Pride comes before a fall (Daniel 4)
Billy Milton - February 1, 2004
I hope that you’re enjoying this short series on Daniel and really getting to grips with the challenges it’s throwing up? A brief re-cap.
In chapter 1 we were introduced to Daniel, the young man who dared to be different and we asked the question, “Who are you when no-one is watching?”
In chapter 2 we saw Nebuchadnezzar having a dream and after looking everywhere he finally turned to Daniel who gave him the interpretation. We asked the question, “Are you looking for answers in all the wrong places?”
Last week Jon Bicknell took as on a very entertaining journey on the subject of not compromising on the big issues and reminded us that God is “Fanta-stick”.
As I was preparing for this week I re-read the story in chapter 3 which tells of the courageous stance of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego and finishes with the phrase, “Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego in the province of Babylon.” As I read that phrase I was reminded once again of that promise of God in 1 Samuel 2:30 which has become something of a rule of life for me, and I commend it to you as well, “Those who honour me, I will honour.” Remember these words. Before we make any decision we need to ask ourselves, “Is this honouring to God?” It will save us from much trouble and ensure that we are known as people of integrity.
And so on to ch4. Nebuchadnezzar, who should maybe lay off the cheese a bit, has had another very troubling dream which once again could not be explained by all the wise men of Babylon. This time he is much quicker to call in Daniel and Daniel, after a degree of hesitation because he doesn’t want to hurt the king’s feelings, gives the king the meaning of his dream. Its not very pleasant at all and indeed it foretells the awful punishment that lay ahead for Nebuchadnezzar if he didn’t repent. But what exactly was he being asked to repent about?
A. HE WAS:-
1. Proud of his Power - Ruler of the entire known world:
You can understand why he was a wee bit smug. He saw himself at the centre of everything and he’d got there by his own efforts. He writes in verse 1….
“King Nebuchadnezzar, to the peoples, nations, and men of every language who live in all the world: ‘May you prosper greatly!’” No-one was a threat to him and he could afford to be magnanimous in his greetings. He continues with his boastful talk in v30…
“Is not this the great Babylon I have built as the royal residence, by my mighty power and for the glory of my majesty?” Wow, you can almost see his nose in the air and his haughty look. He’s become so proud of his power that he’s convinced no-one can bring him down.
2. Proud of his Prosperity - A man of immense wealth:
“I, Nebuchadnezzar, was at home in my palace, contented and prosperous.” 4:4
It’s interesting to note that the Hebrew word used for “prosperous” can also be used to describe a tree with thick, luxurious foliage. Maybe just a hint of what was to come later in the chapter?
Doesn’t his attitude remind you of another man in a story told by Jesus in Luke 12:16+? Here a highly successful farmer reflects on his success and decides to build bigger barns and then just sit back and take it easy and live the good life. God calls that man a fool
- not because he had made a lot of money;
- not because he wanted to take it easy;
- not because he was successful
- but because he had factored God out of the equation, just as Nebuchadnezzar was doing here! Let’s learn the lesson well - and I repeat something I said back in December - one of the worst sins we can commit is to live independently from God - the attitude which says, “I can ignore God and I’ll be losing nothing.” That’s where Nebuchadnezzar was. That’s sadly where many of us in Britain in 2004 are at as well.
3. Proud of his Piety - a man who deserved the favour of the gods.
In 4:2 Nebuchadnezzar seems to have lost contact with the real world.
“It is my pleasure to tell you about the miraculous signs and wonders that the Most High God has performed for me.”
Reading this reminds me just a bit of Michael Jackson who, in Martin Bashir’s interview and documentary, showed that he has literally no idea of how the average person lives. I remember the image of his statue being sailed down the Thames on a barge and thinking, “Oh dear - Nebuchadnezzar.” People like that can begin to believe that the whole world revolves around them.
Has God become a puppet for Nebuchadnezzar? Is even God now at Nebuchadnezzar’s beck and call? He performs miracles just for Nebuchadnezzar! I don’t think so. Somewhere, despite all his piety, he has pushed God off of the throne and firmly installed himself.
Oh yes he’s pious but he’s pious in all the wrong ways. Even as he addresses Daniel he is sincere but he’s got it quite wrong. Daniel’s wisdom does not come from “the spirit of the holy gods within him”, as Nebuchadnezzar asserts, but from the one true God.
