Daniel 5  When a man steps over the deadline.

Can a person spiritually pass the point of no return? Can a person be so willfully rebellious that God will give up on him?

The late P.C. Dawes was once on point duty in Oxfordstreet, London, when a boat-race fan flippantly asked, "I say, Bobbie, can you tell me the way to hell? " The policeman answered immediately, " Certainly, sir. Keep straight on."

Temperman writes: So what about Belshazzar? Until recently Belshazzar was thought to be one of those errors in the Bible's understanding of history that led many to doubt its accuracy. However, after the discovery and decipherment of cuneiform tablets began in the nineteenth century, we began to learn more and more about the period in question. As a result, Belshazzar emerged from the shadows as a definite historical character. Today we have abundant textual witness to the fact that he was the son of Nabonidus. More than that, Belshazzar was coregent and actually in charge of Babylon during his father's ten-year absence from the capital city, thus explaining the reference to him as king.2

The story of Nabonidus's absence from Babylon is an intriguing one, but we will only give the mere outline of the story.3 In short, Nabonidus was a devotee of the moon god Sin, the chief god of his ancestral homeland Haran. While not a monotheist, he was interested in promoting the interests of Sin, which apparently angered the powerful Marduk priesthood. Evidence exists that his son, Belshazzar, did not share his devotion to Sin and may even have led a party that, while not forcing Nabonidus to abdicate, did result in his abandonment of the capital to take up residence at a site called Teima, located at an oasis in what is today Saudi Arabia.

That banquet, according to Karen Jobes6 and others, was intended to unite the leaders of the empire on the eve of Xerxes' attempted conquest of Greece. The broader textual and historical setting of Daniel 5 suggests that a similar political-military purpose was at work in Belshazzar's mind.

In a word, the Persians are knocking at the door of the Babylonian empire. Indeed, as the end of the story indicates, they will take the city of Babylon the very next day. Extrabiblical sources, both cuneiform and Greek (Herodotus and Xenophon), give us more information about the events leading up to the fall of Babylon on October 12, 539 B.C.7

The final victory may have been a surprise attack on Babylon. Indeed, Herodotus and Xenophon indicate that the final raid on Babylon took place during a nighttime banquet. But even if the final raid was sudden, it could not have been unanticipated. The Babylonian Chronicle indicates that just a couple of days earlier, Cyrus the Persian had defeated Nabonidus and the Babylonian army near Sippar (approximately fifty miles from Babylon). Nabonidus had fled the scene, though not to the capital.

Belshazzar must have known that an attack would come sooner or later. It was in this context that the banquet described in our chapter took place. Was it to rally and encourage the leaders? To give them a diversion in the face of the onslaught? To feast today for tomorrow we die? Perhaps a bit of all three, but we are safe to assume that tension permeated the air in the Babylonian capital at this time.

Wine flowed abundantly at the banquet. The king and his nobles drank deeply together. The text does not emphasize the drinking, however, to provide a moral lesson on the dangers of thinking under the influence of alcohol. No, the focus shifts to the holy goblets that Nebuchadnezzar had removed from the temple. These precious temple vessels are about to be profaned by being pressed into common use.

The throne room of the kings of Babylon was excavated by Koldewey in 1899.12 Of course, the message recorded here has not been found, nor are the walls intact, but enough is left to show that the walls were coated with white gypsum, which means that the writing would be clear on the wall, especially considering the text's note that the writing took place "near the lampstand."  Temperman.

There are the words. Mene Mene Tekel, Parsin

The queen in this  passage may have been Nebuchadnezzar's wife, Nitocris, still exerting her influence more than two decades later. Herodotus, the Greek historian, celebrates her wisdom

Daniel begins by refusing the gift. He will interpret the writing on the wall free of charge.

"YOUR DAYS ARE numbered!"  "The handwriting is on the wall!"

Can a person spiritually pass the point of no return? Can a person be so willfully rebellious that God will give up on him?

The answer to these questions is yes.

There is a deadline that, if we cross it, our doom is sealed and we have no hope.

God is a God of infinite love, but He is also a God of wrath and judgment.  It is truth that God is love; but when we take part of the truth and make part of the truth all of the truth, then that part of the truth becomes an untruth. We need to see and believe all of God's Word.

Proverbs 29:1 He who is often rebuked, and hardens his neck, Will suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy.

We find four definite truths in this one verse that we will focus on in this message. 

RESISTERS OF SPIRITUAL CONVICTION (Proverbs 29:1)

God does convict us; we are often reproved.  No one goes to Hell unloved, unwarned and unconvicted.  God strives with us and knocks on our heart's door, calling to us over and over again.  God is merciful if He warns us just one time, but the Scripture says that He reproves us over and over and over again.

