Communion

This week we will be commemorating ANZAC day, a very sad day in our history when 2779 of our soldiers followed orders and went to their deaths at Gallipoli. Another 5212 we’re wounded. We commemorate ANZAC day every year because otherwise we would quickly forget what those soldiers did for us. We remember their deaths helped buy our freedom today. That freedom which we often take for granted. 

Every year at Easter there’s a debate over whether the shops should be opened. Some people don’t want to stop and to take time to reflect on the meaning of Jesus death and resurrection. They want freedom of choice. For them Freedom is the freedom to do whatever you want. Stopping to think why they had the freedom they do is out of the question.

It’s been 3 weeks since Easter But here at PCC we have Communion every week because we don’t want to forget, we need to pause and reflect. Every time we have Communion we tell the story. Communion is a memorial. To remember the body of Christ broken for us and his blood poured out for the forgiveness of our sins. It’s our ANZAC day every week.

In the light of Christ, we see our wretchedness. Like Peter, we can say « go away from me because I am a sinful man ». The Bible says to examine ourselves before taking Communion. That’s because it’s more than just a memory, it’s about our relationship with Christ.

But rather than shrink back because of our sin, Jesus wants us to draw near to him at Communion. He loves us. Our relationship with him should be at the forefront of our minds. Is there anything we need to say sorry for? 

The Communion was a very important part of the growth of the early church. Peter preached his first message after Pentecost reminding the crowd of their sin and how they had crucified Jesus but he was raised. They knew the grave was empty and 3000 responded and repented of their sins.

Acts 2:40-47

And with many other words he testified and exhorted them, saying, “Be saved from this perverse generation.” 

Does anybody feel fear we are living in a perverse generation?

Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them. And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers. 

Yes we can be saved out of this wicked generation which rejects God.

Then fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles. Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need. So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.

Once our relationship is right, we want to meet with Jesus every day! That’s what was happening in the early Church, that made it grow so quickly. Communion is an integral part of that. 

Daniel 5

Today we continue on with our series on Daniel being up to chapter 5.

In chapter 1, Daniel and his friends were taken into captivity by Nebuchadnezzar over 1000 km away  as the crow flies to Babylon. They were indoctrinated into the Babylon culture and religion but they vowed to be loyal to the Lord their God no matter what even though they were just teenagers.

In chapter 2, Nebuchadnezzar had his 1st terrifying dream of the statue of gold, silver, bronze, iron and clay and heard its interpretation, how 5 kingdoms would come before a great rock would finally come and smash them all, very applicable to us today while we wait for Jesus to soon come again.

In Chapter 3, Nebuchadnezzar rebelled against his dream and built the great gold statue of himself and required the whole world to worship himself.

But in Chapter 4 God taught him who really ruled and humbled him, causing him to go insane and live like an animal for 7 years until just like in the story of the prodigal son, he came to his senses, repented and went home. And because of the Lord’s mercy and kindness he was fully restored in his royal household.

No more is heard about the life of Nebuchadnezzar. His reign ended with his death in 562 BC. His final years were in peace and security and his son Belshazzar eventually came to the throne as the 5th and final king to reign in Babylon during the 23 year period afterwards. Daniel was now in his 80’s. It’s interesting that the kings son Belshazzar had a very similar name to Daniel’s new name Belteshazzar. It makes me think that Nebuchadnezzar had named his son after Daniel. What high hopes we have for our children ! But Belshazzar was not a good man as it turned out. He became the consummate playboy, living a life of opulence and debauchery off his inheritance.

Chapter 5 tells the story of the last day in the life of Belshazzar. History tells us it was October 14th 539 BC, 23 years after the death of Nebuchadnezzar. By this very day, the Medes and the Persians had already laid siege on the city. They were outside and Belshazzar knew it but he showed no concern whatsoever. Why did he feel so safe and secure?

1. The Greek historian Herodotus claimed that "Babylon surpasses in wonder any city in the known world" and specifically praised the walls which he said were 56 miles (90 kilometres) long, 80 feet (24 metres) thick, and 320 feet (97 metres) high.

2. The Ishtar gate for example was 50 feet (15 metres) high, and the original foundations extended another 45 feet (14 metres) underground.

