Latest / Providence Baptist Church - Sermons / Daniel 2:1-23
Transcript
- 0:00Good morning. As you've already been told, I'll be reading out of and preaching from the book of Daniel chapter 2.
- 0:11! We'll be looking at the first 23 verses.
- 0:19!
- 0:30In the second year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar, Nebuchadnezzar had dreams. His spirit was troubled and his sleep left him.
- 0:40Then the king commanded that the magicians, the enchanters, the sorcerers, and the Chaldeans be summoned to tell the king his dreams.
- 0:48So they came in and stood before the king. And the king said to them, I had a dream and my spirit is troubled to know the dream.
- 0:56Then the Chaldeans said to the king in Aramaic, O king, live forever. Tell your servants the dream and we will show you.
- 1:05We will show the interpretation. The king answered and said to the Chaldeans, The word for me is firm.
- 1:12If you do not make known to me the dream and its interpretation, you shall be torn limb from limb and your houses shall be laid in ruins.
- 1:20But if you show the dream and its interpretation, you shall receive from me gifts and rewards and great honor.
- 1:27Therefore, show me the dream and its interpretation.
- 1:31They answered a second time and said, Let the king tell his servants the dream and we will show its interpretation.
- 1:39The king answered and said, I know with certainty that you are trying to gain time because you see that the word for me is firm.
- 1:47If you do not make the dream known to me, there is but one sentence for you.
- 1:52You have agreed to speak lying and corrupt words before me till the times change.
- 1:56Therefore, tell me the dream and I shall know that you can show me its interpretation.
- 2:01The Chaldeans answered the king and said, There is not a man on earth who can meet the king's demand.
- 2:07For no great and powerful king has asked such a thing of any magician or enchanter or Chaldean.
- 2:12The thing that the king asks is difficult and no one can show it to the king except the gods whose dwelling is not with flesh.
- 2:23Because of this, the king was angry and very furious and commanded that all the wise men of Babylon be destroyed.
- 2:30So the decree went out and the wise men were about to be killed and they sought Daniel and his companions to kill them.
- 2:36Then Daniel replied with prudence and discretion to Ariok, the captain of the king's guard, who had gone out to kill the wise men of Babylon.
- 2:45He declared to Ariok, the king's captain, Why is the decree of the king so urgent?
- 2:52Then Ariok made the matter known to Daniel and Daniel went in and requested the king to appoint him a time that he might show the interpretation to the king.
- 3:01Then Daniel went to his house and made the matter known to Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah, his companions, and told them to seek mercy from the God of heaven concerning this mystery.
- 3:14So that Daniel and his companions might not be destroyed with the rest of the wise men of Babylon.
- 3:20Then the mystery was revealed to Daniel in a vision of the night.
- 3:24Then Daniel blessed the God of heaven.
- 3:25Daniel answered and said, Blessed be the name of God forever and ever to whom belong wisdom and might.
- 3:33He changes times and seasons.
- 3:35He removes kings and sets up kings.
- 3:37He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding.
- 3:42He reveals deep and hidden things.
- 3:45He knows what is in the darkness and the light dwells with him.
- 3:48To you, O God of my fathers, I give thanks and praise for you have given me wisdom and might
- 3:54and have now made known to me what I asked of you.
- 3:58For you have made known to us the king's matter.
- 4:04If you will, pray with me.
- 4:08Heavenly Father, as we read your word and we come to you, God, asking that you will reveal yourself in it.
- 4:16Lord, I stand here and could easily be filled with anxiety, but I know that it is not my strength or what I might do today, God, but what you will do with me.
- 4:30And Lord, I pray that you bless my words, God, that I will only speak your truth.
- 4:36And God, that your word will be made known to the hearers.
- 4:39And Lord, that our hearts will be open and we will be willing and that we will be changed, God, that our faith will be strengthened, that we will know you better.
- 4:48And Lord, that you will change hearts, Lord, and draw us to repentance.
- 4:53And those that do not know you, God, that they will see who you are and fall on their knees before you, Lord.
- 4:59And that they, they too, Lord, will seek you with all of their lives.
- 5:04In Jesus name I pray.
- 5:06Amen.
- 5:06Amen.
- 5:07Amen.
- 5:09Well, I can't imagine that anyone out here has been anticipating this moment as I have, but, uh, I've been invited to opens God word, God's word with you all on a couple of other occasions.
- 5:23And I was unable to because of illness in my family or with me.
- 5:28So I'm very grateful.
- 5:30I'm thankful that I have this opportunity today and I thank you for your prayers as, uh, we go forward.
- 5:36But in the reading of Daniel 2, there in the part that we have read so far, what I hope to convey with that and some other scriptures, um, is something that you, some three topics, three things that you have, uh, been made familiar with in the preaching of the past couple of weeks.
