Much More Than We Can Imagine - Nebuchadnezzar

From the Perspective of the Non-Believer

Daniel 4:18-19 (NLT) 

     " 'O Belteshazzar (Daniel), that was the dream that I, King Nebuchadnezzar, had. Now tell me what it means, for no one else can help me. All the wisest men of my kingdom have failed me. But you can tell me because the spirit of the holy gods is in you.'   "Upon hearing this, Daniel was overcome for a time, aghast at the meaning of the dream. Finally, the king said to him, 'Belteshazzar, don't be alarmed by the dream and what it means.'  "Belteshazzar replied, 'Oh, how I wish the events foreshadowed in this dream would happen to your enemies, my lord, and not to you!

1.  Treat those who do not have a relationship with God with utter respect and a heart that communicates God’s heart to them.

Daniel 4:19 (NLT) 

     …"Belteshazzar replied, 'Oh, how I wish the events foreshadowed in this dream would happen to your enemies, my lord, and not to you!

Daniel 4:27-33 (NLT) 

   " 'O King Nebuchadnezzar, please listen to me. Stop sinning and do what is right. Break from your wicked past by being merciful to the poor. Perhaps then you will continue to prosper.'

[28] "But all these things did happen to King Nebuchadnezzar. [29] Twelve months later, he was taking a walk on the flat roof of the royal palace in Babylon. [30] As he looked out across the city, he said, 'Just look at this great city of Babylon! I, by my own mighty power, have built this beautiful city as my royal residence and as an expression of my royal splendor.'

[31]    "While he was still speaking these words, a voice called down from heaven, 'O King Nebuchadnezzar, this message is for you! You are no longer ruler of this kingdom. [32] You will be driven from human society. You will live in the fields with the wild animals, and you will eat grass like a cow. Seven periods of time will pass while you live this way, until you learn that the Most High rules over the kingdoms of the world and gives them to anyone he chooses.'

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

God is still the God of non-believers, even though they do not know it yet.

Daniel 4:34-37 (NLT) 

"After this time had passed, I, Nebuchadnezzar, looked up to heaven. My sanity returned, and I praised and worshiped the Most High and honored the one who lives forever.

            His rule is everlasting,

                and his kingdom is eternal.

            [35] All the people of the earth

                are nothing compared to him.

            He has the power to do as he pleases

                among the angels of heaven

                and with those who live on earth.

            No one can stop him or challenge him,

                saying, 'What do you mean by doing these things?'

[36]    "When my sanity returned to me, so did my honor and glory and kingdom. My advisers and officers sought me out, and I was reestablished as head of my kingdom, with even greater honor than before.

[37]    "Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and glorify and honor the King of heaven. All his acts are just and true, and he is able to humble those who are proud."

2.  It is never too late to repent, and start all over again, no matter what mistakes we have made – for God can make all things new again.

How Does God Deal With Us?

Leviticus 26:14-16, 18, 21, 23-24, 27-28, 36, 40-45 (NLT) 

    "However, if you do not listen to me or obey my commands, [15] and if you break my covenant by rejecting my laws and treating my regulations with contempt, [16] I will punish you…[18] "And if, in spite of this, you still disobey me, I will punish you for your sins seven times over…[21] "If even then you remain hostile toward me and refuse to obey, I will inflict you with seven more disasters for your sins…[23] "And if you fail to learn a lesson from this and continue your hostility toward me, [24] then I myself will be hostile toward you, and I will personally strike you seven times over for your sins…[27] "If after this you still refuse to listen and still remain hostile toward me, [28] then I will give full vent to my hostility. I will punish you seven times over for your sins…[36] "And for those of you who survive, I will demoralize you in the land of your enemies far away. You will live there in such constant fear that the sound of a leaf driven by the wind will send you fleeing. You will run as though chased by a warrior with a sword, and you will fall even when no one is pursuing you…[40] "But at last my people will confess their sins and the sins of their ancestors for betraying me and being hostile toward me. [41] Finally, when I have given full expression to my hostility and have brought them to the land of their enemies, then at last their disobedient hearts will be humbled, and they will pay for their sins. [42] Then I will remember my covenant with Jacob, with Isaac, and with Abraham, and I will remember the land. [43] And the land will enjoy its years of Sabbath rest as it lies deserted. At last the people will receive the due punishment for their sins, for they rejected my regulations and despised my laws.

    [44] "But despite all this, I will not utterly reject or despise them while they are in exile in the land of their enemies. I will not cancel my covenant with them by wiping them out. I, the Lord, am their God. [45] I will remember my ancient covenant with their ancestors, whom I brought out of Egypt while all the nations watched. I, the Lord, am their God."

3.  When God shows us an area that needs repentance and change, repent early in order that the pressure will end and the blessings come.

Repeated trails in the same area of our lives again and again point to unresolved issues waiting to be dealt with.

Jude 1:16 (TEV) 

    These people are always grumbling and blaming others…

In spite of the trials through which God disciplines us or tries to get our attention – His love for us never ceases.

Leviticus 26:44 (NLT) 

    "But despite all this, I will not utterly reject or despise them while they are in exile in the land of their enemies. I will not cancel my covenant with them by wiping them out. I, the Lord, am their God.