How many people today think they have got this religion thing all worked out but are similarly clueless? I think of the famous quote of David Beckham, “We want to have Brooklyn baptised - we’re just not sure into which religion.” The problem today is not that people don’t want spirituality its just that they don’t want Jesus.
4. Proud of his Productivity - but made the mistake of taking all the glory.
Nebuchadnezzar personally designed and directed the construction of the famous “Hanging Gardens of Babylon”, and, as we saw already, in verse 30 it says:
“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?”
And make no mistake, Babylon was a great city. Archeological discoveries have confirmed the massive and overwhelming splendour of ancient Babylon. Enormous double walls 27 km round, pierced by eight gates, and approached by magnificent streets - it must have been an awe-inspiring sight. Most splendid was the famous Ishtar Gate from which ran a processional highway, the scene of a splendid pageant on New Year’s Day where the king accompanied the statue of the god Marduk in a great ceremony. Can you see the magnificence in your minds eye? Can you hear the trumpets and the buzz of the crowds as they witnessed Nebuchadnezzar’s. dazzling glory? Nebuchadnezzar mistakenly believed that he was solely responsible for the greatness and productivity of Babylon. He gladly accepted the worship of his subjects. Once again God is sidelined and even in a pagan society he will NOT be sidelined for ever!! As we pat ourselves on the back for all our accomplishments ask yourself the question, “Why should we expect God to deal any differently with us than he did with Nebuchadnezzar?” But…..
B. NEBUCHADNEZZAR BECAME:
1. Aware of the need to repent of his pride:
“Therefore, O king, let my advice be acceptable to you; break off your sins by being righteous, and your iniquities by showing mercy to the poor. Perhaps there may be a lengthening of your prosperity.” 4:27
But he also became….
2. Stubborn in his refusal to repent.
“All this came upon King Nebuchadnezzar. At the end of the twelve months he was walking about the royal palace of Babylon. The king spoke, saying, “Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for a royal dwelling by my mighty power and for the honour of my majesty?” 4:28-30.
12 months had passed and still Nebuchadnezzar was strutting about like a peacock, revelling in his own majesty. He had received a message straight from God and a year later he is still ignoring that message. But as Paul reminded us in Gal 6:7, “Do not be deceived. God is not mocked:” and in 2 Cor 6:2 he says, “I tell you, now is the time of God’s favour, now is the day of salvation.”
I believe that there are a few people here this morning who are being stubborn in their refusal to repent. They have mistakenly got it into their heads that God will never require an answer from them. You are wrong. God will not be mocked indefinitely. So Nebuchadnezzar became….
3. Aware of the coming judgment of God.
“While the word was still in the king’s mouth, a voice fell from heaven: “King Nebuchadnezzar, to you it is spoken: the kingdom has departed from you! And they shall drive you from men, and your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field. They shall make you eat grass like oxen; and seven times shall pass over you, until you know that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whomever He chooses.” 4:31-32.
And then he became….
4. A man under punishment.
I was greatly encouraged to find out Nebuchadnezzar’s. madness is spoken of in historical documents. Its wonderful to know that this book (The Bible) is trustworthy and accurate. At any rate the passage records:-
“That very hour the word was fulfilled concerning Nebuchadnezzar; he was driven from men and ate grass like oxen; his body was wet with the dew of heaven till his hair had grown like eagles’ feathers and his nails like birds’ claws.” 4:33.
What an amazing change in any person’s circumstances never mind a great king.
5. A repentant man who praises God.
At last he got it right but only after a sustained period of God’s disciplining. How incredible that from the mouth of a man who had been so full of pride come these words of such profound theological correctness.
“And at the end of that time I, Nebuchadnezzar, raised my eyes towards heaven, and my sanity was restored. Then I praised the Most High; I honoured and glorified Him who lives forever. His dominion is an eternal dominion; His kingdom endures from generation to generation. 4:34-35
Pride was Nebuchadnezzar’s. downfall and very few of us can escape the allure of pride. Now I’m not saying that its wrong to feel a sense of pride in a job well done… that’s perfectly acceptable and understandable. Where it does become problematic is where that pride becomes a defining guide to who we are and how we relate to others. Then its wrong, especially when it seperates us from God. Then it must be rooted out. But, be aware like a dandelion, its roots can go deep and cutting its head off is no guarantee that it will not grow again. It must be taken out at its root.
Let’s take the words of Paul in 1 Cor. 1:31 to heart, “Therefore, as it is written: ‘Let him who boasts boast in the Lord.’”