WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:02.319 Welcome if you're new or visiting with us. 00:00:02.379 --> 00:00:03.200 We're glad that you're here. 00:00:04.000 --> 00:00:07.160 And we're glad that you're here not because we're trying to fill seats, 00:00:07.440 --> 00:00:10.919 but because we're following Jesus together as one community. 00:00:11.080 --> 00:00:15.080 And as we follow Jesus together, we become convinced that there's no one so good, 00:00:15.500 --> 00:00:19.460 they don't need God's grace, and no one so bad that they can't have it, 00:00:19.519 --> 00:00:25.480 which is why we come back week after week to look and see what God has for us in his word, 00:00:25.480 --> 00:00:28.339 because we believe that God has something to say to everyone. 00:00:28.339 --> 00:00:31.660 He has something to say to people who've been Christians their entire lives. 00:00:32.500 --> 00:00:36.579 He has something to say to people who've been Christians only for a short amount of time. 00:00:36.939 --> 00:00:39.700 And he has something to say to those who are not Christians, 00:00:39.840 --> 00:00:44.140 those who have questions and objections and doubts about Christianity. 00:00:44.700 --> 00:00:47.000 And so it's for that reason that we come to God's word. 00:00:47.120 --> 00:00:49.200 We're continuing our series in the book of Daniel. 00:00:49.659 --> 00:00:52.420 And this morning we find ourselves in Daniel chapter 4. 00:00:52.519 --> 00:00:57.600 You'll remember that Daniel's a book that takes place during the late 7th and 6th century, 00:00:57.600 --> 00:01:04.760 and it tells the story of a man named Daniel who's a faithful Israelite living in exile in Babylon. 00:01:05.280 --> 00:01:07.379 And this book tells us two things primarily. 00:01:07.500 --> 00:01:08.159 It has two purposes. 00:01:08.379 --> 00:01:12.040 First, to encourage us as Christians, that as we live in the world, 00:01:12.120 --> 00:01:16.340 no matter how bad things get, God is still in control. 00:01:17.299 --> 00:01:19.620 He rules and reigns over the nations. 00:01:20.420 --> 00:01:21.460 So there's that encouragement. 00:01:21.920 --> 00:01:23.240 There's also an instruction. 00:01:23.239 --> 00:01:25.019 There's an instruction here. 00:01:25.140 --> 00:01:30.619 We see in Daniel and his friends how it is that we can live faithful lives in a foreign land. 00:01:30.799 --> 00:01:34.739 Now, over the last couple weeks, we have focused more on the instruction than the encouragement. 00:01:35.219 --> 00:01:41.979 We've seen the example of Daniel in chapter 1, the example of his friends in chapter 3. 00:01:42.519 --> 00:01:44.340 This morning, we're going to turn from that. 00:01:44.419 --> 00:01:47.979 Remember, we were looking at the question of how and when we disobey the government. 00:01:47.980 --> 00:01:57.939 We're going to turn from instruction more to encouragement because we're going to come up against the challenge that we all feel if we live in this world, which is this. 00:01:58.439 --> 00:02:02.900 What do we do with wicked and proud and evil rulers? 00:02:03.040 --> 00:02:09.099 We live in a wicked world with wicked rulers, and that's part of what it means to live in a foreign land. 00:02:09.099 --> 00:02:14.299 As we live with those rulers, there's all sorts of temptations that we face, right? 00:02:14.319 --> 00:02:16.180 It can be tempting to give up. 00:02:16.819 --> 00:02:19.599 We become only cynical or bitter. 00:02:20.299 --> 00:02:22.219 It can be tempting to fear, right? 00:02:22.280 --> 00:02:23.639 These are powerful men and women. 00:02:23.740 --> 00:02:24.740 What are they going to do to us? 00:02:25.680 --> 00:02:28.000 It can also be tempting to give in to doubt. 00:02:28.139 --> 00:02:29.599 Does God really care? 00:02:30.900 --> 00:02:35.819 If these are the people who are in charge of us, is God actually in control of the world? 00:02:35.819 --> 00:02:38.959 Because if he were, why would he allow that? 00:02:40.359 --> 00:02:47.780 And so it's with that cynicism and fear and doubt that we often come to the rulers of this world as we live in exile. 00:02:47.900 --> 00:02:51.780 And it's with that problem, that question, that we're going to come to Daniel chapter 4. 00:02:51.879 --> 00:02:53.680 And so I invite you to turn there with me. 00:02:53.719 --> 00:02:55.560 You'll find it near the end of your worship guide. 00:02:55.939 --> 00:02:59.359 You can find it in your Bible, or you can find it, of course, on your phone. 00:03:00.099 --> 00:03:02.699 And I'm going to tell you again, this is a very long passage. 00:03:02.699 --> 00:03:06.219 I'm not apologizing for that. 00:03:06.280 --> 00:03:07.299 I'm just naming the reality. 00:03:07.679 --> 00:03:11.859 And the reality is when we come against very long passages, it can be hard at times. 00:03:12.519 --> 00:03:17.199 It's hard for me, I'll confess, to stay focused and to know how to track. 00:03:17.319 --> 00:03:22.979 And so I'm going to give you, I'm going to say it's for the kids, and you can pretend that's true. 00:03:24.500 --> 00:03:28.079 I'm going to give you a reading strategy as we go in, just like I did last time. 00:03:28.139 --> 00:03:30.500 I want you to track with me, and I want you to track two different words. 00:03:30.500 --> 00:03:32.000 And I want you to count them. 00:03:32.460 --> 00:03:36.360 It's going to be the word heaven or heavens and the word earth. 00:03:37.460 --> 00:03:41.979 So as we go through this, I want you to be, you can take a pen or a pencil if you want. 00:03:42.060 --> 00:03:43.180 You can square it. 00:03:43.240 --> 00:03:43.960 You can highlight it. 00:03:44.000 --> 00:03:44.780 You can circle it. 00:03:45.159 --> 00:03:50.139 But I want you to be paying attention to those two as we read this passage. 00:03:51.159 --> 00:03:54.819 Remember, as you mark those words, that this is God's word. 00:03:54.819 --> 00:03:59.439 And God tells us that his word is more precious than gold, even the finest gold. 00:03:59.759 --> 00:04:04.280 And it is sweeter than honey, even honey that comes straight from the honeycomb. 00:04:04.599 --> 00:04:07.239 And so it's for that reason that we read now, starting at verse 1. 00:04:07.240 --> 00:04:33.280 Verse 4. 00:04:33.279 --> 00:05:03.259 Verse 5. 00:05:03.279 --> 00:05:18.859 Verse 10. 00:05:21.239 --> 00:05:26.419 Verse 10. 00:05:26.420 --> 00:05:56.400 Verse 10. 00:05:56.420 --> 00:05:57.720 Verse 13. 00:06:26.420 --> 00:06:28.620 Let him be wet with the dew of heaven. 00:06:29.360 --> 00:06:33.300 Let his portion be with the beasts in the grass of the earth. 00:06:33.980 --> 00:06:37.980 Let his mind be changed from a man's and let a beast's mind be given to him. 00:06:38.460 --> 00:06:40.879 And let seven periods of time pass over him. 00:06:41.600 --> 00:06:46.759 The sentence is by the decree of the watchers, the decision by the word of the holy ones. 00:06:46.759 --> 00:06:51.879 To the end that the living may know that the most high rules the kingdom of men. 00:06:52.399 --> 00:06:56.920 And he gives it to whom he will and sets over it the lowliest of men. 00:06:57.920 --> 00:06:58.519 Verse 18. 00:06:58.759 --> 00:07:01.459 This dream I, King Nebuchadnezzar, saw. 00:07:01.920 --> 00:07:04.860 And you, O Belteshazzar, tell me the interpretation. 00:07:05.360 --> 00:07:10.000 Because all the wise men of my kingdom are not able to make known to me the interpretation. 