WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:04.799 Daniel 4, verses 19-37 00:00:04.799 --> 00:00:07.080 Daniel interprets the dream. 00:00:07.780 --> 00:00:14.480 Then Daniel, also called Belteshazzar, was greatly perplexed for a time, and his thoughts terrified him. 00:00:14.900 --> 00:00:19.640 So the king said, Belteshazzar, do not let the dream or its meaning alarm you. 00:00:20.160 --> 00:00:26.519 Belteshazzar answered, My lord, if only the dream applied to your enemies and its meaning to your adversaries. 00:00:26.519 --> 00:00:33.759 The tree you saw, which grew large and strong, with its top touching the sky, visible to the whole earth, 00:00:34.100 --> 00:00:40.420 with its beautiful leaves and abundant fruit, providing food for all, giving shelter to the wild animals, 00:00:40.899 --> 00:00:43.780 and having nesting places in its branches for the birds. 00:00:44.260 --> 00:00:48.359 Your majesty, you are that tree. You have become great and strong. 00:00:48.739 --> 00:00:54.620 Your greatness has grown until it reaches the sky, and your dominion extends to distant parts of the earth. 00:00:54.619 --> 00:01:00.039 Your majesty saw a holy one, a messenger, coming down from heaven and saying, 00:01:00.539 --> 00:01:05.599 Cut down the tree and destroy it, but leave the stump, bound with iron and bronze, 00:01:05.959 --> 00:01:09.200 in the grass of the field, while its roots remain in the ground. 00:01:09.679 --> 00:01:12.200 Let him be drenched until the dew of the heaven. 00:01:13.039 --> 00:01:18.140 Let him live with the wild animals until seven times pass by for him. 00:01:18.140 --> 00:01:23.579 This is the interpretation, your majesty, and this is the decree of the Most High, 00:01:23.920 --> 00:01:26.359 as issued by against my lord, the king. 00:01:27.099 --> 00:01:30.680 You will be driven away from people and will live with the wild animals. 00:01:31.219 --> 00:01:34.859 You will eat grass like the ox and be drenched with the dew of heaven. 00:01:35.500 --> 00:01:42.560 Seven times will pass by for you until you acknowledge that the Most High is sovereign over all kingdoms on earth 00:01:42.560 --> 00:01:44.980 and gives them to anyone he wishes. 00:01:45.840 --> 00:01:51.719 The command to leave the stump of the tree with its roots means that your kingdom will be restored to you 00:01:51.719 --> 00:01:54.020 when you acknowledge that heaven rules. 00:01:54.540 --> 00:01:57.760 Therefore, your majesty, be pleased to accept my advice. 00:01:58.320 --> 00:02:03.800 Renounce your sins by doing what is right, and your weakness by being kind to the oppressed. 00:02:04.340 --> 00:02:07.700 It may be that then your prosperity will continue. 00:02:07.700 --> 00:02:09.759 The dream is fulfilled. 00:02:10.759 --> 00:02:12.699 All this happened to King Nebuchadnezzar. 00:02:13.060 --> 00:02:18.319 Twelve months later, as the king was walking on the roof of the royal palace of Babylon, he said, 00:02:18.979 --> 00:02:23.000 Is not this the great Babylon I have built as the royal residence, 00:02:23.719 --> 00:02:26.480 by my mighty power and for the glory of my majesty? 00:02:27.140 --> 00:02:30.099 Even as the words were on his lips, a voice came from heaven, 00:02:30.480 --> 00:02:33.379 This is what is decreed for you, King Nebuchadnezzar. 00:02:33.860 --> 00:02:36.360 Your royal authority has been taken away from you. 00:02:36.360 --> 00:02:40.140 You will be driven away from people and will live with the wild animals. 00:02:40.620 --> 00:02:42.160 You will eat grass like the ox. 00:02:42.720 --> 00:02:49.180 Seven times will pass by for you until you acknowledge that the Most High is sovereign over all kingdoms on earth 00:02:49.180 --> 00:02:51.620 and gives them to anyone he wishes. 00:02:52.480 --> 00:02:55.980 Immediately, what had been said about Nebuchadnezzar was fulfilled. 00:02:56.480 --> 00:02:59.720 He was driven away from people and ate grass like the ox. 00:03:00.140 --> 00:03:04.860 His body was drenched with the dew of heaven until his hair grew like the feathers of an eagle 00:03:04.860 --> 00:03:07.240 and his nails like the claw of a bird. 00:03:08.120 --> 00:03:14.600 At the end of that time, I, Nebuchadnezzar, raised my eyes towards heaven and my sanity was restored. 00:03:15.060 --> 00:03:16.600 Then I praised the Most High. 00:03:16.960 --> 00:03:19.460 I honoured and glorified him who lives forever. 00:03:20.320 --> 00:03:22.460 His dominion is an eternal dominion. 00:03:22.880 --> 00:03:25.540 His kingdom endures from generation to generation. 00:03:25.539 --> 00:03:29.000 All the peoples of the earth are regarded as nothing. 00:03:29.560 --> 00:03:33.799 He does as he pleases with the powers of heaven and the peoples of the earth. 00:03:34.399 --> 00:03:37.219 No one can hold back his hand or say to him, 00:03:37.639 --> 00:03:38.399 What have you done? 00:03:39.180 --> 00:03:41.639 At the same time that my sanity was restored, 00:03:41.919 --> 00:03:46.840 my honour and splendour were returned to me for the glory of my kingdom. 00:03:47.319 --> 00:03:49.539 My advisors and nobles sought me out, 00:03:49.539 --> 00:03:54.259 out and I was restored to my throne and became even greater than before. 00:03:54.719 --> 00:03:59.299 Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and exult and glorify the King of heaven 00:03:59.299 --> 00:04:03.180 because everything he does is right and all his ways are just. 00:04:03.639 --> 00:04:06.479 And those who walk in pride, he is able to humble. 00:04:08.680 --> 00:04:11.359 Daniel, chapter 4. 00:04:11.360 --> 00:04:20.480 We'll see pride before a fall and we'll see God's power that shows mercy. 00:04:21.020 --> 00:04:25.080 Daniel, chapter 4 is really interesting because it really stands as a personal testimony 00:04:25.080 --> 00:04:29.500 to God's glory and mercy that comes from King Nebuchadnezzar. 00:04:29.600 --> 00:04:34.400 Now, imagine waking up tomorrow and you got your morning newspaper 00:04:34.400 --> 00:04:37.180 and you found there was an open letter in there. 