“The Great American Nebuchadnezzar“
How many of you remember where you were when you heard the news of 9/11? Does anyone NOT remember?
9-11 is this generation’s defining world event.
Like the bombing of Pearl Harbor, and the Kennedy and MLK assassinations before it, 9-11 will be etched in our minds forever.
And that makes sense. I read online this past week that the Twin Towers, the World Trade Center has been featured prominently in at least 73 films. We all knew they represented our countries largest city, maybe even more so than the Statue of Liberty herself.
So seeing those images day after day after day in the immediate aftermath of the attacks of those towers being hit and falling…that’s not something a person forgets, even if they want to. Seeing the footage from the Pentagon, hearing the story of heroics from Flight 93, bound for the White House, but derailed and sabotaged by a few brave souls…these are things that we need to remember, that we need to tell our children.
As I’ve listened to others talk this past week, on TV, radio, and in person, about their memories from that fateful day, I continually hear people remark on how 9-11 changed the world we live in forever.
It is here that I would like to begin the discussion.
What is truly different about our world, our lives, after 9-11?
Personally speaking, I think we would all agree that travel is more difficult. Airport security is an entirely new ballgame. Anyone ever been pulled out of a boarding line to be searched? I was. In 2003, coming back from Japan, I was wearing a pair of Japanese tennis shoes in the Nagoya airport and I was pulled from the line and had to take off those shoes so they could be examined.
Globally speaking, we, quite somewhat recently, pulled our forces out of Afghanistan after 20 years, a decision that has ben met with much controversy. And now we are at war with Iran. We’ve all had friends and family on multiple military deployments to the Middle East over the last 20 years. A former HBCer, and friend, Nick Wheeler, has been deployed SEVEN times over 17 years to the Middle East. All of this stemming from Operations that began as a direct result of the events of September 11th, 2001.
But where I want to focus our discussion today is how 9-11 has or has not changed us spiritually speaking. Did 9-11 not change the perception Americans had of themselves? Did it not strip away some ignorance and innocence? Before 9-11 nobody thought an event like 9-11 could happen here, on American soil. Not from a foreign enemy. We were too smart, we were too sophisticated, we were too powerful.
Yet, in the end, we learned something very powerful. All it took to change America forever was a bit of planning, a bit of training, a handful of men, and a few box cutters. We were humbled. That, no one should argue.
And my question today is this: what did that initial humility lead to?
Now, perhaps some of you think my exegetical attempt today will be to connect the prophecies of Daniel with 9-11 to show some parallel, but I’m not good enough in the area of Eschatology to even attempt that. What I want to look at is much simpler, much more profound.
I want us to look at Nebuchadnezzar.
King Nebuchadnezzar was the head of the great Babylonian empire. God used this man, his kingdom and his army time and time again throughout the late O.T. period to bring about his will. He made Nebuchadnezzar great, and his rule total. Even Judah fell into captivity under Nebuchadnezzar, and that is the setting of the story we look at today.
Daniel, a Hebrew eunuch, has been brought into Babylon and has earned favor with Nebuchadnezzar, in part because of his ability to interpret others dreams…a gift Daniel received from God.
And the great Nebuchadnezzar has a troubling dream, and calls on Daniel for the interpretation. Daniel himself is greatly troubled when the great king tell him his dream. Verse 19 reads: Then Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, was astonished for a time, and his thoughts troubled him. But Nebuchadnezzar urged him, and Daniel provided the interpretation, which basically read that Nebuchadnezzar arrogance and pride would lead his enemies to not only rule over him, but to humiliate him.
But the news wasn’t all bad.
For Daniel also tells King Nebuchadnezzar in verse 26/27 “Your kingdom shall be assured to you, after you have come to know that Heaven rules. Therefore, O king, let my advice be acceptable to you: break off your sins by being righteous, and your iniquities by showing mercy to the poor. Perhaps there may be a lengthening of your prosperity.”
