Hope for Fallen Trees? - Daniel 4

Welcome to the Willingdon Church podcast. At Willingdon Church, we exist to follow Jesus Christ personally and carry on his ministry. You're listening to our Sunday sermon podcast. You can watch our full services over on YouTube. If you had the opportunity to communicate a message to the whole world today, what would you say? Imagine that you have the half time at the World Cup Final. Estimates run from 1.5 to 2.7 billion viewers. That's a lot of people. What would you say? Would you try to sell something? Would you sing? Justin Bieber sang Everything Hallelujah. Madonna sang a mashup entitled Music Inferno. What a contrast. Would you share your personal story? Would you would you would you mention God? Nebuchadnezzar has this kind of opportunity in chapter four. He's the king of an empire. His proclamation in this chapter, it has the tone of this official proclamation that goes to the whole empire that stretches from evil and modern day run all the way to Egypt. Chapter four verse one. King Nebuchadnezzar to all peoples, nations and languages that dwell in all the earth, peace be multiplied to you. Chapter three, Pastor Brett preached on chapter three last weekend. A great sermon if you haven't listened to it. In that chapter, Nebuchadnezzar, he decrees that the same group of people, all those peoples, languages, nations, he decrees that they bow down and worship an image made for him and his kingdom. In chapter four, he doesn't decree anything. He only communicates a personal message. These are his last words in the book of Daniel. These are important words. They're personal words. So the question, of course, is what has changed? Chapter four verse two, it has seemed good to me to show the signs and wonders that the most high God has done for me. How great are his signs? How mighty is wonders? His kingdom is an ever-lasting kingdom and his dominion endures from generation to generation. Remember chapter two, in that chapter, King Nebuchadnezzar, he pays homage to Daniel and the God of Daniel, the God of Israel. Then in chapter three, he talks about what God has done for Shadrach, Meshach and Abednuchal. Now in chapter three, in chapter four now, he talks about the signs and wonders that God has done for him. And he wants this message to go across the empire. The signs and wonders that he will refer to in his story, they're going to surprise us. He speaks with humility, he speaks with transparency. Personal testimonies are really powerful, aren't they? Let's step back a minute. Why would God want King Nebuchadnezzar's personal testimony to be communicated to the known world? Why would God want his testimony to be preserved in Scripture for us today? What was happening in the 6th century BC? Although this is somewhat disputed by historians, many will talk about the 6th century BC as being the peak in a period of human history called the Axial Age. What was happening in the Axial Age? Well in that age, what we see is the emergence of five major thought streams springing from five great thinkers that lay the foundations for Confucianism in China. It's very interesting. Confucianism in China, Buddhism in China, India, Zoroastrianism in Persia and Greek philosophy in Greece. None of these thought streams, none of them communicate that a sovereign God rules over all things and actually interacts with human beings in a personal way. In fact, they all deny the possibility. The main idea of Nebuchadnezzar's testimony is this, yes, God reigns over all things and gives authority to whom he wills, but he also reveals himself personally to proud men and women like us. That's really good news. Let's listen to Nebuchadnezzar's story. He says he was at ease in his house and prospering in his palace. In other words, in this moment he was flourishing. But then he had a dream and he was filled with fear. Remember, King Nebuchadnezzar, like other Babylonians, he believes that the God speaks to him through dreams. And so he invites his magicians, his enchanters, his caldians, astrologers to come interpret that dream for him. They're the political consultants, the religious gurus of his day. What do these wise men do? What are they authorities in? Well, they communicate with the spirit world. They practice witchcraft, dispels and the incantations, the rituals that manipulate the spiritual realm. They practice astrology, they can read the stars. Their experts in tradition had manuals written on how to interpret dreams. So they're called in. Nebuchadnezzar would have been encouraged to listen to dreams and try to understand the future in light of them. So he is listening. And he's filled with fear. His God, Marduk, must be trying to communicate some dark message to him. This time in chapter 2, he didn't tell the wise men the dream. This time he does. But they don't want to interpret it for him or can't. Maybe