00:07:10.379 --> 00:07:11.519 But you are able. 00:07:12.079 --> 00:07:14.779 For the spirit of the holy gods is in you. 00:07:14.779 --> 00:07:16.679 Verse 19. 00:07:16.680 --> 00:07:22.480 Then Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, was dismayed for a while and his thoughts alarmed him. 00:07:23.220 --> 00:07:24.300 The king answered and said, 00:07:24.379 --> 00:07:27.680 Belteshazzar, let not the dream or the interpretation alarm you. 00:07:28.860 --> 00:07:29.980 Belteshazzar answered and said, 00:07:30.040 --> 00:07:34.860 My lord, may the dream be for those who hate you and its interpretation for your enemies. 00:07:35.360 --> 00:07:40.100 The tree you saw, which grew and became strong, so that its top reached to heaven, 00:07:40.100 --> 00:07:45.780 and it was visible to the end of the whole earth, whose leaves were beautiful and its fruit abundant, 00:07:46.060 --> 00:07:50.439 and in which was food for all, under which beasts of the field found shade, 00:07:50.780 --> 00:07:53.439 and in whose branches the birds of the heavens lived. 00:07:53.720 --> 00:07:56.520 It is you, O king, who have grown and become strong. 00:07:57.260 --> 00:08:02.320 Your greatness has grown and reaches to heaven, and your dominion to the ends of the earth. 00:08:02.319 --> 00:08:07.980 And because the king saw a watcher, a holy one, coming down from heaven, saying, 00:08:08.579 --> 00:08:13.360 Chop down the tree and destroy it, but leave the stump of its roots in the earth, 00:08:14.079 --> 00:08:18.159 bound with a band of iron and bronze, in the tender grass of the field, 00:08:18.740 --> 00:08:23.079 let him be wet with the dew of heaven, and let his portion be with the beasts of the field, 00:08:23.600 --> 00:08:26.579 till seven periods of time pass over him. 00:08:27.500 --> 00:08:28.480 Verse 24. 00:08:28.480 --> 00:08:31.259 This is the interpretation, O king. 00:08:31.960 --> 00:08:35.019 It is a decree of the Most High, which has come upon my lord the king, 00:08:35.060 --> 00:08:39.560 that you shall be driven from among men, and your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field. 00:08:40.019 --> 00:08:44.180 You shall be made to eat grass like an ox, and you shall be wet with the dew of heaven, 00:08:44.539 --> 00:08:47.039 and seven periods of time shall pass over you, 00:08:47.379 --> 00:08:52.659 till you know that the Most High rules the kingdom of men, and gives it to whom he will. 00:08:53.320 --> 00:08:56.800 And as it was commanded to leave the stump of the roots of the tree, 00:08:56.799 --> 00:09:02.620 your kingdom shall be confirmed for you from the time that you know that heaven rules. 00:09:03.620 --> 00:09:06.740 Therefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable to you. 00:09:07.240 --> 00:09:09.620 Break off your sins by practicing righteousness, 00:09:10.000 --> 00:09:12.879 and your iniquities by showing mercy to the oppressed, 00:09:13.139 --> 00:09:16.879 that there may perhaps be a lengthening of your prosperity. 00:09:16.879 --> 00:09:19.299 Verse 28. 00:09:19.700 --> 00:09:22.299 All this came upon king Nebuchadnezzar. 00:09:22.519 --> 00:09:26.600 At the end of twelve months, he was walking on the roof of the royal palace of Babylon. 00:09:27.179 --> 00:09:28.559 And the king answered and said, 00:09:28.740 --> 00:09:33.939 Is this not great Babylon, which I have built by my mighty power as a royal residence, 00:09:34.139 --> 00:09:35.759 and for the glory of my majesty? 00:09:36.580 --> 00:09:41.460 While the words were still in the king's mouth, there fell a voice from heaven. 00:09:41.460 --> 00:09:44.780 O king Nebuchadnezzar, to you it is spoken. 00:09:45.259 --> 00:09:46.940 The kingdom has departed from you, 00:09:47.360 --> 00:09:49.340 and you shall be driven from among men, 00:09:49.379 --> 00:09:51.860 and your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field. 00:09:52.320 --> 00:09:54.759 And you shall be made to eat grass like an ox, 00:09:55.000 --> 00:09:57.780 and seven periods of time shall pass over you, 00:09:58.280 --> 00:10:01.639 until you know that the Most High rules the kingdom of men, 00:10:01.879 --> 00:10:03.780 and gives it to whom he will. 00:10:04.840 --> 00:10:07.620 Immediately the word was fulfilled against Nebuchadnezzar. 00:10:07.620 --> 00:10:11.240 He was driven from among men, and ate grass like an ox. 00:10:11.620 --> 00:10:13.960 And his body was wet with the dew of heaven, 00:10:14.039 --> 00:10:16.539 till his hair grew as long as eagle's feathers, 00:10:16.960 --> 00:10:19.200 and his nails were like bird's claws. 00:10:20.259 --> 00:10:20.940 Verse 34. 00:10:21.740 --> 00:10:26.200 At the end of the days, I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted my eyes to heaven, 00:10:26.480 --> 00:10:28.120 and my reason restored to me. 00:10:28.759 --> 00:10:30.259 And I blessed the Most High, 00:10:30.679 --> 00:10:33.379 and praised and honored him who lives forever. 00:10:33.700 --> 00:10:36.139 For his dominion is an everlasting dominion, 00:10:36.139 --> 00:10:38.840 and his kingdom endures from generation to generation. 00:10:39.639 --> 00:10:42.220 All the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing, 00:10:42.639 --> 00:10:45.720 and he does according to his will among the host of heaven, 00:10:46.000 --> 00:10:48.000 and among the inhabitants of the earth. 00:10:48.580 --> 00:10:51.100 And none can stay his hand or say to him, 00:10:51.259 --> 00:10:52.720 What have you done? 00:10:53.899 --> 00:10:54.899 Verse 36. 00:10:55.139 --> 00:10:57.819 At the same time, my reason returned to me, 00:10:57.919 --> 00:10:59.299 and for the glory of my kingdom, 00:10:59.759 --> 00:11:01.639 my majesty and splendor returned to me. 00:11:01.639 --> 00:11:04.500 My counselors and my Lord sought me, 00:11:04.720 --> 00:11:06.199 and I was established in my kingdom, 00:11:06.419 --> 00:11:08.500 and still more greatness was added to me. 00:11:09.159 --> 00:11:14.480 Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the King of heaven. 00:11:15.100 --> 00:11:18.399 For all his works are right, and his ways are just. 00:11:18.980 --> 00:11:22.860 And those who walk in pride, he is able to humble. 00:11:22.860 --> 00:11:27.919 I invite you to pray with me as we come to this portion of God's word. 00:11:29.659 --> 00:11:33.860 Our Father in heaven, we thank you again that as our King, 00:11:34.360 --> 00:11:37.279 you give us instruction and direction. 00:11:37.399 --> 00:11:39.379 And we thank you that you give it to us in your word. 00:11:39.480 --> 00:11:41.560 We ask that you would do that very thing this morning, 00:11:41.639 --> 00:11:44.860 that you'd send your spirit to help us to know and understand 00:11:45.539 --> 00:11:47.960 everything that you've written for us here. 00:11:48.139 --> 00:11:51.700 And most of all, that you would cast a spotlight on Jesus Christ, 00:11:51.700 --> 00:11:55.120 that we would be able to see him as beautiful and glorious. 00:11:55.620 --> 00:11:58.060 We ask these things in his name. 00:11:58.620 --> 00:11:58.920 Amen. 00:12:02.400 --> 00:12:05.900 I want you all to think back with me to about this time. 00:12:06.620 --> 00:12:10.540 Last year, we just started the COVID crisis, 00:12:10.540 --> 00:12:12.120 and there was a lack of clarity. 00:12:12.200 --> 00:12:14.620 We were unsure about how long it was going to last. 00:12:14.680 --> 00:12:17.720 Some people were thinking it was going to go through the summer. 