Daniel 4

We walk through Daniel 4 and watch Nebuchadnezzar move from boasting on a rooftop to blessing the God of heaven. The dream of the great tree, the watcher’s decree, Daniel’s warning, and the king’s restoration show how God humbles pride and gives back what we cannot hold alone.

• setting the scene between Thanksgiving and Christmas
• why Daniel 4 works as a single narrative
• Nebuchadnezzar’s proclamation and the great tree dream
• watcher’s decree to cut down the tree and leave the stump
• Daniel’s fearful but faithful interpretation
• call to practice righteousness and show mercy to the oppressed
• rooftop pride, sudden judgment, and beast-like humiliation
• reason restored when eyes lift to heaven
• language shift from “holy gods” to “Most High”
• parallels to Ezekiel’s tree and Pharaoh’s pride
• who the watchers are and why it matters
• what this shows about God’s rule and human humility

Transcript

Busy Season Banter And Setup

SPEAKER_01 0:12

You are listening to the Regular Guys Bible Study Podcast, a Bible study for regular guys by regular guys. We are your host, Ken and Steve, and we are just regular guys studying the Bible together.

SPEAKER_00 0:25

Not theologians.

SPEAKER_01 0:40

So man, it is a busy time of year.

SPEAKER_00 0:46

It is. And you know what? November and December fly right by every year. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 0:54

So yeah, we've been out all day. I mean, so if you're not listening to this live, I mean not live, but I mean, like, if you're not Do we have a live feed? Don't we don't have a live feed? But if you're not tracking like week to week the latest, um, then we're recording this between Thanksgiving and Christmas. And man, we are so stinking busy. It's crazy. Um, I am so thankful because co-host Steve has been very flexible. He can touch his toes, I think. But only only if he bends his knees. Um, and allowing us to record at our non-standard time. So I appreciate that, Steve.

SPEAKER_00 1:40

You know, actually, I think I can still put my right leg behind my head.

SPEAKER_02 1:46

Like a contortionist kind of move.

SPEAKER_00 1:51

Uh-huh. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 1:52

Seriously?

SPEAKER_00 1:53

It it hurts pretty bad to do it, but I think I could still do it. Okay.

SPEAKER_01 1:57

You know what? I could do it if somebody cut my leg off. I think I could like That would hurt even worse. Somebody could hold it behind my head, and I'd be doing it. All right, guys. Anywho. Yeah, today we are on Daniel chapter four. It is a long chapter, but I think we need to do the whole thing.

SPEAKER_00 2:20

It doesn't really read through the whole thing.

SPEAKER_01 2:22

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 2:23

It doesn't really make sense, right? It doesn't. I was thinking the same thing.

SPEAKER_01 2:29

Yeah, so we're gonna do a lot of reading um in this thing. Um, but that's okay. I don't honestly, there's not a lot of like detailed questions we can ask. I think the main thing is, you know, who this says about God. And that's that's the number one question I think we should be asking anyway. Or who I said who this says about God, what this says about God. Um, so why don't um if you haven't read Daniel chapter four, go ahead and read it. So just pause this thing, read it, come back. Welcome back. And um, so should we go ahead and get started, Steve?

SPEAKER_00 3:11

So there's four sections. How about I read the first section, you read the second, I read the third, and you read the fourth. Um, hold on here. That's actually, or is there five sections? There's five sections. One?

SPEAKER_01 3:24

No.

SPEAKER_00 3:25

I guess I get to read extra three four five.

Why Daniel 4 Needs The Whole Chapter

SPEAKER_01 3:31

I think I should read the first one, though.

SPEAKER_00 3:35

Yeah, but if I if whoever reads the first one has to read an extra one. Oh, that's true.

SPEAKER_01 3:39

That's true. Okay, you read the first one. And are we reading the whole thing? I I think we should. I think we should too. All right, good. All right, so Daniel chapter four. Ready? Go.

SPEAKER_00 3:51

Go. King Nebuchadnezzar to all peoples, nations, and languages that dwell in all the earth, peace be multiplied to you. It has seemed good to me to show the signs and wonders that the most high God has done for me. How great are his signs, how mighty his wonders, his kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and his dominion endures from generation to generation.