because the message is so horrifying. In his dream, Nebuchadnezzar sees this great tall tree in the middle of the earth. Why a tree? Well, because God knows how to communicate to any person at any time in any culture. There's a reason for the tree. In Babylonian mythology, the tree represents the divine order of the world. It's a major theme. If you look at the ancient Babylonian symbols, signs, images. And most often, the king is the divine or human-story personification of the tree. The king is the tree. He maintains the world order. Three times, Nebuchadnezzar says to Daniel, the spirit of the holy gods is in you. Why would he use that kind of language? Well, Nebuchadnezzar, when he receives the dream, he still thinks like a Babylonian. He believes that the God of Israel has given Daniel a gift. He even elevates Daniel to the chief of the wise men. But he still believes in many gods. So he's got all of his Babylonian gods on the shelf. And yeah, alongside them, perhaps the God of Israel. But he is not a person who is worshipping Yahweh alone, the God of Israel. Here's the key elements of the dream. As we already read, saw, Nebuchadnezzar sees this enormous tree in the middle of the earth. And it has grown strong. It reaches to the heavens. It reminds us of the Tower of Babel in Genesis chapter 11, by the way, happening in the same region. This tree, it's visible through the whole earth. It's beautiful. It's glorious. Everything finds shade under its branches. Everything finds food there at the tree. And Nebuchadnezzar looks at the tree, a watcher. An angel of heaven comes down. And orders that the tree be cut down, but the tree is not completely destroyed. A stump is left in the ground, bound by a band of iron and bronze, for seven periods of time, or seven seasons of time. Number seven, it symbolizes completion. And so the stump will be bound until the time determined by God is completed. Why does God speak to Nebuchadnezzar this way? Well, I'm sure you've already come to the conclusion because Nebuchadnezzar sees himself as the tree. He is the center of the universe. He's the one in power. He is the one who governs. He's the image of God on earth. He is the perfect man. We'll begin with bad news today. The proud place themselves at the center of their kingdom. Now you may not be ruling over an empire like King Nebuchadnezzar's, but each one of us has our own kingdom. It may be our family. It may be our business. It may be a university department. Whatever it is, may be a ministry in the life of the church. Whatever it is, a proud person will place himself or herself at the center over their kingdom. What's the purpose of the dream? Well, it's found in the words of the watcher, the angel that came down from heaven, verse 17. To the end that the living may know that the most high rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he will and sets over it the lowliest of men. That same idea is repeated in verse 25, 32, 34, 37. The message is intended to be clear. God reigns over the kingdom of men and women. He is the sovereign ruler. He gave it to King Nebuchadnezzar. Remember that's in chapter one. He can give it to whomever he wills. How does Daniel respond to the dream? It's in verse 19, then Daniel, whose name was Belch Shazzar, was this speed for a while and his thoughts alarmed him. The king answered and said, "Belch Shazzar, "that's not the dream or the interpretation alarm you." And Belch Shazzar answered and said, "My Lord, may the dream be for those who hate you." And it's interpretation for your enemies. Initially, Daniel is more alarmed by the dream than King Nebuchadnezzar is. He's not sure what to say, the message is horrifying. You sense his wrestle as he struggles to communicate to the king what it means. Do you like giving bad news to a person? Probably not. I think Daniel genuinely cares for this pride-filled king. Daniel was a praying man. I'm sure he had prayed for King Nebuchadnezzar many times. What's the interpretation of the dream? It's in verse 20 and 22. The tree you saw, it's you, O King. It's you. Your kingdom goes to the ends of the earth and you saw an angel coming down from heaven and he said, chop down the tree and destroy it, but leave the stump. King, this is a decree of the most high God. The hour of God's intervention has come. The kingdom was given by God's hand. Now God will remove his hand. Nebuchadnezzar, you will not only be removed from your place of power and glory, but you will lose your mind. You'll live like a wild animal for seven periods of time. What does God want King Nebuchadnezzar to understand? What does God want him to hear? It's there in verse 25 again. You shall be made to eat grass like an ox and you shall be wet with a dew of heaven and seven periods of time shall pass over you till you know that the most high rules, the kingdom of men, and gives it to