00:04:37.180 --> 00:04:41.480 In fact, every national newspaper was carrying the same open letter 00:04:41.480 --> 00:04:47.079 and a news conference had been called and an exclusive interview was about to be given 00:04:47.079 --> 00:04:52.040 and it was from our Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, 00:04:52.040 --> 00:04:58.519 who wanted our nation and the nations of the world to know that he was praising God 00:04:58.519 --> 00:05:04.980 for being humbled, praising God because now he could see that heaven rules. 00:05:04.980 --> 00:05:09.220 He was speaking to us about in this crisis, 00:05:09.700 --> 00:05:13.980 understanding the need to trust in God as the one who is truly in control, 00:05:15.620 --> 00:05:20.100 calling himself and others to seek for God's power and mercy. 00:05:20.300 --> 00:05:23.180 Imagine if that happened in our nation. 00:05:23.280 --> 00:05:24.980 It would cause shockwaves, wouldn't it? 00:05:26.740 --> 00:05:29.819 But this happened in Babylon. 00:05:29.819 --> 00:05:33.879 In Daniel, chapter 4 and verses 1 and 2, 00:05:34.040 --> 00:05:37.560 we discover that this whole chapter is an open letter 00:05:37.560 --> 00:05:42.040 that is being taken by heralds all around the kingdom of Babylon 00:05:42.040 --> 00:05:47.199 to the nations and peoples of every language who live in all the earth. 00:05:47.759 --> 00:05:48.899 This is what Nebuchadnezzar says, 00:05:48.899 --> 00:05:53.500 It's my pleasure to tell you about the miraculous signs and wonders 00:05:53.500 --> 00:05:56.120 that the Most High God has performed for me. 00:05:56.699 --> 00:06:02.319 He's proclaiming with gladness God's eternal rule and kingdom. 00:06:03.319 --> 00:06:06.479 We hear Nebuchadnezzar's confession 00:06:06.479 --> 00:06:12.419 that the true king, as it were, chopped him down to size. 00:06:12.420 --> 00:06:16.699 He can say, That was for my good. 00:06:17.240 --> 00:06:20.120 That was so I could discover the mercy of God. 00:06:20.879 --> 00:06:23.060 So it's a remarkable chapter in the Bible. 00:06:23.400 --> 00:06:27.100 And we're going to think about some lessons that we can draw from it. 00:06:27.140 --> 00:06:29.879 But first, let's think about Nebuchadnezzar's testimony 00:06:29.879 --> 00:06:33.920 of his rise, his fall and his rise again. 00:06:35.200 --> 00:06:40.560 So his story begins in verse 4 with his contentment. 00:06:40.560 --> 00:06:51.579 He is, after all, the most powerful man in the world in his day, 00:06:52.120 --> 00:06:56.139 head of the most powerful empire of his day, 00:06:56.579 --> 00:07:01.579 one who was used to luxury and wealth and fame and glory. 00:07:02.000 --> 00:07:06.060 But just as we have previously seen him have a dream that troubles him, 00:07:06.660 --> 00:07:09.340 so in verse 5 he tells us, 00:07:09.339 --> 00:07:12.679 I had a dream that made me afraid. 00:07:13.479 --> 00:07:16.979 This dream becomes in his mind a nightmare. 00:07:17.679 --> 00:07:19.719 And his response is the same as before. 00:07:19.819 --> 00:07:22.620 He goes to his experts, those dream readers, 00:07:22.779 --> 00:07:23.779 to see what they can do. 00:07:23.799 --> 00:07:25.159 And they offer no help at all. 00:07:25.239 --> 00:07:29.639 And again, he then realises it's the time to call Daniel, 00:07:29.779 --> 00:07:31.199 to call Belteshazzar. 00:07:31.199 --> 00:07:37.240 And Daniel is better because Daniel worships the true God 00:07:37.240 --> 00:07:40.339 with the level of understanding Nebuchadnezzar has. 00:07:40.839 --> 00:07:43.699 He says, finally, Daniel came into my presence and I told him, 00:07:44.259 --> 00:07:50.360 my dream, the spirit of the holy gods is in him. 00:07:50.360 --> 00:07:56.920 And Nebuchadnezzar then tells Daniel the dream. 00:07:57.819 --> 00:08:01.639 And before Daniel begins to explain and interpret the dream, 00:08:01.699 --> 00:08:05.000 we discover something really significant about Daniel. 00:08:06.699 --> 00:08:08.280 It's Daniel's turn to be afraid. 00:08:08.279 --> 00:08:14.259 Then Daniel was greatly perplexed for a time and his thoughts terrified him. 00:08:15.219 --> 00:08:20.119 My Lord, if only the dream applied to your enemies and its meaning to your adversaries. 00:08:20.659 --> 00:08:22.379 What do we discover about Daniel? 00:08:22.439 --> 00:08:28.279 We discover someone who respects and who cares for King Nebuchadnezzar. 00:08:28.279 --> 00:08:30.279 And that's remarkable. 00:08:31.079 --> 00:08:33.059 Just last week in Daniel chapter 3, 00:08:33.319 --> 00:08:39.039 we discovered this same Nebuchadnezzar tries to roast Daniel's three friends in a fire 00:08:39.039 --> 00:08:41.980 for refusing to bow down to his gold image. 00:08:44.600 --> 00:08:49.559 Daniel is one of the exiles taken from Judah. 00:08:50.879 --> 00:08:54.860 And a letter came via Jeremiah to the exiles. 00:08:54.860 --> 00:09:00.240 And in Jeremiah 29, the exiles are told to seek the welfare, 00:09:01.019 --> 00:09:06.899 seek the peace and prosperity of the city in which you are now living in exile. 00:09:07.039 --> 00:09:16.100 And Daniel is an incredible model of that integrity and care in his workplace and for his master. 00:09:16.500 --> 00:09:19.539 But then he delivers the meaning of the dream, 00:09:19.539 --> 00:09:25.399 which contains in it a warning message from God. 00:09:26.000 --> 00:09:31.500 So Nebuchadnezzar had dreamed of a tree that was massive, 00:09:31.659 --> 00:09:33.599 that filled the earth, 00:09:34.419 --> 00:09:38.639 a tree that was providing shelter for birds and animals, 00:09:39.199 --> 00:09:42.120 a tree that was providing food for all. 00:09:42.120 --> 00:09:44.299 Daniel says to him, 00:09:46.080 --> 00:09:46.840 verse 22, 00:09:46.960 --> 00:09:47.639 your majesty, 00:09:47.899 --> 00:09:50.320 you are that tree. 00:09:51.840 --> 00:09:53.019 Here is Nebuchadnezzar, 00:09:53.100 --> 00:09:55.200 a king at the height of his powers, 00:09:55.580 --> 00:10:00.779 a king with great influence through his vast empire. 00:10:01.419 --> 00:10:06.279 That picture of a tree with almost cosmic dimensions, 00:10:06.279 --> 00:10:11.939 again is a great reminder of Genesis 11 and the Tower of Babel. 