
(Bible passages from NLT unless otherwise noted)
King Nebuchadnezzar sent this message to the people of every race and nation and language throughout the world: “Peace and prosperity to you! “I want you all to know about the miraculous signs and wonders the Most High God has performed for me. How great are his signs, how powerful his wonders! His kingdom will last forever, his rule through all generations. —Daniel 4:1-3
“I, Nebuchadnezzar, was living in my palace in comfort and prosperity. But one night I had a dream that frightened me; I saw visions that terrified me as I lay in my bed. So I issued an order calling in all the wise men of Babylon, so they could tell me what my dream meant. When all the magicians, enchanters, astrologers, and fortune-tellers came in, I told them the dream, but they could not tell me what it meant. At last Daniel came in before me, and I told him the dream. (He was named Belteshazzar after my god, and the spirit of the holy gods is in him.) —Daniel 4:4-8
Prosperity and comfort tend to make us prideful.
The Good News
“‘While I was lying in my bed, this is what I dreamed. I saw a large tree in the middle of the earth. The tree grew very tall and strong, reaching high into the heavens for all the world to see. It had fresh green leaves, and it was loaded with fruit for all to eat. Wild animals lived in its shade, and birds nested in its branches. All the world was fed from this tree. —Daniel 4:10-12
The Bad News
4:13 While I was watching in my mind’s visions on my bed, a holy sentinel came down from heaven. 4:14 He called out loudly as follows: ‘Chop down the tree and lop off its branches! Strip off its foliage and scatter its fruit! Let the animals flee from under it and the birds from its branches! —Daniel 4:13-14
The Really Bad News
But leave the stump and the roots in the ground, bound with a band of iron and bronze and surrounded by tender grass. Now let him be drenched with the dew of heaven, and let him live with the wild animals among the plants of the field. For seven periods of time, let him have the mind of a wild animal instead of the mind of a human. —Daniel 4:15-16
The Reality Check
For this has been decreed by the messengers; it is commanded by the holy ones, so that everyone may know that the Most High rules over the kingdoms of the world. He gives them to anyone he chooses— even to the lowliest of people.” —Daniel 4:17
God will use circumstances to get our attention.
“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! —Daniel 4:19
That 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. “ ‘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.” —Daniel 4:22-23
“ ‘This is what the dream means, Your Majesty, and what the Most High has declared will happen to my lord the king. You 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. —Daniel 4:24-25
“ ‘King Nebuchadnezzar, please accept my advice. Stop sinning and do what is right. Break from your wicked past and Perhaps then you will continue to prosper.’ —Daniel 4:27
God wants us to repent and that involves being humbled.
“ ‘King Nebuchadnezzar, please accept my advice. Stop sinning and do what is right. Break from your wicked past and be merciful to the poor. Perhaps then you will continue to prosper.’ —Daniel 4:27
Pride causes us to look down on others.
“But all these things did happen to King Nebuchadnezzar. Twelve months later he was taking a walk on the flat roof of the royal palace in Babylon. As 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.’ —Daniel 4:28
“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. You will be driven from human society. You will live in the fields with the wild animals, and you will eat grass like a cow. 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.’ —Daniel 4:31-32
18 Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall. —Proverbs 16:18 KJV
Main Idea
God restores us when we humble ourselves.
Study Guide
Our small groups are on their summer schedule. Each week this summer we will be supplying study guide questions for you and your family to process. After you have completed the study guide, decide what next step you plan to take as a result of what you heard and write it down.
- In Nebuchadnezzar’s doxology (4:1-3) probably occurs years prior to the events of Daniel 4. What observations can you make about God? Man? Kingdoms?
- What happened to Nebuchadnezzar between his doxology (4:1-3) and years later? (4:4,30) In what ways have you followed this pattern of living?
- Do a Google search on verses in the Bible on pride. Which ones speak to you? Consider memorizing one of them.
- Daniel was a humble man who God used. How did his position of humility help him interpret the king’s dream? (4:19)
- Compare and contrast Nebuchadnezzar’s pride with Daniel’s humility.
- What was Daniel’s recommendation to the king? How does this compare to the gospel?