3. All the gates of Babylon were made of solid bronze 

4. The river Euphrates ran underneath and through the city so it had an endless supply of water

5. Among other buildings, the city contained the king’s palace. This was protected on one side by the Euphrates and on the other side by high walls. It was a fort inside a fort.

6. Babylon had enough food supply and storage to feed the city for 20 years.

Before we get too impressed by the size of Babylon, we should mention the size of the Holy Jerusalem in comparison which will descend out of Heaven from God.

Revelation 21:14-18

Now the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. And he who talked with me had a gold reed to measure the city, its gates, and its wall. The city is laid out as a square; its length is as great as its breadth. And he measured the city with the reed: twelve thousand furlongs. Its length, breadth, and height are equal. Then he measured its wall: one hundred and forty-four cubits, according to the measure of a man, that is, of an angel. The construction of its wall was of jasper; and the city was pure gold, like clear glass.

One cubit (length from elbow to tip of middle finger) = 18 inches / 45.7 cm 

One furlong = 1/8 of a mile / 201.168 metres.

12000 furlongs  = 1500 miles

New Zealand is about 1000 miles long.  

Therefore the dimension of the Holy Jerusalem is 1500 miles cubed, 1.5 times the length of New Zealand in every direction. 

If the walls of Babylon were 56 miles long, the walls of the Holy Jerusalem are 1500 x 4 miles = 6000 miles. And it is 1500 miles high !

And the thickness of the walls of the Holy Jerusalem is;

144 cubits = 216 feet / 72 yards /  66 metres which is approximately 3 times the thickness of the Babylon walls.

You can read about the rest of the Holy Jerusalem in Revelation 21-22, about the walls being made of jasper and the gold city, the 12 jewel foundations, the river of life and the tree of life. 

But back to Babylon 2500 years ago and the last day in the life of Belshazzar.

Daniel 5:1-4

Belshazzar the king made a great feast for a thousand of his lords, and drank wine in the presence of the thousand. While he tasted the wine, Belshazzar gave the command to bring the gold and silver vessels which his father Nebuchadnezzar had taken from the temple which had been in Jerusalem, that the king and his lords, his wives, and his concubines might drink from them. Then they brought the gold vessels that had been taken from the temple of the house of God which had been in Jerusalem; and the king and his lords, his wives, and his concubines drank from them. They drank wine, and praised the gods of gold and silver, bronze and iron, wood and stone.

Notice the extent of Belshazzar’s arrogance. He showed contempt for man and God.

Firstly contempt for man, throwing a great drunken party while the Medes & Persians were already outside laying siege at the gates. His thinking was, this is the safest city in the World, I am the greatest, party on!

He had a false sense of security because he placed his trust in what man had made. Do not put your trust in what man has made, instead put your trust in the Lord.

This was the great flaw in his thinking as there always is whenever we place our trust in things that are made by man. At the time of Babylon's fall in 539 BC, the King of the Medes and Persians was Cyrus and he had a simple plan. Ever played chess against a better player and suddenly found yourself checkmated to your great surprise? Cyrus diverted the waters of the Euphrates so that his troops could march through the riverbed into the unsuspecting city. Thus, the waters of the Euphrates were 'dried up' and Babylon was conquered in one night.

But secondly and even worse was his contempt for God. Can you imagine the state of his mind in bringing the holy vessels from the temple of Jerusalem to his drunken party. The holy vessels were stored away but he gave the command to bring them out to use for his drunken  party of debauchary. He had no respect for Israel’s God. The vessels were used in the worship of Lord. To use holy things for unholy purposes is to mock God. He knew the prophecy of the fall of Babylon but he rejected it publicly.

We should fear the Lord. You and I are vessels of God. We are to use our bodies as holy vessels not for unholy purposes.

Are we overconfident in ourselves with a solid house, a good job, plenty of food to eat, friends, a pension fund. We also can be deluded into thinking we are secure in the things we have. We can be relying on those things and not on God.

Daniel 5:5-9

In the same hour the fingers of a man’s hand appeared and wrote opposite the lampstand on the plaster of the wall of the king’s palace; and the king saw the part of the hand that wrote. 

In the middle of a drunken party,  sobriety comes suddenly. A gigantic hand appears in the spotlight of the lamp stand and a finger begins writing on the wall. This is where we get our phrase the writing is on the wall, which means that the future is not good and plain for everyone to see.

Then the king’s countenance changed, and his thoughts troubled him, so that the joints of his hips were loosened and his knees knocked against each other. 