How does God speak and reprove us?

Through His servants. 

God speaks through songs, sermons and soul winners. The Holy Spirit of God speaks to each one of us.

The Testimony of a Transformed Father The conversion of Nebuchadnezzar provides one of the most thrilling accounts in Old Testament literature. An arrogant, unbelieving pagan had been reduced to a position of mental impotence; but when hope of his recovery had been abandoned, a miracle took place. Later, the restored monarch was able to say, "And at the end of the days, I Nebuchadnezzar lifted up mine eyes unto heaven, and mine understanding returned unto me, and I blessed the most High" (Dan. 4: 34). Returning to his palace, the converted king turned his home into a cathedral, and the charm of his testimony reached everybody. Except Bel.

Through sweetness.  

God loves us too much to let us go to Hell without being warned and reproved. This noble Babylonian queen was one of the lesser-known characters of the Scriptures, but she was a great soul. She is probably more keenly aware of what was going on than anyone else alive at this stage. She said, ". . . let not thy thoughts trouble thee, nor let thy countenance be changed: There is a man in thy kingdom in whom is the spirit of the holy gods, and in the days of thy father light and understanding and wisdom, like the wisdom of the gods, was found in him . . . ... (5: 1 0-1 1). Obviously, she had been attentive to Daniel's message when the King who replaced Nabonidus possibly her own grandson,  had remained indifferent; she had remembered when he had forgotten. Had he been more influenced by his gracious lady, he might have lived longer than he did. Her presence represented God's second fence. Alas, Belshazzar swept it from his pathway.

Romans 2:4 God will reprove us through the simple smile of a baby or through the beauty of a flower. Through Stupidity 

We can make decisions that blow up in our faces. That is what happened after Nebuchadnezzar's death.

Through His Holy Spirit.

The Holy Spirit of God will gently but strongly speak to our hearts, convicting us of our sin and our need to be saved. If the Holy Spirit is speaking to you today, please listen to the Spirit of God.

Through sickness. 

Psalm 119:67  Sickness is a messenger that reminds us that we will one day pass away. We will not be upon this Earth forever.

Through sorrows.

Perhaps God has spoken to you through the death of a loved one or through a financial hardship.

Through sweetness. 

Romans 2:4 God will reprove us through the simple smile of a baby or through the beauty of a flower.

God loves us too much to let us go to Hell without being warned and reproved.

REASONS FOR STUBBORN REBELLION (Proverbs 29:1)

To "harden your neck" means to say no; we might say today, "bowing up the neck."

How do you harden your neck?

By pride.

Proverbs 16:18  Pride goes before destruction, And a haughty spirit before a fall.

First the king speaks. A close reading of the text reveals a condescending attitude by Belshazzar toward this man who played such a significant role in Nebuchadnezzar's life, a role concerning which he is fully aware (cf. v. 22). The king first identifies him as one of the captives: "Are you Daniel, one of the exiles my father the king brought from Judah?" (v. 13). Such an address intends to remind Daniel of his place before Belshazzar. Belshazzar is king; Daniel is his captive. Calvin understood the tone of the king's speech when he states that "the king does not acknowledge his negligence but interrogates Daniel without shame—and interrogates him as if he were a prisoner."18

Belshazzar then launches off a series of honorifics that cite Daniel's abilities and character, but again a close reading of the speech shows that the king himself does not endorse the reports. Twice he begins his words with "I have heard," once when speaking of Daniel's endowment with the divine spirit, insight, intelligence, and wisdom (v. 14), and again when saying that Daniel is one who can give interpretations and solve difficult problems (v. 16). Contrast this with what Nebuchadnezzar had earlier simply asserted: "I know that the spirit of the holy gods is in you, and no mystery is too difficult for you. Here is my dream; interpret it for me" (4:9). Belshazzar's flattery is more provisional and his request for interpretation, accordingly, is conditional: "If you can read this writing and tell me what it means …" (v. 16).

Daniel has not missed the slight. The abruptness and the content of the king's lengthy speech indicates the prophet's annoyance and dislike for this second-rate monarch. In earlier chapters, when he spoke to Nebuchadnezzar, he used respect and concern. Again, Calvin has caught the flavor of the speech: "I have no doubt that he meant to speak roughly to the ungodly Belshazzar, a man beyond hope; but because there had been still some uprightness left in King Nebuchadnezzar and he had good hopes in him, he had treated him more gently."

