Dr. McKellar’s Lesson for February 6, 2022

Who’s in Charge Here?

Daniel 4:1-36

1. Intention 1-3

• design of the story: 17/25/32 (1Pet. 5:5)
• a royal flashback
• testimony of God’s work: a dramatic transformation

2. Dysfunction 4-9

• alarming dreams
• magnificent incompetence
• enter Daniel

3. Revelation 10-18

• massive tree
• chopped down with stump remaining
• beast’s mind and stated purpose (Rom. 1:21-25)

4. Interpretation 19-27

• dismay and compassion of Daniel
• the tree: Nebuchadnezzar
• purpose of judgment and application: avoid/embrace

5. Humiliation 28-33

• misinterpretation of mercy
• message from heaven
• immediate fulfillment

6. Restoration 34-36

• from pride to praise
• repetition and recognition
• the humble exalted
• implications for Israel (Isa. 6:13) and connection to Christ (Phil. 2: 5-11, 1 Pet. 2:24)

7. So What?

• Because God is absolutely in charge, constantly confess your utter dependence on Him.
• “bigness,” gospel humility, and the unlikely convert (“Jesus, I My Cross Have Taken” by H. Lyte)