00:12:17.879 --> 00:12:20.120 Some people were already predicting it was going to go through the fall. 00:12:20.120 --> 00:12:23.560 There were a few people predicting maybe it would go into 2021. 00:12:24.340 --> 00:12:27.299 And in the midst of that, you'll remember we were trying to flatten the curve. 00:12:28.200 --> 00:12:33.060 And in April, this month, the numbers were stabilizing in New York State. 00:12:33.480 --> 00:12:34.820 So they were stopping to go up. 00:12:34.879 --> 00:12:36.179 They were starting to get leveled. 00:12:36.179 --> 00:12:37.379 It was an encouraging sign. 00:12:38.080 --> 00:12:40.019 And so the governor of New York State, Andrew Cuomo, 00:12:40.139 --> 00:12:42.679 came out and made a statement that ended up blowing up in the news 00:12:42.679 --> 00:12:43.720 because he said this. 00:12:43.720 --> 00:12:48.060 The number is down because we brought the number down. 00:12:48.740 --> 00:12:50.480 God did not do that. 00:12:51.639 --> 00:12:53.500 Faith did not do that. 00:12:54.240 --> 00:12:56.019 Destiny did not do that. 00:12:56.540 --> 00:12:58.879 A lot of pain and suffering did that. 00:12:59.200 --> 00:13:00.360 That's how it works. 00:13:00.720 --> 00:13:01.320 It's math. 00:13:01.320 --> 00:13:06.620 Now, we're not going to deny the reality of human agency. 00:13:07.879 --> 00:13:09.200 Our actions matter. 00:13:09.940 --> 00:13:15.540 And it's incredible arrogance and hubris for us to claim credit, 00:13:15.720 --> 00:13:17.860 ultimate credit for what God does in this world. 00:13:18.140 --> 00:13:19.260 There's a false choice here. 00:13:19.480 --> 00:13:23.460 You don't have to choose between human action and God's intervention in the world. 00:13:23.540 --> 00:13:26.080 And yet that's what Andrew Cuomo did in that statement. 00:13:26.080 --> 00:13:29.520 And he shows us something now that's true in Daniel's day, 00:13:29.600 --> 00:13:30.620 was true in Daniel's day, 00:13:30.680 --> 00:13:34.020 which is that the heart of man is tempted to forget God. 00:13:34.980 --> 00:13:40.980 The heart of man is tempted to take credit for what belongs to God alone. 00:13:41.700 --> 00:13:44.940 And that, in fact, is the question for us of this passage, 00:13:45.300 --> 00:13:47.460 who rules the world? 00:13:48.620 --> 00:13:49.820 Who rules the world? 00:13:49.960 --> 00:13:52.420 Who is, in fact, in charge and in control? 00:13:52.540 --> 00:13:55.259 And so that takes us directly to our test. 00:13:55.259 --> 00:13:56.439 And our test is this. 00:13:56.500 --> 00:13:58.000 First of all, the word earth. 00:13:58.759 --> 00:13:59.720 How many times? 00:14:02.100 --> 00:14:03.059 I can't hear you. 00:14:04.220 --> 00:14:04.819 Thank you. 00:14:04.919 --> 00:14:05.220 Ten. 00:14:05.679 --> 00:14:06.720 That is the correct answer. 00:14:06.799 --> 00:14:09.740 Earth shows up ten times, verses one, verses 10 through 11. 00:14:09.840 --> 00:14:10.919 Verse 15, two times. 00:14:11.019 --> 00:14:13.799 Verse 20, 21, 22, 23, 35 times two. 00:14:14.480 --> 00:14:15.840 Ten times we see the word earth. 00:14:16.179 --> 00:14:17.019 Okay, the word heaven. 00:14:17.100 --> 00:14:17.740 How many times? 00:14:19.759 --> 00:14:20.159 16. 00:14:20.460 --> 00:14:20.899 Thank you. 00:14:20.980 --> 00:14:21.419 Verse 11. 00:14:21.519 --> 00:14:21.980 Verse 12. 00:14:22.139 --> 00:14:25.200 Verse 13, 15, 20, 21, 22, 23 times two, 25. 00:14:25.259 --> 00:14:27.159 26, 33, 34, 35, and 37. 00:14:29.039 --> 00:14:34.580 There's a reason that heaven and earth appear over and over again because it gets to this question. 00:14:34.720 --> 00:14:36.319 Who rules the world? 00:14:36.600 --> 00:14:37.500 Heaven or earth? 00:14:37.500 --> 00:14:38.659 There are two kingdoms. 00:14:39.120 --> 00:14:44.360 There's a king on the earth and a king in heaven who is actually in charge. 00:14:44.419 --> 00:14:46.179 And we see both of those kings here. 00:14:46.179 --> 00:14:53.199 In verse 22, you'll see in the dream, the king has grown and become strong. 00:14:53.279 --> 00:14:58.019 His greatness has grown and reaches to heaven and your dominion to the ends of the earth. 00:14:58.019 --> 00:15:01.179 Nebuchadnezzar is the king of this world. 00:15:02.980 --> 00:15:05.980 And there's also a king of heaven. 00:15:06.480 --> 00:15:09.559 You'll notice at the very last instance of the word heaven. 00:15:10.199 --> 00:15:16.579 Verse 37, I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the king of heaven. 00:15:16.580 --> 00:15:19.540 So there's a king on earth. 00:15:19.680 --> 00:15:21.960 There's a king in heaven who's in charge. 00:15:23.580 --> 00:15:26.300 That's the challenging thing Nebuchadnezzar comes up against. 00:15:26.400 --> 00:15:27.680 That's what we're going to look at this morning. 00:15:27.759 --> 00:15:29.500 And as we do it, we're going to see two things. 00:15:29.620 --> 00:15:32.300 First, number one, the pride of rulers. 00:15:32.840 --> 00:15:35.480 Number two, the power of God. 00:15:35.560 --> 00:15:39.600 We're going to see the pride of rulers and the power of God. 00:15:39.600 --> 00:15:42.600 First, the pride of rulers. 00:15:43.200 --> 00:15:47.300 What's true of Nebuchadnezzar, what's true of Andrew Cuomo is this. 00:15:47.379 --> 00:15:50.159 They claim glory for themselves. 00:15:50.940 --> 00:15:53.279 They claim glory for themselves. 00:15:53.399 --> 00:15:56.440 And of course, Nebuchadnezzar has good reason to claim glory for himself. 00:15:56.580 --> 00:16:03.399 We see in this dream in verses 10 through 12 that this tree that represents him reaches to heaven. 00:16:04.360 --> 00:16:05.779 His kingdom is great. 00:16:06.120 --> 00:16:08.920 He has accomplished a lot from an earthly perspective. 00:16:08.919 --> 00:16:13.979 There are these birds and these creatures who are coming to him for food and protection. 00:16:14.719 --> 00:16:17.679 And we see the interpretation of this in verses 20 through 22. 00:16:17.860 --> 00:16:20.159 He has grown and become strong. 00:16:20.500 --> 00:16:23.659 Now in this phrase, reaching to the heavens, if you know your Bible well, 00:16:23.719 --> 00:16:26.759 you might hear an echo of something from the book of Genesis. 00:16:27.360 --> 00:16:32.919 It's an echo of the Tower of Babel when people tried to build a tower all the way to the heavens. 00:16:33.500 --> 00:16:38.079 So there's this hint here of Nebuchadnezzar's pride, 00:16:38.080 --> 00:16:39.379 his desire to be like God. 00:16:39.460 --> 00:16:41.300 Remember we talked about that in chapter 3. 00:16:41.740 --> 00:16:44.600 He makes this golden image so that people would worship it. 00:16:45.800 --> 00:16:48.480 It gets again to the arrogance of the nations. 00:16:48.920 --> 00:16:50.740 Nebuchadnezzar then is proud. 00:16:50.860 --> 00:16:53.400 It's not just that he reaches to the heavens, but he takes credit for it. 00:16:53.440 --> 00:16:56.540 We see his pride, the results of it. 00:16:56.539 --> 00:17:03.939 But in verse 27, we're told he needs to stop oppressing the wicked. 00:17:04.079 --> 00:17:06.819 He needs to practice righteousness, show mercy to the oppressed. 00:17:07.579 --> 00:17:12.379 So Nebuchadnezzar and his power has become so removed from the world that he's oppressing the poor. 00:17:12.599 --> 00:17:17.480 It has not made him more merciful, but if anything, his power has made him less merciful. 