By procrastination. Proverbs 27:1

Some have the idea that they will give their hearts to the Lord one day, maybe tomorrow.  Dr. R. G. Lee once said that tomorrow is a time only found on the fool's clock.  Exodus 8:9-10 Pharaoh entreated Moses to ask God to take away the plague of the frogs. When Moses inquired of Pharaoh when he'd like Moses to intercede for him, Pharaoh responded with, "Tomorrow." Many of us are like Pharaoh: we say we want to come to Jesus, but we'll wait until tomorrow.  We choose another night with the frogs.

By pleasures of this world.

2 Timothy 3:4  Some do not want to give up their sin and the pleasures of this world to come to Jesus.  Hebrews 11:25 The Bible also speaks about the pleasures of righteousness.  Psalm 16:11 Don't think that when we come to Jesus we give up something.  Psalm 84:11 God is a good God. If it will make us happy, holy and healthy, God says, "Help yourself." 1. 1 Timothy 6:17 Every time God says, "Thou shalt not," He is simply saying, "Don't hurt yourself." When God says, "Thou shalt," He is saying, "Help yourself to happiness."

RESPONSE OF SUDDEN DESTRUCTION (Proverbs 29:1)

There comes a time when we cross God's deadline. God will bring judgment. How may the sudden destruction come?

Destruction of the mind through strong delusion.

Destruction may come, not merely to your body or soul, but also to your mind. God will destroy your ability to think correctly.  2 Thessalonians 2:11-12  "Delude" means to be deceived. The opposite of truth is not error but sin; unrighteousness.  When we are reproved and faced with the truth but we embrace our sin rather than the truth, the baggage is strong delusion. The baggage is just judgment.

Destruction of the spirit through desertion.

John 6:44 Unless the Holy Spirit of God brings us under conviction, we will never be saved. The Bible teaches that we can say "no" to the Holy Spirit so many times that God's Holy Spirit will cease to work in our hearts.  Romans 1:24-28  Genesis 6:3  It is possible to come to a place of sudden destruction in your spirit, as well as in your mind, where the Holy Spirit no longer speaks to you and God no longer draws you.

Destruction of the body through death.

Proverbs 29:1 Eternity is only a heartbeat away. 1 Samuel 20:3

REQUIEM OF A SETTLED DESTINY (Proverbs 29:1)

Once we die, we will not stand before God and ask for a second chance.

There will be no second chance.  Hebrews 9:27 Luke 16:19-31 This passage tells of a rich man who died and went to Hell.  He looked for some alleviation from the suffering he was experiencing, but there was no second chance.  God describes Hell as a place of hellfire.  Hell is a bottomless pit from which no one who goes there can escape.

 "Without remedy" means "without hope," "without a cure."

CONCLUSION

God loves you with an infinite love and has spoken to you over and over again.

God reproves you because He loves you so much and wants to save you. If you're concerned about whether you've crossed God's deadline, please know that you haven't if you'll call upon Him. Anyone who wants to be saved can be saved.  The person who crosses God's deadline has no desire to be saved. If you have a desire to be saved, it is because the Holy Spirit is working in you. Do you know Jesus personally? If not, you can pray to Him today by asking Him to come into your life.  Call upon Jesus today. Repent (turn) from your sins, and turn to Jesus. Ask Him to forgive you of your sins, and acknowledge Him as Lord of your life.

1 ​King Nebuchadnezzar to all peoples, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth: Peace be multiplied to you! 2 It has seemed good to me to show the signs and wonders that the Most High God has done for me.

 3 How great are his signs, how mighty his wonders!  His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,

and his dominion endures from generation to generation.

4 ​I, Nebuchadnezzar, was at ease in my house and prospering in my palace. 5 I saw a dream that made me afraid. As I lay in bed the fancies and the visions of my head alarmed me. 6 So I made a decree that all the wise men of Babylon should be brought before me, that they might make known to me the interpretation of the dream. 7 Then the magicians, the enchanters, the Chaldeans, and the astrologers came in, and I told them the dream, but they could not make known to me its interpretation. 8 At last Daniel came in before me—he who was named Belteshazzar after the name of my god, and in whom is the spirit of the holy gods—and I told him the dream, saying, 9 "O Belteshazzar, chief of the magicians, because I know that the spirit of the holy gods is in you and that no mystery is too difficult for you, tell me the visions of my dream that I saw and their interpretation. 10 The visions of my head as I lay in bed were these: I saw, and behold, a tree in the midst of the earth, and its height was great. 11 The tree grew and became strong, and its top reached to heaven, and it was visible to the end of the whole earth. 12 Its leaves were beautiful and its fruit abundant, and in it was food for all. The beasts of the field found shade under it, and the birds of the heavens lived in its branches, and all flesh was fed from it.

