KEYS OF THE KINGDOM STUDY GUIDES

Daniel Four • “From Pompous Pride to Humble Power”

Introduction
Thus far in our study of the book of Daniel we have four practical keys for
Christian success. First we must have a faith relationship with Him. This occurs
when we unreservedly give our hearts to Him. Second we must maintain our
relationship with Him through prayer. Third, as we study Bible prophecy our
confidence will increase. In addition, it will give us a clear view of the times in
which we live. Fourth, we discovered that because God’s people will be tried
and tested, it is essential that they know, memorize and claim God’s promises. As
a result they, like Daniel’s three friends, will understand God and be able to live
in His presence!
This week we are going to look at another key. If we are to be godly, we must
surrender our pride, submit to His correction and leading, and walk in His ways.
Asking for and living in the Spirit is this week’s new key.
Read Daniel 4:1-3; 4:37
1. Who is the author of this chapter?
2. Who makes up his audience? (vs. 1)
Note: The Bible says that God resists the proud (James 4:6). Indeed because of the spirit
that proud people display He can only know them ‘from afar off’ (Psalm 138:6). This is
why it is so important that we surrender our pride, submit to His correction and leading.
This is the only path to true peace.
Read Daniel 4:4-9
7. What problem did God allow the king to experience?
8. Why couldn’t the ‘wise’ men of Babylon help? (See Daniel 2:11)
9. What set Daniel apart from the others? (vs. 8 & 9)
Note: Verse eight and nine indicate that the king talked first with everyone except Daniel.
Could it be that God had Daniel come in last because He knew that by so doing, the king
would be able to see the stark contrast between those who walked in pride and those who
walked in the Spirit?
10. How can you tell if someone truly has the Holy Spirit?
Numbers 14:24 - They follow God fully
Proverbs 1:23 - They are correctable
Acts 5:32 - They are obedient

3. What does he want them to know? Have? (vs. 1-3)
4. What was this issue that the king was struggling with? (vs. 37 last part)
Note: Nebuchadnezzar was addressing the world and sharing his conversion story.
Like everyone who has truly been converted, he desires everyone to know about God
and experience His perfect peace. However, as the last verse of this chapter indicates,
for this to occur we must recognize and surrender pride.
Note: Daniel displayed each of these characteristics. In Daniel chapter one he would not
compromise. He chose to follow God fully and not eat the king’s meat or drink his wine.
Daniel was also correctable. Even though we find no record of a wrong that He commit-
ted, we find him in Daniel 9:5,6 confessing and acknowledging his need of God’s correc-
tion. Ultimately, Daniel lived a life of obedience, and obedience comes as a result of
stepping out in faith for God. Obedience is the fruit of faith (Romans 1:5; 16:26) and
faith is a fruit of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22,23).