We’ve all seen the cartoon where the character is so afraid that we hear the sound of their knees knocking. The idea is that he wet himself with fear. He was so afraid he cried out loudly.

The king cried aloud to bring in the astrologers, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers. The king spoke, saying to the wise men of Babylon, “Whoever reads this writing, and tells me its interpretation, shall be clothed with purple and have a chain of gold around his neck; and he shall be the third ruler in the kingdom.” Now all the king’s wise men came, but they could not read the writing, or make known to the king its interpretation. Then King Belshazzar was greatly troubled, his countenance was changed, and his lords were astonished.

But the wise men of Babylon couldn’t understand the words that God had written. The Bible tells us the natural man cannot understand the things of God, they are foolishness to him. We are so blessed when we can understand the Bible. To the unsaved person, it sounds like gobbledegook. The ability to understand spiritual truth only comes from the Holy Spirit. It does not come from human intellect. This can be a warning for Bible Theologians who think the knowledge they have learned makes them superior to other Christians. The Holy Spirit is in every Christian. We should respect every Christian because the Lord gives them understanding of the Bible and of spiritual things and may well want to teach us something important through them.

Because of all the commotion, the Queen comes in. Even she appears not to be joining in his night of debauchery up to this point.

Daniel 5:10-12

The queen, because of the words of the king and his lords, came to the banquet hall. The queen spoke, saying, “O king, live forever! Do not let your thoughts trouble you, nor let your countenance change. There is a man in your kingdom in whom is the Spirit of the Holy God. And in the days of your father, light and understanding and wisdom, like the wisdom of the gods, were found in him; and King Nebuchadnezzar your father—your father the king—made him chief of the magicians, astrologers, Chaldeans, and soothsayers. Inasmuch as an excellent spirit, knowledge, understanding, interpreting dreams, solving riddles, and explaining enigmas were found in this Daniel, whom the king named Belteshazzar, now let Daniel be called, and he will give the interpretation.”

The Queen knew all about Daniel and advised Belshazzar to call on Daniel. Daniel wasn’t at the party, he probably wasn’t invited and wouldn’t have wanted to go anyway. It is quite likely Daniel was retired from active service as he was now in his 80’s.

Daniel 5:13-17

Then Daniel was brought in before the king. The king spoke, and said to Daniel, “Are you that Daniel who is one of the captives from Judah, whom my father the king brought from Judah? I have heard of you, that the Spirit of God is in you, and that light and understanding and excellent wisdom are found in you. Now the wise men, the astrologers, have been brought in before me, that they should read this writing and make known to me its interpretation, but they could not give the interpretation of the thing. And I have heard of you, that you can give interpretations and explain enigmas. Now if you can read the writing and make known to me its interpretation, you shall be clothed with purple and have a chain of gold around your neck, and shall be the third ruler in the kingdom.”  Then Daniel answered, and said before the king, “Let your gifts be for yourself, and give your rewards to another; yet I will read the writing to the king, and make known to him the interpretation.

Daniel may have even thought his life and influence were over. But here he is called out of retirement. In times of quietness in our lives, we should still be faithful to the Lord in the small things. We don’t know when next the Lord will call on us, it can be when we are very old. I saw a wonderful video this week of an elderly woman with dementia. She couldn’t remember anything, about the last meal she had, or close family members but as soon as she was asked who Jesus is, she spoke so beautifully about him and how she loved him. Daniel told the King he could keep his gifts and title, he wasn’t interested. His only interest was in serving the Lord. The king had no authority over him ! 

Daniel 5:18-21

O king, the Most High God gave Nebuchadnezzar your father a kingdom and majesty, glory and honor. And because of the majesty that He gave him, all peoples, nations, and languages trembled and feared before him. Whomever he wished, he executed; whomever he wished, he kept alive; whomever he wished, he set up; and whomever he wished, he put down. 

Daniel reminded Belshazzar that his inheritance was only because it was the most High God who had appointed Nebuchadnezzar and all his success was just because the Lord purposed it. It was nothing to do with Nebuchadnezzar or Belshazzar ! But Nebuchadnezzar at first rejected that lesson and soon learned the hard way as we heard last week. Pride comes before a fall.