 13 "I saw in the visions of my head as I lay in bed, and behold, a watcher, a holy one, came down from heaven. 14 He proclaimed aloud and said thus: 'Chop down the tree and lop off its branches, strip off its leaves and scatter its fruit. Let the beasts flee from under it and the birds from its branches. 15 But leave the stump of its roots in the earth, bound with a band of iron and bronze, amid the tender grass of the field. Let him be wet with the dew of heaven. Let his portion be with the beasts in the grass of the earth. 16 Let his mind be changed from a man's, and let a beast's mind be given to him; and let seven periods of time pass over him. 17 The sentence is by the decree of the watchers, the decision by the word of the holy ones, to the end that the living may know that the Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he will and sets over it the lowliest of men.' 18 This dream I, King Nebuchadnezzar, saw. And you, O Belteshazzar, tell me the interpretation, because all the wise men of my kingdom are not able to make known to me the interpretation, but you are able, for the spirit of the holy gods is in you."

19 Then Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, was dismayed for a while, and his thoughts alarmed him. The king answered and said, "Belteshazzar, let not the dream or the interpretation alarm you." Belteshazzar answered and said, "My lord, may the dream be for those who hate you and its interpretation for your enemies! 20 The tree you saw, which grew and became strong, so that its top reached to heaven, and it was visible to the end of the whole earth, 21 whose leaves were beautiful and its fruit abundant, and in which was food for all, under which beasts of the field found shade, and in whose branches the birds of the heavens lived— 22 it is you, O king, who have grown and become strong. Your greatness has grown and reaches to heaven, and your dominion to the ends of the earth. 23 And because the king saw a watcher, a holy one, coming down from heaven and saying, 'Chop down the tree and destroy it, but leave the stump of its roots in the earth, bound with a band of iron and bronze, in the tender grass of the field, and let him be wet with the dew of heaven, and let his portion be with the beasts of the field, till seven periods of time pass over him,' 24 this is the interpretation, O king: It is a decree of the Most High, which has come upon my lord the king, 25 that you shall be driven from among men, and your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field. You shall be made to eat grass like an ox, and you shall be wet with the dew of heaven, and seven periods of time shall pass over you, till you know that the Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he will. 26 And as it was commanded to leave the stump of the roots of the tree, your kingdom shall be confirmed for you from the time that you know that Heaven rules. 27 Therefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable to you: break off your sins by practicing righteousness, and your iniquities by showing mercy to the oppressed, that there may perhaps be a lengthening of your prosperity."

28 All this came upon King Nebuchadnezzar. 29 At the end of twelve months he was walking on the roof of the royal palace of Babylon, 30 and the king answered and said, "Is not this great Babylon, which I have built by my mighty power as a royal residence and for the glory of my majesty?" 31 While the words were still in the king's mouth, there fell a voice from heaven, "O King Nebuchadnezzar, to you it is spoken: The kingdom has departed from you, 32 and you shall be driven from among men, and your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field. And you shall be made to eat grass like an ox, and seven periods of time shall pass over you, until you know that the Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he will." 33 Immediately the word was fulfilled against Nebuchadnezzar. He was driven from among men and ate grass like an ox, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven till his hair grew as long as eagles' feathers, and his nails were like birds' claws.

34 At the end of the days I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted my eyes to heaven, and my reason returned to me, and I blessed the Most High, and praised and honored him who lives forever, for his dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom endures from generation to generation;   35  all the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing, and he does according to his will among the host of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth; and none can stay his hand or say to him, "What have you done?"

 36 At the same time my reason returned to me, and for the glory of my kingdom, my majesty and splendor returned to me. My counselors and my lords sought me, and I was established in my kingdom, and still more greatness was added to me. 37 Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the King of heaven, for all his works are right and his ways are just; and those who walk in pride he is able to humble.

How is pride connected to all other sin?

Why is it not arrogant of God to humble everyone whose pride threatens his glory?

What indications do we have in this text that Nebuchadnezzar's worship is genuine?

Describe a time when God has troubled your heart to get your attention. How did you respond?

Why is speaking the truth in love often so hard? How does Daniel model this act of grace?

How does Nebuchadnezzar resemble Adam and Eve? How is God's response to the king similar to his response to our first parents?

How can someone who experiences great success in this world, like Nebuchadnezzar, remain humble?

What is God showing Nebuchadnezzar in making him animal-like?

How could Nebuchadnezzar have used his kingdom to honor God instead of trying to steal glory from God? How can you use your gifts, talents, and successes to serve God?

How does Jesus model how to handle greatness? How has he used his power to serve others?