Reading Nebuchadnezzar’s Proclamation And Dream

SPEAKER_01 4:15

I, Nebuchadnezzar, was at ease in my house and prospering in my palace. I saw a dream that made me afraid. As I lay in bed, the fancies and the visions of my head alarmed me, so I made a decree that all the wise men of Babylon should be brought before me, that they might make known to me the interpretation of the dream. Then the magicians, the enchanters, the Chaldeans, and the astrologers came in, and I told them the dream, but they could not make known to me its interpretation. At last Daniel came in before me, he who was named Belteshazzar, after the name of my God, and in whom is the spirit of the holy gods? And I told him the dream, saying, O Beltashazzar, chief of the magicians, because I know that the spirit of the holy gods is in you, and that no mystery is too difficult for you, tell me the visions of my dream that I saw and their interpretation. The visions of my head as I lay in bed were these. I saw and behold, a tree in the midst of the earth, and its height was great. The tree grew and became strong, and its top reached to heaven, and it was visible to the end of the whole earth. Its leaves were beautiful, and its fruit abundant, and in it was food for all. The beasts of the field found shade under it, and the birds of the heaven heavens lived in its branches, and all flesh was fed from it. I saw in the visions of my head as I lay in bed, and behold, a watcher, a holy one, came down from heaven. He proclaimed aloud and said thus, chop down the tree and lop off its branches, strip off its leaves and scatter its fruit. Let the beast flee from under it, and the birds from its branches, but leave the stump of its roots in the earth, bound with a band of iron and bronze amid the tender grass of the field. Let him be wet with the dew of heaven, let his portion be with the beast in the grass of the earth, let his mind be changed from a man's, and let a beast mind be given to him, and let seven periods of time pass over him. The sentence is by the decree of the watchers, the decision by the word of the holy ones, to the end that the living may know that the most high rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he will, and sets over it the lowliest of men. This dream I, King Nebuchadnezzar, saw, and you, O Beltashazar Shazar, tell me the interpretation, because all the wise men of king of my kingdom are not able to make known to me the interpretation, but you are able, for the spirit of the holy gods is in you.

SPEAKER_00 7:22

nineteen. Then Daniel, whose name was Beltashazzar, was dismayed for a while, and his thoughts alarmed him. The king answered and said, Beltashazar, let not the dream or the interpretation alarm you. Beltashazar answered and said, My Lord, may the dream be for those who hate you and its interpretation for your enemies. The tree you saw, which grew str grew and became strong, so that its top reached to heaven, and it was visible to the end of the whole earth, whose leaves were beautiful and its fruit abundant, and which was food for all, under which beasts of the field found shade, and in whose branches the birds of the heavens lived. It is you, O king, who have grown and become strong. Your greatness has grown and reaches to heaven, and your dominion to the ends of the earth, and because the king saw a watcher, a holy one coming down from heaven and saying, Chop down the tree and destroy it, but leave the stump of its roots in the earth, bound with a band of iron and bronze in the tender grass of the field, and let him be wet with the dew of heaven, and let his portion be with the beasts of the field till seven periods of time pass over him. This is the interpretation, O king. It is a decree of the most high, which has come upon my lord the king, that you shall be driven from among men, and your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field. You shall be made to eat grass like an ox, and you shall be wet with the dew of heaven, and seven periods of time shall pass over you, till you know that the most high rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he will. And as it was commanded to leave the stump of the roots of the tree, your kingdom shall be confirmed for you from this time that you know that heaven rules. Therefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable to you. Break off your sins by practising righteousness and your inequities by showing mercy to the oppressed, that there may be may perhaps be a lengthening of your prosperity.

SPEAKER_01 9:30

Verse twenty eight. 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, he fell a voice 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 beast 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.

SPEAKER_00 10:45

thirty four 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 host of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth, and none can stay his hand or say to him, What have you done? 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. 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.

SPEAKER_01 11:47

All right. That was a lot. One thing there's a couple of things I want to point out real quick, because they're on my head. And I did and I I told you I didn't take notes, so it's like it's all just on the top of my head. And if I lose them, go for it. I lose them. All right. So a couple of things I noticed. First of all, this book was written by Daniel. Right? That is now this chapter, this chapter is obviously to me copied out of Nebuchadnezzar's journal.

