Character Studies - ElectronicGospel

D. His Palace1. Nebuchadnezzar’s hostages includes Ezekiel, Daniel and his three friends who are known bytheir Chaldean names, Shadrach, Meschach and Abed-Nego2. the king recognized in these men a high quality of integrity and ability, even if he did notcomprehend its source (Daniel 1:18-20)3. they immediately became useful to him as he dreamed about a great image and representation ofthe future, which his staff magicians, astrologers and sorcerers could not interpret (Daniel 2:16-23)a. Daniel told Nebuchadnezzar what he had dreamed and what it meant, impressing the paganking with his obvious abilities (Daniel 2:46-49)b. he remains a pagan, however (Daniel 3:1-6, 13-20)c. of course, they survive with the help of a mysterious fourth person in the furnace (Daniel3:28-30)4. later, Daniel interpreted another dream for Nebuchadnezzar, seeing his own temporary downfallin the image of a tree that was felled, representing his gathering insanity (Daniel 4:20-37)5. Nebuchadnezzar dies in 562 B.C.II. Some ApplicationsA. Polytheism1. like so many in the time of Jesus and the apostles, Nebuchadnezzar was a busy polytheist, opento worshiping any and all gods, but seemingly immune to the concept that only one of them might be true2. Paul met the idolaters and philosophers of Athens upon Mars Hill, overlooking the marketplacewhere they discussed and debated their ideals (Acts 17:16-31)3. Elijah called this habit faltering between two opinions and it was the kind of heart-sharing thatJoshua tried to prevent in his farewell speech (cf. First Kings 18:21 and Joshua. 24:14-15)4. men and women falter between two opinions today when their Sunday personalities do not matchup with the other six days of the week; they put their faith back on every Sunday like it’s their best suit ordress, and then hang it in the closet soon after the final “Amen” so that they can return to their pride,envy, deceit and selfishnessa. their presence makes for dangerous times and conflicts and apostasy within the church(Second Timothy 3:1-7)b. that divided lifestyle is as seductive as the diet pills that promise you can eat garbage and stilllose weight or the con that promises big dividends for little work or investmentc. it is the best of both worlds to some–faith and filth in the same convenient package–exceptthat it’s all make-believe, the invention of the marketing genius from Hell (James 4:1-5)B. Divination1. Nebuchadnezzar is misled or failed repeatedly by his staff of magicians, sorcerers andastrologers, who had no supernatural talent at all2. divination such as he desired was even condemned by the Law of Moses (Deuteronomy 18:9-14)3. diviners used different methods to gauge the future, including stargazing and looking in the liver,but what they had in common was no tangible benefit4. today, we are surrounded by many similar futile efforts–horoscopes, palm readers, psychicfriends, etc.–and they are all as offensive to God as Nebuchadnezzar’s staffa. Simon became a Christian only after realizing that Philip could work genuine miracles whichhad to impress the great illusionist (cf. Acts 8:9-13)b. repentance in Ephesus meant the destruction of magic books worth 50,000 pieces of silver5. the Holy Spirit includes sorcery in his list of works of the flesh which prevent a person fromentering the kingdom of God (cf. Galatians 5:20)a. sorcery is from the Greek word farmakeia (farmakeiða), from which we get our word“pharmacy”b. drugs were often used in association with witchcraft and sorcery for a simple reason–therewas no power otherwise6. all these are forms of false worship and attachment to idolatry that we do well to avoidC. Resisting God116! Jeff S. Smith