Akin

Nebuchadnezzar was by far the most famous of all the kings of the East. In his early years and before he came to his great throne Nebuchadnezzar had won victory after victory over all the surrounding nations. There was the conquest of Jerusalem after 18 months siege. There was the conquest of Tyre after 13 years. There was twice over the conquest of Egypt.

There were his conquests on war, and perhaps even greater, his achievements in peace. He ruled over the provinces from India through to Ethiopia…Pakistan and Afghanistan and many other stans were under his control. And he was a builder. A Nation Builder.

Josephus wrote of Nebuchadnezzar: "So when he had thus fortified the city with walls, after an excellent manner, and had adorned the gates magnificently, he added a new palace to that which his father had dwelt in, and this close by it also, and that more eminent in its height, and in its great splendor. It would perhaps require too long of a narration, if anyone were to describe it. However, as prodigiously large and magnificent as it was, it was finished in 15 days. Now in this palace he erected very high walks, supported by stone pillars, and by planting what was called a pensile paradise, and replenishing it with all sorts of trees, he rendered to the prospect of an exact resemblance of a mountainous country (Josephus, p. 613)."

He built the great Hanging Gardens of Babylon, identified by the Greeks as one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. From the roof of his palace, Nebuchadnezzar could look down on the main thoroughfare, a boulevard lined with brightly coloured enameled brick adorned with images of bulls and dragons.  From his palace roof he could gaze over the hanging gardens of Babylon, one of the Seven Wonders of the ancient world, along with the Pyramids and the statue of Colossus at Rhodes. These were massive gardens that he had built for his wife Amytis. She came from Media where there were mountains and vegetation, so Nebuchadnezzar basically constructed an artificial mountain and planted gardens that hung down the side of this structure it made it appear that these gardens were growing in air. An ingenious system had been devised to hoist water over 300 feet from the Euphrates to water these gardens. "Look what I have done!"

Babylonian records tell us that he had three palaces in the city. His main palace was 350 metres long and 200 metres wide. The City of Babylon was an architectural marvel. Maybe two million people lived there, the largest city in the world. A wide ceremonial boulevard ran down the center of the city 1,000 metres long. A double-wall system encircled the main city. Its inner wall was 7 metres thick and reinforced with defense towers at 20 metre intervals. The outer wall was 12metres high, 3 metres wide and also had watchtowers. Later, Nebuchadnezzar added another defensive double-wall system. It ran for 17 miles and was wide enough at the top for chariots to pass. The city boasted wide streets, more than fifty temples, and countless public buildings. The mighty Euphrates River flowed through it, and gardens, palm groves, orchards, and farmland dotted the countryside, providing enough food to feed the entire city. Gigantic shrines to Babylonian deities were set up everywhere. The pinnacle of the city's beauty, however, must have been the naturally air-conditioned hanging gardens Nebuchadnezzar had built for his homesick wife.

Nebuchadnezzar ruled forty-three years (605-562 B.C.).. It's  the king's thirty-fourth year,

And he has another dream.  Thirty-two years had elapsed since Nebuchadnezzar's first dream (which came in his second year Dan. 2:1), and Daniel was now about forty-nine years old.

And in those thirty two years, Nebuchadnezzar had lived long and prospered. He must have been around 60 years old or older.  And he had done well. He was larger than life. Larger even than his golden statue in the plain of Dura!

The Lord told him how great he was in the dream.  The tree. Babylon! Nebuchadnezzar!

It was         strategically located: "in the midst of the earth"

strong: "the tree grew and became strong"

stretched to heaven: "its height reached to the heavens"

seen by the entire world: "it could be seen to the ends of all the earth"

superbly productive: "its leaves were lovely, its fruit abundant"

supplied nourishment for everyone: "in it was food for all"

sheltered the animals: "the beasts of the field found shade under it"

sustained the birds: "the birds of the heavens dwelt in its branches"

But with all this, God warned Nebuchadnezzar.

According to Miller: "Many outstanding achievements may be attributed to Nebuchadnezzar, but sadly he failed to give God the glory for his blessings. His heart was filled with pride and self-importance and he began to boast of his own greatness and ability.  In his pride the king took for himself the glory that rightly belonged to God and invited divine judgment" (Miller, p. 141).

He looked out at the city and said, "Look what I have done!"

From the roof of his palace this king gazed out upon all of this grandeur and his heart became filled with pride. He failed to give God the glory for his blessings. His heart was filled with self-importance. He began to boast of his own greatness and ability. Look at the first person pronouns in verse 30: "Is not this the great Babylon I have built as the royal residence, by my mighty power and "for the glory of my majesty?"

