Don't Give Up
It is my pleasure to tell you about the miraculous signs and wonders that the Most High God has performed for me.
How great are his signs,
how mighty his wonders!
His kingdom is an eternal kingdom;
his dominion endures from generation to generation. – Daniel 4:2-3, NIV
“What these stories vividly illustrate is the providential ordering of the events of human lives, not only of believers but of unbelievers also; God does not leave Himself without witness, but desires all men to come to a knowledge of the truth.” – Joyce G. Baldwin
“This redemptive shame is the shame experienced by Nebuchadnezzar. His overweening pride was rightfully exposed, and he was shown to be a brute beast on his own power; even his sanity was a gift from God. His humiliating experience compelled him to look at God again, and he was restored to his former dignity.” - Tremper Longman III
The words that open Daniel chapter 4 would be far more fitting in an open letter from a King of Judah than from Nebuchadnezzar. And yet, they do issue from an otherwise pagan King. That God dealt graciously with this pagan King and so late in his life should give us great hope on at least two accounts.
First, we can take great solace in a God who is so gracious and redemptive. If He cares this much about King Nebuchadnezzar, does that not give us encouragement as we face sins that won’t seem to relinquish their hold? Our God is redemptive. He is working redemptively in our lives. In ways we understand and in ways we don’t. When we face sins and situations that seem to have us out flanked, we must call to mind that Divine resources are ours for our Heavenly Father is not unaware of our plight.
Second, we can take hope in God’s redemptive ways for the lost people around us. I wonder how often and for how long Daniel prayed for King Nebuchadnezzar? I can only imagine the intensity of his prayers increasing once the dream came and for the intervening year while God stayed His hand. I wonder too, if when Nebuchadnezzar went mad if Daniel didn’t feel like all hope was lost? I mean given the chance to recognize God’s rule and submit to His ways, Nebuchadnezzar said no for a whole year. How would God work redemptively in a man who had lost his mind? Still, the dream predicted that Nebuchadnezzar would recognize God’s sovereignty and submit. And then, the day came. Nebuchadnezzar came to acknowledge God and his sanity was restored- so too was his relationship to Daniel (among other advisors). I guess the lesson that I am pointing too is this- even for Nebuchadnezzar there was hope. Not because Daniel was a great prophet- but because God was and is a great, gracious and redemptive God. Who of your far from God friends, family members, neighbors, co-workers, have you given up on? You were praying for them for a time but, you’ve sort of written them off. “They will never come to confess Jesus as Lord and Savior,” you think. And if it were dependent on you or on their own rebellious heart, I would agree with you. But, it’s not. It’s dependent on a God who bends the will of King Nebuchadnezzar. A God who has Nebuchadnezzar declaring His praise empire-wide because He is a redemptive God. No one is beyond His saving power.
So, keep praying. Keep hoping. Keep looking to God. He is able to do all things. His will is accomplished. His ways are beyond finding out. His heart for humanity is redemptive and gracious.
Questions for application/discussion:
1. How do I need God’s redemptive grace to change me? What sin struggle am I trying to conquer on my own?
2. Who do I need to pray for more faithfully? Who have I ‘written off’ that I need God to grant me fresh perspective for?
Blog Bonus:
Here is the song Much of You (the lyrics of which I quoted at the end of the message)