But when his heart was lifted up, and his spirit was hardened in pride, he was deposed from his kingly throne, and they took his glory from him. Then he was driven from the sons of men, his heart was made like the beasts, and his dwelling was with the wild donkeys. They fed him with grass like oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven, till he knew that the Most High God rules in the kingdom of men, and appoints over it whomever He chooses.

This had all happened more than 23 years ago. Sin / rejection of God is a very serious thing. Sin brings death to a nation and to an individual but the free gift of God is eternal life. God had restored Nebuchadnezzar once he had been humbled and acknowledged that God is God.

Daniel 5:22-28

“But you his son, Belshazzar, have not humbled your heart, although you knew all this. 

Belshazzar’s rebellion was very great. God gave Nebuchadnezzar 12 months and then 7 years. Belshazzar had 23 years to think about the testimony of his father and he had only developed contempt for God and man. His time was up. You don’t know the day you will die. Today is the day of salvation. If you haven’t ever done so, you need to humble yourself today before the Lord, it is a very serious thing to refuse the grace of God in Jesus Christ.

And you have lifted yourself up against the Lord of heaven. They have brought the vessels of His house before you, and you and your lords, your wives and your concubines, have drunk wine from them. And you have praised the gods of silver and gold, bronze and iron, wood and stone, which do not see or hear or know; and the God who holds your breath in His hand and owns all your ways, you have not glorified. 

Our heart can stop at any moment.  The Lord has our very breath in his hands. There is a path that people who reject God follow and it begins with a lack of fear of the Lord. 

Then the fingers of the hand were sent from Him, and this writing was written. “And this is the inscription that was written: MENE, MENE, TEKEL, UPHARSIN. This is the interpretation of each word. MENE: God has numbered your kingdom, and finished it; TEKEL: You have been weighed in the balances, and found wanting; PERES: Your kingdom has been divided, and given to the Medes and Persians.”

What a horrifying moment for Belshazzar. The Lord’s judgment has been passed and couldn’t be reversed. Because he wouldn’t glorify God, he had been found wanting.  He had lost it all. All he would have for all eternity was regret. 

Daniel 5:29-31

Then Belshazzar gave the command, and they clothed Daniel with purple and put a chain of gold around his neck, and made a proclamation concerning him that he should be the third ruler in the kingdom. That very night Belshazzar, king of the Chaldeans, was slain. And Darius the Mede received the kingdom, being about sixty-two years old.

Belshazzar made an empty proclamation. Like Esau, he had lost it all. His life was over.

The Medes and Persians built a dam to stop the river Euphrates flowing through Babylon. They were able to march in to Babylon on the dry waterbed underneath the walls. Babylon was completely unprepared ans easily defeated, Belshazzar was executed and Darius the Mede took over the Kingdom.

The Bible says;

Romans 6:23

For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Many people are like Belshazzar. They show contempt for God, waste their inheritance and live their lives in rebellion to what God has said. But eventually, they pay the price. In fact the Bible says we all have fallen short of the glory of God. None of us have done what we could have with our lives. We are all facing a horrendous judgement for our sins. The wages of sin is death. But there is a way out. The Gospel is good news. The free gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. He has paid the penalty for our sins. By his stripes we are healed. 

Daniel 4

Today we continue on with our series from Daniel and are up to chapter 4, Nebuchadnezzar’s 2nd dream. 

If you remember in chapter one, Daniel and his friends were part of the elite in Israel who had been taken into captivity by Nebuchadnezzar over 1000 km away  as the crow flies to Babylon. They were only teenagers but were forced indoctrination into the Babylon culture and religion, even having their names changed to to honours the gods and idols of Babylon. Daniel had made a vow not to defile himself and they had stood firm in refusing food from the king, an incredibly courageous thing to do, especially as teenagers.

You will remember chapter 2 and Nebuchadnezzar’s 1st dream of the statue of gold, silver, bronze, iron and clay and its interpretation, how 4 kingdoms have already passed but a 5th is to come, relevant to us today while we wait for Jesus to come again. We can see in Chapter 2 that God is already at work in Nebuchadnezzar’s life but he wasn’t converted yet, his heart had not yet been changed even though he had witnessed a miracle.

In fact he had seen 2 miracles. He had also witnessed Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego walking around safely in a fiery furnace with a 4th man who looked like a god.