00:17:17.700 --> 00:17:19.099 Remember earlier I said power. 00:17:19.639 --> 00:17:21.740 It's not bad, but it's dangerous. 00:17:21.740 --> 00:17:27.140 And then we see the ultimate statement of pride from Nebuchadnezzar in verse 30. 00:17:27.440 --> 00:17:29.700 And this is what brings upon his madness. 00:17:30.519 --> 00:17:31.880 He makes this confession. 00:17:32.319 --> 00:17:36.599 Is not this great Babylon, which I have built by my mighty power, 00:17:36.839 --> 00:17:40.079 as a royal residence and for the glory of my majesty? 00:17:41.880 --> 00:17:45.299 Nebuchadnezzar believes that he is like God. 00:17:45.980 --> 00:17:49.620 He takes complete credit for everything that's happened in Babylon. 00:17:49.619 --> 00:17:53.979 He takes complete glory for everything that happens in Babylon. 00:17:54.639 --> 00:17:57.219 And so we see the same thing we saw in chapter 3, 00:17:57.519 --> 00:18:01.179 that when we have an earthly ruler, there is a temptation 00:18:01.179 --> 00:18:06.159 that while they're only supposed to represent God, they aspire to be God. 00:18:07.179 --> 00:18:09.339 That's what's going on with Nebuchadnezzar here. 00:18:09.959 --> 00:18:13.679 In this world, power corrupts. 00:18:14.899 --> 00:18:16.159 Power blinds us. 00:18:16.239 --> 00:18:17.799 It clouds our vision. 00:18:17.799 --> 00:18:21.859 Success is often more dangerous than failure. 00:18:22.519 --> 00:18:24.099 It's not wrong to be successful. 00:18:24.240 --> 00:18:25.200 It's good in many ways. 00:18:25.659 --> 00:18:26.579 It's just dangerous. 00:18:27.220 --> 00:18:29.619 So there's some general principles here we see with Nebuchadnezzar. 00:18:29.740 --> 00:18:31.599 And so knowing these things about the world, 00:18:32.000 --> 00:18:33.819 as we're looking at the pride of man, 00:18:33.940 --> 00:18:35.639 knowing that this is the way power works, 00:18:35.779 --> 00:18:37.559 knowing this is the way rulers often work, 00:18:37.819 --> 00:18:41.159 is part of how we're wise as serpents and we're innocent as doves. 00:18:41.200 --> 00:18:44.740 Remember, Jesus tells us that in Matthew 10, verse 16. 00:18:44.740 --> 00:18:48.500 As we look at this first section, then, as we're thinking through 00:18:48.500 --> 00:18:53.200 how it is that we protect ourselves from cynicism and fear and doubt, 00:18:53.720 --> 00:18:58.900 we need to remember this is part of how we don't give up hope in this world filled by wicked rulers. 00:18:59.700 --> 00:19:02.339 Because we know this is how the world works. 00:19:02.980 --> 00:19:04.000 Does it make it right? 00:19:04.000 --> 00:19:06.079 It means we're not surprised. 00:19:07.119 --> 00:19:10.180 This is a pattern that we see over and over again. 00:19:10.259 --> 00:19:14.240 We expect powerful rulers, and so we expect prideful rulers. 00:19:14.319 --> 00:19:15.660 Now, I don't say this to make you cynical. 00:19:16.660 --> 00:19:17.839 Say it so we're not surprised. 00:19:17.920 --> 00:19:20.700 We understand how God has made the world 00:19:20.700 --> 00:19:24.180 and also the way that sin infects and distorts the world. 00:19:24.579 --> 00:19:25.700 So we're not discouraged, right? 00:19:25.720 --> 00:19:26.559 We don't give up hope. 00:19:26.740 --> 00:19:27.660 We're not undone. 00:19:27.960 --> 00:19:30.059 This is part of what it means to live in this world. 00:19:30.059 --> 00:19:34.000 But we have powerful and therefore prideful rulers. 00:19:35.259 --> 00:19:40.279 Now, it would be tempting for me to then now preach to you a sermon about pride. 00:19:40.700 --> 00:19:42.720 It's a theme in this passage. 00:19:43.359 --> 00:19:45.399 It's not, however, the primary theme, 00:19:45.599 --> 00:19:50.079 and it's not the primary thing I want for us to take away for this reason. 00:19:50.079 --> 00:19:53.079 I don't want you all to take this the wrong way, 00:19:53.159 --> 00:19:54.079 and I don't want you to be offended. 00:19:55.199 --> 00:19:57.319 But your trees don't reach to heaven. 00:19:59.059 --> 00:19:59.299 Okay? 00:20:00.279 --> 00:20:03.179 If I was preaching to a group of world leaders, 00:20:03.480 --> 00:20:06.399 I would preach to them about the danger of power and pride. 00:20:06.799 --> 00:20:10.659 And I would warn them about the fact that while they might be trees reaching to the heavens, 00:20:10.819 --> 00:20:12.859 God is going to be the one in control. 00:20:12.960 --> 00:20:13.859 He may take them down. 00:20:14.539 --> 00:20:16.199 Now, yes, some of you are powerful. 00:20:16.839 --> 00:20:18.500 Pride and power are a real danger. 00:20:18.500 --> 00:20:21.519 For us, however, the point is more in this. 00:20:22.259 --> 00:20:23.319 We are people. 00:20:23.680 --> 00:20:26.960 By the way, the Israelites receiving this would have not thought to themselves, 00:20:27.119 --> 00:20:29.140 oh, we need to make sure we're not like Nebuchadnezzar. 00:20:30.440 --> 00:20:32.559 No, they would have associated with Daniel, right? 00:20:32.579 --> 00:20:37.440 They would have thought, oh, this is what God does to kings like Nebuchadnezzar. 00:20:38.519 --> 00:20:41.940 And so, yes, there's an element of a warning against pride here. 00:20:42.279 --> 00:20:45.000 The point for us, however, is to be encouraged. 00:20:45.000 --> 00:20:49.500 God has power over prideful rulers. 00:20:50.299 --> 00:20:52.859 God has authority over prideful rulers. 00:20:52.980 --> 00:20:56.420 And so, I'll make just a quick note about Nebuchadnezzar's pride 00:20:56.420 --> 00:20:58.819 and the fact that he ends up acting like an animal. 00:20:59.380 --> 00:21:02.539 And it's this, that there's a sense in which the punishment fits the crime, right? 00:21:02.579 --> 00:21:05.160 He is making himself out to be God. 00:21:05.940 --> 00:21:07.180 And so, God says, well, guess what? 00:21:07.220 --> 00:21:08.160 You're going to look like an animal. 00:21:09.220 --> 00:21:10.940 He reaches up to the heavens. 00:21:10.940 --> 00:21:14.720 He finds himself eating grass on the earth. 00:21:15.759 --> 00:21:18.660 And so, there's a theme here of the danger of pride. 00:21:18.720 --> 00:21:23.259 And I'll just read you a couple things from this book about Daniel by a man named Chris Wright. 00:21:23.980 --> 00:21:24.759 He says this, 00:21:24.759 --> 00:21:40.640 Punishment fits the crime. 00:21:40.740 --> 00:21:41.759 There's an irony here. 00:21:41.759 --> 00:21:43.640 Then he warns us. 00:21:43.640 --> 00:21:46.779 When human beings act without any sense of a higher authority, 00:21:47.299 --> 00:21:49.500 with no sense of accountability to God, 00:21:49.599 --> 00:21:51.960 then both individually and as a society, 00:21:52.420 --> 00:21:55.619 we are capable of terrible cruelty to one another. 00:21:56.359 --> 00:22:00.440 Individual pride and state pride get out of control 00:22:00.440 --> 00:22:04.839 when they are unchecked by any submission to a transcendent authority. 00:22:05.519 --> 00:22:10.339 In other words, Nebuchadnezzar was heading towards disaster by refusing to acknowledge God. 00:22:10.339 --> 00:22:12.500 And then finally, he says this, 00:22:12.539 --> 00:22:16.439 and this helps us understand what's going on with Nebuchadnezzar becoming like an animal. 00:22:17.459 --> 00:22:21.279 It is interesting how an attack of humility also led to sanity. 00:22:21.899 --> 00:22:27.679 Pride, especially the kind of pride that tries to get away with ignoring God and his demands, 00:22:28.039 --> 00:22:30.179 is really a kind of madness. 