The Tree

The Tree

(Daniel 4:19b-27)

Yearly Theme:  “Kindness is… Amazing”

Series Title:  “KING of kings”

August 27^th, 2023

Something to think about:

Second chances.

What would you do if given a second chance at life?  What if you were given multiple do-overs or try-agains?  As we conclude our series today, that is the question we will be exploring.

We come to one of the last passages of Scripture in the book of Daniel where Nebuchadnezzar is mentioned.  Though he wouldn’t be the last king of Babylon, his story ends on a bitter-sweet note.  What Nebuchadnezzar would have to learn the hard way is that Yahweh is a patient and loving GOD who gives multiple chances to do the right thing and that the greatness he had been given came only as a result of Yahweh’s hand.  But pride is a fickle thing.  Because of his immense pridefulness and arrogance, Nebuchadnezzar had to be humbled in order to learn that Yahweh truly is the only GOD to be worshiped as the KING of heaven.  Let’s take a look at the conclusion of his story today:

Turn in your Bible to:  Daniel 4:19b-27

How many times did Nebuchadnezzar have to hear from Yahweh before he actually learned to humble himself in belief and worship of Him?  It would take nothing less than being banished from his own kingdom to roam the fields like a wild animal before he would learn that truly Yahweh is the KING of kings and the LORD of lords.

Key Point:  “Yahweh gives us multiple chances to do the right thing.”

What can we learn from Yahweh’s final warning to Nebuchadnezzar?  Let’s take a look…

• True  only comes from GOD.

Daniel 4:19b-22 (NLT),  “Belteshazzar replied, ‘I wish the events foreshadowed in this dream would happen to your enemies, my lord, and not to you!  ²⁰ The tree you saw was growing very tall and strong, reaching high into the heavens for all the world to see.  ²¹ It 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.  ²² 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.

• True greatness always requires  .

Daniel 4:23 (NLT),  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.”

• For some people, life  can only be learned the  .

Daniel 4:24-27 (NLT),  ²⁴ “ ‘This is what the dream means, Your Majesty, and what the Most High has declared will happen to my lord the king.  ²⁵ 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.  ²⁶ But 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 sinning and do what is right.  Break from your wicked past and be merciful to the poor.  Perhaps then you will continue to prosper.’”

Something to take home:

And here’s the rest of the story…

Daniel 4:28-37 (NLT),

²⁸ “But all these things did happen to King Nebuchadnezzar. ²⁹ Twelve months later he was taking a walk on the flat roof of the royal palace in Babylon. ³⁰ 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.’

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. ³² 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.’

³³ “That same hour the judgment was fulfilled, and Nebuchadnezzar was driven from human society. He ate grass like a cow, and he was drenched with the dew of heaven. He lived this way until his hair was as long as eagles’ feathers and his nails were like birds’ claws.

³⁴ “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.

His rule is everlasting,

and his kingdom is eternal.

³⁵ All the people of the earth

are nothing compared to him.

He does as he pleases

among the angels of heaven

and among the people of the earth.

No one can stop him or say to him,

‘What do you mean by doing these things?’

³⁶ “When my sanity returned to me, so did my honor and glory and kingdom. My advisers and nobles sought me out, and I was restored as head of my kingdom, with even greater honor than before.

³⁷ “Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and glorify and honor the King of heaven. All his acts are just and true, and he is able to humble the proud.”

How many chances do you need to do the right thing and make Yahweh the LORD of your life?  Is He truly your KING of kings, and LORD of lords?  Is He your All in All?  Does He have all of you or only part?  Your greatness is a direct reflection of GOD’s greatness in you.  Truly without Him, we can do nothing of lasting significance or worth.