whom he will. Main idea again, the message is clear. Daniel pleads with the king, verse 27. Therefore, O King, let my counsel be acceptable to you. Break off your sins by practicing righteousness and your iniquities by showing mercy to the oppressed that there may perhaps be a lengthening of your prosperity, King, King, please repent. Maybe you can delay the judgment. Let's start practicing some righteousness. Exercise some justice. Care for the oppressed, care for the poor. O King, if you do not acknowledge that God is supreme, if you do not humble yourself, if you do not receive the revelation given to you, you will be humbled. How many times, so God has already spoken to King Nebuchadnezzar in different ways already? How many times does King Nebuchadnezzar need to receive a revelation, a sign, a word, a dream before he begins to actually listen? And let's ask ourselves that question, how many times do we have to hear the word of the Lord before we are ready to change? This king who thinks of himself as God-like will become beast-like until he understands and receives what God is saying to him. So more bad news. The proud dismiss warnings of judgment. Look at this, a full year later, 12 months after receiving the dream's interpretation. Nebuchadnezzar is scrolling along the roof of his palace, verse 28. All this came upon King Nebuchadnezzar. At the end of 12 months, he was walking on the roof of the royal palace of Babylon. And the king answered and said, "If not this great Babylon, which I have built by my mighty power, as a royal residence, and for the glory of my majesty." What's he looking at? A new parking lot. No. Numerous, ornate temples, the hanging gardens of Babylon that he built for his wife, one of the seven wonders of the world. The outer wall of the city was also one of the seven wonders of the world. There's palm plantations and there's parks and buildings and water canals. And so it was the greatest city of the time. And so it's like a New York, a London, a soul, a Tokyo, a Shanghai. And looking at all of these tremendous accomplishments, he just relishes in his mighty power and glory and majesty. He still sees himself at the center of the world, order, ruling, unchanged. It's more bad news. The proud are blinded by their achievements and successes. And then while he's still glorying in what he has built, he hears a voice, verse 31. While the words were still in the King's mouth, their fell a voice from heaven. Oh, King Nebuchadnezzar, to you it is spoken. The kingdom has departed from you and you shall be driven from among men and your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field and you shall be made to eat grass like an ox and seven periods of time shall pass over you until you know, until you know that the most high rules the kingdom of men gives it to whom he will. There it is. The message is so penetratingly clear. Nebuchadnezzar, the kingdom will be taken from you until you know who rules and God removes his hand. Nebuchadnezzar's treat crashes through the ground. He loses his reason, his royal authority is taken. He's driven from the city. He starts eating grass like a beast. He's stripped of all his glory. As some believe that he suffered from Boanthropy, it's a medical disorder in which one believes oneself to be an ox or a cow. Whatever it was, he loses his reason. So a man who considered himself to be the image of God on earth, the perfect man, he's now one of the weakest, most vulnerable. Conversion for the proud usually demands a personal crisis. Do we have examples of pride-filled behavior in our day? Well, the list is endless, right? There are dictators, autocrats, athletes, celebrities, business CEOs, abusive religious leaders. The list goes on and on. But most of those people aren't here today. The list is for us, for you and me. Or sorry, the message is for us, for you and me. Pride resides in all of us, right? For honest, it runs through our veins. As sometimes it's really hard to see it in ourselves, but we see it in others. We can all so easily think that the giftedness, our achievements, our insights, our status, it's all our own doing. From a very young age, we're taught to take pride in our achievements and successes, weren't we? I was, I know if I ask you to raise your hands, you won't say, "Yeah, me too." But anyways, I know it's all of us. What happens when we put ourselves at the center, when we become deaf and blind? So when my wife and I were church planting in Brazil, what we consider to be a noble endeavor, over about a 10-period time we saw ongoing growth, not exponential growth, but continual growth. And so people are coming to faith and people are being discipled, and new leaders are being raised up, and there's new cell groups forming. I even had thought, I actually did, I had to thought, I should write a book on how to live this church adventure. I