Do you have a testimony of God’s grace at work in your life? Have you ever considered what God did in order to bring you to himself? Maybe you are not a Christian. What would it take for you to acknowledge your need of a personal relationship with Jesus Christ? These are very important questions for everyone to consider. The Bible tells us that the Lord is “not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” In this lesson we see how God brought one man to the place of repentance and salvation. God took drastic measures to get his attention.
As you study Daniel 4 consider where you stand in relationship to the Lord God. Do you have a story to tell about God’s work in your life?
Read Daniel 4.
I. A Testimony – Dan. 4:1-3
1. How does Nebuchadnezzar’s proclamation in 4:1 -3 differ from what he said about God in 3:28 – 29?
2. What is the king’s desire for all people? (4:1)
3. What did the king think to be good? (4:2) Where is his focus in verse 3?
II. A Tree Dream – Dan. 4:4 – 18
4. Where is Nebuchadnezzar’s focus when he starts telling his story? (4:4 – 5)
5. Why did the king request a visit from the wise men? (4:5 – 6)
6. Why did Daniel come before the king? (4:7 – 9)
7. As you read Nebuchadnezzar’s description of the dream (vv 9 – 18), what aspects of it might have caused the king to be “troubled”(v.5)?
8. What purpose was stated for the giving of this dream? (4:17)
III. A True Interpretation – Dan. 4:19 – 27
9. How did Daniel respond to the king’s dream? (4:19)
10. What was the meaning of the tree in Nebuchadnezzar’s dream? (4:20 – 26)
11. What would happen to the king? Why? (4:25)
12. What is the significance of the stump? (4:26)
13. What counsel did Daniel give to the king? ( 4:27)
IV. A Tragic Fulfillment – Dan. 4:28 – 33
14. How much time passed between the dream and the fulfillment of this dream? (4:28 – 29)
15. What seemed to trigger God’s action at this time? What steps did God take to humble the king? (4:30 – 33)
16. What purpose statement is stated for the third time? (4:32) Why do you think God was so intent on impressing Nebuchadnezzar with his absolute authority instead of his grace and love?
V. A Transformational Moment – Dan. 4:34 – 37
17. When the seven years were over, what took place in Nebuchadnezzar’s life? What steps does he take toward God? (4:34)
What word of warning does Nebuchadnezzar give in the last statement of his testimony? (4:37) Conclusion: How is God at work in your life? Is there a “stump” in your life – the reminder of a “tree” of your own efforts that was cut down? What is God trying to teach you through that painful experience? Are you learning the lesson or resisting God?
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