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Guest (Male): But my friend, when you have failed and fallen, God puts His band of iron and bronze around you. He says, "My child, you still can be saved. My power can lift you up."

Guest (Male): This is HopeLives365 with Pastor Mark Finley. Today's message: A Series in the Book of Daniel, Week 2, Part 1. Enjoy and remember you can always catch up with past messages and stay up to date with HopeLives365 and Pastor Mark by going to HopeLives365.com. And now, Pastor Mark Finley.

Mark Finley: Welcome to class. I'm glad you've joined us again for this Daniel Bible seminar. It's interesting how we speed along so quickly through the book, isn't it? We started with Daniel 1, and we're on Daniel 4. We've been going a month already.

You remember in Daniel 1, the great theme is that God turns defeat into victory. Daniel is taken captive, led from the simplicity of his Judean home to the lavish kingdom of Babylon. Daniel stands firm for the true God. He purposes in his heart to serve God, and he comes out 10 times better in wisdom and knowledge than all the magicians, the astrologers, the wise men of Babylon. He graduates with honors from the University of Babylon and becomes a mighty influence there. He was once a slave, but he becomes an assistant to the king, really.

Chapters 2, 3, and 4 of Daniel are really a unit. In Daniel chapter 2, God is revealed as the true Prophet, the One Who knows the future. If He can guide the future of empires, He can guide the future of our lives. In Daniel chapter 3, He is the Redeemer. He leaps right into the flames of life. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego go into the fiery furnace, and there God, Christ, goes in with them to protect them.

In chapter 4, which we're going to study tonight, Daniel reveals... Daniel actually pauses, and Nebuchadnezzar writes that chapter. God reveals Himself as the King. So in chapter 2 He is Prophet, chapter 3 He is Priest, chapter 4 He is King. Chapter 2 He's the Revealer of the future, chapter 3 He's the Redeemer of His people, chapter 4 He's the Ruler of mankind. So these chapters really link together.

Again, thank you for joining us. We're in for a really inspirational and incredible evening together as we study Daniel chapter 4. But before we get started, there were some questions that came in. Bettina, I think it was, she said, "I'm studying the Bible with friends, and I need help in answering some questions. Can you or your staff provide us help?"

Certainly, Bettina. If you just log in to our website or go to our email, it's even better. Email us: info@hopelives365.com. If you have questions, that's where to send them. You can send them about the chapter that we're studying that evening, or you can send them about general questions. We'll really try to help you.

Somebody else says, "I'd like the notes or the lessons for these study guides. Where do I get them?" You simply go to hopelives365.com/weeklybiblestudy. That's hopelives365.com/weeklybiblestudy.

Now, here's an interesting question that comes out of Africa. It says, "If God revealed Himself to Nebuchadnezzar in chapter 2, and Nebuchadnezzar was so impressed with the interpretation of the dream..." Remember the dream in chapter 2 is that great image with the head of gold, breast and arms of silver, thighs of brass, legs of iron, feet of iron and clay, and that Rock cut out without hand? We studied that that represented four great nations: Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece, and Rome that would dominate the world.

Then the Roman Empire would break up, but in the days of these kings when all the conflict is taking place in Europe and the Middle East, the God of heaven would establish a kingdom. Jesus would establish His eternal, everlasting kingdom as He would come again in a cataclysmic arrival. The Bible says that lightning would flash from the east to the west, there would be thunder that would be crashing, just all the elements would be out of sorts, and Christ would come in glory and in spectacular wonder.

So we find that in Daniel chapter 2. If Daniel interpreted that dream to Nebuchadnezzar, why is it that Nebuchadnezzar never opened his heart? Why is it that at that point does Nebuchadnezzar build the image in Daniel 3? Now we'll find in Daniel 4 he does open his heart to God. But why does he build that image in Daniel 3? Is there any biblical explanation?

I do think there is. It has to do with the nature of humanity. If you look, for example, at Jeremiah chapter 17 and verse 9, it says, "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it?" So human beings have a fallen human nature. At times we perceive things simply, if the unconverted heart does, perceive things from the self-centered perspective.

You remember in heaven when Lucifer rebels against God, it's Lucifer who says, "I will ascend to heaven. I'll exalt my throne above the stars of God." And I, I, I. Lucifer had an I problem. The center of pride is "I." P-R-I-D-E. So the selfish human heart perceives things only in context with what will advance the self. And that's what happened to Nebuchadnezzar.