00:10:12.740 --> 00:10:14.459 That towering construction, 00:10:14.679 --> 00:10:19.299 which was on the one hand a great testimony to human achievement, 00:10:20.299 --> 00:10:25.519 but it was also a testament to overreaching pride, 00:10:26.360 --> 00:10:28.240 to self-glory. 00:10:28.240 --> 00:10:32.659 And we will see that at the height of Nebuchadnezzar's power, 00:10:32.799 --> 00:10:36.560 he falls into that trap as well. 00:10:37.120 --> 00:10:42.299 And so there is this warning that just as Nebuchadnezzar is that great tree, 00:10:42.740 --> 00:10:47.299 so God is going to function as divine lumberjack. 00:10:51.180 --> 00:10:54.100 That he will be cut down. 00:10:54.100 --> 00:10:57.740 The picture there is that the tree will be cut, 00:10:57.840 --> 00:10:58.879 the stump will be left, 00:10:58.980 --> 00:11:02.899 and an iron band will be placed around it to protect it, 00:11:02.940 --> 00:11:05.200 so it won't be removed. 00:11:07.920 --> 00:11:09.420 And Daniel says to him, 00:11:09.480 --> 00:11:11.379 that tree represents the king. 00:11:14.220 --> 00:11:16.399 The king who will be cut down 00:11:16.399 --> 00:11:18.019 and won't be restored 00:11:18.019 --> 00:11:22.700 until he recognises that heaven rules. 00:11:22.700 --> 00:11:24.140 Daniel tells him 00:11:24.140 --> 00:11:28.240 that not only will he be cut down, 00:11:28.800 --> 00:11:30.440 he'll also, his mind will be changed, 00:11:30.500 --> 00:11:32.680 so he'll become like an animal. 00:11:33.340 --> 00:11:34.860 And he would be driven away, 00:11:35.080 --> 00:11:35.860 verse 25, 00:11:36.020 --> 00:11:38.500 until you acknowledge that the Most High 00:11:38.500 --> 00:11:42.840 is sovereign over all kingdoms of the earth. 00:11:45.040 --> 00:11:48.220 And his kingdom would only be restored in verse 26 00:11:48.220 --> 00:11:51.940 when he acknowledged that heaven rules. 00:11:52.560 --> 00:11:57.139 And Daniel is encouraging Nebuchadnezzar 00:11:57.139 --> 00:11:59.460 to change his perspective, 00:12:00.240 --> 00:12:02.080 to beware of pride, 00:12:02.279 --> 00:12:04.660 and also to repent of the injustice 00:12:04.660 --> 00:12:06.660 that he has been guilty of. 00:12:06.740 --> 00:12:07.960 So in verse 27, 00:12:07.960 --> 00:12:09.620 therefore your master, 00:12:09.740 --> 00:12:11.379 be pleased to accept my advice, 00:12:11.820 --> 00:12:13.920 renounce your sins by doing what is right, 00:12:13.980 --> 00:12:16.400 and your wickedness by being kind to the oppressed. 00:12:16.540 --> 00:12:19.600 It may be that then your prosperity will continue 00:12:19.600 --> 00:12:22.660 when God gives a warning of future judgment, 00:12:22.820 --> 00:12:24.220 there is mercy in that, 00:12:24.280 --> 00:12:25.320 a chance to repent. 00:12:25.460 --> 00:12:28.500 And so Daniel calls the king to repentance. 00:12:28.759 --> 00:12:31.700 But Nebuchadnezzar continues with his testimony, 00:12:31.700 --> 00:12:34.400 and in verses 28 to 33, 00:12:34.520 --> 00:12:37.220 we see what happens 12 months later, 00:12:37.720 --> 00:12:39.820 his dream becomes reality. 00:12:41.040 --> 00:12:44.460 The way this open letter is presented, 00:12:45.100 --> 00:12:47.220 it switches from Nebuchadnezzar speaking, 00:12:47.400 --> 00:12:47.620 saying, 00:12:47.780 --> 00:12:49.960 I now move to the third person. 00:12:51.060 --> 00:12:52.500 It's as if King Nebuchadnezzar, 00:12:52.620 --> 00:12:53.680 because of his illness, 00:12:53.800 --> 00:12:55.460 he needs someone else to testify 00:12:55.460 --> 00:12:57.140 to what had been happening. 00:12:57.139 --> 00:13:02.139 Now, what was the trigger to this illness? 00:13:03.399 --> 00:13:04.620 12 months later, 00:13:04.699 --> 00:13:06.199 as the king was walking on the roof 00:13:06.199 --> 00:13:07.659 of the royal palace of Babylon, 00:13:07.779 --> 00:13:08.059 he said, 00:13:08.120 --> 00:13:10.960 is this not the great Babylon I have built 00:13:10.960 --> 00:13:13.439 as the royal residence by my mighty power 00:13:13.439 --> 00:13:16.659 and for the glory of my majesty? 00:13:17.860 --> 00:13:18.980 It's very symbolic. 00:13:19.199 --> 00:13:21.600 Here is Nebuchadnezzar on the roof 00:13:21.600 --> 00:13:22.480 of his great palace, 00:13:22.519 --> 00:13:25.179 and he's looking down in his pride. 00:13:25.179 --> 00:13:27.419 Look at what I built for my power 00:13:27.419 --> 00:13:29.199 and for my glory. 00:13:29.299 --> 00:13:30.899 He has completely lost perspective. 00:13:31.479 --> 00:13:33.639 He has forgotten human dependence 00:13:33.639 --> 00:13:36.379 on God as creator and sustainer and king. 00:13:37.039 --> 00:13:40.559 He has no sense that the right to rule 00:13:40.559 --> 00:13:42.279 comes from God, 00:13:42.579 --> 00:13:43.919 that there is an obligation 00:13:43.919 --> 00:13:47.159 to give honour and glory to God. 00:13:47.339 --> 00:13:51.819 So we see there is an instant fall. 00:13:51.820 --> 00:13:56.160 The judgment comes just as was promised, 00:13:56.960 --> 00:13:58.000 and verse 33, 00:13:58.220 --> 00:13:59.700 immediately what had been said 00:13:59.700 --> 00:14:01.340 about Nebuchadnezzar was fulfilled. 00:14:01.500 --> 00:14:03.060 He was driven away from people 00:14:03.060 --> 00:14:07.080 and ate grass like an ox 00:14:07.080 --> 00:14:12.200 from majesty the descent into madness. 00:14:13.480 --> 00:14:16.420 He was brought low by God. 00:14:16.419 --> 00:14:22.779 Maybe you have heard those personal testimony stories 00:14:22.779 --> 00:14:25.899 of someone brought low by God, 00:14:26.319 --> 00:14:28.500 of God finding people, as it were, 00:14:28.620 --> 00:14:30.259 in the gutter or finding them 00:14:30.259 --> 00:14:31.579 in their lowest point. 00:14:32.779 --> 00:14:34.500 Two for me really stand out. 00:14:34.620 --> 00:14:38.959 Once there was a church camp down in London, 00:14:38.959 --> 00:14:40.199 and on the Sunday evening, 00:14:40.199 --> 00:14:41.539 we went to a local church, 00:14:41.539 --> 00:14:44.759 and they happened to have a guest 00:14:44.759 --> 00:14:46.259 giving their testimony 00:14:46.259 --> 00:14:47.240 and having an interview, 00:14:47.339 --> 00:14:48.459 and it was Jonathan Aitken, 00:14:49.159 --> 00:14:50.860 a former Conservative MP 00:14:50.860 --> 00:14:54.980 who was convicted and sent to prison for perjury. 