|
Memory Verse, Tuesday, November 4, Daniel 4, part 3
Chapter 4: "The King on all FOURS like a beast."
"All this came upon King Nebuchadnezzar. At the end of twelve months he was walking on the roof of the royal palace of Babylon, and the king answered and said, "Is not this great Babylon, which I have built by my mighty power as a royal residence and for the glory of my majesty?"
"While the words were still in the king's mouth, there fell a voice from heaven, "O King Nebuchadnezzar, to you it is spoken: The kingdom has departed from you, and you shall be driven from among men, and your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field. And you shall be made to eat grass like an ox, and seven periods of time shall pass over you, until you know that the Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he will."
"Immediately the word was fulfilled against Nebuchadnezzar. He was driven from among men and ate grass like an ox, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven till his hair grew as long as eagle's feathers, and his nails were like birds' claws." (4:28-33)
Most believe that the "seven times" meant seven years, for we will see this description of years again in this book. We'll also see it in the book of Revelation describing the time periods of the Great Tribulation. We then read:
"At the end of the days I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted my eyes to heaven, and my reason returned to me, and I blessed the Most High, and praised and honored him who lives forever, for his dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom endures from generation to generation; all the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing, and he does according to his will among the inhabitants of the earth; and none can stay his hand or say to him, "What have you done?" (34-35)
The great king finally got the real "eternal perspective". And "At the same time my reason returned to me, and for the glory of my kingdom, my majesty and splendor returned to me. My counselors and my lords sought me, and I was established in my kingdom, and still more greatness was added to me." (36)
But now, his "greatness" had a different perspective: "Now I, Nebuchadnezzar praise and extol and honor the King of heaven, for all his works are right and his ways are just; and those who walk in pride he is able to humble." (37)
For, "The king's heart is a stream of water in the hand of the Lord; he turns it wherever he will." (Proverbs 21:1). "for "All flesh is like grass and all its glory like the flower of grass. The grass withers, and the flower falls, but the word of the Lord remains forever." (1 Peter 1:24-25a)
1 Peter 25b reads: "And this word is the good news that was preached to you." God has been patient with the world, allowing evil to endure as He calls a people to Himself. And there will come a time when the Jews themselves will have this blindness removed, and the whole nation saved (Romans 11). And not only the Jews, but there will come a time:
"that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." (Philippians 2:10-11)
All will kneel. Will you kneel in joyful repentance? Will "reason" be returned to you, and you will acknowledge "the King of heaven"? Or will you bow in terror, "for all his works are right and his ways are just; and those who walk in pride he is able to humble."
Justice or mercy? Which will it be?
Today if you hear His voice, harden not your heart.
*ESV used unless noted*
Memory Helps:
Chapter 4: "The King on all FOURS like a beast."
We can now add another subtitle to our outline:
Here are suggestions to further "flesh out" chapter 4, still using "fours" to help remember.
1-3: "Nebuchadnezzar is now "all 4" Daniel's God." (all for)
4-7: "Another dream 4 Nebuchadnezzar" (for)
8-27: "Calls 4 Daniel, who interprets dream with a warning 4 the king to repent."
28-33: "The king is on all fours like a beast."
34-39: "The king is restored in chapter four. Now on all "fours" to worship the Most High God"
And, if you like, the last verse 39 is a good one to try to remember. "Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the King of heaven, for all his WORKS are right and his WAYS are just; and those who WALK in pride he is able to humble."
It's a long verse, but a recurring type of verse. For verses 39, I use a "MoB"ster, say, Al Capone, if you remember him, or that funny little mobster with a big hat from Bugs Bunny if you remember that! (M=3, P or B= 9, vowels fillers) Either way, Daniel opens the "Door" (four) for him and he quotes this verse with many hand actions. He's wearing a crown because he is impersonating Nebuchadnezzar. He can raise his arms in praise, shaping them like an "X" for Extol, point to the King of heaven, hold a hammer for works in his right hand (works are right), change the hammer into a gavel for "ways are just", then walk pushing out his shirt buttons as he "walks in pride", and then falling on his knees because "he is able to humble." Then he walks back through the door and Daniel closes it, to reinforce the rest of the verse link. (also notice the Works/Ways/Walk are all "W" words).
That sounds like a lot of stuff, but if acted out as recited, you'd be surprised how your mind moves from one line to the other. And this way you can quickly learn Daniel 4:39.
Quick phonetic alphabet review: 0=S or Z; 1=t, or d; 2=N; 3=M; 4=R; 5=L; 6=J,sh,ch; 7=K or hard g; 8=F or V; and 9=P or b. All vowels, and w, and y are fillers. Example: "95" could be represented by PauL, or BaiLey, or PaiL, with the consonant sounds representing the numbers, and the vowels fillers.
Verses will be in the ESV unless otherwise notated.
Soli Deo Gloria
|
Read More