- 6:00Um, those things are the, the, the, the, the rise and fall of Nebuchadnezzar and the immovable sovereignty of God and the resilient, resilient faith of Daniel in a hostile world.
- 6:16Uh, these, uh, these, in order to convey better, uh, the rise of Nebuchadnezzar, then if you would turn to second Kings chapter 24 and 25, um, I'm not going to read this in its entirety, but, uh, we'll reference a couple of points in here as we go forward.
- 6:43So maybe you want to keep a finger there as we go back to Daniel momentarily.
- 6:48But what we want to see about Nebuchadnezzar is that he was no weakling of a King.
- 6:55He was not, um, as far as the, the world's measure goes, there was no one more powerful than Nebuchadnezzar.
- 7:03Uh, he had, he was a great and conquering King.
- 7:09And as we, if you were to read 24 and 25 in its entirety, you would see that he went into Egypt and took all the possessions of the Egyptian King and took him effectively off of his throne.
- 7:22And then to Judah and then Jerusalem, and then in Jerusalem destroyed the temple of the God of heaven.
- 7:33And, and all of these things he did with great power and might, he was an overwhelming force in the land.
- 7:40And he found himself to be a King maker because in each of these conquests, he would step in and depose a King, appoint another King.
- 7:52And when that King or governor stepped out of line, he would remove him and replace him once again.
- 7:57And so as you can see, if you, if, as like I was mentioning, if you read through 24 and 25 of second Kings, which, uh, you may not want to do that at this moment, but I was, maybe that's homework.
- 8:12But you, as you see this, you can see how he moves through the land and how he manages to do these things.
- 8:21He even changes the names of some to suit himself.
- 8:25But he was still only a man, which brings us to, I'll say one of his falls, but which brings us to the fall of Nebuchadnezzar.
- 8:40And we can, like I say, keep your finger maybe over there in 24 and 25 second Kings.
- 8:45But if we go back to Daniel chapter two, then we can see the fall of Nebuchadnezzar.
- 8:54We see that he was a troubled King.
- 8:57We see that in verse one, that he had had a dream and that his spirit was troubled and that he was losing sleep over the matter.
- 9:07The troubled King over a great kingdom and a lost King.
- 9:16Because as we continue to read, as you travel down, we'll go to verses eight and nine even.
- 9:25And it says that he says he knows with certainty that they're trying to gain time, that they're stalling.
- 9:32He puts before them not only the opportunity to bring these things to a rest and to save themselves,
- 9:41but he says that he's had these dreams and that he is troubled in his spirit, that he is losing sleep.
- 9:47And then he tells them, he throws a bit of a curve ball.
- 9:52It's not what they're used to.
- 9:55The Chaldeans and the sorcerers and these others were likely the same men that gave counsel to Nebuchadnezzar's father.
- 10:05They are in this place and they are known by reputation.
- 10:08In fact, it is their job to call upon the gods and into the supernatural so that they can bring revelation to kings.
- 10:16And these dreams that we speak of about Nebuchadnezzar, these dreams almost always were foretelling.
- 10:25It was something about the future of the king and his kingdom.
- 10:28So this had great weight.
- 10:30This was so when he has this, it says dreams.
- 10:34It's in the plural that he has a he's having these dreams and his spirit is troubled to know the dream.
- 10:40And he's losing this sleep.
- 10:42And then he turns.
- 10:43Who does he turn to?
- 10:44He turns to the ones that his father turned to.
- 10:48These men that are supposed to be able to counsel him in a time like this.
- 10:53But you can see perhaps in his desperation or his paranoia.
- 10:58You see, he grow.
- 10:59He's grown suspicious.
- 11:02When you get in to verses eight and nine, he says, I know with certainty that you are trying to gain time, that you are stalling because you see that the word for me is firm.
- 11:13He is threatened to tear them.
- 11:15And to destroy their homes if they cannot do what he has asked.
- 11:19And this was not uncommon, uncommon among the Babylonian kings and the kings of this time that they would do something so brutal and so ruthless.
- 11:30So they believed him.
- 11:33They feared him.
- 11:35They certainly wish they could please him.
- 11:38But when this time comes and they live under threat of life.
- 11:47Life or death.
- 11:48And that they may be torn from limb, limb from limb and their homes be laid in ruin.
- 11:55Then this curveball comes that the king is asking something that they see is impossible.
- 12:02That not only does he want them to interpret a dream.
- 12:05Because frankly, I thought about this when I was reading.
- 12:07I could interpret someone's dream because I could tell them that it means whatever I choose for it to mean.