The sin of pride is one of the toughest sins because a person can commit it and really not know it. You know when you steal. You know when you lie or commit adultery. But you can be guilty of pride and confuse it with "feeling good about yourself" or "having a positive self-image." Pride is when you start thinking that every good thing in your life is a result of who you are and what you have done. It removes God from the equation. That's why the Bible says: "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble" (I Peter 5:5).

The Great Sin

Solomon earlier made plain the Problems of Pride:

"Pride and arrogance and the evil way and the perverse mouth I hate" (Proverbs 8:13).

"When pride comes, then comes shame; but with the humble is wisdom" (Proverbs 11:2).

"Everyone proud in heart is an abomination to the LORD; though they join forces, none will go unpunished" (Proverbs 16:5).

"Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall" (Proverbs 16:18).

"A haughty look, a proud heart, and the plowing of the wicked are sin" (Proverbs 21:4).

"A man's pride will bring him low, but the humble in spirit will retain honor" (Proverbs 29:23).

James summarizes God's evaluation of pride: "God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble" (James 4:6).

C.S. Lewis calls it "the great sin" and with good reason. It is the sin that led to the fall of Satan. It is the sin that led to the fall of humanity and drove Adam and Eve from the garden of Eden. Of this sin C.S. Lewis said,

There is one vice of which no man in the world is free; which everyone loathes when he sees it in someone else; and of which hardly any people, except Christians, ever imagine that they are guilty themselves. I have heard people admit that they are bad-tempered, or that they cannot keep their heads about girls or drink, or even that they are cowards. I do not think I have ever heard anyone who was not a Christian accuse himself of this vice. And at the same time I have very seldom met anyone, who was not a Christian, who showed the slightest mercy to it in others. There is no fault that makes a man more unpopular, and no fault which we are more unconscious of in ourselves. And the more we have it ourselves, the more we dislike it in others.  The vice I am talking of is Pride or Self-Conceit: and the virtue opposite to it, in Christian morals, is called Humility. . . . According to Christian teachers, the essential vice, the utmost evil, is Pride. Unchastity, anger, greed, drunkenness, and all that, are mere fleabites in comparison: it was through Pride that the devil became the devil: Pride leads to every other vice: it is the complete anti-God state of mind. (Mere Christianity, 121–22)

Jonathan Edwards had much the same opinion on this great sin as Lewis:

The first, and the worst cause of errors that prevail in such a state of things, is spiritual pride. This is the main door, by which the Devil comes into the hearts of those that are zealous for the advancement of religion. …Pride is much more difficultly discerned than any other corruption, for that reason that the nature of it does very much consist in a person's having too high a thought of himself  (Some Thoughts on the Revival, 414–16)

The dream spoke about his pride.. but he needed to see the meaning of the dream. And even when he did. He still blew it. God warned him of his pride.

24 this is the interpretation, O king: It is a decree of the Most High, which has come upon my lord the king, 25 that you shall be driven from among men, and your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field. You shall be made to eat grass like an ox, and you shall be wet with the dew of heaven, and seven periods of time shall pass over you, till you know that the Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he will. 26 And as it was commanded to leave the stump of the roots of the tree, your kingdom shall be confirmed for you from the time that you know that Heaven rules. 27 Therefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable to you: break off your sins by practicing righteousness, and your iniquities by showing mercy to the oppressed, that there may perhaps be a lengthening of your prosperity."

But a year later the events of Daniel 4 came to pass.

He was surveying his city —and what a city it was!

As Nebuchadnezzar walked along the palace terrace and viewed the magnificent cityscape, he was overcome with pride, and his heart erupted with these vain words: "Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for a royal dwelling by my mighty power and for the honor of my majesty?" (Daniel 4:30, emphasis added).

Note the personal pronouns in Nebuchadnezzar's words. Every syllable drips with glory, pride, arrogance, and self-glorification. Nebuchadnezzar, like Lucifer (Isaiah 14:12-14), was about to learn that "God resists the proud" (James 4:6).

The Grim Shock

While the arrogant words were still in the king's mouth, a voice came from heaven pronouncing his doom.

28 All this came upon King Nebuchadnezzar. 29 At the end of twelve months he was walking on the roof of the royal palace of Babylon, 30 and the king answered and said, "Is not this great Babylon, which I have built by my mighty power as a royal residence and for the glory of my majesty?" 31 While the words were still in the king's mouth, there fell a voice from heaven, "O King Nebuchadnezzar, to you it is spoken: The kingdom has departed from you, 32 and you shall be driven from among men, and your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field. And you shall be made to eat grass like an ox, and seven periods of time shall pass over you, until you know that the Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he will." 33 Immediately the word was fulfilled against Nebuchadnezzar. He was driven from among men and ate grass like an ox, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven till his hair grew as long as eagles' feathers, and his nails were like birds' claws.

