, whether that was seven months, seven days, seven years, it was perfect to bring about God's desired result. First obvious result that we can see is the words, I, Nebuchadnezzar. Now, we've seen those words numerous times in the book, but here they're used differently.

From what used to be, look what I, Nebuchadnezzar, have done by the power of my hands, to I, Nebuchadnezzar, raise my eyes toward heaven. I bless the Most High God. Now, that's a perfectly acceptable form of using the word I in front of God.

The seven periods of time, the work of the Holy Spirit had done their job perfectly in the heart of Nebuchadnezzar. His reason returned to him, allowing him to bless the Most High God. He praises and honors him who lives forever.

I can't help but be reminded of the parable of the prodigal son. That's why we read it this morning. There's so many parallels. Both of these sons began living privileged lives, the king, the prodigal son.

Both decided to live God according to their own pleasure. Both had to be humbled in order to see the truth of the kingdom of God. There are just so many lessons to be learned from Nebuchadnezzar as the king and ruler of the known world, but his salvation occurred the same as the prodigal son.

If you're sitting here this morning and you're a believer, you've been saved. It's no different than yours. That's the gospel message. For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. No one gets a pass, a free pass to get it.

Well, and once, you know, I wrote that, but now that I think about it, we all get a free pass. Romans 10, 9 and 10, that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

For with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation. That's what you're going to hear this morning from everybody who's entering the waters of baptism.

They've all professed faith in Jesus Christ. They have experienced that life-changing indwelling of the Holy Spirit, but the king doesn't stop with that simple testimony. I mean, that's enough, but he doesn't stop.

He continues to give one of the most beautiful lectures or dissertations on what sovereignty means. You'll hear theologians today quote Nebuchadnezzar frequently when it comes to sovereignty. Why does he give this lecture or this dissertation at this time?

Perhaps because he has been an abusive sovereign, and now he recognizes what true sovereignty really means, and the responsibility of a sovereign underneath the sovereign one in heaven. In any event, he continues.

Listen to what he recognizes. For his dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom endures from generation to generation. He recognizes that Almighty God is the one and true sovereign. His dominion is everlasting.

Remember that in his first dream the king was told that as great as his kingdom was, it wasn't going to last. It would be supplanted by another kingdom that wasn't near as glorious as his. He didn't want to hear that news, did he?

He looked at the great kingdom of Babylon, and he couldn't imagine that it was ever going to end, but now he sees himself in light of the glory of God, and he makes an accurate assessment, not just of his own kingdom, but of all the kingdoms of men.

Look at verse 35. All the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing. I'm reminded of what David said in Psalm 144. Oh Lord, what is man that you take knowledge of him? Or the son of man that you think of him?

Man is like a mere breath. His days are like a passing shadow. And again in Psalm 62, men of low degree are only vanity, and men of rank are for a lie. In the balances they go up. I love that. They are lighter than breath.

You put all of humanity on a scale to weigh it, and the scales go up. Nebuchadnezzar continues in verse 35, but he does according to his will in the host of heaven, and among the inhabitants of earth, and no one can ward off his hand or say to him, what have you done?

These words from the king of Babylon are some of the clearest in describing the sovereignty and the omnipotence of God. But the king continues to describe what happened to him. In verse 36, at that time my reason returned to me, and my majesty and splendor were restored to me for the glory of my kingdom.

And my counselors and my nobles began seeking me out. So I was re-established in my sovereignty, and surpassing greatness was added to me. It has become popular in our day for pastors and theologians alike to make arbitrary and unbiblical distinctions between the Old and New Covenants.

Now don't get me wrong. There are points of discontinuity between the Old and New Covenants, but there are many points of continuity. One of the errors is portraying God as being different in the Old Covenant, and now he's something different in the New Covenant.

That is just so wrong on so many levels. But suffice it to say, it violates the very character of God as being immutable. God never changes. And it's a good thing because the Lord tells us in Malachi 3 .6, for I the Lord do not change, therefore you, O sons of Jacob, are not consumed.

And clearly we see the grace and mercy of God in a tremendous way in the life of Nebuchadnezzar in the Old Covenant. We've read of his exploits in these first four chapters, and we can see how he rightly deserved punishment.

This was an abusive man. He thought nothing of destroying old households, making them rubbish heaps. I mentioned it before, but if this were a movie or work of fiction, I could see the audience cheering when Nebuchadnezzar is relegated to the field of the beasts.

And we would be fine. We'd walk out of the movie theater feeling good because he got what he deserved. But if we want justice, we would have to be content that we receive the same justice. But God is merciful and gracious and doesn't give us what we deserve.

And the same is true of Nebuchadnezzar. In God's sovereignty, he chose to save this prideful and arrogant king for his purpose and his good pleasure. Not only did he save him, but he restored him to his previous position.

