Title: THE ROAD OF REPENTANCE

Focus: To live humbly before God, we must walk the road of repentance, which calls for a contrite heart and broken spirit.

Function: To encourage the people to walk in humility before God by means of daily repentance.

Text: Daniel 4:1-37

Most of us know the story of King David and his adulterous lust for Bathsheba. We also know about the anguish that followed David’s transgression—the anguish of being found out by God and of being punished by God. That anguish led to David’s heartfelt prayer for mercy as recorded in Psalm 51:1,2 “Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions. Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin.”

In his prayer for forgiveness, David also expressed confidence in God’s mercy, saying: “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.” David repented from his public sins and placed himself in the hands of our merciful God. When was it that you and I were broken and humbled before God? Have we ever walked the road of repentance with a contrite heart or broken spirit? Have we ever shed tears over our own sins before God?

I have had many conversations with parishioners over these last 26 years of ministry. Many are the heartfelt stories of pain and anguish and brokenness. We all have such stories. But few--very few indeed—are the moments that I recall a person expressing brokenness and sorrow before God on account of his or her own sins.

I’m not really surprised about the lack of tears or contriteness. In my own heart, I recognize a stubborn resistance to come clean before God. The seemingly inborn pride that lines and harbors in my own heart keeps me from readily surrendering to God in confession and brokenness of heart. What about you?

The Bible calls us to live humbly before God. That means that we must walk daily on the road of repentance. And the road of repentance has stretches where it calls for a contrite heart. So let me ask you: Do you think that Nebuchadnezzar has walked the road of repentance with a contrite spirit and broken heart?

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Let’s examine the passage and its message. Obviously, Daniel 4 comes from the mouth or pen of King Nebuchadnezzar. No doubt, Nebuchadnezzar made use of a scribe or press secretary, who issued a public announcement to all the “peoples, nations and men of every language, who live in all the world.” It’s clear that President Obama is not the first one to make declarations to the world. Nebuchadnezzar beat him to such declarations.

But now ask yourself: Is Nebuchadnezzar’s letter a personal testimony of faith, recounting his conversion to the God of Daniel? Or is Nebuchadnezzar’s declaration like a bouquet of flowers for Daniel’s God—thus a slight tip from Nebuchadnezzar’s imperial crown to Israel’s God, who restored Nebuchadnezzar from insanity, despair, and mockery?

Again, ask yourself: Is Nebuchadnezzar’s public announcement a humble confession of a penitent king, or is Nebuchadnezzar’s testimony in essence a smart, political move—one of those slick missives with a political message coming from Babylon’s capital and royal palace? In other words, does Nebuchadnezzar’s royal letter show that he is walking on the road of daily repentance with a contrite spirit?

Take note of the writing style: The first part and the last part of the letter to the nation is written in the first person: (vs. 2) “It is my pleasure to tell you about the miraculous signs and wonders that the Most High God has performed for me” (note: for me—not in me or for my sake, but rather for my glory) (vs. 36) “At the same time that my sanity was restored, my honor and splendor were returned to me for the glory of my kingdom.” Surely
King Nebuchadnezzar is speaking here in his restored, royal capacity, speaking in the first person. But should not true repentance lead to a person’s service and glory of God? That first person voice of Nebuchadnezzar is telling: that voice toots the horn of Nebuchadnezzar’s glory.

When Nebuchadnezzar, however, describes his (presumably 7 year) episode with insanity called “boantropy,” he tells the story in the third person. Boantropy is that insane behavior where a person thinks of himself as an ox or cow and behaves as such. Such a person, of course, is beside himself. How appropriate, then, that Nebuchadnezzar tells the story of his insanity like an “outsider” or spectator would—from a third person perspective.

Of course, telling the story in the third person voice allows Nebuchadnezzar to portray himself more like a poor victim than a deserving sinner being disciplined by God. Nebuchadnezzar’s style of writing or reporting gives us insight into his heart and mind. Does he really show that he is walking the road of repentance?

Also, note the tone of Nebuchadnezzar’s letter. Does this letter drench with regrets, with shame, perhaps? Are there any personal expressions of sorrow for the injustices King Nebuchadnezzar has committed? After all, did not Daniel plead with the King, saying: “Renounce your sins by doing what is right, and your wickedness by being kind to the oppressed. It may be that then your prosperity will continue”?