00:14:55.179 --> 00:14:57.379 And during the process of that, 00:14:57.500 --> 00:14:59.299 he became a Christian, 00:14:59.519 --> 00:15:00.399 a follower of Jesus. 00:15:01.219 --> 00:15:01.639 He wrote, I say, 00:15:01.699 --> 00:15:04.059 a really helpful little book on the Psalms, 00:15:04.159 --> 00:15:09.319 but he spoke about God meeting him 00:15:09.320 --> 00:15:11.460 in that lowest point of his life. 00:15:12.320 --> 00:15:14.860 But then I also think of the story 00:15:14.860 --> 00:15:16.540 of a Chinese student in Glasgow 00:15:16.540 --> 00:15:19.700 who was found by an elderly Christian couple 00:15:19.700 --> 00:15:22.020 on the street in tears one day, 00:15:22.460 --> 00:15:23.879 distress and fear. 00:15:24.420 --> 00:15:26.700 Everything seemed to be going wrong. 00:15:28.379 --> 00:15:30.720 And they welcomed her in, 00:15:31.440 --> 00:15:33.600 and they established friendship 00:15:33.600 --> 00:15:34.760 and shared the gospel. 00:15:35.280 --> 00:15:37.180 And she came to faith 00:15:37.180 --> 00:15:39.040 from that lowest point. 00:15:40.280 --> 00:15:41.080 God showed mercy 00:15:41.080 --> 00:15:42.360 and God showed salvation. 00:15:44.500 --> 00:15:47.000 So imagine what's going on here. 00:15:47.400 --> 00:15:48.720 Imagine we're the first people 00:15:48.720 --> 00:15:50.480 to hear this letter 00:15:50.480 --> 00:15:51.960 being proclaimed by a herald. 00:15:51.960 --> 00:15:54.720 Here is the emperor, 00:15:55.100 --> 00:15:56.260 most powerful man in the world, 00:15:56.500 --> 00:15:59.780 openly sharing of his fall into insanity 00:15:59.780 --> 00:16:04.800 and acknowledging God and his mercy. 00:16:04.799 --> 00:16:09.419 Restoration will come for him. 00:16:10.759 --> 00:16:12.139 And we find out why. 00:16:12.979 --> 00:16:13.620 Verse 34, 00:16:13.759 --> 00:16:14.979 at the end of that time, 00:16:15.179 --> 00:16:16.959 I, Nebuchadnezzar, 00:16:17.479 --> 00:16:19.679 raised my eyes towards heaven 00:16:19.679 --> 00:16:22.339 and my sanity was restored. 00:16:24.019 --> 00:16:25.959 His perspective changed. 00:16:26.620 --> 00:16:27.699 Joyce Baldwin says, 00:16:27.700 --> 00:16:32.740 insanity begins with a realistic self-appraisal. 00:16:34.280 --> 00:16:36.000 Nebuchadnezzar has been humbled 00:16:36.000 --> 00:16:37.879 by almighty God. 00:16:37.960 --> 00:16:40.740 No longer is he standing over and above everyone. 00:16:40.840 --> 00:16:41.620 Now he's humbled 00:16:41.620 --> 00:16:44.120 because he recognises his place before God. 00:16:44.200 --> 00:16:45.680 He has a new understanding 00:16:45.680 --> 00:16:48.720 of God. 00:16:48.720 --> 00:16:51.080 God's dominion is an eternal dominion. 00:16:51.180 --> 00:16:52.340 His kingdom endures 00:16:52.340 --> 00:16:54.519 from generation to generation. 00:16:54.759 --> 00:16:56.580 God is the true king. 00:16:57.920 --> 00:16:59.720 His kingdom is extensive. 00:17:00.080 --> 00:17:01.220 It is eternal. 00:17:01.840 --> 00:17:03.820 There is no rise or fall 00:17:03.820 --> 00:17:05.680 with God the king. 00:17:06.120 --> 00:17:07.640 He understands the folly 00:17:07.640 --> 00:17:10.339 of claiming godlike status 00:17:10.339 --> 00:17:12.460 in his pride. 00:17:12.460 --> 00:17:15.500 In verse 35, 00:17:16.200 --> 00:17:16.539 he says, 00:17:16.700 --> 00:17:17.700 all the peoples of the earth 00:17:17.700 --> 00:17:18.799 are regarded as nothing. 00:17:18.920 --> 00:17:20.299 He does as he pleases 00:17:20.299 --> 00:17:21.600 with the powers of heaven. 00:17:22.200 --> 00:17:23.840 No one can hold back his hand 00:17:23.840 --> 00:17:24.519 or say to him, 00:17:24.579 --> 00:17:25.420 what have you done? 00:17:25.960 --> 00:17:28.480 God's will cannot be stopped. 00:17:30.480 --> 00:17:32.819 God is ultimate authority. 00:17:33.920 --> 00:17:34.819 And for Nebuchadnezzar, 00:17:34.860 --> 00:17:37.960 he can see that this dream 00:17:37.960 --> 00:17:40.200 of his being cut down to size, 00:17:40.200 --> 00:17:42.620 of his shift into insanity, 00:17:42.819 --> 00:17:44.340 it became reality. 00:17:47.380 --> 00:17:48.960 But Nebuchadnezzar also came 00:17:48.960 --> 00:17:50.400 to understand something else. 00:17:51.860 --> 00:17:53.100 Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, 00:17:53.180 --> 00:17:54.680 praise and exalt and glorify 00:17:54.680 --> 00:17:55.580 the king of heaven. 00:17:55.799 --> 00:17:56.120 Why? 00:17:56.860 --> 00:17:58.420 Because everything he does is right 00:17:58.420 --> 00:18:00.000 and all his ways are just. 00:18:01.019 --> 00:18:03.279 And those who walk in pride, 00:18:03.400 --> 00:18:04.299 he's able to humble. 00:18:05.059 --> 00:18:07.799 God uses his almighty power 00:18:07.799 --> 00:18:09.819 in order to show mercy 00:18:09.819 --> 00:18:10.639 in this case, 00:18:11.059 --> 00:18:13.359 to humble proud Nebuchadnezzar 00:18:13.359 --> 00:18:14.339 so he'd be in a place 00:18:14.339 --> 00:18:16.179 to recognise and acknowledge 00:18:16.179 --> 00:18:18.819 and praise God. 00:18:19.720 --> 00:18:21.480 So that's his testimony. 00:18:22.319 --> 00:18:24.240 Begins by praising God, 00:18:24.599 --> 00:18:25.619 tells his story, 00:18:26.059 --> 00:18:27.759 finishes by praising God 00:18:27.759 --> 00:18:28.759 for humbling him 00:18:28.759 --> 00:18:30.500 and showing him mercy. 00:18:30.619 --> 00:18:32.619 It's a remarkable chapter 00:18:32.619 --> 00:18:33.279 of the Bible. 00:18:33.279 --> 00:18:36.059 And as we think about learning 00:18:36.059 --> 00:18:37.579 from Nebuchadnezzar's testimony, 00:18:37.759 --> 00:18:38.799 we realise there's so much 00:18:38.799 --> 00:18:40.519 going on in this chapter, 00:18:40.660 --> 00:18:42.039 there's so much we could talk about. 00:18:42.180 --> 00:18:43.339 One thing we certainly need 00:18:43.339 --> 00:18:43.940 to talk about 00:18:43.940 --> 00:18:45.539 is that Nebuchadnezzar 00:18:45.539 --> 00:18:46.119 and his story 00:18:46.119 --> 00:18:47.339 gives us a clear warning 00:18:47.339 --> 00:18:48.720 against pride. 