Talk

God Save the King

Ben Stuart
October, 6, 2024

Join Ben Stuart as we return to our Believers in Babylon series. This week, we see Nebuchadnezzar ask Daniel to interpret another dream he had that disturbed him and the effect that it ultimately had on the king. Most importantly, we see God’s heart towards the Believer and the Babylonian.

Key Takeaway

God doesn't make idle threats. He will judge evil. However, He warns because He is giving us time to repent so He can show us mercy. He longs for us to know Him and enjoy Him forever.

Daniel 4 begins with a shock as King Nebuchadnezzar openly and willingly worships the One True God. This seemed impossible. How did this pride-filled, arrogant man come to bow the knee to God?

God does miraculous things. He saves, but He also gives us a story, and we are about to hear the testimony of the king. Nebuchadnezzar was flourishing, but he did not acknowledge the God who placed him there.

Nebuchadnezzar is disturbed by a dream, but he doesn't understand the message. He needs a Believer with revelation to tell him the truth, so he calls on Daniel.

Nebuchadnezzar has watched Daniel's life. He knows there's something different about him. Daniel's reputation and credibility precede him. He asks Daniel to tell him the truth about his dream. How you live your life gives you credibility so that you can speak the truth to those who need it.

The king's dream was about going from flourishing to a great humbling, but there was an opportunity for blooming to occur. This is judgment with a redemptive purpose.

Daniel tells Nebuchadnezzar that his ways of living are destructive and he will have to hit rock bottom if he wants to recover. He begged the king to break up with his sin, repent, find mercy, and bear the fruit of repentance.

What is all this? It's the gospel.

God does not issue idle threats, so when Nebuchadnezzar refused to repent after a year of God's waiting, all of his dreams came to pass. For seven years, Nebuchadnezzar's mind was broken. Finally, he lifted his head to God and willingly recognized and worshiped Him. His realization turned to restoration.

God doesn't humble you to destroy you; He humbles you to redeem you.

Nebuchadnezzar found out that he could live his life differently because Daniel told him so, much to his own peril, but this didn't lead to his destruction; it led to the king's salvation.

For the Believer: God will put you in uncomfortable situations, not so you just survive the culture but transform it. You're not responsible for saving others, but he has given you a story, and you know the truth. So, humbly, gently, and prayerfully speak the truth in love.

For the Babylonian: God will judge evil. He doesn't want to destroy you, and you're not too far gone. The scandal of the Cross is that there's nothing that Jesus' blood has not covered. He does not think your sin is okay; He will judge it, but He offers mercy.

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"Don't underestimate the disturbance in the soul of your unbelieving friends. In the silence, they don't feel peace and tranquility; they feel disturbance."
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Ben Stuart

Discussion Questions

  1. Who in your life do you think is too far gone to ever bow the knee to God?

  2. Nebuchadnezzar's flourishing life was disturbed as God tried to get his attention. Has God ever shaken things up for you so you would turn your eyes to Him?

  3. Why did the king call on Daniel to interpret his dream? What two things did Ben mention are associated with Daniel?

  4. Do your friends come to you when they have spiritual questions? Do you live a life that is credible?

  5. Do you pray to have a life that can be used by God to explain the truth of God to people?

  6. What is the dream that Nebuchadnezzar had? What does it mean?

  7. How did Daniel respond to the dream? How would you have responded?

  8. Read 2 Timothy 2: 24-26. How are we instructed to respond when unbelievers are facing judgment? Do you see them as an enemy or a captive?

  9. Daniel told the king the truth about the dream. How did the King respond? What does this tell you about God's threats?

  10. Ultimately, after Nebuchadnezzar lost his mind, how did he respond? How does this parallel the gospel?

Scripture References

Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream of a Tree

1King Nebuchadnezzar,

To the nations and peoples of every language, who live in all the earth:

May you prosper greatly!

2It is my pleasure to tell you about the miraculous signs and wonders that the Most High God has performed for me.

3How great are his signs,

how mighty his wonders!

His kingdom is an eternal kingdom;

his dominion endures from generation to generation.

4I, Nebuchadnezzar, was at home in my palace, contented and prosperous. 5I had a dream that made me afraid. As I was lying in bed, the images and visions that passed through my mind terrified me. 6So I commanded that all the wise men of Babylon be brought before me to interpret the dream for me. 7When the magicians, enchanters, astrologers and diviners came, I told them the dream, but they could not interpret it for me. 8Finally, 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.)

9I 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. 10These are the visions I saw while lying in bed: I looked, and there before me stood a tree in the middle of the land. Its height was enormous. 11The tree grew large and strong and its top touched the sky; it was visible to the ends of the earth. 12Its leaves were beautiful, its fruit abundant, and on it was food for all. Under it the wild animals found shelter, and the birds lived in its branches; from it every creature was fed.

13“In the visions I saw while lying in bed, I looked, and there before me was a holy one, a messenger, coming down from heaven. 14He 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. 15But 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. 16Let 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.

17“ ‘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 all kingdoms on earth and gives them to anyone he wishes and sets over them the lowliest of people.’

18“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.”

Daniel Interprets the Dream

19Then 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! 20The tree you saw, which grew large and strong, with its top touching the sky, visible to the whole earth, 21with beautiful leaves and abundant fruit, providing food for all, giving shelter to the wild animals, and having nesting places in its branches for the birds— 22Your Majesty, you 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.

23“Your Majesty saw a holy one, a messenger, 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 with the wild animals, until seven times pass by for him.’

24“This is the interpretation, Your Majesty, and this is the decree the Most High has issued against my lord the king: 25You will be driven away from people and will live with the wild animals; you will eat grass like the ox 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 all kingdoms on earth and gives them to anyone he wishes. 26The 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. 27Therefore, Your Majesty, 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.”

The Dream Is Fulfilled

28All this happened to King Nebuchadnezzar. 29Twelve months later, as the king was walking on the roof of the royal palace of Babylon, 30he 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?”

31Even as the words were on his lips, a voice came from heaven, “This is what is decreed for you, King Nebuchadnezzar: Your royal authority has been taken from you. 32You will be driven away from people and will live with the wild animals; you will eat grass like the ox. Seven times will pass by for you until you acknowledge that the Most High is sovereign over all kingdoms on earth and gives them to anyone he wishes.”

33Immediately what had been said about Nebuchadnezzar was fulfilled. He was driven away from people and ate grass like the ox. 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.

34At 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.

35All 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?”

36At 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. 37Now 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.

Ben Stuart
Ben Stuart
Ben Stuart is the pastor of Passion City Church D.C. Prior to joining Passion City Church, Ben served as the executive director of Breakaway Ministries on the campus of Texas A&M. He also earned a master’s degree in historical theology from Dallas Theological Seminary. He and his wife, Donna, live to inspire and equip people to walk with God for a lifetime.