EBG Preken

Daniel 5-6

Daniel 4

As an overarching theme for this sermon series we will consider Peter’s conclusion regarding eschatology and daily life: 2 Peter 3:11-18. Eschatology is not intended to be informational, but transformational as it gives the believer incredible hope and trust in God.

Nebuchadnezzar has a second dream. This time, however, the text is recorded by the king himself and included in Daniel’s prophetic book.

The Jewish Talmud says: “Of every proud person God says: He and I cannot live together in the world.”
Pride is a major theme in this chapter and yet I would contend that this is not the central lesson. God’s sovereign rule over all things - even the king’s heart - is the central theme. As we consider these things this morning we will move through the following outline:

The proclamation of the King 4:1-4
The king’s dream 4:5-18
The explanation for the King 4:19-27
The king’s pride 4:28-33
The conversion of the King 4:34-37

Along the way I explain the reference to “seven times” (4:16, 23 and 32) as a possible “bridge term” to account for the different calendars of the day.
The Assyrian empire used a lunisolar calendar that started in the Spring, counted 12 months of 30 days, and a ten-day week.
The Babylonean lunisolar calendar consisted of 12 months of 30 days, a 7-day week, and three seasons (beginning, middle, and end of the year). The Jewish calendar followed the Babyloneans with the exception that they recognized four seasons. These calendars employed a thirteenth "intercalation" month to readjust according to the seasons.
The Egyptian calendar was a solar calendar with 365 days and the year consisted of three seasons of 120 days each, divided into weeks that had 7 or 8 days.
The Babylonean empire was the first empire to span so much territory and swallow up so many conquered people groups. Perhaps this use of "times" was a universal way of referring to a full cycle of the seasons (regardless of how many seasons or days you count in a year). Therefore seven times refers to seven cycles of the seasons, meaning seven years.
It is noteworthy that Nebuchadnezzar is given a (very specific) twelve month grace period before he boasts on his rooftop and is stricken with madness (4:29). Here the text is specific, which is why I lean toward this (also specific) understanding of "times".

My conclusion is to point out God’s work in the characters in Daniel.
Daniel and his friends learn: God is God and I am not. Even in the most difficult of circumstances.
Daniel teaches us: Be faithful where God places you, give Him all the glory, love people and leave the rest up to Him.
Nebuchadnezzar learns: who the most high God is, that the most high God saves spectacularly, and the most high God demands humble repentance.

Do you acknowledge that the most High God reigns?

Daniel 1-2

As an overarching theme for this sermon series we will consider Peter’s conclusion regarding eschatology and daily life: 2 Peter 3:11-18. Eschatology is not intended to be informational, but transformational as it gives the believer incredible hope and trust in God.

NEBUCHADNEZZAR'S DREAM
The narration lays out Nebuchadnezzar’s panic as his sleep is interrupted by a dream that troubles him, but he cannot recall what the dream was about. It fits the time and context better to consider that the king cannot remember the dream, rather that he is simply testing his wise men. The Chaldeans kept careful records of people’s dream and what manner of people they became, believing that dreams were important messages from the gods. When a king had a dream, the wise men would study their records to offer interpretations and predictions. The king woke up and could not recall his dream. This is why he is so anxious.
Daniel petitions the king for time and the God of His fathers for the answer to the king’s demand. God graciously gives Daniel the interpretation to the dream, so that the king might know how things will end.
In considering the king’s dream, we move through the following outline:

The King’s insecurity 2:1-12
God’s revelation to Daniel 2:13-28a
Outline of the world’s empires 2:28b-45
Overarching Sovereignty of God 2:29-35; 36-45

NEBUCHADNEZZAR'S RESPONSES
In this section we will consider the aftermath of Nebuchadnezzar’s dream. How did this man respond to this revelation from God? He initially responds with great exuberance, but it does not last. The very next story in the narrative is Nebuchadnezzar building a giant statue of himself… where did he get that idea? In verses 14-15 we learn that the entire statue is of gold. Here we find the king rebelling against the plan that God had revealed, which is why he issues the challenge: is there a god that can deliver you from my hand?
We will move through the following outline:
Overabundant Blessing 2:46-49
Rebellious Pride 3:1-2, 14-15
Over the top Anger 3:19-22
Unimaginable Shock 3:23-27
Real Reverance 3:28-30

CONCLUSION
In conclusion we again consider Peter’s challenge considering the eschatalogical promises:
> Live a holy life before God
> Remember His patient grace
> Beware of false teachers
> Grow in knowledge and grace of Jesus Christ
> Praise Him

Daniel 1-2

This series is going to focus more on the eschatological events recorded in Daniel, but before we can look at these, we must understand the man that God used and how he responded to God’s direction in His life.
As an overarching theme we will consider Peter’s conclusion regarding eschatology and daily life: 2 Peter 3:11-17

PROLOGUE FOR DANIEL
We looked at some of this last week, so we will not plumb the depths of Daniel’s predicament and principles.
A few preliminary considerations are the literary structure of the book. It divides into two parts: chapters 1-6 are stories from the Babylonian court and chapters 7-12 are visions from God given to Daniel. The language of the book is of particular note as well: Daniel begins in Hebrew, but transitions abruptly in the middle of verse 4 in chapter 2 and continues in Aramaic until the end of chapter 7. The last four chapters are in Hebrew. The reason for this is interesting, as Aramaic was the international language… much like English is today. This conveys the idea that Daniel’s message is not just for the Jewish people… it is for all Gentile nations as well.
The last consideration is the author… Did Daniel write it? Many have questioned its authenticity, however for me it is sufficient that Jesus Christ called Daniel a prophet and quotes him in Matthew 24 as the sign to watch for when His Second Coming will be near.
In considering Daniel and his friends, we move through the following outline:
> Jerusalem’s plundering 1:1-2
> Nebuchadnezzar’s program 1:3-7
> Daniel’s principles 1:8-16
> God’s preeminence 1:2, 9, 17-21

PROMOTION OF DANIEL
In this section we will not look at Nebuchadnezzar’s dream - that’s next week. We will only consider how the story unfolds and how God’s men respond to the circumstances.
We will move through the following outline:
> Nebuchadnezzar’s panic 2:1-13
> Daniel’s pattern 2:14-23, 24-27
> God’s plan 2:28-47
> Daniel’s placement 2:48-49

CONCLUSION
Returning to 2 Peter, the challenge is to "dare to be a Daniel":
> Live a holy life before God
> Remember His patient grace
> Beware of false teachers
> Grow in knowledge and grace of Jesus Christ
> Praise Him

Psalm 73

Efeze 1-2

Kolossenzen 2:6-3:4

Zondag na het GNBK Tienerkamp. Dit is een preek van één van de Bijbelstudies die tijdens het kamp is gegeven. zie www.gnbk.nl voor meer informatie.