Let's read that verse again. Verse 36. At that time, my reason returned to me, and my majesty and splendor were restored to me for the glory of my kingdom. And my counselors and my nobles began seeking me out.

Imagine that. They watched him grazing in the fields, hair growing long, fingernails like claws, and now they're going out for advice. So I was re-established in my sovereignty, and surpassing greatness was added to me.

That is mercy. That is grace in action. And the last verse in the chapter is a demonstration of the genuineness of the king's profession. And notice how he acknowledges his particular sin in the profession.

Look at verse 37. Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise, exalt, and honor the king of heaven, for all his works are true, his ways are just, and listen carefully, he is able to humble those who walk in pride.

Yes, Nebuchadnezzar has finally seen the truth. And even his word, the words he uses are instructive. Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, that's reminiscent of how he began his blasphemy at the beginning of the chapter.

But notice the difference. He is no longer boasting in his own achievements. He is deflecting all praise and exaltation and honor to the Lord God Almighty. And he acknowledges his true kingship by calling him the king of heaven.

And then he characterizes his works and ways. All his works are true. All his ways are just. This former pagan king is honoring God in a way worthy of any modern theologian. But what I consider an extremely important part of his words is the last clause.

And he is able to humble those who walk in pride. There's the personal confession of faith. Nebuchadnezzar saying, that was me. That was me. I deserved what I got. But look at what he's done. The pride is gone and he acknowledges the God in heaven.

That is how the king ends his narrative of humility. But now we need to return back to the opening of this chapter. Remember a couple weeks ago we and I passed by the opening? That's because I wanted to address it here.

Let me read the words, just the three verses opening once again. Daniel 4 verses 1 to 3. Nebuchadnezzar the king to all the people's nations and men of every language that live in the all the earth. May your peace abound.

It has seemed good to me to declare the signs and wonders which the Most High God has done for me. How great are his signs. How mighty are his wonders. His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom and his dominion is from generation to generation.

Now I saved the opening for further commentary for two basic reasons. First, I believe the opening remarks make more sense having studied the narrative and what happened to him. Second, I believe it adds important insight to the narrative that is better understood following our study.

Look at verse 1. Nebuchadnezzar the king to all the people's nations and men of every language that live in all the earth. May your peace abound. The king addresses this narrative to all the people in the known world.

Basically he's addressing the entire the Empire of Babylon which is pretty much the whole known world. Now this is a letter or a decree from the king to all of his subjects. In other words he wants all of his subjects to know what happened to him.

That's no little thing. That means it was great importance. So he opens with a typical polite greeting of that time period. May your peace abound. However based upon his newfound relationship to God Almighty that's more than a formal polite greeting.

He wishes peace upon his subjects as he has found peace. And then look at verse 2. It has seemed good to me to declare the signs and wonders which the Most High God has done for me. This too, this does not sound like the old king Nebuchadnezzar that we've been studying for a couple of weeks now.

The king who is always claiming sovereignty for himself. But now he desires that all his subjects hear what God has done for him. He said it seemed good to me to declare these things. The humiliation, the eating grass, the unkempt appearance, the hair, the nails, this prideful Nebuchadnezzar.

You want everybody to hear that? Yeah. That's what he's saying. All the signs and wonders. Since it's only chapter 4, it's all the wonders that we just talked about. Doesn't sound like the Nebuchadnezzar we know, is it?

Does it? But that's exactly what he's saying in his opening remarks. He wants his subjects to know about the signs and wonders of the Most High God. Notice the last words, has done for me. Not to me, not afflicted on me, but has done for me.

Sounds like Nebuchadnezzar read Romans 8 .28. All things work together for good to those that love him and are called according to his purpose. Nebuchadnezzar recognized that he needed all those things to happen to him and he wants everybody to know that.

And even though he ends with a benediction, it's as though in the opening he can't help himself and he breaks into doxology in his opening remarks. Verse 3, how great are his signs and how mighty are his wonders.

His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom and his dominion is from generation to generation. I dare say reading those words of King Nebuchadnezzar were here today, we'd put a robe on him and he'd be in the tank.

In these four chapters of Daniel, we've touched on many biblical themes. Most recently today on his pride and last week on his pride. In fact, Nebuchadnezzar is the poster child for that particular sin and we've seen how God dealt with him.

And then even his own testimony acknowledges that sin. But there's another theme that is very closely to this running through these first four chapters and it relates to the King's conversion. It's that the theme of death and resurrection in the kingdom of God.

I don't think I have to explain the importance of death and resurrection to you, but I'm gonna let Paul do it anyway. First Corinthians 15, verse 13, but if there is no resurrection of the dead, not even Christ has been raised.

And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain, your faith also is in vain. Is resurrection important? It's important to your faith. Verse 16, for if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised.