Let’s pick up our reading at this point in the story and see what happens.
(Read Daniel 4:28-35)
(Pray)
I’d like for us to consider three questions this morning, and the potential parallels in this passage.
My first question is this: Where does Nebuchadnezzar make his mistake?
(take answers)
Answer: Not when he boasts of his greatness, that’s a result, of not repenting and recognizing that all he has is from the Most High.
The Application: Was 9-11 not a wake up call for both believers and non? My God had to increase after 9-11, because there was no doubt in my mind that I had decreased. As an American, I had decreased. I was suddenly vulnerable, suddenly a victim, suddenly scared, and in that I hour I joined others as we cried out to God night and day.
Perhaps we, like Nebuchadnezzar had built a great country, more advanced than any other in human history, and that made us feel powerful. I can’t speak for you, but for me, after 9-11 I did not feel powerful, I felt desperate for God.
My Second Question: What was the purpose of Nebuchadnezzar punishment?
(take answers)
Answer: I think our answer if found most readily at the end of verse 32 “…until you know that the Most High rules in the Kingdom of men, and gives it to whomever He chooses.” The purpose of Nebuchadnezzar’s humiliation was to compel him to recognize God’s sovereignty.
The Application: What will it take for us to recognize that we are not masters of our own destiny? What will it take to humble us as a people and recognize our need for God, our lack of control, our lack of prediction, our deplorable human sate, our lives, both personally and globally being infected with sin, our desperate need for a savior to this universe? What will it take?
This is where 9-11 is a real tragedy. Most people have already forgotten it. Not the events, but the reaction of fear and need from the events. Many look back and are still angry, still hurt, still desiring revenge…but how many look back and are humbled? How many look back and are awed? How many look back and their reaction is: “I need God!”?
In one unforgettable day, God showed us just how much we could rely on the institutions of men, and I fear we’ve already forgotten that lesson.
The final question: What is the epiphany that Nebuchadnezzar comes to?
(Take answers)
Answer: I believe the answer is two-fold. The first part is in verse 35 where Nebuchadnezzar realizes, “No one can restrain His hand, Or say to him, “What have you done.” (Sadie working through her theology)
This is a very Job moment for Nebuchadnezzar. Like Job, Once God reveals himself, Nebuchadnezzar is reminded exactly what he is, and who he isn’t, and his result is recognition, praise, and fear before the Most High.
The second part we see in the second part of verse 37 “…all of whose works are truth, and his ways justice. And those who walk in pride He is able to put down.”
When we think we don’t answer to God, we invite his painful revelation to our lives. When we think we can take care of ourselves, God lets us do just that..and the result is always tragic.
The Application:How is God glorified from 9-11? His sovereignty is acknowledged, his mystery is recognized, and our desperate need for him should result in the light of such tragedy caused by the evil that men do.
So the question that anyone can ask is: How is the world fundamentally different after 9-11. That’s easy, as is the discussion that follows.
The hard question, the one that hits so close to home that even believers don’t bring themselves to ask it is this: How am I fundamentally different in the way I see God after 9-11. Did 9-11 make God less God to me? Did I cry out in anger and pride, “God what have you done?”
Or did such tragedy force me, did it compel me, to say, “All of your works are truth, all of your ways are justice. And if I walk in pride you will put me down. Glory be to you, for you dominion is forever.”
Reflection Questions:
- 1.Where do you see modern “Nebuchadnezzar-like” pride today—personally, culturally, or nationally?
- 2.Why do you think moments of crisis (like 9/11) tend to produce temporary humility rather than lasting change?
- 3.What’s the difference between being shaken emotionally and being truly humbled spiritually?
- 4.In what ways do we still act like we are in control of our lives, even after seeing evidence that we’re not?
- 5.Nebuchadnezzar had to be brought very low before he recognized God’s rule—do you think that’s always necessary? Why or why not?