The Next two weeks we are going to be looking at God’s judgment against Nebuchadnezzar and Babylon for what they have done
QUOTE the wheels of God’s justice roll slowly, but they do move.
1. Nebuchadnezzar and the Dream
There have been 23 years after the statue and the fiery furnace
Daniel 4 Nebuchadnezzar had another dream
IMPORTANT: through enchanters and astrologers, dreams were very important. They knew that there was meaning behind them at this time so interpretations were important to them.
Trees represent kingdoms
- Cedars represent Lebanon 1 Kings 4: 33
- Fig Tree represents Israel
- Great tree Nebuchadnezzar
The Great Tree is cut down because of pride
EXAMPLE: His palace covered six square miles. (10 malls of America) Gold like dust, one of the ancient wonders of the world was the hanging gardens of Babylon which Nebuchadnezzar made for his wife.
Vs 15 not only cut down but covered with bands of Iron and Bronze Gold statue represented that there will never be any other kingdoms but mind. God used these same metals as he used in the statue dream to show that the other kingdoms are coming
You will be come mad like an animal (Zoanthropy where one believes himself to be an animal)
Seven seasons either years or seven springs winter summer and fall.
Judgment against the sins and pride of Nebuchadnezzar
2. Attitude of a Culture Creator
Nebuchadnezzar’s sins that made him worthy of judgment
- Destroyed Jerusalem
- Blinded the king
- Killed the Nobles
- Carried Daniel Away
- Made him a Eunuch
- Destroyed the Temple of God and put the emblems for worship in front of his god Bel.
Check out the attitude of Daniel
Vs 19, 20 wish it would happen to your enemies rather than you.
3. Victim Mentality
QUOTE “It is so easy to be consumed with an attitude of wanting others to say they are sorry while adding in the right mix of sincerity, ensuring that the injuring party is well acquainted with the magnitude of grief inflicted.” T.D. Jakes
We ask God “Just do something to prove that I was right and they were wrong.”
God wants us to think differently
Vs 19 Give room for God
Same word in Ephesians 4: 27 Anger gives room for Satan
We give room in our lives for God or for satan.
2 Thessalonians 1: 5, 6 God will use the persecutions and hardships you are suffering to show his justice and to make you worthy of his Kingdom for which you are suffering In his justice he will pay back those who persecute you.
In His justice = you will be by the side of God. and so from God’s standpoint. This is as near to the idea of absolute right as it is possible to attain
patience to stand with God. Revelation 6: 9, 11 how long wait a little longer
Patience that God is Adonai the one who is in control
We don’t have that view that we are standing with God
EXAMPLE: chickens peck the ground eating whatever is in front of them. Eagle fly above the fray selecting their sustenance from on high.
Daniel standing with God and feeling empathy for Nebuchadnezzar not just that he will fall, but hell is in front of him. You are going to fall Oh great king.
Key Point: Culture Creators have a kingdom mentality rather than a victim mentality
Leads to one more question though. What about injustice over others who can’t defend themselves.
4. Waiting on God
Judges Israel had lost the victorious army that conquered Canaan, now they were a perverted society
Man loses wife goes back to win her over. They travel back staying in a home in Gibeah in the land of Benjamin one of the tribes of Israel. That night the men came and wanted to rape the stranger. He pushes the woman out to the crowd and they abuse her all night until she dies.
All Israel gathers to fight against Benjamin who gathers to defend Gebeah’s right to be perverted.
How did we get here?
Israel is going to war.
- Unity was not enough because they lost the battle
- They wept before God and asked who should lead into battle. Self promotion is not going to win the battle.
- Judges 20: 26 They wept, fasted, and brought offerings to the Lord
Learn to return to God and hear his voice again in what to do.
August three days of 24 hour prayer before school starts.
EXAMPLE: running a marathon wouldn’t get two miles into it. Some here have trained and know how to do that. I haven’t trained myself how to do this.
Need to be able to hear from God and know what to do in these days. Not from the news, but from God himself.
Fire didn’t change Nebuchadnezzar, but when God moved on his life and humbled him he became a believer. Vs 34 – 37