Even though he had witnessed these 2 great miracles, his heart was not changed. He rejected the interpretation of the dream. You will also remember Sean’s message from chapter 3 and Nebuchadnezzar’s response to his dream was to build a fully gold statue as a monument to himself and require everyone to worship it. Jesus reminded people that their hearts are desperately wicked. Though people may hear the truth, even experience a great miracle, it is not enough to convert someone. Don’t be surprised by a friend who is given proof of God but quickly forgets. Conversion is the work of the Holy Spirit and we see the evidence in a changed life.

Chapter 4 is written at least 7 years after chapter 2, maybe as many as 20 years after. Chapter 4 is the only chapter not written by Daniel, it is written by Nebuchadnezzar himself. It is Nebuchadnezzar’s testimony of a changed heart. Isn’t it wonderful when someone we least expect is converted and has a changed life ? We all love to read about what happened to change their life. I remember my brother telling me how he related to this particular story of Nebuchadnezzar and it was why they came to name their eldest Daniel.

You will notice in his language a different person, someone who had been humbled and changed. He starts off by wishing everyone in the world peace and praising God in Heaven. He’s no longer the dictator bellowing out instructions.

Daniel 4:1-3

Nebuchadnezzar the king, To all peoples, nations, and languages that dwell in all the earth: 

Peace be multiplied to you. 

I thought it good to declare the signs and wonders that the Most High God has worked for me. How great are His signs, And how mighty His wonders! His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, And His dominion is from generation to generation.

When everything is right with the world, we wish everyone peace and happiness to share in our joy. And we especially want to tell everyone what the Lord has done for us !

The structure of the letter is very engaging, it’s no longer dictatorial. Someone taught me the French way to write a relational letter. You. Me. You and Me ! There’s still a lot of « me » in Nebuchadnezzar’s letter but it is a humbled « me ».

Instead of orders, he writes « I thought it good to declare the signs and wonders that the Most High God has worked for me. »

It is good to declare what the Lord has done for us ! Our testimony is powerful and along with the blood of the Lamb, defeats the Devil as we heard in last week’s Easter message from Revelation 12. No one can deny your testimony as a Christian. This is how you overcome. Recall all the things the Lord has done for you and don’t keep it secret, declare it ! The Lord deserves our praise for what he has done for us. 

Daniel 4:4-7

I, Nebuchadnezzar, was at rest in my house, and flourishing in my palace. 

Nebuchadnezzar was by his own confession, flourishing. Interesting way to describe yourself. “How are you?”. “I’m flourishing, thanks”. Nebuchadnezzar had had great success, he was at the peak of his powers but that was the moment that God chose to bring him down so that he would know that Heaven rules, not him.

He had everything the World had to offer, he had absolute power, wealth and success but his heart was troubled. Many people today have a nice home, a good job, a large pension fund but they aren’t happy because those things without the Lord cannot satisfy. 

I saw a dream which made me afraid, and the thoughts on my bed and the visions of my head troubled me. Therefore I issued a decree to bring in all the wise men of Babylon before me, that they might make known to me the interpretation of the dream. Then the magicians, the astrologers, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers came in, and I told them the dream; but they did not make known to me its interpretation.

When people experience hard times, where do they turn first? Often anyone or anything but God. Nebuchadnezzar called on his trusted wise men. 

But there is evidence of a change in him. This time Nebuchadnezzar asks the wise men of Babylon only for the interpretation and not for the dream as well. He also doesn’t threaten to cut them into pieces if they can’t tell him. 

Daniel 4:8-12

But at last Daniel came before me (his name is Belteshazzar, according to the name of my god; in him is the Spirit of the Holy God),

Notice he was still following his god but he did acknowledge the Spirit of the Holy God in Daniel. Quite like many Hindu’s recognise Jesus as a God amongst their gods. Jesus calls us to leave it behind and follow him. Separate ourselves from the World and it’s idols.

and I told the dream before him, saying: “Belteshazzar, chief of the magicians, because I know that the Spirit of the Holy God is in you, and no secret troubles you, explain to me the visions of my dream that I have seen, and its interpretation. 

Others can recognise when the Lord is with is. Nebuchadnezzar really respected Daniel and was ready to wait this time. He had already been a witness to Daniel’s courage with the first dream about the statue and of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego standing up for their faith. We often don’t realise the impact our faith and courage can have on others.

