Varnishing or Vanquishing

Series on Daniel

II. The Conflict

C. Vanquishing of the Proud

1. The Folly of Pride, Text: Daniel 4

Title: Varnishing or Vanquishing

Introduction

This distinct Aramaic section of Daniel, chapters 2-7 is dealing with our faith in relation to the world. Overarching all in chaps. 2 and 7 is Daniel’s vision of the ages. Then in chapters 3 and 6 within that struggle we have the victory of the faithful over the powers of this present world. And then in chapters 4 and 5, we have at the center the real issue, that God is sovereign over all. Here is the vanquishing of the proud as both Nebuchadnezzar in chapter 4 and Belshazzar in chapter 5 are put in their place. In the end that’s what we all need in true religion, to be put in our place. Many times the truth is varnished because men do not like to preach this. In fact the failure to preach this important truth results in the proud spirits of men remaining unvanquished and their arrogant wills unbent. Recently I was asked to fill out a biographical memoir for my college. One of the questions was what is your favorite quote? I chose Daniel 4:35 because i knew that in the heart of every man according to Romans 1 is the haunting intimation of a sovereign God who made us, and I figured correctly that no other quote would be anything like it. It’s that important and it says, 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?” We have the witness of Nebuchadnezzar in verses 1-3, King Nebuchadnezzar, To the peoples, nations and men of every language, who live in all the world: May you prosper greatly! It is my pleasure to tell you about the miraculous signs and wonders that the Most High God has performed for me. How great are his signs, how mighty his wonders! His kingdom is an eternal kingdom; his dominion endures from generation to generation. We have had enough of Christianity that offers a Savior to proud people and asks only a minimal acknowledgment of sin and a minor adjustment in lifestyle. True Christianity says God is sovereign and He can do absolutely anything He wants, anytime He wants, for any reason He wants, any way He wants in our lives. So let us consider the humbling of Nebuchadnezzar under three heads: the warning of God’s sovereignty, the witness of God’s sovereignty, and the work of God’s sovereignty.

I The Warning of God’s Sovereignty

The warning is found in Nebuchadnezzar’s dream and its interpretation in verses 4-27, I, Nebuchadnezzar, was at home in my palace, contented and prosperous. 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. So I commanded that all the wise men of Babylon be brought before me to interpret the dream for me. When the magicians, enchanters, astrologers and diviners came, I told them the dream, but they could not interpret it for me. 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.) 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. 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. The tree grew large and strong and its top touched the sky; it was visible to the ends of the earth. 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. “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. 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. 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. 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. “ ‘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.’ “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.” 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! The tree you saw, which grew large and strong, with its top touching the sky, visible to the whole earth, 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—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. “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.’ “This is the interpretation, O king, and this is the decree the Most High has issued against my lord the king: 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. 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. 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.” You would think that Nebuchadnezzar would have gotten the message by this time after the vision of the destruction of his kingdom in chapter 2 and the deliverance of the three friends of Daniel in chapter 3 but he hasn’t. Sinclair Ferguson compares him to the blacksmith’s dog. John Elias an old Welsh evangelist told about the blacksmith who got a dog who barked loudly as the blacksmith hammered on his anvil. over time the barking became less frequent and less strident until one day Elias came by and the dog was sleeping peacefully while the blacksmith hammered away. Men today are not very different. They are warned in a multitude of ways but many harden their hearts until God reduces them to nothing so they will acknowledge his sovereign power. Daniel was a prophet and he brought the Word of God faithfully to the king. Like Belshazzar in the next chapter the handwriting was on the wall but Nebuchadnezzar refused to read it. It has occurred to me that the story ought to be read to every ruler, ought to be read at the inauguration of our president and other public officials, and ought to be studied by all of us. Until i see that he is the potter and i am the clay i am missing life’s most important truth.