00:22:31.059 --> 00:22:35.079 To live in God's world and behave as if we have the right to own it 00:22:35.079 --> 00:22:39.799 and treat others as we like without reference to him is mad. 00:22:40.339 --> 00:22:46.439 In other words, God is painting a picture through Nebuchadnezzar of what pride actually looks like. 00:22:46.500 --> 00:22:48.659 It looks like losing touch with humanity. 00:22:49.139 --> 00:22:51.319 It looks like losing touch with reality. 00:22:51.759 --> 00:22:54.099 And so the punishment fits the crime, right? 00:22:54.159 --> 00:22:55.799 He tries to act like a god. 00:22:56.199 --> 00:22:58.019 He becomes less than human. 00:23:00.099 --> 00:23:05.039 And so that's what we see here in this passage about the pride of rulers, the pride of men. 00:23:05.039 --> 00:23:06.619 And God brings them down. 00:23:06.700 --> 00:23:07.399 He humbles them. 00:23:07.960 --> 00:23:15.200 And so as Christians, we're encouraged and hopeful because we see that even as we're up against prideful and powerful leaders, 00:23:15.420 --> 00:23:16.839 God is still the one in charge. 00:23:17.819 --> 00:23:24.539 Even as we're up against prideful and powerful leaders, we see the true fruit that comes from it. 00:23:24.539 --> 00:23:30.500 And so knowing people are corrupt helps us to be realistic, but of course we need more than that. 00:23:30.559 --> 00:23:34.299 We don't just need to know about the pride of humanity, the pride of men. 00:23:34.359 --> 00:23:37.200 We also need to know about the power of God. 00:23:37.279 --> 00:23:39.099 And so that's where we turn next. 00:23:39.839 --> 00:23:45.680 It's not just that Nebuchadnezzar is delusional, but that God is great and powerful. 00:23:45.799 --> 00:23:48.420 And so we see the first demonstration of his power in verse 4. 00:23:48.500 --> 00:23:49.539 He sends a dream to Nebuchadnezzar. 00:23:49.539 --> 00:23:53.220 By the way, God is acting throughout this entire chapter. 00:23:53.740 --> 00:23:57.000 And in this dream, he tells Nebuchadnezzar what's going to happen. 00:23:57.119 --> 00:23:59.539 It's not just that he's a tree that reaches to the heavens. 00:23:59.599 --> 00:24:00.599 That's what we saw before. 00:24:00.980 --> 00:24:02.940 He's also a tree that's going to be chopped down. 00:24:05.680 --> 00:24:08.579 This tree, right, is Nebuchadnezzar. 00:24:08.659 --> 00:24:10.220 And God is the one acting. 00:24:10.480 --> 00:24:12.779 God is the powerful one who chops him down. 00:24:13.099 --> 00:24:18.319 And so we see in verse 16, God's going to have his mind changed from the mind of a man to the mind of a beast. 00:24:18.319 --> 00:24:25.639 Verse 25, God is the one who's going to act and have him driven from men and eat grass like an ox. 00:24:26.500 --> 00:24:31.960 And then God, verse 36, is going to be the one who restores him. 00:24:33.480 --> 00:24:36.619 God is more powerful than Nebuchadnezzar. 00:24:37.339 --> 00:24:40.559 God is the one who's actually in charge. 00:24:40.659 --> 00:24:46.480 And in case we missed that point, it is repeated three times in this passage. 00:24:46.480 --> 00:24:47.700 So I'm going to ask you to track with me. 00:24:47.759 --> 00:24:51.319 We're going to look at verses 17, 25, and 32. 00:24:51.599 --> 00:24:54.620 Verse 17, the watcher tells this. 00:24:55.400 --> 00:25:00.000 It's going to happen that the living may know that the Most High rules the kingdom of men 00:25:00.000 --> 00:25:04.680 and gives it to whom he will and sets over it the lowliest of men. 00:25:05.500 --> 00:25:07.680 So we're supposed to take that as the point of this. 00:25:08.120 --> 00:25:09.940 Then we turn to verse 25. 00:25:10.599 --> 00:25:11.599 What do we find? 00:25:11.599 --> 00:25:16.959 Ah, he's going to become an ox till you know that the Most High rules the kingdom of men 00:25:16.959 --> 00:25:18.459 and gives it to whom he will. 00:25:18.659 --> 00:25:22.419 Just in case we missed the point, we also get to see it in verse 32. 00:25:23.419 --> 00:25:26.799 And you shall be driven from among men, and your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field, 00:25:26.939 --> 00:25:29.099 and you shall be made to eat grass like an ox. 00:25:29.240 --> 00:25:31.319 And seven periods of time shall pass over you. 00:25:31.399 --> 00:25:35.459 Wait for it until you know that the Most High rules the kingdom of men 00:25:35.459 --> 00:25:37.199 and gives it to whom he will. 00:25:37.200 --> 00:25:40.660 In other words, the point of this chapter is this. 00:25:40.880 --> 00:25:44.900 Not primarily a warning against pride, but a reminder of God's great power. 00:25:45.299 --> 00:25:48.819 He is the one who sets kings up and tears them down. 00:25:49.200 --> 00:25:52.500 He gives command and rule to whom he will. 00:25:54.440 --> 00:25:59.440 And so, as Christians, we remember that God is in control. 00:25:59.600 --> 00:26:03.000 He is more powerful than any earthly ruler. 00:26:03.000 --> 00:26:07.859 Now, this doesn't necessarily change our circumstances that I've talked about before. 00:26:08.160 --> 00:26:09.839 It does change our perspective. 00:26:10.019 --> 00:26:14.019 And one of my favorite phrases, this is about the book of Revelation, 00:26:14.160 --> 00:26:16.539 but a man explains the book of Revelation in this way, 00:26:16.619 --> 00:26:20.039 that it is a heavenly perspective on an earthly reality. 00:26:20.740 --> 00:26:23.420 It's a heavenly perspective on an earthly reality. 00:26:23.519 --> 00:26:25.799 That's the same thing we see here in the book of Daniel. 00:26:26.119 --> 00:26:29.640 We have God's heavenly perspective on the earthly realities. 00:26:29.640 --> 00:26:32.520 As people here on this earth, we see rulers and kings, 00:26:32.700 --> 00:26:36.420 and we think, wow, that person is frightening and terrible and powerful. 00:26:37.740 --> 00:26:39.820 We see God's heavenly perspective. 00:26:40.300 --> 00:26:43.520 God is even more frightening and more powerful. 00:26:45.240 --> 00:26:49.500 Now, while this may sound like a simple review, 00:26:49.640 --> 00:26:52.480 remember what we learned in 2 Peter, 00:26:52.580 --> 00:26:55.780 the importance of being stirred up by way of reminder. 00:26:55.900 --> 00:26:57.880 So there's a sense in which you've been a Christian for a while. 00:26:57.880 --> 00:26:59.220 I'm going to say things that are obvious. 00:26:59.940 --> 00:27:01.260 Yes, God's in control. 00:27:02.380 --> 00:27:04.480 He's more powerful than all the other rulers. 00:27:04.940 --> 00:27:09.040 And it's easy to forget that as we live day by day life in this world, 00:27:09.120 --> 00:27:11.940 that God is more powerful than Amazon.com. 00:27:13.420 --> 00:27:14.860 More workers work for him. 00:27:16.420 --> 00:27:18.240 God has more cars in his fleet. 00:27:19.680 --> 00:27:22.220 God is more powerful than the U.S. government. 00:27:23.600 --> 00:27:24.960 Do you think the IRS is powerful? 00:27:25.060 --> 00:27:26.500 They can just take money out of your bank account? 00:27:26.500 --> 00:27:27.779 Guess what? 00:27:27.900 --> 00:27:28.880 God is more powerful. 00:27:30.700 --> 00:27:33.319 Simple, hard to remember. 00:27:34.140 --> 00:27:41.200 One of the ways that God shows his power is by raising up leaders and then bringing them down. 00:27:41.720 --> 00:27:46.319 Remember, that's the point here that we saw in verses 17, 25, and 32. 