Week 14: The Most High Humbles & Restores
WEEK 14 | Daniel 4:27-37
Day 1 Deeper Daniel Father, open my eyes to see the truth in Your Word that I may know and love you more deeply.’’
It’s important that we not lose the threads of Israel’s story and King Nebuchadnezzar’s story within God’s story.
Our God’s sovereign plan is to call an innumerable multitude of all peoples from every nation, tribe, and tongue to Himself; because the blood of the Lamb has covered their sin, a multitude will one day stand before the throne of the King who will rule the world forever and ever (Revelation 7:9-10; 11:15 c.f. Daniel 4:34-35).
So that’s the end in mind. Now let’s go back toward the beginnings just a bit.
On the heels of the story of the Tower of Babel, is the calling of Abram who will become Abraham, the Father of Israel. Abram is from Ur of the Chaldeans, an ancient people of “Babel-yon.” God commands Abram to leave his country and kindred, promising “all peoples on earth will be blessed through you” (Genesis 12:1-3). Later after redeeming Israel from slavery, Jehovah covenants to be this chosen nation’s God forever. His covenant, however, came with a call to Israel to be a light to the nations (Deuteronomy 4:6; Isaiah 49:6); among those are the Chaldeans, so..., in effect, Israel is to be a witness to Abraham’s kindred.
Our love for God is measured by our love for people. How well were the Israelites loving God by casting light on His holy character through their just loving? Let’s hear how one prophet who prophesied to Judah before their exile in Babylon assessed that. Watch this short video on the book of Micah. Go to http://bibleproject.com/videos/micah.
1. Again, we are trying to hold our threads here.
How did God warn Judah?
Why is it just that Israel be oppressed by the nations?
Why is it ironic that one of those nations is Babylon?
2. In our last two lessons, we read how God warned Nebuchadnezzar (Daniel 4:16, 24-25).
How was Nebuchadnezzar also warned of an impending “exile”?
What is ironic about Nebuchadnezzar being in exile? Consider his living conditions as well.
3. Daniel, a son of Abraham, sheds light on Nebuchadnezzar’s sins and calls him to repent. Read Daniel 4:27.
Compare Nebuchadnezzar’s sins to those Micah identified in God’s chosen nation.
If the King indeed repents, how might his justice for all people serve to rebuke the exiles of Judah?
If the King indeed repents, how might the exiles of Judah be given the mercy of protection?
Prayer – Reflect on how God rules all peoples over all the earth for all time. Reflect on how He gives leaders their rule for the good of the people. Then pray for Israel and pray for the nations to know Jesus the Messiah. Pray for those who know Christ to lead in His invisible kingdom with words and deeds.
Day 2 Part 1 Central Passage Father, open my eyes to see the truth in Your Word that I may know and love you more deeply.’’
28 All of this happened to Nebuchadnezzar the king. 29 Twelve months later he was walking on the roof of the royal palace of Babylon. 30 The king began speaking and was saying, ‘Is this not Babylon the great, which I myself have built as a royal residence by the might of my power and for the honor of my majesty?’31 While the word was still in the king’s mouth, a voice came from heaven, saying, ‘King Nebuchadnezzar, to you it is declared: sovereignty has been removed from you, 32 and you will be driven away from mankind, and your dwelling place will be with the animals of the field. You will be given grass to eat like cattle, and seven periods of time will pass over you until you recognize that the Most High is ruler over the realm of mankind and bestows it on whomever He wishes.’ 33 Immediately the word concerning Nebuchadnezzar was fulfilled; and he was driven away from mankind and began eating grass like cattle, and his body was drenched with the dew of heaven until his hair had grown like eagles’ feathers and his nails like birds’ claws.
Daniel 4:28-33 NASB
OBSERVE DETAILS
Ask and answer simple w-questions: when? where? who? what? how?
1. The KING’s Words & Deeds (vs29-30)
How long has it been since Daniel counseled the King to repent?
Where is the King when he boasts? What could he see from this vantage point?
How does he describe Babylon?
Who has built Babylon according to the King?
How did he build Babylon?
Reflect – Who actually did the physical labor of building Babylon?
For what purpose did he build Babylon?
2. VOICE from HEAVEN Speaks (vs31-32)
When did the voice from heaven speak?
From where does the voice speak? Is that vantage point higher than the King’s?
What has been removed?
Read Daniel 4:25, which is Daniel’s interpretation given to the King. What has changed from Daniel giving Nebuchadnezzar the Word of God a year ago to now the word of the voice from heaven?
3. The WORD from HEAVEN Fulfilled (v33)
When was the word fulfilled?
What does Nebuchadnezzar become?
Why does Neb no longer live with other humans?