- 12:13But the curveball here is that he wants them to tell them not only the interpretation but the dream itself.
- 12:21As I read different commentaries on this, there were some that believed that he forgot his dream.
- 12:28And that's why he needed them to tell it.
- 12:31But that is not what I get.
- 12:33I mean, other commentaries said what I tend towards is not that he had forgotten the dream.
- 12:38But through sleeplessness and the paranoia, I guess.
- 12:48There's probably a better word I could use for that.
- 12:50But he was certainly vulnerable.
- 12:52And he grew suspicious of these that were trying to give him counsel.
- 12:56I believe that certainly if he was sleepless for nights on end.
- 13:01Then I imagine Nebuchadnezzar could certainly be out of his mind to some extent.
- 13:05In this desperate time where he has a dream and he knows that the future may rely on its interpretation.
- 13:13And he is losing trust for them.
- 13:17Thinking that they're stalling.
- 13:20And even that what he asked, it was almost as if he knew himself that they would not be able to come through and answer this for him.
- 13:32So, almost lost my place.
- 13:38But he says that there's one sentence for them.
- 13:41And he says that you have agreed to speak lying and corrupt words before me till the times change.
- 13:47As if they could stall to the point that perhaps he would find relief elsewhere.
- 13:54Or that he would regain his sleep or find rest in another fashion.
- 13:58But they've agreed to speak lying and corrupt words.
- 14:05Because if we are frank.
- 14:06If we think about where the only truth.
- 14:10The only place truth lies.
- 14:11Is in the God of heaven.
- 14:15Then everything that they might be able to say to him.
- 14:18Would be lying and deceitful.
- 14:21Because they would be so uncertain.
- 14:22In what they were saying.
- 14:25They would certainly be corrupt.
- 14:26But.
- 14:28So.
- 14:31This lost king who is desperate and paranoid.
- 14:34We've established that he's ruthless.
- 14:36Well, at this time he's vulnerable.
- 14:38Even with all of his wealth.
- 14:40He turns to an inept council.
- 14:43And then they call them false gods.
- 14:45We read in verses 10 and 11.
- 14:48That the Chaldeans answered the king.
- 14:50And said there's not a man on earth who can meet the king's demand.
- 14:53For no great and powerful king has asked such a thing.
- 14:56Of any magician or enchanter or Chaldean.
- 14:59The thing that the king asked is difficult.
- 15:02That seems to be an understatement.
- 15:05And no one can show it to the king.
- 15:07Except the gods.
- 15:08Whose dwelling is not with flesh.
- 15:10So they're calling on false gods.
- 15:15So we have a king.
- 15:16That lives in darkness.
- 15:17And he calls on the darkness.
- 15:21And all he gets from the darkness.
- 15:22Is darkness.
- 15:25There's more about that later.
- 15:27But what they're identifying with here.
- 15:29Is that the gods.
- 15:31Whose dwelling is not with flesh.
- 15:33That these are impersonal.
- 15:34Little g gods.
- 15:36These are not gods that.
- 15:38They have a relationship with.
- 15:40These are not gods that answer.
- 15:42They're certainly not gods.
- 15:43That have given them full revelation.
- 15:46Of the past and the future.
- 15:48They're powerless gods.
- 15:50Because they're man made gods.
- 15:52They're made with human minds.
- 15:54Or made out of human minds.
- 15:56With human hands.
- 15:57They're gods with eyes that can't see.
- 15:59And ears that can't hear.
- 16:01And there's no real answer.
- 16:03Going to come.
- 16:04From darkness.
- 16:05Nathan touched on that recently.
- 16:10That.
- 16:11Or actually.
- 16:13Well.
- 16:13That.
- 16:14You get no light from darkness.
- 16:16That's an abbreviated version.
- 16:18But.
- 16:19So.
- 16:20We have a desperate.
- 16:22And scared king.
- 16:23In verse 12.
- 16:24Who.
- 16:25Has a.
- 16:26Hopeless act.
- 16:29Or.
- 16:30He says.
- 16:32Because of the.
- 16:33Because of this.
- 16:34The king was angry.
- 16:35And very furious.
- 16:36And commanded.
- 16:36That all the wise men of Babylon.
- 16:38Be destroyed.
- 16:40When I read this.
- 16:41It.
- 16:41It.
- 16:42Led me to think of.
- 16:43How does this profit the king.
- 16:45What profit can come from destroying.
- 16:47All the wise men of Babylon.
- 16:51The answer would be.
- 16:52None.
- 16:53There is no profit from that.
- 16:55There is no peace or rest.
- 16:58That comes from.
- 16:59These.
- 17:00Chaldeans.
- 17:00Or the sorcerers.
- 17:02Or.
- 17:02These false gods.