00:27:46.319 --> 00:27:50.599 That we would know, look at it again in 32. 00:27:53.319 --> 00:27:57.579 He rules the kingdom of men and he gives it to whom he wills. 00:27:57.879 --> 00:28:03.439 So we're going to get into the nitty gritty here of how we see the power of God at work in our world 00:28:03.439 --> 00:28:06.819 and how we can have great hope and encouragement from it. 00:28:06.819 --> 00:28:09.339 So looking at verses 17, 25, and 32. 00:28:09.519 --> 00:28:11.819 First of all, God gives us our rulers. 00:28:12.819 --> 00:28:17.939 He shows us his power by giving us every single ruler that we have. 00:28:18.240 --> 00:28:24.200 Now, this is important to understand as Christians because this is often a point of confusion in the American church. 00:28:24.279 --> 00:28:25.919 And so I'll explain it in this way. 00:28:26.460 --> 00:28:31.759 By the way, knowing that God gives us our rulers, it's humbling in some ways because they're rulers we don't like, right? 00:28:31.759 --> 00:28:35.099 And God gave them to us. 00:28:36.079 --> 00:28:38.500 It also gives us confidence in peace. 00:28:38.839 --> 00:28:44.200 There are rulers who are wicked who we don't like, and God's in control. 00:28:44.319 --> 00:28:45.279 He gave them to us. 00:28:45.660 --> 00:28:47.640 Here, however, is the point of confusion. 00:28:48.400 --> 00:28:50.220 I'm just going to give you a warning right now. 00:28:50.279 --> 00:28:52.379 I'm going to use some real politicians' names. 00:28:52.839 --> 00:28:54.500 I'm going to use a Democrat and a Republican. 00:28:54.680 --> 00:28:56.720 I'm not endorsing them or criticizing them. 00:28:56.920 --> 00:28:58.559 I'm making a point about the church. 00:28:58.799 --> 00:28:59.759 Okay, so track with me. 00:28:59.759 --> 00:29:06.240 First, when I was in college, 2008 election happened my freshman year. 00:29:06.779 --> 00:29:08.599 It was Barack Obama versus John McCain. 00:29:09.200 --> 00:29:18.079 There were some Christians at that time who believed there was something special in God's plan about Barack Obama. 00:29:18.599 --> 00:29:24.799 That somehow God had picked him in a special way, was anointing him, raising him up, and putting him forward as our leader. 00:29:26.980 --> 00:29:29.579 Did God, this is rhetorical, don't answer this, okay? 00:29:29.759 --> 00:29:34.200 Did God pick and choose and raise up Barack Obama? 00:29:34.200 --> 00:29:41.620 Yes, in the same way that he raised up Jimmy Carter and Ronald Reagan and George Bush and Bill Clinton. 00:29:42.960 --> 00:29:43.680 Guess what? 00:29:43.779 --> 00:29:45.080 God gives us all our rulers. 00:29:46.600 --> 00:29:47.580 Okay, fast forward. 00:29:48.640 --> 00:29:51.259 A later election, 2016, Donald Trump. 00:29:51.259 --> 00:30:00.920 There was a group of Christians who believed that God was raising up Donald Trump in a special way as a special representative of his rule and reign on earth. 00:30:02.200 --> 00:30:04.680 Did God raise up Donald Trump? 00:30:04.680 --> 00:30:10.560 Yes, in the same way that he raised up George Washington. 00:30:10.560 --> 00:30:13.380 In the same way he gave us John F. Kennedy. 00:30:13.680 --> 00:30:15.500 In the same way he gave us Teddy Roosevelt. 00:30:15.720 --> 00:30:15.960 Why? 00:30:16.299 --> 00:30:18.240 God gives us all our rulers. 00:30:18.240 --> 00:30:26.160 And so we run into trouble when we think that there's some ruler that's a special chosen representative of God and one that's not. 00:30:26.440 --> 00:30:30.660 If you don't believe me, read verse 17, verse 25, and verse 32. 00:30:32.279 --> 00:30:36.380 God rules the kingdom of man and gives it to whom he will. 00:30:36.980 --> 00:30:42.299 Every single ruler that we have is given to us by God. 00:30:42.299 --> 00:30:44.139 Joe Biden. 00:30:44.839 --> 00:30:48.079 Did God raise up Joe Biden as our president? 00:30:48.980 --> 00:30:53.099 Yes, in the same way as he's raised up every president. 00:30:53.839 --> 00:30:56.000 God gives us our rulers. 00:30:57.619 --> 00:31:06.259 And so as Christians, when we look at them, however powerful they may appear, we know that God is the one in charge. 00:31:07.079 --> 00:31:10.859 We know that God is the one in control. 00:31:12.299 --> 00:31:14.059 So our hope is in God, right? 00:31:14.200 --> 00:31:18.440 What we don't say is, oh my goodness, finally so-and-so is in charge. 00:31:18.619 --> 00:31:19.659 Everything's going to be all right. 00:31:19.759 --> 00:31:20.700 God now cares. 00:31:21.759 --> 00:31:23.000 No, God's always at work. 00:31:23.099 --> 00:31:24.019 He always cares. 00:31:24.419 --> 00:31:26.039 He gives us all our leaders. 00:31:26.819 --> 00:31:28.019 And so this protects us. 00:31:28.059 --> 00:31:30.019 It protects us from all sorts of tribalism. 00:31:30.139 --> 00:31:39.159 And it protects us from being pulled off into some extreme movements of people who like to claim that there's one person who represents God, another doesn't. 00:31:39.240 --> 00:31:40.779 One was appointed by God, the other wasn't. 00:31:40.779 --> 00:31:43.920 But just remind them, it says it three times in Daniel 4. 00:31:44.160 --> 00:31:46.319 God gives us our rulers. 00:31:47.559 --> 00:31:51.599 Now we also have a, we come into a tough issue as well in the American church with this. 00:31:51.660 --> 00:31:55.740 So one way we fall off is by believing some rulers are given to us by God. 00:31:55.859 --> 00:31:57.339 Others are not given to us by God. 00:31:57.339 --> 00:32:03.959 Another way we fall into this is when we abuse the phrase that God's in charge. 00:32:04.059 --> 00:32:05.759 Remember, I've told you God is still in control. 00:32:06.179 --> 00:32:07.639 He rules and reigns over the nations. 00:32:08.599 --> 00:32:12.339 Some people take that to mean, well, we shouldn't care about politics. 00:32:12.339 --> 00:32:24.359 And those people who care about politics have not reached the elite spiritual plane that I have reached where I understand these are things I don't need to be concerned about. 00:32:25.079 --> 00:32:27.199 You'll see this around election times. 00:32:27.899 --> 00:32:30.659 I, believe it or not, am friends with many pastors on Facebook. 00:32:30.660 --> 00:32:39.120 And sometimes you'll see a pastor post on election day, hey, Christians, just want to remind you no matter who wins, God's still in control. 00:32:40.180 --> 00:32:41.380 Now that's a great sentiment. 00:32:41.580 --> 00:32:42.060 It's true. 00:32:42.240 --> 00:32:43.300 God is still in control. 00:32:43.299 --> 00:32:48.720 However, these same people, when there's an issue that they care about politically, we don't care about. 00:32:49.200 --> 00:32:53.779 And then God's not in control and we really need to worry about it and work hard when it's an issue we do care about. 00:32:54.359 --> 00:33:00.059 And so there's sort of this inconsistency and there's this, there's actually, it's kind of condescending often when Christians say this. 00:33:00.419 --> 00:33:08.440 When they say God's in control, often what they mean is, I don't want to hear about how you care about politics because that just means you're not like a very spiritual Christian. 00:33:08.440 --> 00:33:15.820 And so we need to be careful about what we mean and what we're saying when we say that God rules and reigns. 00:33:16.039 --> 00:33:18.240 First of all, it is good to have righteous rulers. 