As a grass-eater, what would Neb’s eyes be focused upon all day?
Where did Nebuchadnezzar sleep at night? How do you know?
Besides the King’s hair and nails giving him the appearance of a beast, what more do these details convey about his beastly nature?
Historical Context – To read about the great Babylon and the boasting Nebuchadnezzar, go to biblearchaeology.org and in the search box, type “Daniel.” Then click the article titled “Three Things in Babylon Daniel Likely Saw.”
In rabbinic theology, the voice from heaven is referred to as a bat kol; the meaning in Hebrew is “daughter of a voice.” Three times in Jesus’ ministry this voice spoke from heaven: at His baptism, at His transfiguration, and just before He went to the cross (Luke 3:32; Matthew 17:5; John 12:28).
INTERPRET
Ask: Why did the author choose to include these details and use these words?
Consider incorporating these terms in your answers when appropriate.
pride > giving ourselves credit for something God has accomplished grace > getting a god thing you do not deserve
sovereignty > God’s supreme authority and power over all creation justice > getting what you deserve (+ -)
providence > God’s guidance and care over all creation mercy > not getting consequences you deserve
1. Why does the voice of heaven both wait to speak twelve months after giving the King His decree and then speak while “the word was in the king’s mouth”? See verses 30-31 and consider the character of God revealed in these timings.
Historical Context -- Some biblical scholars state that in acting like a beast Nebuchadnezzar suffered from a mental illness called zoanthropy. R.K. Harrison observed a young man with this condition in a British mental hospital and noted that without institutional care, this young man would have looked and acted as the King is depicted in Daniel 4. Scholars who do not hold to a literal interpretation of the Bible argue that the Babylonian official annals do not provide any evidence for Nebuchadnezzar’s seven-year absence or mental illness. But such an omission would actually be the expectation since the annals of secular kings of these times omit anything that would cast their sovereignty in a negative light. (A cursory reading of the books of Samuel, Kings, and Chronicles reveals that the Word of God has no such qualms.) Many extrabiblical sources provide evidence of Nebuchadnezzar’s absence and illness. To read from some of these sources, go to armstronginstitute.org and search “Did Nebuchadnezzar Really Go Mad?"
2. God’s Just & Merciful Word Comes to Pass.
How is Nebuchadnezzar’s judgment just given his offense to the Most High?
How is Nebuchadnezzar’s judgment a mercy (albeit a severe mercy) given his offense to the Most High?
3. In what way is Nebuchadnezzar’s judgment relatable to how God disciplined you toward repentance? (See Romans 1:18-23; 2:4 for more insight.) Praise God for both initiating and sustaining a relationship with you!
Day 3 Part 2 Central Passage Father, open my eyes to see the truth in Your Word that I may know and love you more deeply.
34a “But at the end of that period, I, Nebuchadnezzar, raised my eyes toward heaven and my reason returned to me, 34b and I blessed the Most High and praised and honored Him who lives forever;
34c For His dominion is an everlasting dominion,
And His kingdom endures from generation to generation.
35 All the inhabitants of the earth are of no account,
But He does according to His will among the army of heaven
And among the inhabitants of earth;
And no one can fend off His hand
Or say to Him, ‘What have You done?’
36 At that time my reason returned to me. And my majesty and splendor were restored to me for the honor of my kingdom, and my state counselors and my nobles began seeking me out; so I was reestablished in my sovereignty, and surpassing greatness was added to me. 37 Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise, exalt, and honor the King of heaven, for all His works are true and His ways just; and He is able to humble those who walk in pride.” Daniel 4:34-37 NASB
OBSERVE DETAILS
Ask and answer simple w-questions: when? where? who? what? how?
1. The King Repents (v34ab).
The point of view has shifted to first-person again. Who is speaking now?
When does Nebuchadnezzar raise his eyes?
(Last lesson we learned “heaven” is a metonym for God.) On Whom are Neb’s eyes focused now?
What happens next?
Then what does the King do?
2. The King Meets God’s Requirement for His Restoration (vs34c-35).
What does the King acknowledge about God’s rule over time?
What does the King acknowledge about God’s rule over places?
What does the King acknowledge about God’s rule over humanity?
3. The King Returns (v36).
What is restored to the King?
Who seeks him?
What is added to him?
4. The King’s Lives a New Life (v37).
What is the key “when” transition word?
What title does Nebuchadnezzar use for God?
What three things does Nebuchadnezzar declare about the King of heaven to justify why he now praises, exalts, and honors Him?
OBSERVE DICTION
Ask: Which words/phrases might provide clues to the author’s message? What do they literally mean?