“These were the visions of my head while on my bed: I was looking, and behold, A tree in the midst of the earth, And its height was great. The tree grew and became strong; Its height reached to the heavens, And it could be seen to the ends of all the earth. Its leaves were lovely, Its fruit abundant, And in it was food for all. The beasts of the field found shade under it, The birds of the heavens dwelt in its branches, And all flesh was fed from it.

The dream sounds very good so far. But it doesn’t stop there, it becomes macabre.

Daniel 4:13-17

“I saw in the visions of my head while on my bed, and there was a watcher, a holy one, coming down from heaven. He cried aloud and said thus: ‘Chop down the tree and cut off its branches, Strip off its leaves and scatter its fruit. Let the beasts get out from under it, And the birds from its branches. Nevertheless leave the stump and roots in the earth, Bound with a band of iron and bronze, In the tender grass of the field. Let it be wet with the dew of heaven, And let him graze with the beasts On the grass of the earth. Let his heart be changed from that of a man, Let him be given the heart of a beast, And let seven times pass over him. ‘This decision is by the decree of the watchers, And the sentence by the word of the holy ones, In order that the living may know That the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, Gives it to whomever He will, And sets over it the lowest of men.’

Yes, Heaven is watching us. If you think all these cameras around the city and in our homes are intrusive, you’d better know that the Lord in Heaven is watching you and recording all your actions. Big Brother is watching you. Nebuchadnezzar was used to being the highest authority in his Empire, he had absolute power and he may have sensed that he was the great tree in the dream. But what would have unnerved him about this dream was there was a judgement issued by a watcher, a holy one coming down from Heaven to cut down the tree. Was his Kingdom about to end, he remembered his 1st dream many years ago and its interpretation very well. The end of a kingdom means only one thing, the death of the King. Was his life about to end ?

He had learned of his frailty as a man and declared in v17; 

That the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, Gives it to whomever He will, And sets over it the lowest of men.’

He repeats this same statement in v25.

Who is the watcher, the holy one coming down from Heaven? We know that is Jesus, who is God in the Flesh. 

In Philippians 2:5-11

Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

At this point in Nebuchadnezzar’s life, he knew there was a God in Heaven above him, who he feared terribly but he had not repented of his sins and the Lord was not the Lord and King of his life. One day everyone will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father whether they are in Heaven, on the Earth or under the Earth in Hell. We can either make and confess Jesus Lord and King of our lives now in this life but if we don’t and end up in Hell, we will still, with terrible regret, confess him as Lord. 

Daniel 4:18-21

“This dream I, King Nebuchadnezzar, have seen. Now you, Belteshazzar, declare its interpretation, since 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 God is in you.” Then Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, was astonished for a time, and his thoughts troubled him. So the king spoke, and said, “Belteshazzar, do not let the dream or its interpretation trouble you.” Belteshazzar answered and said, “My lord, may the dream concern those who hate you, and its interpretation concern your enemies! 

The little detail in this passage confirms it is Nebuchadnezzar writing the chapter because he calls Daniel by the Babylonian name Belteshazzar.

Nebuchadnezzar had been an evil man and Daniel had every reason to hate him but instead Daniel is very concerned for Nebuchadnezzar. If someone refuses to repent, we know that God is going to deal harshly with them, we should also be concerned.

“The tree that you saw, which grew and became strong, whose height reached to the heavens and which could be seen by all the earth, whose leaves were lovely and its fruit abundant, in which was food for all, under which the beasts of the field dwelt, and in whose branches the birds of the heaven had their home—

Daniel 4:22-26

it is you, O king, who have grown and become strong; for your greatness has grown and reaches to the heavens, and your dominion to the end of the earth. “And inasmuch as the king saw a watcher, a holy one, coming down from heaven and saying, ‘Chop down the tree and destroy it, but leave its stump and roots in the earth, bound with a band of iron and bronze in the tender grass of the field; let it be wet with the dew of heaven, and let him graze with the beasts of the field, till seven times pass over him’; this is the interpretation, O king, and this is the decree of the Most High, which has come upon my lord the king: 

Nebuchadnezzar had made decrees over others in his life, but now the tables were turned and the Most High God, whom he feared, was making a decree over him.

They shall drive you from men, your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field, and they shall make you eat grass like oxen. They shall wet you with the dew of heaven, and seven times shall pass over you, till you know that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whomever He chooses. “And inasmuch as they gave the command to leave the stump and roots of the tree, your kingdom shall be assured to you, after you come to know that Heaven rules.