Then you look here, for example, in 2 Corinthians 4, verse 4. "The heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked." 2 Corinthians chapter 4, we're looking at verse 4. Let's look at verse 3 as well. "But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine in them."

Why is it at times that people just don't see truth? Why is it they don't see reality? Why is it that they're locked in error? Because the god of this world has blinded their eyes. But what does Jesus say? Jesus says to those who walk in darkness, John 8, verse 12, "I am the light of the world." So Jesus is the light of the world. He illuminates the darkness.

Therefore, when you and I long to know truth, we pray, "Jesus, I come with an honest heart. Enlighten my eyes." We don't want the Nebuchadnezzar syndrome to blind us. Well, with that introduction, we're going to go to how God reached Nebuchadnezzar tonight in Daniel chapter 4. So let's pray.

Father in heaven, we thank You with all of our hearts for the opportunity to know Christ. We thank You, Jesus, for the privilege of living for Him. Open our eyes. Help us not be blinded by the evil one. Grant to us Your wisdom as we study. In Christ's name, amen.

We open our Bibles. If you have your Bibles, take your Bibles and open them to Daniel chapter 4. If you have a notebook, get out your notebook. You've got a pencil or a pen? Get out your pencil and pen because you're going to be excited as we study tonight. Now, of all the chapters in the book of Daniel, the only one not written by Daniel is chapter 4. Who do you think wrote chapter 4? Well, let's look at Daniel 4, verse 1.

"Nebuchadnezzar the king, to all peoples, nations, and languages that dwell on all the earth: Peace be multiplied to you." Now look. Who writes this? Nebuchadnezzar the king. The King of Babylon is writing a chapter in the Bible? It is! The only chapter in the Bible written by a heathen king.

It's like Nebuchadnezzar saying, "Daniel, I've got to tell my story. Daniel, I've got to tell what happened to me. Daniel, I've got to tell how I was converted to the living Christ." And then he says, "Nebuchadnezzar the king, to all peoples, nations, and languages that dwell on the earth." I don't want anybody to be left out. All peoples, nations, and languages. I've got to tell you my story.

And then, "Peace be multiplied to you." Here Nebuchadnezzar, the man of war, Nebuchadnezzar, the one who attacked Jerusalem, burned much of the city, killed many people, Nebuchadnezzar says, "Peace." In other words, something has happened in Nebuchadnezzar's heart. Something has happened in his mind.

If God can reach Nebuchadnezzar, God can reach you, my friend. Wherever you are in the stream of life, wherever you are in your Christian journey or not journey at all, God can reach you. He reached a heathen king. God can reach that husband of yours, ma'am, who doesn't know Christ. God can reach that wife of yours that has no interest. God can reach that son or daughter, that neighbor, that working associate.

God reached Nebuchadnezzar. But how did He do it? We're going to study that tonight. So Nebuchadnezzar says, verse 2, "I thought it good to declare the signs and wonders that the Most High God has worked for me." Nebuchadnezzar says, "God's worked signs for me. God's worked wonders for me. God's worked miracles for me. Let me show you. How great are His signs, how mighty are His wonders! His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, His dominion from generation to generation."

This is really marvelous. Nebuchadnezzar is praising God for His goodness and greatness. He's acknowledging that God is King of kings and Lord of lords. So he tells his story: "I Nebuchadnezzar was at rest in my house, flourishing in my palace. I saw a dream which made me afraid, and the thoughts on my bed and the visions of my head troubled me. I issued a decree to bring in all the wise men of Babylon before me, that they may make known to me the interpretation of the dream."

"The magicians, the astrologers, the Chaldeans, the soothsayers came in, and I told them the dream, but they did not make known to me the interpretation." Wait a minute, Nebuchadnezzar. Didn't you learn your lesson? You brought in those astrologers before that tell supposedly the mystery of the stars and try to relate your dream. You brought in those magicians who cut calves' livers and try to read the pattern, and drop oil on water and try to read the pattern and tell your future. You did that in Daniel chapter 2, and they failed you. Why do you bring those people again in?

Guest (Male): We'll be right back with Pastor Mark Finley. We thank you for listening and hope you're enjoying today's message. Our mission is to attractively present the Christ-centered biblical truths of scripture in a practical, relevant way to people around the world so that they may experience the abundant life that Christ offers and effectively share with confidence His life-changing truths with others. You can support this ministry and help us reach even more by going to hopelives365.com/donate. And now, back to Pastor Mark Finley.

Mark Finley: You did that in Daniel chapter 2, and they failed you. Why do you bring those people again in? And again, this time he tells them the dream, and they can't tell him what it means.