Ex. bless > to bless, kneel Ex. fend off > to strike against, smite, or kill
Ex. hand > figurative word for “power” Ex. praise, exalt, honor indicate continuous action
Ex. works > God’s actions in history Ex. ways > path, course of life
Ex. humble > to abase, put down, subdue
Compare what the King said about God to Scripture –
If he snatches away, who can turn him back? Who dares to say to him, “What are you doing?” Job 9:12 NET
What sorrow awaits those who argue with their Creator. Does a clay pot argue with its maker? Does the clay dispute with the one who shapes it, saying, “Stop, you’re doing it wrong!’ Does the pot exclaim, ‘How clumsy can you be?” Isaiah 45:9 NLT
Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and Your dominion endures throughout all generations. The Lord is faithful in His words,and holy in all His works. Psalm 145:13 ESV
All the nations are as nothing before Him. They are regarded by Him as less than nothing and meaningless. Isaiah 40:17 ESV
INTERPRET
Ask: Why did the author choose to include these details and use these words?
1. Re-read Nebuchadnezzar’s opening frame in Daniel 4:1-3 and today’s text. What markers do you see in the King that we would expect in a regenerated believer?
Quotes to Ponder –
“What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us.” A.W. Tozer
“If you have a small view of your sin, God’s grace will be small to you.” Timothy Keller
2. Why does what Nebuchadnezzar said about God matter to you right now?
3. Nebuchadnezzar admitted God rules heaven and earth and all people throughout all time. He said God restored to him majesty and splendor for the “honor of the kingdom.”
How do you imagine Nebuchadnezzar ruled differently after he recognized that God’s gifts to him are for the honor of kingdom? Consider that when Daniel called him to repent, he urged him to show mercy “to the poor, in case there may be a prolonging of your prosperity” (Dan 4:27)
How has God given all believers “majesty and splendor” for the “honor of the kingdom” in the time and place in which He has placed them?
How do you enjoy that in the “little rule” God gives you in your home or work?
Prayer – Reflect on how God rules all peoples over all the earth for all time. Reflect on how He gives leaders their rule for the good of the people. Then pray for yourself as a leader in all your various spheres of influence
Day 4 Deeper Daniel Father, open my eyes to see the truth in Your Word that I may know and love you more deeply.
In our last two lessons we wrote some goals that supported the chief purpose of our lives that Christ lived out before us first. And we studied Daniel’s counsel to the King that he should repent: “Therefore, O king, may my advice be pleasing to you: break away now from your sins by doing righteousness and from your iniquities by showing mercy to the poor, in case there may be a prolonging of your prosperity” (Dan 4:27 NASB).
We are going to practice together applying Daniel’s counsel to show mercy to others. Whatever goal you chose for yourself, the purpose is to grow your heart for God and that means growing your heart for others.
Recall our example of Albert’s goal to get out of debt. As Albert works toward that goal, he will have to make daily decisions to love his wife and children. This might mean the debt does not get paid off as quickly as he has determined necessary. A need within his family might arise and he will have to treasure those under care more than his “project.” He may be tempted to forego his previous commitments of sacrificial generosity to the church or another nonprofit who is God’s hand of mercy to the lost or vulnerable. Finally, let’s consider the outcome of Albert’s goal. Once he is out of debt, he and his wife can with great joy determine how their budget can now accommodate greater sacrificial generosity. Having grown in their love for God and mercy for others as they have sought this goal, they will be all the more ready to trust God to provide as they live out mercy.
Reflect on your goals from Lesson 13 Day 5 and seek God in prayer.
o How and with whom can you practice mercy to others WHILE you are pursuing your goal?
o How will mercy to others actually be the OUTCOME of your goal in some way?
o “I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (Phil 3:14 ESV). Daniel’s counsel to the King was to “break away” from his sins by showing mercy. When you are tempted to either choose a familiar sin or to not choose mercy, how might remembering persons you love or remembering persons in need give you a reason to press on to the upward call of Christ?
Day 5 Deeper Daniel Father, open my eyes to see the truth in Your Word that I may know and love you more deeply.
Read Matthew 5:3-10. Jesus opened His famous “Sermon on the Mount with what we call the Beatitudes. Note that the reward for the first and the last is “theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” Our ultimate joy is to live with the King in His Kingdom when He comes again. In the Beatitudes, Jesus shows how we begin a walk with Him by being poor in spirit and how we grow step by step by embracing the values of His kingdom. Living these values is sure to lead to persecution as it did for our Savior.
Write Matthew 5:3-10 on a notecard and pray through Jesus call to live in His kingdom now.. Meditate on those beatitudes daily as you begin to memorize them. This will prepare you for our God-Centered Experience when we take a break from Daniel and seek God together with our group.
God’s joy & strength to you!