00:18:50.740 --> 00:18:51.920 It's the first sin, 00:18:52.079 --> 00:18:53.279 the sin that we see 00:18:53.279 --> 00:18:54.899 in the Garden of Eden. 00:18:55.559 --> 00:18:57.839 That desire of Adam and Eve 00:18:57.839 --> 00:18:58.940 to be God-like, 00:18:58.940 --> 00:19:00.480 to overreach, 00:19:00.640 --> 00:19:02.539 to overstep the boundaries 00:19:02.539 --> 00:19:03.779 and reaching out 00:19:03.779 --> 00:19:05.460 for the forbidden fruit. 00:19:07.380 --> 00:19:09.259 Pride was the great sin 00:19:09.259 --> 00:19:10.400 of the Tower of Babel. 00:19:10.500 --> 00:19:11.840 Let's get together 00:19:11.840 --> 00:19:12.880 and let's construct 00:19:12.880 --> 00:19:14.039 this great tower 00:19:14.039 --> 00:19:15.680 that will be for our glory, 00:19:16.620 --> 00:19:18.080 glory without God. 00:19:18.660 --> 00:19:20.900 Now, among the hanging gardens 00:19:20.900 --> 00:19:21.559 of Babylon, 00:19:21.559 --> 00:19:24.320 we see that same pride 00:19:24.320 --> 00:19:25.340 coming out. 00:19:26.220 --> 00:19:27.320 I've done this. 00:19:27.319 --> 00:19:29.379 This is all my work 00:19:29.379 --> 00:19:32.119 and this is for my glory. 00:19:34.439 --> 00:19:35.519 It's a sin 00:19:35.519 --> 00:19:37.980 that we all battle with 00:19:37.980 --> 00:19:39.319 and that we all need 00:19:39.319 --> 00:19:40.439 to deal with. 00:19:41.119 --> 00:19:42.059 The Nebuchadnezzar story 00:19:42.059 --> 00:19:42.819 helps us to see 00:19:42.819 --> 00:19:44.460 that pride involves 00:19:44.460 --> 00:19:45.879 having a wrong perspective. 00:19:46.799 --> 00:19:47.799 There he is on the roof 00:19:47.799 --> 00:19:49.059 and he's looking down. 00:19:50.220 --> 00:19:51.639 And pride involves 00:19:51.639 --> 00:19:53.539 looking down on others. 00:19:54.439 --> 00:19:55.799 I am better than, 00:19:55.799 --> 00:19:57.579 I know more than, 00:19:58.079 --> 00:20:00.460 or pride also looks sideways 00:20:00.460 --> 00:20:01.480 in comparing. 00:20:03.919 --> 00:20:05.680 Doing better than that person, 00:20:05.759 --> 00:20:06.919 at least I'm not as bad 00:20:06.919 --> 00:20:09.339 as that one over there, 00:20:10.019 --> 00:20:11.399 forgetting to look up. 00:20:11.859 --> 00:20:14.139 Pride dismisses God 00:20:14.139 --> 00:20:16.639 to place the God of self 00:20:16.639 --> 00:20:19.980 on the throne of our lives. 00:20:19.980 --> 00:20:23.680 It is the first sin. 00:20:23.839 --> 00:20:25.380 It is a great sin 00:20:25.380 --> 00:20:27.640 because it fails to give God 00:20:27.640 --> 00:20:28.200 his place 00:20:28.200 --> 00:20:29.799 because we want that place. 00:20:30.000 --> 00:20:30.900 What we need 00:20:30.900 --> 00:20:34.000 is that perspective change. 00:20:34.539 --> 00:20:36.259 The one that looks up 00:20:36.259 --> 00:20:37.460 to heaven. 00:20:38.599 --> 00:20:39.759 To recognise 00:20:39.759 --> 00:20:41.599 that we were made 00:20:41.599 --> 00:20:42.480 to worship, 00:20:42.940 --> 00:20:44.480 to enjoy God, 00:20:44.579 --> 00:20:45.640 to live in relationship 00:20:45.640 --> 00:20:45.980 with him, 00:20:46.059 --> 00:20:47.819 to live under him, 00:20:47.819 --> 00:20:49.379 to live with humble 00:20:49.379 --> 00:20:51.059 dependence upon him. 00:20:53.960 --> 00:20:55.419 So for each one of us, 00:20:55.799 --> 00:20:56.980 we need to be checking 00:20:56.980 --> 00:20:58.220 our point of view. 00:20:58.319 --> 00:20:59.319 What's the perspective 00:20:59.319 --> 00:21:00.599 with which we live life, 00:21:00.659 --> 00:21:01.879 with which we go into 00:21:01.879 --> 00:21:03.619 our days? 00:21:04.599 --> 00:21:06.039 Are we looking to assert 00:21:06.039 --> 00:21:07.319 self as number one? 00:21:08.319 --> 00:21:10.439 Or can we gladly say 00:21:10.439 --> 00:21:12.879 heaven rules? 00:21:12.880 --> 00:21:17.000 Another thing we see 00:21:17.000 --> 00:21:18.360 from Nebuchadnezzar's testimony 00:21:18.360 --> 00:21:19.480 is that suffering 00:21:19.480 --> 00:21:22.440 can be redemptive. 00:21:23.200 --> 00:21:25.660 That God in his mighty power 00:21:25.660 --> 00:21:26.160 and wisdom 00:21:26.160 --> 00:21:27.200 can use suffering 00:21:27.200 --> 00:21:28.800 for good. 00:21:31.060 --> 00:21:31.700 Discomfort. 00:21:33.200 --> 00:21:34.620 Extreme trials 00:21:34.620 --> 00:21:35.900 can be 00:21:35.900 --> 00:21:38.440 means of spiritual growth 00:21:38.440 --> 00:21:40.920 and lasting change. 00:21:40.920 --> 00:21:43.740 And that's one of the 00:21:43.740 --> 00:21:44.560 great hopes 00:21:44.560 --> 00:21:45.460 and prayers 00:21:45.460 --> 00:21:47.700 of the church 00:21:47.700 --> 00:21:48.820 for this phase of life. 00:21:48.900 --> 00:21:49.340 We had another 00:21:49.340 --> 00:21:50.560 five days of prayer 00:21:50.560 --> 00:21:51.240 and we spent 00:21:51.240 --> 00:21:52.840 a lot of time 00:21:52.840 --> 00:21:53.860 asking that God 00:21:53.860 --> 00:21:55.640 would use this time 00:21:55.640 --> 00:21:56.700 as a means of 00:21:56.700 --> 00:21:57.820 drawing the people 00:21:57.820 --> 00:21:58.700 of God closer 00:21:58.700 --> 00:21:59.460 to himself 00:21:59.460 --> 00:22:00.380 in independent 00:22:00.380 --> 00:22:01.360 trust and worship 00:22:01.360 --> 00:22:02.740 but also drawing others 00:22:02.740 --> 00:22:04.400 in a sense of need 00:22:04.400 --> 00:22:04.880 and despair 00:22:04.880 --> 00:22:05.840 and hopelessness 00:22:05.840 --> 00:22:07.779 to come to God 00:22:07.779 --> 00:22:08.640 and to find answers 00:22:08.640 --> 00:22:09.539 and to find life 00:22:09.539 --> 00:22:10.319 and to find joy 00:22:10.319 --> 00:22:11.099 and salvation. 00:22:11.899 --> 00:22:12.740 But suffering 00:22:12.740 --> 00:22:14.059 can only be redemptive 00:22:14.059 --> 00:22:14.639 if 00:22:14.639 --> 00:22:17.059 we lift our eyes 00:22:17.059 --> 00:22:17.519 to heaven. 00:22:19.220 --> 00:22:20.259 Only if 00:22:20.259 --> 00:22:21.819 we look to God 00:22:21.819 --> 00:22:23.099 for mercy. 