SPEAKER_00 12:22

That's what it feels like, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 12:24

Um, because I it says, I Nebuchadnezzar. All right. And when we look at that, and so this we're calling these Nebuchadnezzar's words, then, right? Because it's pretty obvious to me that's what it is. It sure seems that way. In the beginning, he talks about the holy gods, plural, that, and um, and in the Bible it it shows up as a little g, the holy gods that that Daniel um serves.

SPEAKER_00 12:56

So he doesn't in the beginning, as in the beginning of the book of Daniel.

SPEAKER_01 13:01

No, in the beginning of this chapter. In the beginning of this chapter, when uh when he calls, talks about Daniel. It's I guess not in the very beginning, it's somewhere mid-beginning. He talks about the holy gods, and he says it multiple times in there. He he uses the gods plural. And at the end of this, are you have a look on your face, Steve, that says I don't see it where it says that, but I'll trust you. I'll trust you. It was all in the section that I was reading. Um, the second section here.

SPEAKER_00 13:34

Because I was looking at verse two there, and it says, Most high God has done for me.

SPEAKER_01 13:39

Um, well, that's he's talking about here's the story. Um and and and by the time the story is over, he uses a singular God and the most high. Like chat verse eight, for example. At last Daniel came in before me, he was named Beltashazzar after the name of my God, and in whom is the spirit of the holy gods?

SPEAKER_00 14:03

That's one place does it again at the end of 18.

SPEAKER_01 14:06

And it also does it at nine in nine. Uh, I know that the spirit of the holy gods is in you. But at the beginning of this, he's at the beginning of this, he's um speaking as here's the story kind of.

SPEAKER_00 14:23

Right. Um it's it's past, it's the beginning is after the story happened.

SPEAKER_01 14:29

Yes, and here's the story. So he already knows about the the true God, and then at the very end, when he comes back, he talks again about um, let's see, da da da. 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. Um, and he does that in multiple times here, talking about the holy, the holy one. Um, and so you know, he had a a true conversion here of what does it mean here? Uh, you know, who are these gods, these holy gods that just random gods to this most holy god? All right, that's that's all I got, see?

SPEAKER_00 15:22

All right. That actually hit that hit on a couple of my notes, so that's good. Okay. What was the other thing you had? No, those were the two things. Oh, that was two things.

SPEAKER_01 15:31

That was two things. What was it? I don't know. Was it not? I maybe it was. I told you if I didn't get him out, I'd forget. Maybe I forgot one.

Daniel Interprets And Warns The King

SPEAKER_00 15:44

So as you said, the beginning and the end were sort of in the same time period, with the story being told as this is how it happened, and put it in place. Nebuchadnezzar's definitely a different man than he was in the first few chapters. For a couple of reasons. I mean, clearly he's been humbled, right? Um but also when he calls for the magicians, enchanters, chaldeans, blah blah, he doesn't threaten him with death anymore.

SPEAKER_01 16:22

That's true.

SPEAKER_00 16:24

So he's he's improving over time. And then this this story took him the rest of the way, I think.

SPEAKER_01 16:31

He also did not say, tell me what I dreamed in this case.

SPEAKER_00 16:35

Right. He doesn't ask for crazy, ridiculous.

SPEAKER_01 16:40

So why did he just not ask for Daniel right away?

SPEAKER_00 16:44

I don't know. You know, so my wife and I were watching a show yesterday.

SPEAKER_01 16:52

And does this have something to do with this, or is are you just telling a story?

SPEAKER_00 16:57

It sorta does. It sort of does. All right. And whenever commercials come on, you know, we have um Hulu, and it pops up this little thing in the upper right corner that says add, and there's a time that's counting down. And I asked her, so if that's up there, does fast forward not work? And so she tried it, and the fast forward worked.

SPEAKER_02 17:18

I was like, great. Next commercial comes on.

SPEAKER_00 17:23

She didn't fast forward. I'm like, did you forget that fast forward works? Just like, oh, okay. And she fast forwards it. This happened like three more times where she wouldn't remember. So I'm thinking he is like my wife, and that Mr. Short-term memory man or something. He just doesn't remember. He's got Daniel there to call on. Hold it. You can fast forward through your commercials? Some of them, not every show. And okay. I think you're I think you're missing the point here.