- 17:04And there is no rest.
- 17:06No rest in.
- 17:09False gods.
- 17:10And darkness.
- 17:12So.
- 17:13What we see is.
- 17:14Nebuchadnezzar has a perceived control.
- 17:16But then he comes face to face with.
- 17:19Actual control.
- 17:21He actually is in control.
- 17:23Of none of these things.
- 17:25Which brings us to our second point.
- 17:28Is the immovable sovereignty of God.
- 17:31And I had mentioned.
- 17:32Keeping your finger.
- 17:34In second kings.
- 17:35And this is why.
- 17:36And I am going to go rather quickly.
- 17:37But if you kept your finger there.
- 17:39Then you can probably keep up.
- 17:42But.
- 17:43There are several verses.
- 17:44That we see.
- 17:45In chapter 24.
- 17:46Of second king.
- 17:48That shows us.
- 17:49The sovereignty of God.
- 17:51Sovereignty of.
- 17:52The God.
- 17:53Of heaven.
- 17:54The true king maker.
- 17:56If we look at.
- 17:58Chapter 24.
- 17:59In verse 2.
- 18:00It says.
- 18:01And the Lord.
- 18:02Sent.
- 18:03Against him.
- 18:03Bands of Chaldeans.
- 18:05And bands of Syrians.
- 18:06And bands of Moabites.
- 18:07And the bands of the Ammonites.
- 18:09And sent them against Judah.
- 18:11To destroy it.
- 18:12According to the word of the Lord.
- 18:14That he spoke by his servants.
- 18:15The prophets.
- 18:17Continuing in verse 3.
- 18:18It says.
- 18:18Surely this came upon Judah.
- 18:20At the command.
- 18:21Of the Lord.
- 18:22So we see.
- 18:24In these verses.
- 18:25That the rise.
- 18:26Of Nebuchadnezzar.
- 18:27Was not by his own hand.
- 18:30It was because Nebuchadnezzar.
- 18:34Perhaps unbeknownst to him.
- 18:35Or definitely unbeknownst to him.
- 18:37Was actually.
- 18:38Working out the plan.
- 18:39Of the sovereign God.
- 18:41That it was by the command.
- 18:43Of the Lord.
- 18:44That Judah.
- 18:44Was destroyed.
- 18:45Because he wanted.
- 18:48The inhabitants of Judah.
- 18:50To be removed.
- 18:51Out of his sight.
- 18:52For the sins of Manasseh.
- 18:54According to all that he had done.
- 18:56So it was judgment.
- 18:57Upon God's people.
- 18:59That God was using Nebuchadnezzar for.
- 19:02And as you.
- 19:04Continue reading.
- 19:06Then you.
- 19:07See in other verses.
- 19:09In verse 13.
- 19:12It says.
- 19:14In 13.
- 19:15The second half of 13.
- 19:17It says.
- 19:17That as the Lord.
- 19:18Had foretold.
- 19:20That these things.
- 19:21That all of the treasures.
- 19:22Of the house of the Lord.
- 19:23And all of the other.
- 19:24Things that had transpired.
- 19:25Leading up to this.
- 19:27As these treasures.
- 19:28Of Jerusalem.
- 19:29Were being carried away.
- 19:30This was all.
- 19:32Being done.
- 19:32By the hand of the Lord.
- 19:34They had foretold.
- 19:35That it would happen.
- 19:36And it was happening.
- 19:37So he had.
- 19:45These things took place.
- 19:46He had.
- 19:47Cast them.
- 19:48Out of his presence.
- 19:50And then.
- 19:51You don't need to turn there.
- 19:52But perhaps.
- 19:54Write this down.
- 19:55For the sake of memory.
- 19:56But in Proverbs.
- 19:5721.
- 19:571.
- 19:58It said.
- 19:59The king's heart.
- 20:00Is a stream of water.
- 20:01In the hand of the Lord.
- 20:03He turns it.
- 20:04Wherever he will.
- 20:06So this is.
- 20:07The sovereignty of God.
- 20:08Throughout.
- 20:10All of Nebuchadnezzar's.
- 20:12Conquest.
- 20:13Where he is.
- 20:14This very day.
- 20:16The reality.
- 20:17That he.
- 20:17Is having this dream.
- 20:19That his spirit.
- 20:19Is troubled.
- 20:21All of these things.
- 20:22Are being done.
- 20:22For the glory.
- 20:23Of the sovereign God.
- 20:24Of heaven.
- 20:26All these things.
- 20:27Are being done.
- 20:28For the good.
- 20:29Of Daniel.
- 20:30And other believers.
- 20:31Throughout the centuries.
- 20:33God's plan.
- 20:34Is prevailing.
