Daniel 4
JASON MARTIN / General Adult
Daniel / Daniel 4
The God of Restoration
2 Timothy 3:16–17 “16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.”
The Spirit of God working through mankind is what makes Scripture inspired, not the men writing it. A prefect example is Daniel chapter 4. It is written by a pagan king. The same king that destroyed Jerusalem, took the Jewish people into exile, and stole the items from the Temple of God.
1. Dan 4:1-3
a. An open letter written to all the known world in Aramaic (the common language of the world) instead of Hebrew
b. Most High God - many gods > One Most High
c. Daniel 2:44 “44 And in the days of those kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that shall never be destroyed, nor shall the kingdom be left to another people. It shall break in pieces all these kingdoms and bring them to an end, and it shall stand forever,”
2. Dan 4:4
a. Later on in a successful life. Kings rest on thrones when the work is done. (God ‘rested’)
3. Dan 4:5
a. 2nd alarming dream
4. Dan 4:6-9
a. Current
i. Most High God
ii. Daniel - “God is my Judge”
b. past tense
i. holy gods
ii. Belteshazzar - “Bel’s prince” or “Bel, protect his life / Bel = Marduk
1. Daniel’s God has proven to be superior to all
c. Why not call Daniel first?
i. Last time it was accurate, but not great news
5. Dan 4:10-18
a. Like Daniel told Nebuchadnezzar before, God put him there
i. Daniel 2:37–38 “37 You, O king, the king of kings, to whom the God of heaven has given the kingdom, the power, and the might, and the glory, 38 and into whose hand he has given, wherever they dwell, the children of man, the beasts of the field, and the birds of the heavens, making you rule over them all—you are the head of gold.”
b. come back to the watchers in Dan 4:23-24
6. Dan 4:19-22
a. now Daniel’s alarmed
b. like the first dream, it starts good - then not so much
7. Dan 4:23-24
a. Divine Council - God uses earthly and spiritual beings to carry out His will
i. decree of watchers, decree of holy ones
ii. Turn to and read 1 Kings 22:19-23
8. Dan 4:25-26
a. seven years
b. what’s the purpose? ‘until you know...’
c. confirmed / secured / assured / established
i. God could have torn out the stump but didn’t
ii. When God trims us back or allows us to be cut down, it doesn’t mean He’s done with us
9. Dan 4:27
a. Daniel preaches repentance to Neb - just like the prophets did to Israel
i. Turn to and read Ezekiel 18:26-32
ii. 2 Peter 3:9 “9 The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.”
10. Dan 4:28-30
a. God gave him 12 months
b. look at the pride
c. He was warned in chapter 2 and again in Dan 4:25 - God sets up kings. There is a throne higher than Neb’s.
i. Daniel 3:15 “15 Now if you are ready when you hear the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, bagpipe, and every kind of music, to fall down and worship the image that I have made, well and good. But if you do not worship, you shall immediately be cast into a burning fiery furnace. And who is the god who will deliver you out of my hands?””
1. At the end of chapter 3, Neb had elevated the God of Israel to higher than all - EXCEPT HIMSELF
11. Dan 4:31-33
a. Deuteronomy 8:17–18 “17 Beware lest you say in your heart, ‘My power and the might of my hand have gotten me this wealth.’ 18 You shall remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you power to get wealth, that he may confirm his covenant that he swore to your fathers, as it is this day.”
b. 1 Corinthians 4:7 “7 For who sees anything different in you? What do you have that you did not receive? If then you received it, why do you boast as if you did not receive it?”
c. Neb was silenced mid-boast and sent outside like a misbehaving pet. That would be a humbling experience.
12. Dan 4:34-35
a. When Neb did what - what happened? Then what did Neb do?
b. It was a time of testing that ended when - instead of looking down on everybody from his high and mighty place - Neb looked up to God
i. Restoration started when he looked up to God
13. Dan 4:36
a. Even more was added
14. Dan 4:37
i. Most High
ii. Him who lives forever
iii. King of Heaven
What was the purpose of Nebuchadnezzar’s affliction?
Humbling leading to repentance and restoration
What was the purpose of Israel’s judgment?
Humbling leading to repentance and restoration
Restoration isn’t us getting our old life back.
Psalm 51:10–12 “10 Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. 11 Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me. 12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit.”
1 Peter 5:10 “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.”
Melanie posted a quote of Isaac Newton’s - “I am not the man I ought to be, I am not the man I wish to be, and I am not the man I hope to be. But by the grace of God, I am not the man I used to be.”
Prayer
Exported from Logos Bible Study, 12:24 PM September 25, 2026.