Sometimes God's Judgments come suddenly. Ananias and Saphira experienced a sudden judgment in the book of Acts.

Immediately Nebuchadnezzar was struck with insanity. 33 Immediately the word was fulfilled against Nebuchadnezzar.

His mental disease is known as lycanthropy, from the Greek word lykos, meaning "wolf," and the word anthropos, meaning "man." Lycanthropy stems from a centuries-old belief that some humans can transform into wolves —and revert back to human form. But clinical lycanthropy is a psychiatric diagnosis of a person who believes he or she has become a nonhuman animal (not necessarily a wolf). There's no indication in Daniel 4 that Nebuchadnezzar became a certain type of animal, only that he became like a wild animal in appearance and actions. His sudden mental deterioration was the judgment of God, for seven long years.

It isn't so unusual.  How often have we seen those who are inflated with pride brought down to the dust. They "flew too close to the sun" and their wings got scorched and they plunged to earth.  Alan Bond. Savage corporate Raider. Friend of the Mighty.  Founder of the Alan Bond University in Queensland. Winner of The America's Cup. Corproate Fraud of $540 million back in the 90's.  Billions now. 

We could name dictators we have known: Napoleon, Mussolini, Hitler. 

King of the past and Satan himself fell heavily when they soared on their pride and ego.

Ezekiel 28: 1 The word of the LORD came to me: 2 "Son of man, say to the prince of Tyre, Thus says the Lord GOD:  "Because your heart is proud, and you have said, 'I am a god, I sit in the seat of the gods,

in the heart of the seas,' yet you are but a man, and no god,  though you make your heart like the heart of a god—  3  you are indeed wiser than Daniel; no secret is hidden from you;  4 by your wisdom and your understanding  you have made wealth for yourself, and have gathered gold and silver into your treasuries;   5 by your great wisdom in your trade you have increased your wealth, and your heart has become proud in your wealth— 6 therefore thus says the Lord GOD: Because you make your heart

like the heart of a god,  7 therefore, behold, I will bring foreigners upon you, the most ruthless of the nations; and they shall draw their swords against the beauty of your wisdom and defile your splendor.
 8  They shall thrust you down into the pit,  and you shall die the death of the slain in the heart of the seas.   9  Will you still say, 'I am a god,' in the presence of those who kill you, though you are but a man, and no god, in the hands of those who slay you?  10  You shall die the death of the uncircumcised by the hand of foreigners; for I have spoken, declares the Lord GOD."   11 Moreover, the word of the LORD came to me: 12 "Son of man, raise a lamentation over the king of Tyre, and say to him, Thus says the Lord GOD: "You were the signet of perfection, full of wisdom and perfect in beauty.
 13 You were in Eden, the garden of God;  every precious stone was your covering,  sardius, topaz, and diamond, beryl, onyx, and jasper, sapphire, emerald, and carbuncle; and crafted in gold were your settings and your engravings. On the day that you were created they were prepared.
 14 You were an anointed guardian cherub. I placed you; you were on the holy mountain of God; in the midst of the stones of fire you walked.   15 You were blameless in your ways  from the day you were created, till unrighteousness was found in you.   16 In the abundance of your trade you were filled with violence in your midst, and you sinned; so I cast you as a profane thing from the mountain of God,

and I destroyed you, O guardian cherub, from the midst of the stones of fire.   17  Your heart was proud because of your beauty; you corrupted your wisdom for the sake of your splendor. I cast you to the ground; I exposed you before kings, to feast their eyes on you.

Satan himself is proud. His sin is pride. 

In 1 Timothy Paul warns against placing  young men as elders pastors 1 Tim 3:6 and not a new convert, so that he will not become conceited and fall into the condemnation incurred by the devil.

All over scripture this truth is repeated. God resists the proud. 1 Peter 5:5 "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble."

Everyone with a proud heart is detestable to the Lord; be assured, he will not go unpunished.  Prov 16:5

The Glorious Sovereign

This is the lesson Nebuchadnezzar learned. This is the lesson you and I must learn. God is God and you are not!

1 Peter 5:5 "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble."

The sovereignty of God over the affairs of human beings is one of the great lessons we draw from this chapter. Five times in our text that message is plainly declared:

"The Most High rules in the kingdom of men, gives it to whomever He will, and sets over it the lowest of men" (Daniel 4:17).

"The Most High rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whomever He chooses" (Daniel 4:25).

"Your kingdom shall be assured to you, after you come to know that Heaven rules" (Daniel 4:26).

"The Most High rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whomever He chooses" (Daniel 4:32).