- 20:35It always has.
- 20:37And it.
- 20:37Always will.
- 20:39So these things.
- 20:40Are taking place.
- 20:42And as.
- 20:42We see.
- 20:43The sovereignty.
- 20:44Of God.
- 20:44Realized.
- 20:45By Daniel.
- 20:46In his prayer.
- 20:47If you go back.
- 20:48To Daniel.
- 20:48Chapter 2.
- 20:49And.
- 20:50We look.
- 20:51At the verses.
- 20:53Coming.
- 20:53Where Daniel.
- 20:55After.
- 20:56This.
- 20:56Mystery.
- 20:57Had been revealed.
- 20:57To Daniel.
- 21:00He says.
- 21:01Blessed be the name.
- 21:02Of God.
- 21:03Forever.
- 21:03Forever.
- 21:03This is in verse 20.
- 21:05Blessed be the name.
- 21:06Of God.
- 21:06Forever and ever.
- 21:07To whom belong.
- 21:08Wisdom.
- 21:08And might.
- 21:09He changes.
- 21:10Times.
- 21:10And seasons.
- 21:11He removes.
- 21:12Kings.
- 21:12And sets up.
- 21:13Kings.
- 21:14He gives wisdom.
- 21:15To the wise.
- 21:16And knowledge.
- 21:17To those.
- 21:18Who have understanding.
- 21:20He reveals.
- 21:21Deep.
- 21:21And hidden.
- 21:22Things.
- 21:23He knows.
- 21:24What is in the darkness.
- 21:25And the light.
- 21:26Dwells with him.
- 21:28So in these verses.
- 21:30I.
- 21:30Say.
- 21:31That that was.
- 21:31Realized by Daniel.
- 21:33This is.
- 21:34A revelation.
- 21:35To all of us.
- 21:37About.
- 21:37God.
- 21:39Managing.
- 21:40Circumstances.
- 21:41In Daniel's life.
- 21:43There's another.
- 21:44Text.
- 21:45That we.
- 21:45We don't.
- 21:46I won't turn to the text.
- 21:47But in Genesis.
- 21:49When we.
- 21:49See Joseph.
- 21:50In the hands of Potiphar.
- 21:52And Pharaoh.
- 21:52You see a very similar.
- 21:54Circumstance.
- 21:54Taking place.
- 21:55And the same.
- 21:56Thing is occurring.
- 21:57With Joseph.
- 21:58Where.
- 21:59God is leading him.
- 22:00Through.
- 22:01The trials of life.
- 22:02In the most difficult.
- 22:03Of situations.
- 22:04And Joseph.
- 22:05Remains true.
- 22:06And faithful.
- 22:07Daniel.
- 22:08As we.
- 22:08Continue forward.
- 22:09We will see his.
- 22:10In his resilient.
- 22:11Faith.
- 22:12Daniel.
- 22:13Is doing the same thing.
- 22:15And it's all.
- 22:16By the power.
- 22:17In the hand of God.
- 22:18So.
- 22:19We're moving around.
- 22:20A little bit.
- 22:21We're going to move back.
- 22:22To chapter.
- 22:23Verses 14.
- 22:24In this.
- 22:26In chapter.
- 22:26Two here.
- 22:28To see.
- 22:30Daniel's reaction.
- 22:32When he learns.
- 22:34That.
- 22:35This.
- 22:36Worldly king.
- 22:37That is the.
- 22:38Worldly king.
- 22:39Of worldly kings.
- 22:41Has determined.
- 22:42That all the wise men.
- 22:45In Babylon.
- 22:46Are to be.
- 22:48Destroyed.
- 22:50So this comes to.
- 22:51Comes to Daniel.
- 22:52Comes to his.
- 22:53Conscience.
- 22:57Or consciousness.
- 22:58I should say.
- 22:59But because of the king.
- 23:00The king was angry.
- 23:01And very furious.
- 23:01And commanded all the wise men.
- 23:02Of Babylon.
- 23:03Be destroyed.
- 23:05This is in verse 12.
- 23:06It says.
- 23:06So the decree went out.
- 23:07And the wise men.
- 23:08Were about to be killed.
- 23:08And they sought Daniel.
- 23:09And his companions.
- 23:10To kill them.
- 23:12And then.
- 23:13Here in verse 14.
- 23:15We see the calmness.
- 23:17Of Daniel.
- 23:18He replied with prudence.
- 23:19And discretion.
- 23:20He knows who his God is.
- 23:24And he knows.
- 23:25That he.
- 23:26He needs not fear men.
- 23:28Because his life.
- 23:30And death.
- 23:31All of his days.
- 23:32Are numbered by God.
- 23:32In heaven.
- 23:34So this.