00:22:23.859 --> 00:22:25.019 Only when we see 00:22:25.019 --> 00:22:25.700 the limits 00:22:25.700 --> 00:22:26.899 of ourselves 00:22:26.899 --> 00:22:28.720 and those 00:22:28.720 --> 00:22:29.779 idols 00:22:29.779 --> 00:22:30.399 those things 00:22:30.399 --> 00:22:31.279 that we typically 00:22:31.279 --> 00:22:32.399 look to 00:22:32.399 --> 00:22:33.119 for identity 00:22:33.119 --> 00:22:33.839 and security 00:22:33.839 --> 00:22:34.799 and purpose 00:22:34.799 --> 00:22:35.339 and hope 00:22:35.339 --> 00:22:36.680 only if we see 00:22:36.680 --> 00:22:37.899 the end of them 00:22:37.900 --> 00:22:38.320 if we come 00:22:38.320 --> 00:22:38.900 to an end 00:22:38.900 --> 00:22:39.360 of ourselves 00:22:39.360 --> 00:22:39.900 and we look 00:22:39.900 --> 00:22:40.500 up to God 00:22:40.500 --> 00:22:40.960 for mercy 00:22:40.960 --> 00:22:41.820 only then 00:22:41.820 --> 00:22:43.519 can suffering 00:22:43.519 --> 00:22:43.980 have that 00:22:43.980 --> 00:22:45.000 redemptive purpose. 00:22:47.019 --> 00:22:48.160 We see in the story 00:22:48.160 --> 00:22:48.880 of Nebuchadnezzar 00:22:48.880 --> 00:22:49.280 that God 00:22:49.280 --> 00:22:50.140 is both powerful 00:22:50.140 --> 00:22:51.560 and God 00:22:51.560 --> 00:22:53.259 is merciful 00:22:53.259 --> 00:22:54.680 and that God 00:22:54.680 --> 00:22:55.360 is able 00:22:55.360 --> 00:22:56.500 from this 00:22:56.500 --> 00:22:57.960 personal crisis 00:22:57.960 --> 00:22:58.580 to do 00:22:58.580 --> 00:22:59.680 spiritual 00:22:59.680 --> 00:23:00.860 good. 00:23:02.759 --> 00:23:03.280 Leading 00:23:03.280 --> 00:23:04.040 Nebuchadnezzar 00:23:04.040 --> 00:23:04.740 to move away 00:23:04.740 --> 00:23:05.280 from a place 00:23:05.279 --> 00:23:05.660 where he 00:23:05.660 --> 00:23:07.059 basically insists 00:23:07.059 --> 00:23:07.519 that he 00:23:07.519 --> 00:23:08.920 is a God 00:23:08.920 --> 00:23:10.019 to his people 00:23:10.019 --> 00:23:11.059 where he's now 00:23:11.059 --> 00:23:11.960 telling the peoples 00:23:11.960 --> 00:23:13.220 here's the God 00:23:13.220 --> 00:23:14.740 you need to praise 00:23:14.740 --> 00:23:15.619 and worship 00:23:15.619 --> 00:23:17.180 because he is the true king 00:23:17.180 --> 00:23:17.779 and his kingdom 00:23:17.779 --> 00:23:19.059 is the one that lasts. 00:23:19.859 --> 00:23:20.599 The God 00:23:20.599 --> 00:23:21.299 who cuts 00:23:21.299 --> 00:23:21.980 down 00:23:21.980 --> 00:23:23.899 is the same 00:23:23.899 --> 00:23:24.559 God 00:23:24.559 --> 00:23:25.660 who graciously 00:23:25.660 --> 00:23:26.399 restores. 00:23:27.599 --> 00:23:28.339 So there is 00:23:28.339 --> 00:23:29.379 an invitation 00:23:29.379 --> 00:23:30.639 to each one 00:23:30.639 --> 00:23:31.099 of us 00:23:31.099 --> 00:23:32.720 as 00:23:32.720 --> 00:23:33.799 we are 00:23:33.799 --> 00:23:34.480 maybe at 00:23:34.480 --> 00:23:35.160 different stages 00:23:35.160 --> 00:23:35.539 of trying 00:23:35.539 --> 00:23:36.200 to pick up 00:23:36.200 --> 00:23:36.720 the pieces 00:23:36.720 --> 00:23:37.779 and trying 00:23:37.779 --> 00:23:38.799 to get 00:23:38.799 --> 00:23:39.460 back to 00:23:39.460 --> 00:23:40.059 some kind 00:23:40.059 --> 00:23:40.980 of normality. 00:23:41.640 --> 00:23:42.700 Will God 00:23:42.700 --> 00:23:43.700 be the centre 00:23:43.700 --> 00:23:44.200 of that 00:23:44.200 --> 00:23:44.640 new 00:23:44.640 --> 00:23:45.480 normal? 00:23:46.360 --> 00:23:47.019 Will he 00:23:47.019 --> 00:23:47.700 be the one 00:23:47.700 --> 00:23:48.940 we place 00:23:48.940 --> 00:23:49.620 our hope 00:23:49.620 --> 00:23:49.759 in? 00:23:49.900 --> 00:23:50.380 Will we 00:23:50.380 --> 00:23:50.900 allow him 00:23:50.900 --> 00:23:51.519 to use 00:23:51.519 --> 00:23:52.180 this 00:23:52.180 --> 00:23:53.019 suffering 00:23:53.019 --> 00:23:53.640 in our 00:23:53.640 --> 00:23:53.880 life 00:23:53.880 --> 00:23:54.720 to achieve 00:23:54.720 --> 00:23:55.779 something 00:23:55.779 --> 00:23:56.740 of spiritual 00:23:56.740 --> 00:23:57.759 and lasting 00:23:57.759 --> 00:23:58.380 good 00:23:58.380 --> 00:24:00.540 as we 00:24:00.540 --> 00:24:01.060 look away 00:24:01.060 --> 00:24:01.740 from ourselves 00:24:01.740 --> 00:24:02.180 and as we 00:24:02.180 --> 00:24:02.860 look up 00:24:02.860 --> 00:24:03.960 to heaven 00:24:03.960 --> 00:24:05.380 as we 00:24:05.380 --> 00:24:06.240 cry out 00:24:06.240 --> 00:24:06.680 from the 00:24:06.680 --> 00:24:07.140 depths 00:24:07.140 --> 00:24:07.960 to God 00:24:07.960 --> 00:24:08.580 for mercy 00:24:08.580 --> 00:24:09.960 as we 00:24:09.960 --> 00:24:10.800 read in 00:24:10.800 --> 00:24:11.680 Psalm 130 00:24:11.680 --> 00:24:13.800 and we 00:24:13.800 --> 00:24:14.560 also see 00:24:14.560 --> 00:24:14.900 and we've 00:24:14.900 --> 00:24:15.600 already mentioned 00:24:15.600 --> 00:24:16.680 it in the 00:24:16.680 --> 00:24:17.040 story of 00:24:17.040 --> 00:24:17.600 Nebuchadnezzar 00:24:17.600 --> 00:24:18.480 that God's 00:24:18.480 --> 00:24:19.220 mercy 00:24:19.220 --> 00:24:20.900 is powerful. 00:24:22.580 --> 00:24:23.460 I wonder 00:24:23.460 --> 00:24:24.440 if you ever 00:24:24.440 --> 00:24:25.420 find yourself 00:24:25.420 --> 00:24:26.960 discouraged 00:24:26.960 --> 00:24:28.980 thinking about 00:24:28.980 --> 00:24:29.539 people that 00:24:29.539 --> 00:24:30.000 you care 00:24:30.000 --> 00:24:30.299 about 00:24:30.299 --> 00:24:31.380 family members 00:24:31.380 --> 00:24:31.900 friends 00:24:31.900 --> 00:24:32.559 colleagues 00:24:32.559 --> 00:24:33.140 wondering 00:24:33.140 --> 00:24:34.240 will that 00:24:34.240 --> 00:24:35.079 person ever 00:24:35.079 --> 00:24:36.200 change? 00:24:37.079 --> 00:24:37.700 Can they 00:24:37.700 --> 00:24:38.840 change? 00:24:39.860 --> 00:24:40.539 Can God 00:24:40.539 --> 00:24:41.579 work in 00:24:41.579 --> 00:24:42.559 that person's 00:24:42.559 --> 00:24:42.900 heart? 00:24:43.000 --> 00:24:43.660 Maybe tempted 00:24:43.660 --> 00:24:44.579 to give 00:24:44.579 --> 00:24:45.660 up praying? 