Introduction:
Pride is one of the many sins that the leaders of our nation face today. And
not only is it something that the rulers and governors struggle with, but also
something that Americans struggle with in general; though it is not called
pride, but entitlement. King Nebuchadnezzar as with many kings struggled with
pride, which in the end was his error.
Verse 1-18
reads, “Nebuchadnezzar the king, unto all people, nations, and languages, that
dwell in all the earth; Peace be multiplied unto you. I thought it good to shew the signs and
wonders that the high God hath wrought toward me. 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 Nebuchadnezzar was at rest in mine
house, and flourishing in my palace: I saw a dream which made me afraid, and
the thoughts upon my bed and the visions of my head troubled me. Therefore made
I a decree to bring in all the wise men of Babylon before me, that they might
make known unto me the interpretation of the dream. Then came in the magicians,
the astrologers, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers: and I told the dream
before them; but they did not make known unto me the interpretation thereof. But
at the last Daniel came in before me, whose name was Belteshazzar, according to
the name of my God, and in whom is the spirit of the holy gods: and before him
I told the dream, saying, O Belteshazzar, master of the magicians, because I
know that the spirit of the holy gods is in thee, and no secret troubleth thee,
tell me the visions of my dream that I have seen, and the interpretation
thereof. Thus were the visions of mine head in my bed; I saw, and behold a tree
in the midst of the earth, and the height thereof was great. The tree grew, and
was strong, and the height thereof reached unto heaven, and the sight thereof
to the end of all the earth: The leaves thereof were fair, and the fruit
thereof much, and in it was meat for all: the beasts of the field had shadow
under it, and the fowls of the heaven dwelt in the boughs thereof, and all
flesh was fed of it. I saw in the visions of my head upon my bed, and, behold,
a watcher and an holy one came down from heaven; He cried aloud, and said thus,
Hew down the tree, and cut off his branches, shake off his leaves, and scatter
his fruit: let the beasts get away from under it, and the fowls from his
branches: Nevertheless leave the stump of his roots in the earth, even with a
band of iron and brass, in the tender grass of the field; and let it be wet
with the dew of heaven, and let his portion be with the beasts in the grass of the
earth: Let his heart be changed from man's, and let a beast's heart be given
unto him; and let seven times pass over him. This matter is by the decree of
the watchers, and the demand by the word of the holy ones: to the intent that
the living may know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth
it to whomsoever he will, and setteth up over it the basest of men. This dream
I king Nebuchadnezzar have seen. Now thou, O Belteshazzar, declare the
interpretation thereof, forasmuch as all the wise men of my kingdom are not
able to make known unto me the interpretation: but thou art able; for the
spirit of the holy gods is in thee.”
-Now Chapter
4 begins with Nebuchadnezzar explaining his dream to Daniel. At this point
Nebuchadnezzar relies on Daniel to interpret his dreams; calling him the “master
of the magicians” or wise men.
-As we
continue to read, we will find just how Daniel interprets the dream.
-We are
going to pick up at verse 24.
Verse 24-28
reads, “This is the interpretation, O king, and this is the decree of the most
High, which is come upon my lord the king: That they shall drive thee from men,
and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field, and they shall make
thee to eat grass as oxen, and they shall wet thee with the dew of heaven, and
seven times shall pass over thee, till thou know that the most High ruleth in
the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will. And whereas they
commanded to leave the stump of the tree roots; thy kingdom shall be sure unto
thee, after that thou shalt have known that the heavens do rule. Wherefore, O
king, let my counsel be acceptable unto thee, and break off thy sins by
righteousness, and thine iniquities by shewing mercy to the poor; if it may be
a lengthening of thy tranquillity. All this came upon the king Nebuchadnezzar.”
-Because
King Nebuchadnezzar was such a beautiful tree that bore much fruit, this caused
his heart to be exalted with pride. God is going to show Nebuchadnezzar just
how futile he is.
-Moreover,
even though the judgement is sure to come according to the Will of God, Daniel
in verse 27 tries to get Nebuchadnezzar to repent from his pride. In verse 29
we see that Nebuchadnezzar probably hearkened unto the wisdom of Daniel because
he postponed God’s judgement for a space of 12 months. But in the end came sudden destruction.
Verse 29-33
says, “At the end of twelve months he walked in the palace of the kingdom of
Babylon. The king spake, and said, Is not this great Babylon, that I have built
for the house of the kingdom by the might of my power, and for the honour of my
majesty? While the word was in the king's mouth, there fell a voice from
heaven, saying, O king Nebuchadnezzar, to thee it is spoken; The kingdom is
departed from thee. And they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall
be with the beasts of the field: they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and
seven times shall pass over thee, until thou know that the most High ruleth in
the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will. The same hour was the
thing fulfilled upon Nebuchadnezzar: and he was driven from men, and did eat
grass as oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven, till his hairs were
grown like eagles' feathers, and his nails like birds' claws.”
-Of course,
everything comes to pass as God said it would. And king Nebuchadnezzar is
turned into the beast.
-The very
fact that God chose to turn him into an animal (which has no more value than a
tool) is just something that immediately must have an effect on the King’s
pride level.
-At the end
of Nebuchadnezzar’s humiliation, his eyes are opened and he gives glory to God;
knowing that God is the one who sets up rulers, and brings them down to the
dust. Nebuchadnezzar, because of his humility, was able to call upon the name
of the Lord and get saved.
Verse 34-37
reads, “And at the end of the days I Nebuchadnezzar lifted up mine eyes unto
heaven, and mine understanding returned unto me, and I blessed the most High,
and I praised and honoured him that liveth for ever, whose dominion is an
everlasting dominion, and his kingdom is from generation to generation: And all
the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and he doeth according to
his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and
none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou? At the same time my
reason returned unto me; and for the glory of my kingdom, mine honour and
brightness returned unto me; and my counsellors and my lords sought unto me;
and I was established in my kingdom, and excellent majesty was added unto me. Now
I Nebuchadnezzar praise and extol and honour the King of heaven, all whose
works are truth, and his ways judgment: and those that walk in pride he is able
to abase.”
-It took
Nebuchadnezzar turning into an insane animal for him to actually get saved.
That’s how prideful he was. Imagine what it would take for “sinless” Donald
Trump to get saved. Probably turning into an ant. And don’t even get me started
with Hillary the murder. In the end though, we learn that pride is a big
deterrent to getting saved. Many of today’s athletes, singers, actors, and
politicians will never get saved. Not because they are reprobate (like Obama),
but because they are their own God and think they don’t need Christ.
James 4:6
says, “But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud,
but giveth grace unto the humble.”
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