- 23:35Takes place.
- 23:36He replies.
- 23:37With prudence.
- 23:37And discretion.
- 23:38And.
- 23:39As Ariok.
- 23:40The.
- 23:40The captain.
- 23:41Of the king's guard.
- 23:43Comes to take his life.
- 23:45He stops him.
- 23:46And he declares.
- 23:47To Ariok.
- 23:47Why is the decree.
- 23:49Of the king.
- 23:50So urgent.
- 23:51And Ariok.
- 23:52Made the matter.
- 23:52Known to Daniel.
- 23:54And then.
- 23:55We see.
- 23:56In.
- 23:57The.
- 23:57Faith.
- 23:58In faithfulness.
- 23:59In the faith.
- 24:00Daniel's faith.
- 24:00In the faithfulness.
- 24:01Of God.
- 24:03He speaks.
- 24:05Even now.
- 24:06He says.
- 24:07He went in.
- 24:08Requested.
- 24:09The king.
- 24:10To appoint him.
- 24:11A time.
- 24:11That he might show.
- 24:12The interpretation.
- 24:13To the king.
- 24:15He knows.
- 24:16That his God.
- 24:16Is faithful.
- 24:17He rests.
- 24:18In the faithfulness.
- 24:19Of his God.
- 24:20And he knows.
- 24:21That his salvation.
- 24:22Lies in the hands.
- 24:23Of the God of heaven.
- 24:27So he.
- 24:28Is already.
- 24:29Saying.
- 24:30I will interpret.
- 24:31The dream.
- 24:32Or.
- 24:32Give me opportunity.
- 24:34To show.
- 24:35The interpretation.
- 24:36Is probably.
- 24:36A better way.
- 24:37For me.
- 24:37To put that.
- 24:39And then.
- 24:40Immediately.
- 24:41After that.
- 24:41He goes.
- 24:42To his companions.
- 24:43To.
- 24:44Heron.
- 24:44I.
- 24:44Michelle.
- 24:45And.
- 24:45Azariah.
- 24:46And he.
- 24:47Tells them.
- 24:47To pray.
- 24:49To seek.
- 24:50Mercy.
- 24:50From the God.
- 24:51Of heaven.
- 24:52Here again.
- 24:53You notice.
- 24:53He does not.
- 24:54Address.
- 24:54Nebuchadnezzar.
- 24:55He does not.
- 24:55Run.
- 24:56Into Nebuchadnezzar's.
- 24:57Throne room.
- 24:57Begging his mercy.
- 24:59But he.
- 24:59And his companions.
- 25:00Pray.
- 25:00To the God.
- 25:01Of heaven.
- 25:05And his.
- 25:06Boundless.
- 25:06And endless.
- 25:07Mercy.
- 25:08And grace.
- 25:09They can.
- 25:10Relive.
- 25:12So can.
- 25:13He goes.
- 25:14They pray.
- 25:15Concerning this mystery.
- 25:17So that.
- 25:18He and his companions.
- 25:19Might not be destroyed.
- 25:20With the rest of the wise men.
- 25:22Of Babylon.
- 25:24So he calls on the one true God.
- 25:29And then.
- 25:30The mystery was revealed.
- 25:32In verse 19.
- 25:33To Daniel.
- 25:34In a vision of the night.
- 25:36So this revelation.
- 25:38Comes.
- 25:38He calls on the one true God.
- 25:40And God delivers.
- 25:41And before he even.
- 25:45Goes.
- 25:47To the king.
- 25:49The worldly king.
- 25:50To.
- 25:51Reveal what God has revealed.
- 25:52To him.
- 25:53He recognizes.
- 25:54God's worthiness.
- 25:55To be praised.
- 25:58And he goes to him.
- 25:59And.
- 26:00Speaks of the revelation.
- 26:01And the thanksgiving.
- 26:02In thanksgiving.
- 26:04And these are in verses.
- 26:0520 through 23.
- 26:06The prayer.
- 26:07It says.
- 26:08And Daniel.
- 26:08Blessed the God of heaven.
- 26:10Daniel answered.
- 26:11Blessed be the name of.
- 26:12God forever and ever.
- 26:14To whom belong wisdom and might.
- 26:16He changes times and seasons.
- 26:18He removes kings.
- 26:19And sets up kings.
- 26:20He gives wisdom to the wise.
- 26:22And knowledge to those who have understanding.
- 26:24He reveals the deep.
- 26:25And hidden things.
- 26:26He knows what is in the darkness.
- 26:28And the light dwells with him.
- 26:30To you.
- 26:31Oh God of my fathers.
- 26:32I give thanks and praise.
- 26:33For you have given me wisdom.
- 26:35And might.
- 26:36And have now made known to me.