While Nebuchadnezzar had been merciless with his decrees in the past, here we see the kindness of the Lord. Yes, Nebuchadnezzar was going to go through a hard time but he would be restored after 7 years. In Nebuchadnezzar’s case, he lost his mind. He lived like an animal in the fields for 7 years. Does this sound a little like the story of the prodigal son who ended up eating with the pigs.  The Lord disciplines the ones he loves. 7 years is a long time but it would come to an end  once he had learned that Heaven rules. Once he had been humbled, the discipline would end. I think we can all accept that we need to change but it is human nature to think it can be done quickly. God’s work in reshaping us can take many years. Nevertheless, he is faithful to his promises. Nebuchadnezzar would be restored.

Daniel 4:27-33

Therefore, O king, let my advice be acceptable to you; break off your sins by being righteous, and your iniquities by showing mercy to the poor. Perhaps there may be a lengthening of your prosperity.” All this came upon King Nebuchadnezzar. 

Daniel gave Nebuchadnezzar the best advice he could give. Repent. Stop giving in to evil and start doing good. Show mercy to the poor. To repent is to humble yourself before God. To admit our way is the wrong way is humbling. Faithful preachers and evangelists tell sinners to repent.  Today is the day of salvation. There must be some action to show your heart has been changed. Words aren’t enough. A prayer at the front of the church is not enough. Some people know all the right words, they know the Bible, but there is no evidence of a changed heart, they have not repented of their sins. That’s the bottom line. The clock is ticking. would Nebuchadnezzar listen? The answer was no.

At the end of the twelve months he was walking about the royal palace of Babylon. The king spoke, saying, “Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for a royal dwelling by my mighty power and for the honor of my majesty?” 

Nebuchadnezzar was given 12 months and there was no change. He credited the success of Babylon to himself, he gave no credit to God.

While the word was still in the king’s mouth, a voice fell from heaven: “King Nebuchadnezzar, to you it is spoken: the kingdom has departed from you! And they shall drive you from men, and your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field. They shall make you eat grass like oxen; and seven times shall pass over you, until you know that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whomever He chooses.” That very hour the word was fulfilled concerning Nebuchadnezzar; he was driven from men and ate grass like oxen; his body was wet with the dew of heaven till his hair had grown like eagles’ feathers and his nails like birds’ claws.

You don’t know how long the Lord will give you. Heaven is watching, judgement is coming. Could it be today that your time is up ? How long has New Zealand got ?

Heaven is watching and waiting for sinners to repent and come home. Today is the day of salvation. God will be merciful to you today. 

Nebuchadnezzar learned the hard way. 7 years of insanity. 7 years wasted. Nebuchadnezzar lost his mind and became like a beast for 7 years. I suppose in that time God took care of him as a man takes care of an animal. Living on the streets can teach you there is a God in Heaven who looks after you when no one else does. Like the prodigal son, Nebuchadnezzar came to his senses. He realised he had a home.

Luke 15:17-19

“But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you, and I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired servants.” ’

Daniel 4:34-37

And at the end of the time I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted my eyes to heaven, and my understanding 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 is from generation to generation. All the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing; He does according to His will in the army of heaven And among the inhabitants of the earth. No one can restrain His hand Or say to Him, “What have You done?” At the same time my reason returned to me, and for the glory of my kingdom, my honor and splendor returned to me. My counselors and nobles resorted to me, I was restored to my kingdom, and excellent majesty was added to me. Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the King of heaven, all of whose works are truth, and His ways justice. And those who walk in pride He is able to put down.

At the end of the 7 years, Nebuchadnezzar comes to his senses and goes home with a humble and grateful heart. Nebuchadnezzar praises God but this time it’s from his heart, there has been a lasting change. In his final statement he acknowledges that pride was his downfall, that the Lord is able to bring down those who walk in pride. When someone mighty falls, it is a sign that God is in Heaven. The Church belongs to Jesus, it is not our Church. He sets how things shall be, not us.

If there is hope for someone who had been as evil as Nebuchadnezzar, then there is hope for each of us.

When I survey the wondrous cross

on which the Prince of glory died,

my richest gain I count but loss,

and pour contempt on all my pride.

Isaac Watts 1707