"I blessed the Most High and praised and honored Him who lives forever: For His dominion is an everlasting dominion, and His kingdom is from generation to generation" (Daniel 4:34).

God hates pride because it challenges his sovereignty and questions his will and ways (4:37). It claims a position and power for mere mortals that rightly belongs only to "the King of the heavens" (v. 37). Daniel 4, through the humiliation and restoration of the most powerful man on the earth in that day, reminds us that God is in control and we are not. He is sovereign over all and "is ruler over human kingdoms" (4:17,25,32).

The God-given Sanity

34 At the end of the days I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted my eyes to heaven, and my reason returned to me, and I blessed the Most High, and praised and honored him who lives forever, for his dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom endures from generation to generation;  35  all the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing, and he does according to his will among the host of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth;  and none can stay his hand or say to him, "What have you done?"

37 Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the King of heaven, for all his works are right and his ways are just; and those who walk in pride he is able to humble.

Don't talk about yourself so much! See yourself as you really are.

35 "All the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing." This is Nebuchadnezzar, but his words are confirmed by Isaiah, "Behold the nations are as a drop of a bucket,"

C. S. Lewis wrote: In God you come up against something which is in every respect immeasurably superior to yourself. Unless you know God as that — and, therefore, know yourself as nothing in comparison — you do not know God at all. As long as you are proud you cannot know God. A proud man is always looking down on things and people: and, of course, as long as you are looking down, you cannot see something that is above you.

35  all the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing,

CHS  We are nothing in ourselves, we are only what He chooses to allow us to be, and when the time comes and it will be a very short time, so far as this world is concerned, we shall be nothing. All that will remain of us among the sons of men will be some little hillock in a cemetery or a country Churchyard.

Spiritually, our nothingness is very conspicuous. We were nothing in our election—"You have not chosen Me, but I have chosen you."

Nothing will make us so tender to the faults of others, as, by self-examination, thoroughly to know our own. François Fénelon, The Inner Life, 1697

We were nothing in our redemption. We contributed nothing to that price which Jesus paid—"I have trod the winepress alone. And of the people there was none with Me." We are nothing in our regeneration—can the spiritually dead help the blessed God to quicken them? "It is the Spirit that quickens, the flesh profits nothing." "We are His workmanship, created anew in Christ Jesus."

See God's Sovereignty and Glory in Everything

35  all the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing, and he does according to his will among the host of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth;  and none can stay his hand or say to him, "What have you done?"

"He does according to His will in the army of Heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth."

When a cowboy applied for health insurance, the agent routinely asked if he had had any accidents during the previous year. The cowboy replied, "No. But a rattlesnake bit me, and a horse kicked me in the ribs. That laid me up for a while." The agent said, "Weren't those accidents?" "No," replied the cowboy, "They did it on purpose."

God's dealing with Nebuchadnezzar was not a matter of chance. God dealt purposely with Neb. And He deals purposely with you and I.

Ephesians 1:11 "In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will." NIV
"For he chose us from the beginning, and all things happen just as he decided long ago." NLT

Psalm 103:19 "The Lord has established his throne in heaven, and his kingdom rules over all." NIV "The Lord has made the heavens his throne; from there he rules over everything." NLT

"The Most High rules in the kingdom of men, gives it to whomever He will, and sets over it the lowest of men" (Daniel 4:17).  "The Most High rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whomever He chooses" (Daniel 4:25).  "Your kingdom shall be assured to you, after you come to know that Heaven rules" (Daniel 4:26).  "The Most High rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whomever He chooses" (Daniel 4:32).  "I blessed the Most High and praised and honored Him who lives forever: For His dominion is an everlasting dominion, and His kingdom is from generation to generation" (Daniel 4:34).

" and none can stay his hand or say to him, "What have you done?"

He is the glorious and holy God. How can I dare to be His enemy? I must yield now, subdued before Him.

Philippians 2: 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

How this should help you that suffer! If God does it all, and nothing happens apart from God, even the wickedness and cruelty of man being still overruled by Him, you readily may submit. "Not my will, but Yours be done." Accept the ways of God's Providence. Since God appoints them, accept them with grateful praise. "Though He slay me, yet will I trust in Him."

The Lord reigns! The Lord is King forever and ever! Why, then all is well! When you get away from God, you get away from peace.

John Bunyan wrote: He that is down need fear no fall, he that is low no pride. He that is humble ever shall have God to be his guide.

1 Peter 5:" 6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, 7 casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. 8 Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 9 Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. 10 And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. 11 To him be the dominion forever and ever. Amen.

Before his downfall a person's heart is proud, but humility comes before honor. Prov 18:12