00:33:19.500 --> 00:33:20.960 It's bad to have wicked rulers. 00:33:21.600 --> 00:33:22.779 The risk of saying the obvious. 00:33:23.259 --> 00:33:28.680 Proverbs chapter 29 verse 2 tells us that when we have a good ruler, the righteous rejoice. 00:33:29.100 --> 00:33:31.720 So there's some kind of emotion involved in having a good ruler. 00:33:31.820 --> 00:33:34.380 There's something good about wanting good rulers. 00:33:34.380 --> 00:33:38.320 There's something to be grieved when we have wicked and bad rulers. 00:33:38.440 --> 00:33:46.900 And so there's a condescending way of saying God's in charge, a way of saying, hey, actually I just kind of want you to shut up and I don't want to hear about this. 00:33:48.259 --> 00:33:50.519 But then there's a perspective forming way. 00:33:51.220 --> 00:33:53.660 There's a condescending way to say God rules and reigns. 00:33:53.920 --> 00:33:56.799 There's a perspective forming a helpful way of saying it. 00:33:57.500 --> 00:34:04.900 When we as Christians say that God rules and reigns, that he has control over the nations, what we are saying is this. 00:34:04.900 --> 00:34:08.740 It's not that we are unconcerned with the political rulers of this world. 00:34:08.880 --> 00:34:13.300 Not that it does not affect us or it is wrong for us to have a variety of responses. 00:34:13.480 --> 00:34:15.019 But what we are saying is this. 00:34:15.460 --> 00:34:18.220 We don't ride the roller coaster. 00:34:18.219 --> 00:34:22.939 We do not ride the political roller coaster. 00:34:23.059 --> 00:34:24.199 What I mean by that is this. 00:34:24.279 --> 00:34:26.119 I have a friend who's a pastor. 00:34:26.879 --> 00:34:27.799 He was at a church. 00:34:27.980 --> 00:34:29.119 It's a very bad situation. 00:34:29.239 --> 00:34:30.199 He's not at that church anymore. 00:34:30.519 --> 00:34:33.059 But he was having to deal with all kinds of crazy situations. 00:34:33.279 --> 00:34:38.959 And so he called up a mentor of his who told him, you're going to find yourself in all sorts of situations. 00:34:38.960 --> 00:34:44.579 There's going to be a temptation to feel all kinds of emotions and to get caught up in what's going on. 00:34:45.280 --> 00:34:47.400 And at that moment, you have a choice. 00:34:48.019 --> 00:34:50.980 You can ride the roller coaster or you can not ride the roller coaster. 00:34:52.000 --> 00:34:55.539 In other words, you can let your emotions be ruled by this. 00:34:55.820 --> 00:34:57.900 You can always be going up and down. 00:34:58.179 --> 00:35:03.639 You can put your ultimate hope and your satisfaction and your contentment based on what's going on in this situation. 00:35:03.639 --> 00:35:11.379 Or you can have one step back and realize there are real difficulties, real challenging things, 00:35:11.579 --> 00:35:15.159 and you are rooted in something better and greater. 00:35:16.539 --> 00:35:19.400 Christian, the same is true for us. 00:35:19.460 --> 00:35:21.179 The same thing that was true for Daniel. 00:35:21.539 --> 00:35:24.679 There are all kinds of crazy things going on in this world. 00:35:24.859 --> 00:35:26.819 We have wicked and proud rulers. 00:35:27.119 --> 00:35:28.500 We have imperfect rulers. 00:35:28.659 --> 00:35:32.460 There are reasons to rejoice with the righteous and to lament the wicked. 00:35:32.460 --> 00:35:40.320 And we don't ride the roller coaster because we are one step back rooted in something greater and more powerful. 00:35:41.500 --> 00:35:48.099 We are rooted in this, that no matter what happens, God rules and reigns over the nations. 00:35:48.360 --> 00:35:51.679 He sets up rulers and he tears them down. 00:35:53.179 --> 00:35:54.780 And so it protects us, right? 00:35:54.820 --> 00:35:56.960 It protects us from all sorts of tribalism. 00:35:57.059 --> 00:35:58.760 It protects us from extreme behavior. 00:35:59.240 --> 00:36:00.840 We can care about these things. 00:36:00.840 --> 00:36:02.400 We can be involved in them. 00:36:02.460 --> 00:36:07.019 And our roots go down to a deeper water table. 00:36:09.019 --> 00:36:16.659 We are not having feast or famine based on whether the political reigns that were recent helped us or not. 00:36:17.380 --> 00:36:21.800 Because our roots go all the way down to something deeper and richer. 00:36:22.179 --> 00:36:25.960 It is the source and the life that we have from God and his word, 00:36:25.960 --> 00:36:29.900 knowing no matter what happens, he is in control and in charge. 00:36:29.900 --> 00:36:34.840 And so we can weather all sorts of storms. 00:36:34.840 --> 00:36:40.840 Our lives, our emotions, our lives, our emotions do not ebb and flow by what's going on politically. 00:36:42.039 --> 00:36:43.559 We're not controlled by it. 00:36:43.720 --> 00:36:44.980 We're not ruled by it. 00:36:45.980 --> 00:36:48.340 And it's good and right for us to care about it. 00:36:49.200 --> 00:36:50.500 So that's how we hold the balance. 00:36:50.579 --> 00:36:52.800 That's how we use the phrase, God rules and reigns. 00:36:52.800 --> 00:36:53.400 He's sovereign. 00:36:53.400 --> 00:36:58.019 We don't use it as a condescending phrase for other Christians who are concerned about politics. 00:36:58.360 --> 00:37:01.720 But we use it as an encouraging phrase, a perspective forming change. 00:37:02.260 --> 00:37:03.920 Yes, something might happen we don't like. 00:37:04.940 --> 00:37:07.420 And God is still working history to his ends. 00:37:08.220 --> 00:37:09.660 The end is not here. 00:37:09.659 --> 00:37:12.920 Because the end is something God is bringing. 00:37:14.879 --> 00:37:21.219 By the way, what would happen if God did give us a special president, right, 00:37:21.239 --> 00:37:23.000 that he had selected above all the others, 00:37:23.139 --> 00:37:24.879 different than the way he'd selected other presidents? 00:37:27.119 --> 00:37:30.059 That would be too small of a hope. 00:37:30.059 --> 00:37:37.980 A man is too small of a thing for us to put our hope and confidence in. 00:37:39.000 --> 00:37:42.480 God has given us a man to put our hope and confidence in. 00:37:42.860 --> 00:37:45.619 It is not a man of this earth. 00:37:47.199 --> 00:37:54.420 And so, Christian, we avoid the cynicism and fear and doubt in this world 00:37:54.420 --> 00:37:58.340 by knowing no matter what happens, God raises up rulers, 00:37:58.340 --> 00:38:00.480 God takes down rulers. 00:38:01.720 --> 00:38:03.920 God is always in control. 00:38:04.120 --> 00:38:06.240 He rules our rulers. 00:38:07.039 --> 00:38:12.340 And so, we don't shake and tremble at the people who have power in this world. 00:38:12.740 --> 00:38:13.980 We're not cowed by them. 00:38:14.019 --> 00:38:14.860 We're not afraid of them. 00:38:15.480 --> 00:38:18.079 That's actually what Daniel models for us in this passage. 00:38:18.980 --> 00:38:21.980 Daniel, we can see, has some trepidation about whether he's, 00:38:22.059 --> 00:38:24.000 not whether, but about sharing this dream. 00:38:24.620 --> 00:38:27.140 He still speaks the truth to Nebuchadnezzar. 00:38:27.139 --> 00:38:29.039 Now, that's a risky thing to do, right? 00:38:29.079 --> 00:38:31.500 He's telling Nebuchadnezzar something he doesn't want to hear. 00:38:31.579 --> 00:38:35.000 In fact, some people believe the reason that Nebuchadnezzar waited until the end 00:38:35.000 --> 00:38:39.299 to ask Daniel, even though he knew that Daniel was the one able to interpret dreams, 00:38:39.900 --> 00:38:42.259 was that he didn't want to hear what Daniel had to say. 00:38:43.359 --> 00:38:46.420 So, he waited until the last chance possible. 