Read 2 Timothy 3:1,2 Read Luke 11:13

5. Will pride be an issue people must deal with in the last days? 11. How can someone receive the Holy Spirit?

6. Where does pride lead? Read the following texts and match with the appro- 12. What will the Holy Spirit do when He enters your life?
priate words: John 16:8 - Show right & wrong
Psalm 10:4 Godlessness Ezekiel 36:26 - Soften & change hearts
Proverbs 13:10 Contention Ezekiel 36:27 - Help you walk in the Spirit
Proverbs 28:25 Strife Galatians 5:22,23 - Give you His fruit
Proverbs 11:2 Shame
Read Psalm 1:1-3
Proverbs 29:23 Bring low
13. How does the Bible picture Spirit-filled people?
Proverbs 15:25; 16:18 Destruction
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Read Daniel 4:10-18
14. What had the king seen in his dream?
A great tree in the midst of the earth
A watcher who would pronounce judgment
The chopping down of the tree
Direction to leave the man-like stump in the ground
An indication that his wise men were not really wise
Read Ezekiel 31:3-6, 17:22-24
15. What other significance do trees have?
Note: In both of these passages a tree represents a nation. In both of them God is seen
either allowing or chopping down that nation. It is interesting to note that in the New
Testament, Jesus also was in control of physical trees. On one occasion He cursed a
fruitless fig tree giving it a time of probation (Luke 13:6-9). On another occasion He
followed through with His judgment and a tree literally dried from the roots up. In
speaking of His relationship with His followers, He called Himself a vine and His
followers the branches. He indicated He could and would prune or cut off branches
according to His judgment (John 15; Romans 11).
Archeological evidence makes it abundantly clear that the king had some under-
standing of trees and their symbolic significance. Notice Nebuchadnezzar’s state-
ments from the Wady Brissa Inscriptions: a) “Under her ever-lasting shadow I gath-
ered all men in peace. A reign of abundance, years of plenty, I caused to be in the
land.” b) “Mighty cedars which grew in the forest of Lebanon, with my clean hands
I cut down and assigned for its adornment.”
Read Daniel 4:19
16. When did Daniel tell the king the interpretation? What can we learn?
Note: Daniel waited until the king asked and gave him permission to speak. In addi-
tion he made sure the king knew that he desired the best for him. What a beautiful
example of Spirit-led tactfulness we see when looking at Daniel.
Read Daniel 4:20-25
17. What was the interpretation of the dream?
What did the tree represent?
What did the branches, leaves and fruit on the tree represent?
What did the ‘watcher’ represent?
What did the chopping down of the tree represent?
Keys of the Kingdom Study Guides • Daniel 4
What did seven times mean?
Read Daniel 4:28-33
18. Did this happen to the king?
Note: Remember this week’s key: If we are to be godly, we must surrender our pride,
submit to His correction and leading, and walk in His ways. We must live and walk in
the Spirit. At this point the king still was unwilling to surrender his pride. After a brief
probationary period, God was forced to act.
19. How could this judgment have been avoided? (Daniel 4:27)
Note: The judgment against Nebuchadnezzar could have been avoided by: a) listening to
God’s prophet (accept ‘my counsel’), b) turning away from sin (‘break off your sin’), c)
showing the fruits of the Spirit (‘righteousness, mercy & obedience’)
20. In what way did God demonstrate His faith that the king would ultimately ac-
cept Him? (Daniel 4:26)
Note: By allowing the stump and roots to stay in the ground God was saying in effect, I’ll
leave your support structure in place. I will leave you some assurance, some blessed as-
surance that when you come to fully acknowledge my reign and rule, you will be restored
to your kingdom and used by me.
Read Daniel 4:34-36
21. Did the king return to God?
Read Daniel 4:37
22. How did he close His letter?
Note: In his closing statement the king reminded everyone of the spiritual key that we
have been emphasizing throughout this lesson. Do you remember the key? If we are to
be godly, we must surrender our pride, submit to His correction and leading, and walk in
His ways. We must live and walk in the Spirit.
Let Us Summarize
We have discovered five practical keys for Christian success. First we must have a
faith relationship with Him. This occurs when we unreservedly give our hearts to
Him. Second we must maintain our relationship with Him through prayer. Third, as
we study Bible prophecy our confidence will increase. In addition, it will give us a
clear view of the times in which we live. Fourth, we discovered that because God’s
people will be tried and tested, it is essential that they know, memorize and claim
God’s promises. As a result they, like Daniel’s three friends, will understand God
and be able to live in His presence! Fifth, if we are to be godly, we must surrender
our pride, submit to His correction and leading, and walk in His ways. We must live
and walk in the Spirit.
Page 3 Keys of the Kingdom Study Guides • Daniel 4

Suggested Memory Text

“Now I Nebuchadnezzar praise and extol and honour the King of heaven, all
whose works are truth, and his ways judgment: and those that walk in pride he is
able to abase.” Daniel 4:37

Next Time
Next time we study about the fall of Babylon and show parallels with Revelation
such as we saw in Daniel three. You will see by the contrast of comparison the
great controversy between Christ and Satan played out in the spirit of the flesh
and the Spirit of God.

Do You Desire…
1. To surrender your pride to God?
2. To submit to His correction and leading?
3. To live and walk in accordance to His Holy Spirit?
4. To have the fruits of the Spirit in your life.