Introduction

• Nebuchadnezzar was known as a great builder (the hanging gardens of Babylon, for example) and a fierce conqueror.


• Jeremiah 52:4, 10-16 – Nebuchadnezzar conquered Jerusalem and took some of the people back to Babylon, leaving only the poor in the land.


• Jeremiah 25:8-12 – God used Nebuchadnezzar to punish Israel.

He would ‘learn his lesson,’ but then turn around and sin again.

• Daniel 2:3, 26, 46-49 – Nebuchadnezzar glorified God and blessed Daniel and his friends.


• Daniel 3:1, 6, 14, 19-21, 28-30 – Nebuchadnezzar set up an idol and tried to force others to worship it.


• Daniel 4:29 – Nebuchadnezzar is back with more pride!


• II Corinthians 12:21


• Have I truly repented of my sin?


• It is time to die to sin (Romans 6:2)!

He never focused exclusively on God.

• Daniel 4:1-3 – Nebuchadnezzar calls God “the most high God.” See also Daniel 3:26 . Although this is a correct term, it seems that Nebuchadnezzar might have thought of God as just being the highest of many gods.


• Daniel 4:8-9, 18


• Nebuchadnezzar changed the names of Daniel and his friends:
  
  
  
  • Jewish names:
    
    
    
    • Daniel: God is my judge
    
    
    • Hananiah: Who is what God is?
    
    
    • Azariah: Yahweh has helped
    
    
    
    
  
  
  • Babylonian names:
    
    
    
    • Belteshazzar: Bel protect the prince
    
    
    • Shadrach: Command of Aku
    
    
    • Meshach: Who is like Aku?
    
    
    • Abed-nego: Servant of Nebo
    
    
    
    
  
  
  
  


• Daniel 5:11 – He never got rid of the other “magicians” even though he made Daniel chief of the magicians.


• Acts 17:23-24, 31


• Acts 4:12 – Salvation is in no else!


• Matthew 16:18


• Ephesians 4:4-6 – There is one God.

He was guilty of pride.

• Daniel 4:25-37 – God humbled Nebuchadnezzar.


• Are we guilty of pride?


• Belshazzar saw what happened to Nebuchadnezzar and was still guilty of pride.