was very foolish then, I'm a little wiser now. I'm glad someone will. left. And then we went through some serious leadership struggles. And as a couple, we were facing some financial difficulties. My wife was diagnosed with cancer two times. It seemed as if our life was coming undone. The church did not divide, but for a period, for a period we thought it would. And I remember wrestling with God in the middle of the night, 3 a.m. I'm praying. I was saying, God, there is no glory for you in this. And there's certainly nothing in it for me either. What? What did I just pray? Is it still about me? It's so easy to put ourselves at the center of our lives. Put ourselves at the center of a ministry, a family, a business. Often we don't discern it until things start to come apart. But I felt like a stump, and I had never, ever wanted to be a stump. Does anyone here have that as their life goal? To be a stump? I don't think so. But it was God's severe mercy to me and my wife. So maybe you feel like a stump today. God in some way has humbled you. Maybe your marriage blew up. Maybe you had to close your business or your facing foreclosure. Or you didn't get the grade that you wanted on your university exam. The child is gone astray. You feel like a failure is apparent. Do you feel like a stump? Is there any hope for stumps? Is there any hope for Nebuchadnezzar? Remember that judgment is for a time. The stump and the roots still in the ground, bound, but still in the ground. Nebuchadnezzar was merciless. Remember he wanted to execute all of the wise men in Daniel 2. But God's merciful. Verse 34, "At the end of the days, I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted my eyes to 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. What we were singing earlier today, all the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing and he does, according to his will, among the host of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth and none can stay his hand or say to him, what have you done? That's what I was doing in the middle of the night. God, what have you done? There's no glory here for you and certainly none for me. What have you done? When Nebuchadnezzar was on the roof of his palace, he was looking sideways. He was looking down. That's the look of pride. That's the look of comparison. That's the look of derision. He was focused on himself. When we're focused on ourselves, we cannot worship. We cannot turn our eyes to heaven and worship. At the appointed time of Judgment, King Nebuchadnezzar looks up to the skies. That's the look of humility. He looks away from himself to God. Now his hope is simply in God's mercy, the most same posture, the most lucid moment is when we are prostrate, worshipping God Almighty. In the Bible, humility is not a state. It's an action. We humble ourselves. As soon as I ask the question, "Well, am I a humble person?" I turn the focus back on myself. We'll never be able to answer that question for ourselves. Maybe others will see humility in us. For us ourselves, humility is an action. We humble ourselves before God Almighty and worship. What's the message that King Nebuchadnezzar wants to communicate to the whole empire? Here it is, verse 37. Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the king of heaven. For all his works are right and his ways are just and those who walk in pride, he is able to humble. That's good news. I'm not the most high. God is. I thought I was incomparable. Actually, only God is. Beyond compare. You can't argue with him. Contest with him. Contest with what he's done. I was ruthless, ruthless, unjust. God is righteous and just. I was merciless. God is merciful. The good news? God can bring a proud person down. It may not sound like good news to us, but it's actually really good news. This is something God does in his grace in mercy. The wonder that King Nebuchadnezzar testifies to is simply this God transformed my heart. I was a proud man and God helped me. In my desperation, I turned my eyes to heaven and I met the true tree of life, the king of heaven. That's his message for the world. He's now a worshiper. God can humble the proudest people on earth. Those with the hardest hearts. Do you have any hard-hearted people in your life? It may be someone in your family. It may be a colleague at work. Any hard-hearted people in your life? Do we believe that God can actually do a work in their lives far beyond what we could ever imagine? Would we have looked at King Nebuchadnezzar and had some hope for him? Maybe we have hearts that are as tender as Daniels was to King Nebuchadnezzar. The message was for King Nebuchadnezzar. It was also for the people of Israel. Where was Israel at this time? In exile, the people scattered. Israel was a stump. Was there hope for Israel? Isaiah chapter 11. It's a word for Israel, 11-1. There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse, Jesse