When the mighty fall, it is typically a mighty fall.
Humility has no respect for persons or positions.
It is often our achievements that blind us from who we actually are and our ability to see our true condition. How can you see who you really are before you are forced to? The only way to behold who you are is to behold who GOD is.
The book of Daniel is all about resilient faith in the reigning King - our faith should be in Him alone.
God is not being redundant in this book but graciously repetitive for our sake. - He is showing us the different angles of His sovereignty so that we can truly appreciate it.
How can we be humble before God before he humbles us? 1. Seek His wisdom 2. Declare His word 3. Submit to His will 4. Rejoice in His works.
Chapters 2 through 7 are written in Aramaic (the most common language of the time) while the rest of Daniel is written in Hebrew - The Aramaic passages in this book are chiastic in order to emphasize a point. God is the great King over all the earth.
Nebuchadnezzar was filled with great pride, he was a fool who returned to his folly - Even with all of the works that God had done for him, Nebuchadnezzar was blinded to God’s glory and goodness.
Often times we can be tempted to think that there is a silver bullet of wisdom outside of God’s word - little can things of the world do us good outside of Christ.
The only way you will miss what God has for you in this world is by rejecting what He has already said in His word. We can navigate this world rightly because God has already given to us His word.
Everything God requires of us is in His word - Dedicate your life to knowing the Bible, studying the Bible and teaching others to do the same.
Look for wisdom in other places and it will turn out to be for your failure and shame.
Daniel has compassion on Nebuchadnezzar, he has courage to tell the king the truth and he gave a call to repent as well. These three required great humility to do.
Nebuchadnezzar had done NOTHING to deserve Daniel’s compassion.
Daniel was dismayed at what the Lord had said he was going to do to the king. The word from the Lord filled Daniel not with joy but sorrow and right compassion for Nebuchadnezzar.
There is no doubt that Daniel had been actively praying for the king for years that the king would not experience God’s judgement but His mercy.
Would we share about Jesus with those in our life that are far from him out of compassion and concern so that they might experience not judgement but the mercy of Christ. Father, make us a people that are filled with compassion for those in our life that are far from God. Let it be this compassion that drives us to faithfully declare Your word to them.
Nebuchadnezzar would be brought low, not by any earthly army but by the God of Heaven.
God is the one who sets up kings and removes kings.
We must be able to faithfully and joyfully share the whole counsel of God.
The Gospel of Jesus Christ is never going to palatable or popular in our culture. Let us proclaim it boldly with confidence in Christ. Though we should be compassionate to those who are dead in their sins, we should not mute or minimize the Lord’s message. It is NEVER compassionate or loving to send one to hell. A desire to alter or mute the message of God is one of immense pride.
Your good deeds will never outweigh your bad deeds for all of your deeds are corrupted by sin. In Christ alone can our sins be forgiven and atoned for.
When you are in Christ, you need not fear the future for it just gets better for the Christian. We are almost home!
Sharing the Gospel is not just "God, man, Christ" but "God, man, Christ, response". What will keep you from turning to Christ today and being saved?
Daniel is a model of what humility looks like in faithfully proclaiming God’s word.
God caused the greatest king on the earth at the time to go crazy and lose his mind (Romans 1:21) If God can give you a good mind that is reasonable, He too can make one crazy. One can either humble themself before Christ or be humbled by Him.
Is there an area in my life currently where I am rejecting God’s offer and call to repent? God’s patience towards me is not an affirmation in my sin but an invitation to turn from it. That offer of repentance will not always be there. Repentance leads to life while unrepentance leads to death.
Never let your achievements or how other people view you keep you from turning from and repenting of your sin; Be humble before God before He humbles you one day.
Nebuchadnezzar’s life could have ended in utter tragedy but God was gracious to restore his mind and provide a whole new perspective on life. While he was yet in the field, he finally understood that while he was the king of Babylon, he was nowhere near the King of the Universe. God was gracious to give his kingdom back to him.
Chapter four concludes with Nebuchadnezzar praising and rejoicing in the one who controls all outcomes.
The freest and happiest people in all the world are the ones who’s joy and delight is not in this world of riches and pride but in God alone.
The antidote of humility is not thinking less of oneself but thinking of oneself less. Think of God infinitely more than you think of yourself for though I am fleeting and fading, GOD IS NOT!
This life is way better when I am not at the center of it but God is.