Daniel session 4
No one is beyond the reach of God
Video teaching by Greg Laurie Subsplash
Sometimes the least likely are the most likely to come to Christ. Sometimes the most critical persons are already under the conviction of the Holy Spirit, but struggle to exersize their free will to make a decision. Think of Saul of Tarsus (the later apostle Paul) who was involved in killing Christians as Acts 8:1 (NLT) says Saul was one of the witnesses, and he agreed completely with the killing of Stephen. But Jesus appeared to Saul, as in Acts 9:5 Jesus says I am Jesus, the one you are persecuting!
Nebuchadnezzar wasn’t a believer yet and he committed the sin of pride, like the sin that Lucifer committed in heaven (Isaiah 14:12-14).
Read Daniel 4:1-18 Nebuchadnezzar’s dream about a tree.
Then, we continue reading, where Daniel needs to deliver the hard interpretation to the king in a boldly, lovingly, and clearly way. As Proverbs 27:5-6 says 5An open rebuke is better than hidden love! 6Wounds from a sincere friend are better than many kisses from an enemy.
Daniel 4:19-27 (NLT) says 19“Upon hearing this, Daniel (also known as Belteshazzar) was overcome for a time, frightened by the meaning of the dream. Then the king said to him, ‘Belteshazzar, don’t be alarmed by the dream and what it means.’ “Belteshazzar replied, ‘I wish the events foreshadowed in this dream would happen to your enemies, my lord, and not to you! 20The tree you saw was growing very tall and strong, reaching high into the heavens for all the world to see. 21It had fresh green leaves and was loaded with fruit for all to eat. Wild animals lived in its shade, and birds nested in its branches. 22That tree, Your Majesty, is you. For you have grown strong and great; your greatness reaches up to heaven, and your rule to the ends of the earth. 23“‘Then you saw a messenger, a holy one, coming down from heaven and saying, “Cut down the tree and destroy it. But leave the stump and the roots in the ground, bound with a band of iron and bronze and surrounded by tender grass. Let him be drenched with the dew of heaven. Let him live with the animals of the field for seven periods of time.” 24“‘This is what the dream means, Your Majesty, and what the Most High has declared will happen to my lord the king. 25You will be driven from human society, and you will live in the fields with the wild animals. You will eat grass like a cow, and you will be drenched with the dew of heaven. Seven periods of time will pass while you live this way, until you learn that the Most High rules over the kingdoms of the world and gives them to anyone he chooses. 26But the stump and roots of the tree were left in the ground. This means that you will receive your kingdom back again when you have learned that heaven rules. 27“‘King Nebuchadnezzar, please accept my advice. Stop
Q1 What is the hard truth in this passage? And what are the second chances?
Tell the truth and always give hope. When you find something that will affect others, you have to tell them. You need to speak up, whatever the consequences. That what Daniel did.
Daniel 4:28-32 (NLT) says 28“But all these things did happen to King Nebuchadnezzar. 29Twelve months later he was taking a walk on the flat roof of the royal palace in Babylon. 30As he looked out across the city, he said, ‘Look at this great city of Babylon! By my own mighty power, I have built this beautiful city as my royal residence to display my majestic splendor.’ 31“While these words were still in his mouth, a voice called down from heaven, ‘O King Nebuchadnezzar, this message is for you! You are no longer ruler of this kingdom. 32You will be driven from human society. You will live in the fields with the wild animals, and you will eat
Q2 How long did it take for the Babylonian king to realize the bad news Daniel had for him? What was his problem? Then, what message was given to him, right from heaven?
Nebuchadnezzar came to faith, as Daniel 4:34 says After this time had passed, I, Nebuchadnezzar, looked up to heaven. My sanity returned, and I praised and worshiped the Most High and honored the one who lives forever.
Q3 During all the trouble we get into by our pride, God is still with us. Sometimes it takes years before we come to our senses. How about you? Is your pride already crucified? And have you used your platform to tell your family and friends that you have accepted Christ?
Q4 If you are not yet right with God, today can be the day of God, giving you a second chance. Would you ask Him doing that? Go to Him in prayer through Jesus. Write down that prayer now in the blue box below.