Learning Lessons The Hard Way
Because we're human, sometimes we have to learn our lessons the hard way. Daniel 4:19-37 teaches us about Learning Lessons The Hard Way. December 9, 2007.
The little boy saw his dad repairing something in the garage and yelled, “Daddy, can I play with the hammer?” “No! The hammer is too heavy. You might hurt yourself.” But when Dad wasn’t looking, the little guy climbed up to the shelf, grabbed the hammer, and, sure enough – Bang! Right on the thumb. Sometimes children have to learn their lessons the hard way.
Maybe I’m the only one asking. “Hey, Lord! Why do I have such a struggle getting rid of that bad habit?” “Lord, why does it seem sometimes that life isn’t fair?” “How come I have to put up with …” (fill in the blank). “Lord, why can’t you fix it so that I never have more than three emails in my inbox each day, that I sleep through the night without having a bad dream, that there’s enough in my investment accounts for retirement, that holiday food has no fat grams, and, by the way, why don’t you put an end to all terrorist activity and teens shooting people in malls?” Do you have questions like those once in a while? God has answers, you know. He tells us the answers in the Holy Scriptures. I suppose we should grab our Bibles, dig out the answers, and be satisfied. But, you know what? We’re human. That’s not an excuse. It’s reality. And because we’re human, sometimes we have to learn our lessons the hard way. That’s what we discover from the first Scripture lesson appointed to be read this day from the book of Daniel. This worship service is all about repentance, which is a fancy Bible term for Learning Lessons The Hard Way.
God Does Have All Power
Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon was the greatest, richest king in the world in the year 570 B.C. But he failed to recognize his place under God. The Lord tried to teach him humility and obedience with a frightful dream. In a dream Nebuchadnezzar saw a huge tree reaching to the sky, loaded with fruit, providing shade and shelter for tons of animals. But the tree was chopped down by a heavenly messenger. The king consulted with his royal advisors, magicians, and wise men. No one could interpret the dream. Then he called in Daniel, who had previously been given by God the ability to interpret Nebuchadnezzar’s dreams. Daniel announced, “You, O king, are that tree … You will be cut down and live like an animal … until you acknowledge that the Most High is sovereign over the kingdoms of men”. But Nebuchadnezzar didn’t take the message to heart. A year later, Nebuchadnezzar had to learn his lesson the hard way. Twelve months[after the dream], as the king was walking on the roof of the royal palace of Babylon, he said, “Is not this the great Babylon I have built as the royal residence, by my mighty power?” Nebuchadnezzar was probably giving some visitors a guided tour. He wanted to show off. Can you blame him? Nebuchadnezzar did have something to brag about. Babylon was the largest and most magnificent city of the ancient world. The city was divided into a number of rectangles by wide roads named after the gods of Babylon. Near the royal palace were the famous Hanging Gardens, considered one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. A system of canals regulated the waters of the Euphrates River for irrigation. Archeologists have uncovered the remains of two huge walls that surrounded the city, each more than twenty feet thick.
So, was Nebuchadnezzar justified when he said, “I built Babylon by my mighty power”? From earth-bound eyes, sure! But from heaven’s gaze, no! In his boasting Nebuchadnezzar failed to acknowledge that his abilities were gifts from God to be received gratefully and to be used responsibly in humble obedience to God. He would have had no skill at all as a military commander or city builder if God had not blessed him with those gifts. For him to fail to acknowledge that those gifts came from the only true God was to rob God of the honor due him as the source and giver of all power.
A lion swaggers through the brush assuming, “I’m the king of the beasts,” until an elephant saunters by and sits on him. The words of boasting were still on [Nebuchadnezzar’s] lips when a voice came from heaven … “You will be driven away from people and will live with the wild animals” … Immediately what had been said … was fulfilled. He was driven away from people and ate grass like cattle. His body was drenched with the dew of heaven until his hair grew like the feathers of an eagle and his nails like the claws of a bird. Nebuchadnezzar had to learn his lesson the hard way. God reduced him to the level of an animal so that he had no choice but to acknowledge God’s power and control.
Ask yourself, “Do I need to learn a lesson about God’s power and control the hard way?” If a little virus of pride sneaks into my spiritual system, I really ought not to be surprised if God’s powerful hand lays me low with an illness or turns my plans upside down to teach me that he is still in charge. Part of repentance is learning to acknowledge that I am not God. I don’t have all power. I am not in control. God is. And sometimes we have to learn that lesson the hard way. God might just put us flat on our backs or drive us to our knees or make us scratch our heads wondering, “Why, Lord?” and the answer is, “Because I am God. You’re not. You are a speck of dust in the cosmos I made. I am in control. I have all power.”