II The Witness of God’s Sovereignty

What are some of the things we learn about the free independent autonomous decree of God in this passage? The reality of God’s sovereignty is shown clearly in the fulfillment of the predictions regarding Nebuchadnezzar in verses 28-33, All this happened to King Nebuchadnezzar. Twelve months later, as the king was walking on the roof of the royal palace of Babylon, 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?” 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. 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.” 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. This Chapter in Daniel witnesses to the reality and the effects of this doctrine.

A Comfort

Far from making us fearful and futile, knowing God is control comforts us as it did Daniel. Untroubled by whatever God had revealed he taught it truthfully. Daniel knew who was in charge and knowing God he trusted that whatever came to pass would be right as we read in verse 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. Was he not in captivity with his people? Wasn’t this the great disappointment? Wasn’t it the crushing of their hopes and the questioning of God’s promises? Yes, but God was in control.

B Compassion

Far from filling people with a cruel and fatalistic attitude this doctrine makes them care as in verse 19, 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! The great modern missionary movement began with people who believed God had sovreignly ordained men to salvation in India ,and China and Burma and they went because of that. An aged and ill Adoniram Judson back in this country from Burma was hailed as a hero everywhere, but he had to stand in the Baptist convention and plead with them in a voice hoarse with tuberculosis of the throat not to close a mission station in Burma and he said, ‘Keep it open and I will go.” This was a man who lost more wives and children in Burma then most of us ever have. God had an elect people and he was going to harvest them.

C Commitment

Verse 19 also reveals how a deeply troubled Daniel told the truth because he was committed to God. Many people avoid the truth about God because it troubles them that there is a frowning providence and they don’t like to think about God’s holiness and justice?

D Confidence

What makes men bold to do what is right? Verse 17 gives us the answer. The assurance that their actions will make a difference is grounded in the government of a sovereign God. Apart from this there is no assurance. To say my actions don’t count because God rules is foolish. his rule is the reason they do count and so we are confident to do God’s will. In the end we know that whatever decrees rulers make or whatever boasts they speak the decree of God and heaven rules over all, ‘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.’

III The Work of God’s Sovereignty

As with Nebuchadnezzar the work is to humble us and until we see the absoluteness of that sovereignty we are not humble enough. Neither was Nebuchadnezzar as we see in verses 28-33, All this happened to King Nebuchadnezzar. Twelve months later, as the king was walking on the roof of the royal palace of Babylon, 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?” 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. 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.” 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. However humble we think we are it is not enough until God has what is described here in verses 34-37 in our minds and hearts, 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. 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?” 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. 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. I am also reminded of Job 38 and 39. In 38:1-7 we read,Then Jehovah answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said, Who is this that darken counsel By words without knowledge? Gird up now thy loins like a man; For I will demand of thee, and declare thou unto me. Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? Declare, if thou hast understanding. Who determined the measures thereof, if you know? Or who stretched the line upon it? Whereupon were the foundations of it fastened? Or who laid the corner-stone of it, When the morning stars sang together, And all the sons of God shouted for joy? And there are two solid chapters of the same challenges concerning the absolute greatness of God. Do you think we will see Nebuchadnezzar in heaven? that of course is for God to say, but i tell you he had a better understanding of who God is than many Christians today. i want to further stress that the result of this humbling is seen in actions. Notice that in verse 27 Nebuchadnezzar is told he could delay the period of judgment when he was turned into a beast and wandered irrationally like an animal. How? By being righteous and by showing mercy to the poor. It is a fact that we all cling to privilege and power and position and resources and riches rather than hazard them because we are not sufficiently convinced of God’s sovereignty. it is the power that can take all these things away or give them in a heartbeat. A man may decide to be rich but if God decrees poverty he better be happy with it. He may decide to be famous but if God decrees obscurity he better be happy with it. And if he wants to be anonymous and God decrees recognition he had better be happy with that too. God rules absolutely over all the affairs of men. Settling this issue will surely make a huge difference in your life.