And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless. You are still in your sins. Those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If we have hoped in Christ in this life only, we are of all men most to be pitied.

Is resurrection important? So we explored this somewhat when Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego defied the king's decree and were cast into the furnace of blazing fire. According to human standards, they were as good as dead.

And yet they came out of the fire unscathed. Not even a smell of smoke. There's a clear figure of their death and resurrection pointing to the future. Now we see this theme in Nebuchadnezzar. Here's what I mean.

In chapter 2, the king learned that his rule would not last forever. Then, remember, that was that multi-metal statue. The head of gold would be replaced. That reality is reinforced in chapters 3 and 4.

But in chapter 4, he has a death and resurrection experience. Being cast into the field like a beast is a death experience. And then he's restored, which is a resurrection experience. He dies by becoming a beast.

He's raised when God has his reason returned and his kingdom restored. And here's another interesting thing about Nebuchadnezzar. He wasn't just restored to his former glory. Look again at verse 36. At that time my reason returned to me.

My majesty, my splendor were restored to me for the glory of my kingdom. And my counselors and my nobles began seeking me out. But look at the last, the last clause. So I was re-established in my sovereignty.

And here's my point. And surpassing greatness was added to me. Notice when the king is resurrected, he is restored to a place greater than before his death experience. From his own lips, surpassing greatness was added to me.

This parallels all the other resurrection experiences in the Old Covenant. Think of Joseph, sold into slavery by his own brothers, then is unjustly jailed by his new master. He languishes in jail, forgotten.

But he was never out of God's mind and he raised him from the jail. And what happens? He becomes the second highest in the land of Egypt. A death and resurrection, prefiguring that of Christ. How about Job?

Job lost everything. All his possessions, his family, his status in the community. But when he lost everything, he was struck with physical maladies. His friends chastened him. They said he must be hiding some great sin for God to treat him as such.

But when he's restored, a resurrection-like experience, he has everything restored and much more than he had before. All of those prefigure the necessity of the coming of the New Covenant, which is ratified by the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

And baptism is a sign of the New Covenant and symbolizes that death and resurrection. For the believer in Jesus Christ is said to be crucified with Christ and raised with him. Paul says in Romans 6 verse 3, or do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into his death?

Therefore we have been buried with him through baptism into death in order that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life. So baptism signifies our dying to sin and being raised with him in newness of life.

That's true because we are partakers in his death. And baptism is the symbol of that death and resurrection. The candidate is immersed in the water as though he were actually dying. But he comes up again.

We don't hold him under. Perhaps if I had a make-believer I'd have to hold him under to be, no, never mind. I don't want anybody to be afraid to come into the tank now. Perhaps he's going to hold me under the water.

But he comes up again and the symbol is clear. He's being raised with Christ, dead to sin, raised to life. Romans 6 verse 5, for if if we have become united with him in the likeness of his death, certainly we shall also be also in the likeness of his resurrection.

And the admonition to the Christian then is to live according to the symbol and the sign that you receive. Romans 6 verse 8, now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him.

Knowing that Christ having been raised from the dead is never to die again. Death no longer is master over him. For the death that he died, he died to sin. Once for all but the life he lives, he lives to God.

Even so, consider yourselves to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus. So as far as Nebuchadnezzar is concerned, we now have the rest of the story. But this morning we will baptize five people.

They have professed faith in Christ as the Lord and Savior, to their friends, to their relatives, and now they will do so publicly before this congregation and other witnesses. And just as we have been instructed by the Word of God, let me just read, let me just read the first section of our confession of faith on baptism, just for context for those who may not have be members of the church.

It says, baptism is an ordinance of the New Testament instituted by Jesus Christ. It is intended to be to the person baptized a sign of his fellowship with Christ in his death and resurrection and of his being engrafted into Christ and of the remission of sins.

It also indicates that the baptized person has given himself up to God through Jesus Christ so that he may live and conduct himself in newness of life. If you're here this morning and you've never come to that place, you've never repented of your sin, I would urge you, implore you that bow the knee to Jesus Christ, repent of your sin, and be saved.

If you are a believer in Jesus Christ, you've been baptized, even a member of this church, just ask yourself, are you living in a manner worthy of your calling? We all need to examine ourselves and especially since we're taking the Lord's Supper, examine yourself before we come to the Lord's Supper.

Let's pray and then I'll ask the men to come forward to serve the Supper. Father, thank you for the example of Nebuchadnezzar you've given to us. What a blessing it is, Father, to see how merciful you were to him.

And Father, we don't presume upon your mercy, but I would pray for anyone here today who doesn't know you that you would take away their stony heart, give them a heart of flesh that they might repent and believe.

Father, for those of us who have come to faith, give us the strength through your indwelling Holy Spirit to walk in that newness of life that we have in Jesus Christ. We pray this in Jesus' name, Amen.