00:38:47.199 --> 00:38:50.779 Daniel here knows what we know as well, 00:38:50.839 --> 00:38:54.839 that he doesn't need to shake and tremble at the rulers of this world. 00:38:54.840 --> 00:39:00.180 Now, I've hit hard for you, verses 17, 25, and 32. 00:39:00.559 --> 00:39:01.559 God raises up rulers. 00:39:01.680 --> 00:39:02.440 He brings them down. 00:39:03.700 --> 00:39:07.220 But that's not the only repetition in this chapter, nor is heaven and earth. 00:39:07.660 --> 00:39:09.240 You know, if you've been with us for a while, 00:39:09.519 --> 00:39:12.420 that I'm all about bookends in sections. 00:39:12.420 --> 00:39:17.640 And we see a clear bookend here at the beginning and the end of chapter 4. 00:39:17.840 --> 00:39:21.880 King Nebuchadnezzar sings God's praises to segment off this chapter. 00:39:21.880 --> 00:39:24.519 He says in verse 3, he's singing a song here, I suppose, 00:39:24.599 --> 00:39:27.440 How great are his signs, how mighty his wonders! 00:39:27.800 --> 00:39:29.840 His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, 00:39:30.079 --> 00:39:34.079 and his dominion endures from generation to generation. 00:39:34.700 --> 00:39:38.820 And then we see the same thing in verses 34 and 35. 00:39:39.400 --> 00:39:41.820 His dominion is an everlasting dominion, 00:39:41.860 --> 00:39:44.820 and his kingdom endures from generation to generation. 00:39:45.220 --> 00:39:48.059 All the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing, 00:39:48.059 --> 00:39:51.500 and he does according to his will among the host of heaven 00:39:51.500 --> 00:39:53.960 and among the inhabitants of the earth. 00:39:54.059 --> 00:39:56.639 And none can stay his hand or say to him, 00:39:56.820 --> 00:39:57.900 What have you done? 00:39:59.559 --> 00:40:00.539 Repetition is this. 00:40:00.619 --> 00:40:03.219 His dominion is an everlasting dominion. 00:40:03.320 --> 00:40:06.539 His kingdom endures from generation to generation. 00:40:07.039 --> 00:40:10.900 In other words, he's repeating what we already know from chapter 2. 00:40:10.980 --> 00:40:13.159 Remember, we saw the statue of the nations, 00:40:13.340 --> 00:40:15.019 and they were going to fall one by one. 00:40:15.099 --> 00:40:16.920 There was the head of gold that would be for a time. 00:40:16.920 --> 00:40:19.400 The chest and arms of silver, that would be for a time. 00:40:19.539 --> 00:40:22.039 The middle and thighs of bronze, that would be for a time. 00:40:22.220 --> 00:40:24.000 The legs of iron, that would be for a time. 00:40:25.079 --> 00:40:26.820 Nations come and go. 00:40:27.300 --> 00:40:31.980 God's rule and his kingdom and dominion are forever. 00:40:34.840 --> 00:40:37.480 And so Nebuchadnezzar is reminded of that, 00:40:38.340 --> 00:40:41.400 that God's kingdom, unlike his, is an everlasting kingdom. 00:40:41.800 --> 00:40:44.720 It's the kingdom of heaven, not the kingdom of earth. 00:40:44.719 --> 00:40:51.599 Later in the Bible, we see another conflict between heaven and earth. 00:40:52.339 --> 00:40:58.279 And in this one, the king of heaven himself comes down and visits the earth. 00:40:59.339 --> 00:41:01.639 And of course, that is our Lord Jesus. 00:41:01.819 --> 00:41:02.419 He comes down. 00:41:02.519 --> 00:41:04.339 He has conflict with this kingdom. 00:41:04.879 --> 00:41:10.179 He also teaches us that God is the one who raises up leaders and brings them down. 00:41:10.179 --> 00:41:13.199 In fact, he says this explicitly in John chapter 19. 00:41:13.359 --> 00:41:14.259 It's Jesus' trial. 00:41:14.899 --> 00:41:16.259 He's been brought before Pilate. 00:41:16.359 --> 00:41:18.159 Pilate is a powerful man. 00:41:20.119 --> 00:41:21.480 And Jesus tells him this, 00:41:22.099 --> 00:41:28.379 You would have no authority over me at all unless it had been given you from above. 00:41:30.079 --> 00:41:35.079 Jesus also teaches us that God raises up rulers and brings them down. 00:41:35.079 --> 00:41:40.840 Even more than that, Jesus is the one who brings the eternal kingdom, 00:41:41.319 --> 00:41:44.699 the kingdom that endures from generation to generation. 00:41:45.900 --> 00:41:48.940 At the very beginning of his ministry in the Gospel of Mark, 00:41:49.519 --> 00:41:49.920 he says, 00:41:50.059 --> 00:41:53.739 The time is fulfilled and the kingdom of God is at hand. 00:41:54.239 --> 00:41:56.059 Repent and believe the gospel. 00:41:57.759 --> 00:41:59.019 And so we don't give in. 00:41:59.059 --> 00:42:01.400 We don't give in to doubt about God and his power. 00:42:01.500 --> 00:42:03.519 We don't give in to fear of earthly rulers. 00:42:03.519 --> 00:42:07.420 We don't give in to cynicism because we know God is in control. 00:42:07.659 --> 00:42:09.679 He raises them up and he pulls them down. 00:42:10.559 --> 00:42:14.820 And he is bringing a great and everlasting kingdom 00:42:14.820 --> 00:42:19.759 that will destroy and break down and eclipse all and every other kingdom. 00:42:19.920 --> 00:42:21.300 And so, brothers and sisters, 00:42:21.539 --> 00:42:26.739 we hope not in earthly rulers because that is too small of a thing. 00:42:27.440 --> 00:42:31.780 And also because they cannot bring the great and everlasting kingdom, 00:42:31.780 --> 00:42:32.800 the heavenly kingdom. 00:42:33.519 --> 00:42:38.780 But instead, we have great confidence and hope in our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, 00:42:38.840 --> 00:42:41.079 because he is the one who is coming. 00:42:41.239 --> 00:42:44.480 God says he sets up kings and takes them down. 00:42:45.019 --> 00:42:50.139 He has set up and will set up one king that will never be taken down. 00:42:50.840 --> 00:42:53.340 And that's our Lord and our Savior, Jesus Christ. 00:42:53.340 --> 00:42:57.220 And so, that is our hope and our confidence in this world. 00:42:57.380 --> 00:43:04.280 We do not rise the ebb and the flow, the up and the down of politics and rulers and kingdoms. 00:43:04.280 --> 00:43:10.680 But instead, we do what King Nebuchadnezzar did so that he could be restored. 00:43:12.039 --> 00:43:12.660 Verse 34, 00:43:12.659 --> 00:43:21.599 Brothers and sisters, that is our hope as well. 00:43:21.659 --> 00:43:24.559 As we live in this world, we lift our eyes to heaven, 00:43:24.719 --> 00:43:27.579 looking to Jesus, our great and true King, 00:43:27.659 --> 00:43:33.619 who is going to come and bring his everlasting kingdom and his dominion that will never end. 00:43:33.619 --> 00:43:35.460 And so, I invite you to pray with me. 00:43:37.199 --> 00:43:41.259 Our Father in heaven, we thank you for your word that you've given to us. 00:43:41.299 --> 00:43:46.799 And we ask that you would use it in our lives to bring change in our heart, 00:43:47.119 --> 00:43:48.460 in our words, in our actions, 00:43:48.519 --> 00:43:51.599 that we would have great confidence and trust in you, 00:43:52.119 --> 00:43:55.480 that we would not rise or fall with the news of the day, 00:43:55.480 --> 00:44:02.159 but we would instead rest and trust that you are the one who rules and reigns over this world. 00:44:02.619 --> 00:44:05.619 And we thank you that you rule and reign over our lives. 00:44:05.659 --> 00:44:10.159 And so, we ask these things, not in our strength, but in the mighty name of Jesus Christ. 00:44:10.599 --> 00:44:10.840 Amen.