God Directs All For His Purposes
Nebuchadnezzar built his empire for one purpose – personal pleasure. He ignored the fact that God had a purpose in allowing the Babylonian Empire to grow and expand. As birds and beasts found food and shelter in the tree of Nebuchadnezzar’s dream, many people received great benefits and blessings from the empire Nebuchadnezzar led. The Lord of nations has a purpose in letting rulers become powerful. In God’s plan rulers and governments exist so that people can lead quiet and peaceable lives and connect with others so more and more people can learn about the Savior God.
Nebuchadnezzar had heard of God’s plan to send a Savior from sin. Surely Daniel, his chief advisor, would have told him that God used the nation of Babylon to bring judgment on Israel, to purify and refine them as God’s special nation, bearing the promise of a Savior. Wouldn’t it have been wonderful if this proud king humbly accepted God’s plan and purposes and joined in the joy of a coming Savior? But no! Nebuchadnezzar had to learn his lesson the hard way. God reduced him to the level of an animal. Only then did he acknowledge God’s power. But even when humbled, we have no record that he accepted God’s plan and purposes. As far as we know, Nebuchadnezzar died as an unbeliever.
Ask yourself, “Do I need to learn a lesson about God’s purpose for my life, and do I need to learn it the hard way?” If we begin to think that we are here on earth to get comfortable, to make money, to have some fun, to make the best of it, and then it’s over and time to push up daisies, we’ve missed the point. God’s purpose for us is to move us through life to eternal life. God’s plan for us is to live with him. Wait! Do you catch how significant that is? What if I said, “Brett Favre wants to be your personal friend” or “Faith Hill wants to hang to with you” or “Brad Pitt or Angelina Jolie is dropping by to get to know you”? God himself, the one who made you and me, the one who should damn you and me, wants to hang out with us, wants us to be with him. He can only do that if he himself has paid for our sins. And he did. He used the blood of his Son. That purpose and plan of God – to get us close to him – is what counts the most. If I ever forget that or take that for granted, I really ought not to be surprised if God’s lays me low with an illness or turns my plans upside down to teach me that this is not my permanent home, that he has something much better in mind for me. Part of repentance is learning to acknowledge that I need to view his plan for my eternal life as more important than my plans for my earthly life. And sometimes we have to learn that lesson the hard way. If that happens, then we need to say again and again, “Oh, thank you, dear God, for saving me from hell and promising me heaven!”
God Deserves All Praise
Nebuchadnezzar had boasted, “I built all this for the glory of my majesty”. He forgot an important truth. Human beings were designed by the Creator to live under him as creatures, not along side him as equals. Nebuchadnezzar was distorting God’s design for life. To adopt as life’s motto, “Glory to me in the highest!” is to pollute life. Whether he realized it or not, Nebuchadnezzar was claiming praise that belonged to God.
Nebuchadnezzar had to learn his lesson the hard way. God reduced him to the level of an animal so that he had no choice but to praise God. “Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and exalt and glorify the King of heaven, because everything he does is right and all his ways are just. And those who walk in pride he is able to humble”.
Ask yourself, “Do I need to learn a lesson about praising God at all times, and do I need to learn that the hard way?” Because we lug a sinful nature, we will always have to battle the temptation to pat ourselves on the back. Got a nice house? Thank the Lord. Working on your marriage and getting closer? Thank the Lord. Finding new ways to serve others? Thank the Lord. Got a new job? Thank the Lord. Found out that you need surgery or that your health is going down hill? Thank the Lord because, as the apostle said, “We can rejoice in our sufferings” (Romans 8:4). Why? Because sufferings remind us that we have a permanent home in heaven, thanks to Jesus. Part of repentance is learning to acknowledge that no matter what happens, we still have a Savior who loves us and will love us eternally. For that God deserves all praise.
Got questions for God? Sure! We all do. But our God has answers. Count on him. Trust him. That’s repentance. Then, whether the hard way or not, you’ve learned the lessons he wants you to learn. Amen.
Preached at Grace Lutheran Church, Milwaukee, WI (http://www.gracedowntown.org/) on December 9, 2007
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