You remember in Daniel chapter 2, he didn't remember his dream, and he asked them to tell him the dream about the great image. They couldn't do that, and they didn't know the interpretation. He makes it easier for them this time. He tells them the dream, but they still can't tell the interpretation. You see what God is doing here is showing the folly of all human wisdom. He's showing the folly of those who try to stand in His place but fail to do it.

Then it says in verse 8, Daniel chapter 4, verse 8, "But at the last Daniel came before me." Nebuchadnezzar calls Daniel at the last. Sometimes we face problems and difficulties and challenges, and we wait till the end before we call on God. God is there. He says, "Come unto Me, all you that are burdened and heavy laden and I'll give you rest." Matthew 11, verse 28 to 30. He says in Hebrews chapter 4 and verses 12 to 15, God says, "Come boldly to the throne of grace that you can find grace and help for the time of need." So God is saying, "Come."

In 1 Peter chapter 5, verse 7 and 8, God says, "Casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you." We don't have to wait till "at the last." We can call upon God and find Him our friend, find Him the one that helps us to solve problems and answer difficult questions and solve the mysteries of our life.

But "at the last," verse 8, Daniel 4, verse 8, "At the last Daniel came before me. His name was Belteshazzar, according to the name of my god; in him is the Spirit of the Holy God. Then I told the dream before him, saying, 'Belteshazzar, chief of the magicians...'"

He calls him by his Babylonian name, but this is Daniel, the servant of the true God. Why does he say "chief of the magicians"? Daniel was not a magician. But what Daniel was, was one of the wise men of Babylon. And he says, "I know the Spirit of the Holy God is in you, and no secret troubles you. Explain to me the visions of my dream that I have seen and its interpretation."

When you are a godly man or a godly woman, even godless, secular people see in you some quality that touches their heart and changes their life. Nebuchadnezzar says to Daniel, "The Spirit of the Holy Gods was in you." Daniel revealed in his life the qualities of the kingdom of God, and Nebuchadnezzar saw that in him.

At your work, when others are telling lewd jokes and you don't join in, when they're cursing and swearing and you don't join in, when they go to the parties and alcohol is flowing and you don't join in, but you calmly, quietly witness of honesty, integrity, and ethical morality, they will see God in you, and you can be a powerful witness in your place. If Daniel could witness for God in Babylon, you can witness for God where you are, my friend.

So he tells Daniel the dream. He said, "Look, I was looking, and behold, I saw this tree." Verses 11 and onward. He says, "The tree grew high, and its branches spread out over all the earth. And the beasts came and got the shade under the tree. The birds hid in the tree. And this tree was mighty. But then there was a decree. A holy one and a watcher, angelic being from heaven, Daniel, came. And he said, 'Chop down the tree.' And an axe came and chopped down the tree. There was only left a stump with the band of iron and brass. Daniel, I'm perplexed. Daniel, I'm troubled. Daniel, what does this dream mean?"

Daniel looks at the king, and he says, "This is the decision by the decree of the watchers, the sentence by the word of the holy ones." That's actually at the end of the dream. "In order that the living may know that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men." And God gives it to whomever He will and sets it over the lowest of men. The whole purpose of the dream was to reveal that God is in charge of the destiny of the nations.

It may appear that wicked rulers are in charge. It may appear that despotic leaders are in charge. It may appear that authoritarian, autocratic leaders are ruling the world, but ultimately God is in charge, and God is going to manifest His hand, and there will be judgment that falls.

Notice what it says. Daniel says, verse 18, "This dream I, King Nebuchadnezzar, have seen. Now you, Belteshazzar, declare its interpretation, since all the wise men of my kingdom are not able to make known to me the interpretation." So Nebuchadnezzar says, "Okay, Daniel, tell me. What is the dream all about? Because you have the Spirit of the Holy God."

Verse 19: "Then Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, was astonished for a time, and his thoughts troubled him." So the king spoke and said, "Belteshazzar, don't let the dream or its interpretation trouble you." Now this is interesting. Daniel knew that the dream pronounced judgment on Nebuchadnezzar. He knew that. He could have said, "Okay, Nebuchadnezzar. You took me captive. I want to tell you something here. God's going to give you one. Whatever man sows he's going to reap. You're going to lose your kingdom."

But Daniel had so identified with his enemy that he even loved his enemy and was troubled by what was going to happen to his enemy. It's really remarkable. Jesus says, "If they ask you to go one mile, go two. Go the second mile." Jesus says, "Love your enemies. Do good, do good in the book of Romans. Love your enemies, do good to those that curse you and despitefully use you." If you want to win those who are staunchly against you, reach out to them in loving-kindness.