being the father of King David. So the prophet Isaiah, he's speaking to the royal lineage of David to the people of Israel. There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit. And the spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him and the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord, and his delight shall be in the fear of the Lord. He shall not judge by what his eyes see or decide disputes by what his ears hear. But with righteousness, he shall judge the poor and decide with equity for the meek of the earth. What is the shoot coming out of the stump of Israel? This is miraculous. It's Jesus, the Messiah, the Stone of Daniel chapter 2. Jesus and his eternal kingdom. This is really good news. It was good news for Israel. It's great news for us today. God can bring forth new life from a stump. What's the shoot from the stump of Jesse like? Well, the spirit of God rests on him. Isaiah 11 says, "He's meek. He's humble. In his kingdom, the poor and meek are blessed." His kingdom is so different from that of Babylon. Jesus didn't just create one of the seven wonders of the world. He created the whole universe. And yet, even though he was the creator, he did not choose to exalt himself. He humbled himself. I believe if the Apostle Paul had been given the half-time at the world cup, he may have sung his hymn from Philippians chapter 2, which reads as follows, Philippians chapter 2, verse 6. Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God, a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of man and being found in human form. He humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Jesus nailed to a tree for us. He lays it all down. Why? Why? Because if God had not reached out to us in his matchless grace and mercy, We would be still bound, still be bound to our pride. There would be no gospel. We'd be groping around trying to find our way, trying to strengthen our own egos, build our own kingdoms, shore up our image, make life work, lost, building kingdoms that will be like chaff blown away by the wind. By the grace and mercy of God, Jesus came out of love for us and died in our place, took all of our sin upon Himself, our sin past, present, and future, all of our pride, so that we might be set free from our pride. Set free to serve God, to worship. He came so that those chains of iron and bronze around our stumps could be broken so that we could be reborn by the Spirit so that we would receive new life and live now and forever, worshiping Jesus. Bless Him continues, Philippians 2.9, "Therefore God has highly exalted Him and bestowed on Him the name that is above every name so that the name of Jesus every knee should bow in heaven and on earth and under the earth and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." One day every knee will bow. Jesus kingdom will fill the entire universe. We can choose to humble ourselves now, today, bow before Him in worshipable surrender or bow when He returns in judgment, when He will come to judge those who have not put their trust in Jesus. When He will put an end to the kingdoms that people have built around themselves, Jesus is the only tree of life. And He gives new life to every person who humbles himself or herself and surrenders to Him as Savior and Lord. The only tree permitted at the center of our hearts is the cross, dead to ourselves alive to Jesus. Good news, God can make a worshiper out of the proud, that's really good. Every knee will bow, may we choose now, let's pray. So Father, we thank You again for sending Your Son for our salvation out of love for us. There's no way that we ever could have, there is no way that we can save ourselves. And so thank You for reaching out to us in mercy while we were still sinners before we ever had a thought about You. Except by Your grace, Lord, we remain bound to our own egos, bound to our own kingdoms, bound to our own ways of making life work. Thank You that You have come, Jesus, to reveal the fathers that we can know You, have life in You, live now and forever. And so I pray for my brothers and sisters here who are following You, Lord, may the truth of Your Word once again speak to them deeply, the call to be a worshiper in every area of life, to live completely surrendered. And for those who have never made a decision to fall, You made today be the day when they understand the call. And Lord, I pray that by Your Holy Spirit You would draw them to Yourself. I ask this in Your name, Jesus, amen. Thanks for listening. We encourage you to check out the reflection questions in the show notes and spend some time in prayer. We have in-person services on Sundays at 8.30am, 10am, and 11.45am. And we'd love to see you in person. If you'd like to learn more about what goes on here, follow us on Instagram at Willingden or visit our website at www.Willingden.org.