SPEAKER_01 17:56

Well, I probably am missing the point because I have Hulu with ads. And first of all, I really appreciate that you're too cheap like me to pay for it without ads.

SPEAKER_00 18:07

Um that just seems ridiculous. They'll just start charging some showing ads somewhere else.

unknown 18:13

All right.

SPEAKER_01 18:13

Just like Amazon. But I'm shocked that you could fast forward through the ads. All right.

SPEAKER_00 18:18

It's not very often.

SPEAKER_01 18:19

All right, so you're saying that you that that Belta Shazzar or Daniel and your wife. No, not Beltashazzar. Nebuchadnezzar and your wife have the same root of evil in them.

SPEAKER_00 18:36

Yes. They both can't remember the good things that recently happened to them.

SPEAKER_01 18:45

Yeah, we don't really know how recent that thing was. Um how you know how long ago the Daniel thing interpreting the dream was.

SPEAKER_02 18:54

But it This is true.

SPEAKER_01 18:56

It could have been a few years. And I have a feeling Nebuchadnezzar might imbibe in quite a bit of alcohol.

SPEAKER_00 19:07

It's possible. Possible. Um because he definitely seems a bit complacent. He's at ease in his house and prospering in his palace while Daniel's running the kingdom.

SPEAKER_01 19:20

Yep. And you know what? Maybe that's why Daniel couldn't come in, actually. He might have been too busy. Yeah. Um because really he put Daniel in charge of running everything so that he could sit back and relax. Um verse eight. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 19:42

Oh, go ahead.

SPEAKER_01 19:43

No, go ahead.

SPEAKER_00 19:44

You um at last Daniel came in before me, he who was named Belteshazzar after the name of my God, and in whom is the Spirit of the Holy God. So you touched on this verse. Belthashar is after Old Neb's god's name, which is Baal, but the Babylonians um called him Bel.

SPEAKER_01 20:16

I did not know that. I you know that's one of those things I was going to look up and I did not. Um, but I can look at it right here.

SPEAKER_00 20:25

It's a little weird to me that Daniel, who is like one of the biggest prophets of the Bible, was given a name after a false god. That's kind of weird.

SPEAKER_01 20:42

That is interesting. And why would Nebuchadnezzar name him that?

SPEAKER_00 20:49

Well, that was Neb's God.

SPEAKER_01 20:51

I know, but why would you name this Jewish guy that you just conquered? I mean, I think he probably saw something incredible in Daniel already. That's that's my guess.

SPEAKER_00 21:04

Probably, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 21:05

Um, this this dude's brilliant. Uh that God God had granted had blessed Daniel with probably good looks. I think they actually, isn't there uh something in there about how oh they were obviously good looking guys, all four of these guys. Um especially after their vegetarian diet, they looked healthier and better than all the other uh folks. Alright, what else you got, Steve?

SPEAKER_00 21:40

I told you I didn't take notes. I'm very disappointed in you. Uh you should be.

SPEAKER_01 21:46

I did read it a lot, but I just never took the time to write down anything. I don't know why.

Pride On The Palace Roof And Judgment

SPEAKER_00 21:52

I'm stupid. So there is a parallel here between Nebuchadnezzar and Pharaoh. And it is in verse 12, and it has to do with the tree. Because if you go look up Ezekiel 31.

SPEAKER_01 22:10

Okay, hold on. You didn't find you read something about this.

SPEAKER_00 22:15

You actually I I clicked on the little letter that's next to verse 12, and it popped up Ezekiel 31, and I went and looked at it. And there's a tree that's almost identical described there.

SPEAKER_01 22:30

All right, can you read that one?

SPEAKER_00 22:33

Uh it's kind of long.

SPEAKER_01 22:34

It's leaves okay, Ezekiel 31, 7. It was beautiful in its greatness, in the length of its branches, for its roots went down to abundant waters. That's um just a short thing from from it.

SPEAKER_00 22:50

Okay, so But if you go you go earlier in that same chapter, it talks about uh the birds of heavens made their nests in its boughs, and I think there's something about everyone eats from the free fruit or something, maybe. Anyway both of them Pharaoh and um this guy, old Neb.