- 26:39What we asked of you.
- 26:40For you have made known to us.
- 26:43The king's matter.
- 26:49So he goes in.
- 26:52To the throne room.
- 26:53Of the almighty.
- 26:55Instead of running and pleading with Nebuchadnezzar.
- 26:58He pleads.
- 26:59With.
- 27:00Our sovereign God.
- 27:01Our unchanging God.
- 27:03And the God that he goes to.
- 27:05Is the same God.
- 27:07That we worship today.
- 27:09There is.
- 27:11Never a change.
- 27:12In him.
- 27:14So.
- 27:16With these things.
- 27:17I hope that.
- 27:19You are.
- 27:20As you listen to these things.
- 27:21That you see some.
- 27:24Contrast.
- 27:24Between.
- 27:25Nebuchadnezzar.
- 27:26And between Daniel.
- 27:28You see.
- 27:29Nebuchadnezzar.
- 27:29The one who thinks he is in control.
- 27:31And thinks he is sovereign.
- 27:33Over his own world.
- 27:34And then you see Daniel.
- 27:35Who has become very comfortable.
- 27:37And restful.
- 27:38And peaceful.
- 27:39In his helplessness.
- 27:41He knows where his power comes from.
- 27:44And I pray.
- 27:45That.
- 27:46We in this room.
- 27:47Also know that.
- 27:49That there.
- 27:49We are.
- 27:50We are powerless.
- 27:51In ourselves.
- 27:51That we.
- 27:54Are under.
- 27:57We are under the law of man.
- 27:59In so many areas of our life.
- 28:01There are so many.
- 28:02That make decisions for us.
- 28:04It is.
- 28:05Easy to believe.
- 28:07That.
- 28:09There's a man out there somewhere.
- 28:11That has authority over whether you live or die.
- 28:13But the reality is.
- 28:14That's.
- 28:15That's not their hand.
- 28:16That can move to kill us.
- 28:19Or to take our lives.
- 28:20Or to even change our lives.
- 28:22But it is the hand of God.
- 28:23That works.
- 28:24These things.
- 28:25He is sovereign over all things.
- 28:28So.
- 28:30The.
- 28:31Also you might have picked up on the contrast.
- 28:34Between the darkness and the light.
- 28:36The darkness of Nebuchadnezzar.
- 28:39And.
- 28:40I would also.
- 28:41Just kind of as a.
- 28:42Side note on that.
- 28:43Is I hope that no one sat in judgment over Nebuchadnezzar.
- 28:47Because.
- 28:48If it weren't by the grace of God.
- 28:49We are all capable.
- 28:51Of equally despicable things.
- 28:54And it's quite easy.
- 28:55To fall into.
- 28:57Into fear and anxiety.
- 28:59Similar to Nebuchadnezzar.
- 29:01And.
- 29:03At the same time.
- 29:04Though we can be very thankful.
- 29:06That.
- 29:06We serve a sovereign God.
- 29:07That.
- 29:08Never removes his hand from us.
- 29:11That we are protected.
- 29:12By him.
- 29:13And.
- 29:14That.
- 29:15We.
- 29:16Need not fear man.
- 29:17So there's.
- 29:19Nebuchadnezzar and Daniel.
- 29:20Darkness and light.
- 29:21And then there's lies.
- 29:22And truth.
- 29:24Nebuchadnezzar lived in a dark place.
- 29:26He sought.
- 29:27His answers in darkness.
- 29:28And he got back from darkness.
- 29:30Nothing but darkness.
- 29:32Just lies and deceit.
- 29:33It was corruption.
- 29:36But then you see Daniel.
- 29:38And he goes to the God of light.
- 29:40And he gets.
- 29:42The answers that.
- 29:43He needs.
- 29:45And.
- 29:46His faith.
- 29:48Is strengthened through it.
- 29:50So in closing.
- 29:52I'm going to.
- 29:53Close this time.
- 29:55With.
- 29:55Just some reading.
- 29:57Of scripture.
- 29:57With.
- 29:59With.
- 29:59Little.
- 30:00To no.
- 30:01Explanation.
- 30:01Because I think it takes us home.
- 30:03Very nicely.
- 30:05If you.
- 30:06You can turn with.
- 30:07Or you can just listen.
- 30:08But John chapter 8.
- 30:11Verse 12.
- 30:13Says.
- 30:13Again.
- 30:14Jesus spoke to them saying.
- 30:16I am the light of the world.
- 30:18Whoever follows me.
- 30:19Will not walk in darkness.
- 30:21But will have.
- 30:22The light of life.
- 30:23I think you'll see.
- 30:28Also.
- 30:30Application.
- 30:30From today's.
- 30:32Text.