00:24:45.980 --> 00:24:46.660 Well let 00:24:46.660 --> 00:24:47.779 Nebuchadnezzar 00:24:47.779 --> 00:24:49.640 be a reminder 00:24:49.640 --> 00:24:50.420 of just how 00:24:50.420 --> 00:24:51.460 powerful God's 00:24:51.460 --> 00:24:52.380 mercy is. 00:24:53.039 --> 00:24:53.680 Somebody who 00:24:53.680 --> 00:24:54.140 set himself 00:24:54.140 --> 00:24:54.720 up as a 00:24:54.720 --> 00:24:55.200 God, somebody 00:24:55.200 --> 00:24:55.720 who's willing 00:24:55.720 --> 00:24:56.960 to kill 00:24:56.960 --> 00:24:57.620 those who 00:24:57.620 --> 00:24:58.440 were worshipping 00:24:58.440 --> 00:25:00.380 God, is 00:25:00.380 --> 00:25:00.920 now praising 00:25:00.920 --> 00:25:01.360 God. 00:25:01.940 --> 00:25:02.920 God, our 00:25:02.920 --> 00:25:04.079 God, loves 00:25:04.079 --> 00:25:06.180 sinners and 00:25:06.180 --> 00:25:07.480 he loves to 00:25:07.480 --> 00:25:08.740 save sinners 00:25:08.740 --> 00:25:09.819 and he 00:25:09.819 --> 00:25:10.920 surprises with 00:25:10.920 --> 00:25:12.180 grace for 00:25:12.180 --> 00:25:13.559 his glory. 00:25:15.160 --> 00:25:15.980 This is also 00:25:15.980 --> 00:25:16.680 a reminder to 00:25:16.680 --> 00:25:17.340 us to pray 00:25:17.340 --> 00:25:17.880 for our 00:25:17.880 --> 00:25:18.319 leaders. 00:25:18.940 --> 00:25:19.460 Those leaders 00:25:19.460 --> 00:25:20.059 are appointed 00:25:20.059 --> 00:25:21.559 by God, they 00:25:21.559 --> 00:25:22.100 deserve our 00:25:22.100 --> 00:25:22.759 respect and as 00:25:22.759 --> 00:25:23.380 the Bible says 00:25:23.380 --> 00:25:23.799 they also 00:25:23.799 --> 00:25:24.840 deserve our 00:25:24.840 --> 00:25:25.420 prayers. 00:25:25.420 --> 00:25:27.940 pray believing 00:25:27.940 --> 00:25:28.460 that God 00:25:28.460 --> 00:25:29.500 can change 00:25:29.500 --> 00:25:30.000 them, that 00:25:30.000 --> 00:25:30.480 God can 00:25:30.480 --> 00:25:30.980 save them, 00:25:31.039 --> 00:25:31.320 that God 00:25:31.320 --> 00:25:31.860 can use 00:25:31.860 --> 00:25:33.380 them for 00:25:33.380 --> 00:25:34.140 his good 00:25:34.140 --> 00:25:34.800 purposes. 00:25:36.480 --> 00:25:37.460 In this 00:25:37.460 --> 00:25:38.740 current crisis 00:25:38.740 --> 00:25:40.320 can God 00:25:40.320 --> 00:25:41.700 save people 00:25:41.700 --> 00:25:42.360 from the 00:25:42.360 --> 00:25:42.900 depths of 00:25:42.900 --> 00:25:44.220 despair and 00:25:44.220 --> 00:25:44.700 fear? 00:25:46.160 --> 00:25:47.060 He did it 00:25:47.060 --> 00:25:48.080 for Nebuchadnezzar 00:25:48.080 --> 00:25:49.680 and he can 00:25:49.680 --> 00:25:50.400 certainly still 00:25:50.400 --> 00:25:51.160 do it today. 00:25:51.160 --> 00:25:53.259 maybe he 00:25:53.259 --> 00:25:53.880 will restore 00:25:53.880 --> 00:25:55.279 you today. 00:25:56.180 --> 00:25:56.920 Maybe you 00:25:56.920 --> 00:25:58.220 are powerfully 00:25:58.220 --> 00:25:59.080 aware of 00:25:59.080 --> 00:26:00.060 your need 00:26:00.060 --> 00:26:01.240 and you 00:26:01.240 --> 00:26:02.080 know also 00:26:02.080 --> 00:26:04.019 that you 00:26:04.019 --> 00:26:04.540 have not 00:26:04.540 --> 00:26:05.180 been setting 00:26:05.180 --> 00:26:05.759 your eyes 00:26:05.759 --> 00:26:06.500 towards heaven. 00:26:06.620 --> 00:26:06.980 Well, maybe 00:26:06.980 --> 00:26:07.800 this is the 00:26:07.800 --> 00:26:09.700 day that 00:26:09.700 --> 00:26:09.960 you would 00:26:09.960 --> 00:26:10.800 understand your 00:26:10.800 --> 00:26:11.480 sin and your 00:26:11.480 --> 00:26:11.960 need, you'd 00:26:11.960 --> 00:26:12.300 see the 00:26:12.300 --> 00:26:12.920 goodness and 00:26:12.920 --> 00:26:13.400 glory and 00:26:13.400 --> 00:26:13.980 the love of 00:26:13.980 --> 00:26:14.460 God in 00:26:14.460 --> 00:26:15.300 sending Jesus, 00:26:15.420 --> 00:26:15.759 that you would 00:26:15.759 --> 00:26:16.519 raise your eyes 00:26:16.519 --> 00:26:17.500 to heaven to 00:26:17.500 --> 00:26:18.180 see Jesus, 00:26:18.340 --> 00:26:18.920 your Saviour, 00:26:19.200 --> 00:26:19.580 the one who 00:26:19.579 --> 00:26:20.299 longs to 00:26:20.299 --> 00:26:20.819 save you, 00:26:21.139 --> 00:26:21.460 that you'd 00:26:21.460 --> 00:26:22.299 recognise his 00:26:22.299 --> 00:26:22.699 rule, that 00:26:22.699 --> 00:26:22.960 you would 00:26:22.960 --> 00:26:23.639 trust in 00:26:23.639 --> 00:26:24.679 him and 00:26:24.679 --> 00:26:25.099 that you 00:26:25.099 --> 00:26:25.639 would know 00:26:25.639 --> 00:26:26.939 that restoring. 00:26:29.379 --> 00:26:30.159 So we 00:26:30.159 --> 00:26:30.579 see this 00:26:30.579 --> 00:26:31.699 wonderful and 00:26:31.699 --> 00:26:32.240 surprising 00:26:32.240 --> 00:26:33.639 testimony from 00:26:33.639 --> 00:26:34.079 King 00:26:34.079 --> 00:26:35.099 Nebuchadnezzar. 00:26:36.019 --> 00:26:36.480 But as 00:26:36.480 --> 00:26:37.740 always, I 00:26:37.740 --> 00:26:38.299 want us to 00:26:38.299 --> 00:26:39.740 close thinking 00:26:39.740 --> 00:26:40.259 about the 00:26:40.259 --> 00:26:40.899 story of 00:26:40.899 --> 00:26:41.740 God's true 00:26:41.740 --> 00:26:42.539 and ultimate 00:26:42.539 --> 00:26:43.759 king who 00:26:43.759 --> 00:26:44.579 is Jesus. 00:26:45.019 --> 00:26:45.559 Picture 00:26:45.559 --> 00:26:47.460 Jesus, the 00:26:47.460 --> 00:26:47.720 one who 00:26:47.720 --> 00:26:48.199 doesn't just 00:26:48.200 --> 00:26:49.340 survey one 00:26:49.340 --> 00:26:49.860 kingdom. 00:26:50.640 --> 00:26:51.500 He looks 00:26:51.500 --> 00:26:51.920 over the 00:26:51.920 --> 00:26:52.779 whole world 00:26:52.779 --> 00:26:53.680 as its 00:26:53.680 --> 00:26:54.580 creator and 00:26:54.580 --> 00:26:55.360 sustainer. 00:26:56.420 --> 00:26:56.799 But there 00:26:56.799 --> 00:26:57.640 is no pride 00:26:57.640 --> 00:26:58.279 in Jesus, 00:26:58.480 --> 00:26:58.980 no hanging 00:26:58.980 --> 00:26:59.600 on to his 00:26:59.600 --> 00:27:00.700 position of 00:27:00.700 --> 00:27:01.160 glory in 00:27:01.160 --> 00:27:01.380 heaven. 00:27:01.539 --> 00:27:01.700 In 00:27:01.700 --> 00:27:02.360 humility, 00:27:02.920 --> 00:27:03.180 Jesus 00:27:03.180 --> 00:27:03.940 becomes one 00:27:03.940 --> 00:27:04.240 of us. 00:27:04.299 --> 00:27:05.019 He enters 00:27:05.019 --> 00:27:05.400 in. 00:27:05.480 --> 00:27:05.799 The Son 00:27:05.799 --> 00:27:06.220 of God 00:27:06.220 --> 00:27:07.559 becomes a 00:27:07.559 --> 00:27:08.019 man. 00:27:08.940 --> 00:27:09.360 And this 00:27:09.360 --> 00:27:09.920 wasn't a 00:27:09.920 --> 00:27:10.360 forced 00:27:10.360 --> 00:27:11.019 humility. 