SPEAKER_02 23:16

They were both too proud and arrogant. Yeah, uh that is true. And that was really my only point.

SPEAKER_01 23:28

Okay, but God put them in that position, didn't he?

SPEAKER_00 23:32

He did.

SPEAKER_01 23:33

And that's interesting.

SPEAKER_00 23:34

Um it's a good thing we never get proud and arrogant presidents. That would be really awkward.

SPEAKER_01 23:41

Yeah, we are very lucky in this country. Um and you know, the the humility and price-like walk doesn't stop with just our president. It is it is through our Congress. It is incredible.

SPEAKER_00 24:09

See, now you're just being goofy sarcastic. All right, what did you think of the watcher?

SPEAKER_01 24:18

I don't know. Who is the watcher? I I mean I assume that's an angel.

SPEAKER_00 24:23

Yeah. So I did read a little bit on that. Uh you're you know what you are a theologian.

SPEAKER_01 24:30

I you you gotta take that back. You're a theologian.

SPEAKER_00 24:33

Uh I guess technically it means studier of God, right?

SPEAKER_01 24:39

Yeah, we're all theologians. But we are not studied theologians. We are not um what's it called? Umdained? Ordained theologians. That's it.

SPEAKER_00 24:56

So apparently a lot of cultures had this concept of a watcher outside of, you know, sort of in the the greater outside of what you can see. And I've actually seen a couple of movies that have watchers in them.

SPEAKER_01 25:13

Is this like a um a protector or a uh like you know, an angel who watches over you and your kingdom in this case?

SPEAKER_00 25:25

I don't think so. No, but what I read did say that this watcher was an angel.

SPEAKER_01 25:31

Okay. That's what I would assume. Um, and it's not to be configured uh confused with The Witcher. Right. The Witcher is something that's a fictional thing.

SPEAKER_00 25:46

Um, that's real.

SPEAKER_01 25:50

The show, it the show is a real show. Yes, but it's based on based on uh a video game. Yes. All right. All right, what else do you got, Steve?

Reason Restored And Praise To Heaven

SPEAKER_00 26:04

You have so many notes and everything. I'd take notes. Just a brief comment about how Daniel was afraid to tell him what it means, which you know, I get that. It's this guy's done some pretty bad things.

SPEAKER_01 26:20

You know, uh kings were known to kill the messenger uh on bad for bad news. That's where the phrase don't kill the messenger comes from, because it would happen. I don't like the news you bring me, you are dead.

SPEAKER_02 26:37

Um yeah. But he does say it. Um and go ahead.

SPEAKER_01 26:46

And I and Nebuchadnezzar, you know, tells him, Don't worry about it. I can take it, just tell me what it means.

SPEAKER_00 26:57

But then I don't have another note until like verse 30, all right. Which ties back back into my Pharaoh and pride comment. Okay. Is this not this great Babylon which I have built by my mighty power as a royal residence and for the glory of my majesty? I mean, that's that's pretty proud. Yep. And maybe rightfully so. Apparently the gardens of Babylon were one of the uh seven wonders of the ancient world.

SPEAKER_02 27:38

Yeah, it sounds like um it you know it it I'll say this.

SPEAKER_01 27:45

What's interesting to me about this whole story, or one of the things that's interesting about this whole story, God obviously blessed Nebuchadnezzar. And not only that, but when he punished him in this way where he lived as a beast for seven periods of time, which is long enough.

SPEAKER_00 28:11

Every place I read says that's seven years.

Observations On Conversion And Language Shift

SPEAKER_01 28:14

It could be seven years, it could be as little as seven months, but his nails grow long, his hair grows long. Seven months is like the smallest amount of time. So I'm thinking it was not seven days. No, it wasn't. Um, I was thinking maybe at first seven days, and then I kept reading, and then his hair grew long, his nails grew long, and it's like, man, this is not a short seven, seven times. This is a long time.

SPEAKER_00 28:45

The weird thing for me though is this pride that he shows that put him there. You jump to 36 at the same time, my reason returned to me, and for the glory of my kingdom, my majesty and splendor returned to me. He's he's still kind of proud. The glory of my kingdom.

SPEAKER_01 29:10

Yeah, I I don't I don't know what to do with that. I I agree. That was a little weird, but he acknowledges, and and it's true that God restored this to him.