- 30:33When you read.
- 30:33Revelation.
- 30:35Chapter 21.
- 30:3622.
- 30:37Through 27.
- 30:39Says.
- 30:39And I saw no temple.
- 30:41In the city.
- 30:42For its temple.
- 30:43Is the Lord God.
- 30:44The Almighty.
- 30:45And the Lamb.
- 30:45In the city.
- 30:46Has no need.
- 30:47Of sun.
- 30:48Or moon.
- 30:48To shine on it.
- 30:49For the glory of God.
- 30:51Gives it light.
- 30:52And its lamp.
- 30:53Is the Lamb.
- 30:54By its light.
- 30:55Will the nations walk.
- 30:56And the kings of earth.
- 30:57Will bring their glory.
- 30:58Into it.
- 30:59And its gates.
- 31:00Will never be shut.
- 31:00By day.
- 31:01And there will be.
- 31:02No night there.
- 31:04They will bring.
- 31:05Into it.
- 31:06The glory.
- 31:06And the honor.
- 31:07Of the nations.
- 31:08But nothing.
- 31:09Unclean.
- 31:10Will ever enter it.
- 31:11Nor anyone.
- 31:12Who does.
- 31:12What is detestable.
- 31:13Or false.
- 31:14But only those.
- 31:15Who are written.
- 31:16In the Lamb's.
- 31:17Book of life.
- 31:19And lastly.
- 31:20In 1st Timothy.
- 31:24Chapter 6.
- 31:27Verses 13 through 16.
- 31:32It says.
- 31:33I charge you.
- 31:34In the presence of God.
- 31:35Who gives life.
- 31:36To all things.
- 31:37And of Christ Jesus.
- 31:39Who in his testimony.
- 31:40Before Pontius Pilate.
- 31:42Made the good confession.
- 31:43To keep the commandment.
- 31:44Unstained.
- 31:45And free from reproach.
- 31:47Until the appearing.
- 31:47Of our Lord Jesus Christ.
- 31:49Which he will display.
- 31:51At the proper time.
- 31:52He who is.
- 31:53The blessed.
- 31:54And only sovereign.
- 31:56The king of kings.
- 31:57And lord of lords.
- 31:59Who alone.
- 32:00Has immortality.
- 32:01Who dwells.
- 32:02In unapproachable light.
- 32:05Whom no one.
- 32:06Has ever seen.
- 32:07Or can see.
- 32:08To him.
- 32:09Be honor.
- 32:10And eternal dominion.
- 32:12Amen.
- 32:15So these.
- 32:16New Testament.
- 32:17Verses.
- 32:18Speak.
- 32:19Of Christ.
- 32:21That he is the light.
- 32:22Of the world.
- 32:23That he is.
- 32:24The sovereign.
- 32:25He is the king.
- 32:25Of kings.
- 32:26This is the Christ.
- 32:31That we believe in.
- 32:32That we put our faith in.
- 32:34That we know.
- 32:35That we.
- 32:36Do not walk through this life.
- 32:37In fear.
- 32:40Is.
- 32:41This king.
- 32:42That chose.
- 32:43To give himself.
- 32:46That he.
- 32:47Left his throne.
- 32:48In heaven.
- 32:49And came as a man.
- 32:50To this earth.
- 32:51To die.
- 32:52For the sins.
- 32:54Of the lost.
- 32:55To take on the wrath.
- 32:59Of God the father.
- 33:00That he took the penalty.
- 33:01For the sins.
- 33:01Of those.
- 33:03That believed in him.
- 33:06And that he was buried.
- 33:07And rose again.
- 33:08Three days later.
- 33:10And in that resurrection.
- 33:12He showed his.
- 33:13Absolute divine power.
- 33:14Over death.
- 33:17And in believing this.
- 33:18And repenting.
- 33:20Of your sins.
- 33:21And believing.
- 33:22These facts.
- 33:23And trusting.
- 33:25Putting your trust.
- 33:26In the Lord.
- 33:26The sovereign Lord.
- 33:28The God of Daniel.
- 33:31It is through him.
- 33:32That you have salvation.
- 33:35So.
- 33:36Thank you for.
- 33:37Reading along with me.
- 33:38In the text.
- 33:39And hearing these things.
- 33:40But.
- 33:40If you leave with anything.
- 33:42Just know that.
- 33:42Our salvation.
- 33:46Is in the Lord Jesus.
- 33:49It's not in man.
- 33:52And in.
- 33:52We are to.
- 33:54Seek our wisdom.
- 33:55Seek our truth.
- 33:56Seek light.
- 33:57Not in darkness.
- 33:59But in the God of light.
- 34:04Let's pray.
- 34:05Let's pray.