Daniel was troubled because his enemy was going to be troubled. He showed Christian graces. And then he says, "My lord, may the dream concern those that hate you and its interpretation concern your enemies." Verse 20, Daniel 4: "The tree that you saw, which grew and became strong, whose height reached to the heavens and which could be seen by the whole earth; whose leaves were lovely and its fruit abundant, in which was food for all, under which the beasts of the field dwelt, in whose branches the birds of heaven had their habitation have dwelt under. It is you, O king. You've grown and become strong. Your greatness has grown and reaches to the heavens, and your dominion to the end of the earth. King Nebuchadnezzar, this tree is you."

"It's a dream of your kingdom. It's a dream of how you've led this kingdom. It's a dream how your kingdom goes to the end of the earth. This is about you, Nebuchadnezzar." Can you imagine? Nebuchadnezzar must have trembled because he knew in his dream that the holy one and the watcher came and chopped down the tree. Nebuchadnezzar must have been shaking there when Daniel's explaining the dream.

Verse 21: "Inasmuch as the king saw a watcher and holy one coming down from heaven, saying, 'Chop down the tree, destroy it, leave its stump and roots in the earth, bound with a band of iron and brass in the tender grass of the field. Let it be wet with dew of heaven, let him graze with beasts until seven years or seven times years pass over him. This is the interpretation, O king. This is the decree of the Most High which has come upon the lord king.'"

"They shall drive you from men. Your dwelling will be with the beasts of the field. You'll eat grass like oxen. They'll wet you with the dew of heaven until seven years pass over you in the kingdom of men. And the Most High rules in the kingdom of men and gives it to whomsoever He will. Inasmuch as they gave a command, 'Leave the stump and the roots of the tree,' your kingdom shall be assured to you after you come to know that heaven rules. King Nebuchadnezzar, you're going to lose your mind. You're going to wander like a beast. Your hair will grow long. Your nails will grow long. You'll grunt and groan like a beast."

There is a medical condition, you'll find it in Dorland's Medical Dictionary, called lycanthropic insanity. That's lycanthropic insanity. It comes upon a person very quickly. The person perceives that they are an animal, usually something of the cat family. They crawl on all fours. There is a total neglect of personal hygiene. There is a temporary insanity. The person will smell because of body perspiration. They'll be out crawling around, and they act more like an animal.

Let's suppose that you and I are one day passing by the palace, and we look out there in a field and we see a man. Is it a man or an animal? Long bearded, long haired, crawling, grunting, groaning, smelling, stinking, no royal robes. And we say to somebody who knows, one of the guards of the palace, "Who's that man out there? Is that a man, is that an animal?"

"I'm sorry to say, that's King Nebuchadnezzar." "No, it can't be! The brilliant king? The wealthy king? The aristocratic king? The king who had everything? He's out there?" "He's out there." "How long's he been out there?" "Well, a year or two." Nebuchadnezzar ultimately is out there for seven long years.

But yet notice what it says in Daniel chapter 4, verse 27: "Therefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable to you: Break off your sins by my righteousness and your iniquities by showing mercy to the poor; perhaps there may be a lengthening of your prosperity." Nebuchadnezzar, this doesn't have to happen to you. Daniel makes an appeal to Nebuchadnezzar. "Nebuchadnezzar, believe the dream. This doesn't have to happen. Break off your sins. Get on your knees, repent. God wants good things, not bad things to happen to you. Open your heart to Him, Nebuchadnezzar."

God's word to Nebuchadnezzar is God's word to you tonight, my friend. If tonight you want to say, "Jesus, all that I have and all that I am, I surrender to You." If you want to do that just now, I want you to bow your head as we pray. If God can reach Nebuchadnezzar, He can reach you. Let's pray.

Father in heaven, we thank You with all of our hearts that You still live. We thank You for Jesus Christ. We thank You that You're reaching out and saving people right now. There's somebody coming to Christ right now. Touch their life. There's somebody with a heavy burden they're laying it down right now, Lord. Draw close to them. There's somebody that drifted away and they're coming back. O Father, may they open their heart to You right now. Change them, I pray Thee. Make them over again. And Lord, save them in Your kingdom. In Christ's name, amen.

Thank you so much for joining us. Look forward to seeing you next week. We'll study Daniel chapter 5 about Belshazzar. As you go tonight, go with the hope in your heart that Jesus is a mighty Savior. Amen.