00:27:11.559 --> 00:27:12.559 He chose 00:27:12.559 --> 00:27:13.980 a path of 00:27:13.980 --> 00:27:14.440 humble 00:27:14.440 --> 00:27:15.180 obedience 00:27:15.180 --> 00:27:16.700 that led 00:27:16.700 --> 00:27:17.820 him into 00:27:17.820 --> 00:27:18.380 suffering, 00:27:18.820 --> 00:27:19.460 that led 00:27:19.460 --> 00:27:19.980 him to 00:27:19.980 --> 00:27:21.240 death on 00:27:21.240 --> 00:27:21.740 a cross. 00:27:23.160 --> 00:27:23.960 Why that 00:27:23.960 --> 00:27:24.299 path? 00:27:24.400 --> 00:27:24.759 Why that 00:27:24.759 --> 00:27:25.240 journey? 00:27:26.799 --> 00:27:27.759 Because Jesus 00:27:27.759 --> 00:27:28.500 is taking the 00:27:28.500 --> 00:27:29.120 place of 00:27:29.120 --> 00:27:29.740 proud, 00:27:30.240 --> 00:27:30.519 rebel 00:27:30.519 --> 00:27:30.940 sinners 00:27:30.940 --> 00:27:32.299 like us. 00:27:32.660 --> 00:27:33.240 He is 00:27:33.240 --> 00:27:33.860 dying in 00:27:33.860 --> 00:27:34.480 our place 00:27:34.480 --> 00:27:35.380 for our 00:27:35.380 --> 00:27:35.740 sins, 00:27:36.140 --> 00:27:36.980 for us as 00:27:36.980 --> 00:27:37.480 we build 00:27:37.480 --> 00:27:37.860 our own 00:27:37.860 --> 00:27:38.960 little empire, 00:27:39.320 --> 00:27:40.140 pursuing our 00:27:40.140 --> 00:27:40.620 glory, 00:27:41.019 --> 00:27:41.640 where we 00:27:41.640 --> 00:27:42.580 leave no 00:27:42.580 --> 00:27:43.320 room for 00:27:43.319 --> 00:27:43.759 God. 00:27:44.500 --> 00:27:44.939 Jesus 00:27:44.939 --> 00:27:45.639 comes to 00:27:45.639 --> 00:27:46.159 die for 00:27:46.159 --> 00:27:46.759 that sin 00:27:46.759 --> 00:27:47.240 and so 00:27:47.240 --> 00:27:47.839 many more 00:27:47.839 --> 00:27:48.299 so that we 00:27:48.299 --> 00:27:48.740 might be 00:27:48.740 --> 00:27:49.319 forgiven, 00:27:49.919 --> 00:27:50.359 so that by 00:27:50.359 --> 00:27:51.019 looking to 00:27:51.019 --> 00:27:51.359 Jesus, 00:27:51.480 --> 00:27:51.799 now the 00:27:51.799 --> 00:27:52.259 King in 00:27:52.259 --> 00:27:52.579 heaven, 00:27:53.480 --> 00:27:54.119 to come 00:27:54.119 --> 00:27:54.579 to him 00:27:54.579 --> 00:27:55.019 is to 00:27:55.019 --> 00:27:55.259 be 00:27:55.259 --> 00:27:55.899 restored. 00:27:57.639 --> 00:27:58.139 Here is 00:27:58.139 --> 00:27:58.700 the cure 00:27:58.700 --> 00:27:59.439 for pride 00:27:59.439 --> 00:28:00.099 to look 00:28:00.099 --> 00:28:00.859 to Jesus, 00:28:01.359 --> 00:28:02.240 our humble, 00:28:02.779 --> 00:28:03.659 self-giving 00:28:03.659 --> 00:28:04.379 Saviour, 00:28:04.919 --> 00:28:05.299 and we 00:28:05.299 --> 00:28:05.819 are called 00:28:05.819 --> 00:28:06.500 to walk 00:28:06.500 --> 00:28:07.419 in his 00:28:07.419 --> 00:28:08.659 steps. 00:28:12.059 --> 00:28:12.700 Nebuchadnezzar 00:28:12.700 --> 00:28:13.460 was a 00:28:13.460 --> 00:28:13.720 king, 00:28:13.840 --> 00:28:14.299 pictured as 00:28:14.299 --> 00:28:14.920 a tree 00:28:14.920 --> 00:28:15.880 who was 00:28:15.880 --> 00:28:16.460 cut down 00:28:16.460 --> 00:28:17.200 and restored. 00:28:17.799 --> 00:28:18.160 Jesus, 00:28:18.819 --> 00:28:20.299 in his 00:28:20.299 --> 00:28:21.160 stories and 00:28:21.160 --> 00:28:21.440 in his 00:28:21.440 --> 00:28:21.779 teaching, 00:28:21.900 --> 00:28:22.400 used that 00:28:22.400 --> 00:28:23.299 picture of 00:28:23.299 --> 00:28:23.840 a tree 00:28:23.840 --> 00:28:24.940 to speak 00:28:24.940 --> 00:28:25.480 about his 00:28:25.480 --> 00:28:25.799 kingdom, 00:28:25.920 --> 00:28:26.360 the true 00:28:26.360 --> 00:28:27.160 kingdom of 00:28:27.160 --> 00:28:27.480 God, 00:28:27.860 --> 00:28:28.460 the kingdom 00:28:28.460 --> 00:28:29.039 that begins 00:28:29.039 --> 00:28:29.680 as small 00:28:29.680 --> 00:28:30.039 as a 00:28:30.039 --> 00:28:30.660 mustard seed 00:28:30.660 --> 00:28:31.120 with just 00:28:31.120 --> 00:28:31.640 a few, 00:28:32.160 --> 00:28:32.660 but then 00:28:32.660 --> 00:28:33.180 grows to 00:28:33.180 --> 00:28:33.660 become the 00:28:33.660 --> 00:28:34.240 biggest of 00:28:34.240 --> 00:28:34.700 all the 00:28:34.700 --> 00:28:35.279 trees and 00:28:35.279 --> 00:28:36.319 the birds 00:28:36.319 --> 00:28:37.299 nest in 00:28:37.299 --> 00:28:38.000 its branches. 00:28:38.539 --> 00:28:39.279 Jesus uses 00:28:39.279 --> 00:28:39.880 this picture 00:28:39.880 --> 00:28:40.180 of the 00:28:40.180 --> 00:28:40.660 kingdom of 00:28:40.660 --> 00:28:41.059 God to 00:28:41.059 --> 00:28:41.420 say that 00:28:41.420 --> 00:28:41.799 it's a 00:28:41.799 --> 00:28:42.359 growing 00:28:42.359 --> 00:28:42.899 kingdom. 00:28:43.299 --> 00:28:43.819 It would 00:28:43.819 --> 00:28:44.539 become a 00:28:44.539 --> 00:28:45.079 global 00:28:45.079 --> 00:28:45.700 kingdom and 00:28:45.700 --> 00:28:46.220 we praise 00:28:46.220 --> 00:28:46.759 God that 00:28:46.759 --> 00:28:47.919 that's true 00:28:47.919 --> 00:28:48.259 and that 00:28:48.259 --> 00:28:48.720 through this 00:28:48.720 --> 00:28:49.859 pandemic the 00:28:49.859 --> 00:28:50.619 church still 00:28:50.619 --> 00:28:51.539 continues to 00:28:51.539 --> 00:28:51.859 grow, 00:28:52.460 --> 00:28:53.200 that we can 00:28:53.200 --> 00:28:53.659 come to 00:28:53.659 --> 00:28:54.319 King Jesus 00:28:54.319 --> 00:28:54.859 and find 00:28:54.859 --> 00:28:56.519 shelter in 00:28:56.519 --> 00:28:57.099 our sorrow, 00:28:57.220 --> 00:28:57.879 in our sadness, 00:28:58.200 --> 00:28:58.859 in our fear. 00:28:59.180 --> 00:29:00.039 We can come to 00:29:00.039 --> 00:29:00.579 him and find 00:29:00.579 --> 00:29:02.119 life and life 00:29:02.119 --> 00:29:02.639 in all its 00:29:02.639 --> 00:29:02.980 fullness. 00:29:05.259 --> 00:29:06.119 So let's 00:29:06.119 --> 00:29:07.019 come to 00:29:07.019 --> 00:29:07.279 him. 00:29:07.919 --> 00:29:08.460 Let's heed 00:29:08.460 --> 00:29:09.339 the testimony 00:29:09.339 --> 00:29:11.079 of Nebuchadnezzar 00:29:11.079 --> 00:29:11.319 and come 00:29:11.319 --> 00:29:12.720 to our 00:29:12.720 --> 00:29:13.259 powerful 00:29:13.259 --> 00:29:13.919 God to 00:29:13.919 --> 00:29:14.439 find 00:29:14.439 --> 00:29:15.500 mercy. 00:29:15.500 --> 00:29:15.599 Let's see.