SPEAKER_00 29:25

And increased it.

SPEAKER_01 29:27

And increased it. And so you would think that God would just say, okay, I'm just gonna cut you out and bring up bring in somebody else.

SPEAKER_00 29:37

But he waits for his son to do that, but that's next week.

SPEAKER_01 29:41

But um, you know, he restored, he restored Nebuchadnezzar, which is really interesting to me.

SPEAKER_00 29:54

I just had a thought.

SPEAKER_01 29:55

What?

SPEAKER_00 29:57

Okay, so you know that God brought in Babylon to punish the Jews.

SPEAKER_02 30:03

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 30:06

And so they're in their period of however many years, I don't remember how long it was. It was like 70 or something, 70 years?

SPEAKER_01 30:13

I don't remember. Sometime, yes.

SPEAKER_02 30:17

But God has always restored their kingdom. Oh, wow, you're right. In the same way.

SPEAKER_01 30:27

All right. Very similar. Then let's go to that question that I mentioned in the very beginning. What does this say about God?

SPEAKER_00 30:36

That's actually my last thing. I asked the same question. What'd you come up with?

SPEAKER_02 30:46

I have a couple of things. First of all, my first comment has to do with Gentiles.

Why Not Call Daniel First

SPEAKER_01 30:55

Because, you know, the Jews are God's people. And I mean, we even talked about in church today about how the Jews treated the Gentiles as I mean, if you want to talk about racism, you wouldn't even see the dirt that the Gentile was on was considered garbage dirt at that point, and you couldn't stand on it. Um God, though, if you look at what he's doing here, he obviously loves Nebuchadnezzar enough to show him who he is and give him an opportunity to see and worship him.

SPEAKER_02 31:52

Interesting. And he's a gentile.

SPEAKER_01 31:55

Um but so that's the number one thing as a gentile and as a proud and arrogant man at times, that um that makes me happy. Um you know, uh the second thing is that, and and it's it's the a constant recurring theme in the Bible is that God is faithful. Um and he's all knowing, he has a plan and executes to that plan. So those are the two things I came up with.

SPEAKER_00 32:34

His dominion is an everlasting dominion. He's in control of everything. Um somewhere in here it said, I think it was at the beginning.

SPEAKER_02 32:46

Uh something about putting even the worst of people in control. I don't know where it was. Dang it. I don't see it. Anyway.

SPEAKER_00 33:07

Maybe you should have taken a note about that. He he uses the the lowliest of people.

SPEAKER_01 33:14

Oh, he even mentions that. No, he does mention that. That was my Yeah, he says that near the end. I think. Oh, is it near the end? I think it's near the end.

SPEAKER_02 33:24

Um I do think God uses He uses things that we see as unholy, perhaps, to humble us so that we return to him. Yes. That's a good point. Alright, Steve, one more question then.

SPEAKER_01 34:02

About this scripture. What does that say about what does this scripture you might have kind of just answered it? What does this say about us?

SPEAKER_00 34:12

About about how we should reach. We're arrogant and we should be more humble.

SPEAKER_02 34:20

Yes. And um and God seeks us. God will do whatever it takes for us to humble ourselves and turn to him.

SPEAKER_01 34:42

Um and so I think it's kind of our responsibility not to force his hand. Yeah. It's kind of like it's kind of like um the the old saying, you know, don't ask God to teach you patience.

SPEAKER_02 35:03

Right.

SPEAKER_01 35:04

Um, and I I jokingly pray to God. And I mean, this is a a real joking prayer to God. I joking with God, I say, God, don't teach me patience, just give it to me. I don't I don't want to go through the learning process. Please just give me patience. Um because uh the learning process is painful, yes. All right. That's all I've got. That's all I got, and it was really cool, I think, just hearing Nebuchadnezzar's transformation from the beginning to the end um of the story.

SPEAKER_00 35:48

Um so all right, and yeah, looking to next week. For those of you that haven't read the Bible before, you're gonna recognize this story for sure.

SPEAKER_01 35:58

Ah, okay, I can't wait. I haven't read it yet. Oh, yeah, I know what this is. Daniel chapter five.

SPEAKER_00 36:04

All right, reading tidings on the wall, people.