Nebuchadnezzar rules his empire with an iron fist. Heads role; bodies burn in blazing furnaces; people find themselves in lions’ dens whenever they should dare oppose this king and his government. Let’s not forget it: Nebuchadnezzar’s glory in Babylon is polished by military might and oppressive measures to keep the peoples in line.

Is there a tone of regret, or of an apology, or of sorrow in Nebuchadnezzar’s letter that suggests that he is walking on the road of daily repentance with a contrite spirit? Does this sound like the voice of humility: (vs.36b) “At the same time that my sanity was restored, my honor and splendor were returned to me for the glory of my kingdom. My advisers and nobles sought me out, and I was restored to my throne and became even greater than before”?

I think it’s fair to say that King Nebuchadnezzar is tooting the horn of praise to Daniel’s God after God restored him to his royal splendor and stature. But surely, Nebuchadnezzar is blowing a lot of narcissistic, hot air into that horn. In fact, although having been chastised by God, Nebuchadnezzar sounds like his old self again: he is full of himself.

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From Nebuchadnezzar’s “testimony” I share with you three insights:

a. The dream that troubles Nebuchadnezzar is God’s instrument by which he rattles Nebuchadnezzar’s cage. The dream is a warning, a call to repent. Daniel makes this clear when he interprets the dream for Nebuchadnezzar, saying: “…O king, be pleased to accept my advice: Renounce your sins by doing what is right, and your wickedness by being kind to the oppressed. It may be that then your prosperity will continue.”

Surely, God makes use of all kinds of means and circumstances to humble kings and queens, politicians and citizens, men and women and children alike. The road of repentance begins with a divine work, where by God’s Spirit brings us to our knees.

b. Nebuchadnezzar’s humiliation and loss of imperial glory is God’s way of helping Nebuchadnezzar to come to his senses. The pathway of insanity, where Nebuchadnezzar thinks and acts as if he is a cow, is the pathway to spiritual sanity for Nebuchadnezzar.

It is also God’s way of teaching the royal court advisers and governors of Babylon that their gods are false, inferior, helpless—not only in interpreting the dreams of the king, but also in preventing the king from harm and loss of glory. Thus it should be clear to all that Daniel’s God—the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and all the Jews in Israel as well as in the empire—is to be worshiped and praised and served. Blinded by its idolatry and oodles of gods, Babylon’s eyes are given light—spiritual light—from Israel’s God, whom Daniel serves. Let the world come to their senses! Bow down and glorify the Most High God!

c. Nebuchadnezzar’s narcissistic testimony—though wonderfully it may sound in the ear—calls for a daily examination of our heart and our actions. The new life that enters our hearts as God brings us to our knees needs nurture and it needs “space” to grow. It can be snuffed out by the ugly head of pride, by sinful tendencies that race through our human nature, by impulses that need to be “killed” or mortified within us through spiritual disciplines, daily acts of repentance, and by works of faith.

In short, a conversion experience—whether dramatic such as King Nebuchadnezzar’s, or gradual such as yours and mine perhaps—calls for daily repentance, where sorrow for sin and love for God and neighbor, are ever present.

Ask yourself: being reduced to a cow and thus humbled by God, and then being restored by God—did these things lead to a new Nebuchadnezzar? Did Nebuchadnezzar restore those whom he treated unkindly and unjustly in his empire after his conversion? Did he renounce his allegiance to the gods of Babylon and turn to worship and serve the God of Israel?

Years ago, when Chuck Colson made the announcement of his conversion, I was very skeptical. Thirty-five years ago, Chuck Colson left the Nixon White House in disgrace and ended up in prison. So often when politicians (and others) get into trouble, they “get religion” in order to gain the sympathetic ears of the masses. So, I was skeptical to hear about Mr. Colson’s conversion.

Thank God that I was wrong. And thank God that there were Christians who extended to Chuck Colson the hand of fellowship, of grace, love and support as he began walking the road of repentance—all the way into prison. And thank God that the prison became the foundation for Christian ministry led by this man of God called Chuck Colson.

By their fruit you shall know the followers of the Lord Jesus Christ. To live humbly before God, we must walk the road of repentance, which calls for a contrite heart and broken spirit.

You see, when we repent from our sins, we are breaking down everything that belongs to the anti-Christ forces. We must count ourselves dead to sin and alive to Christ. The power of sin and the devil must die, must be resisted within us. And we must adopt and construct the mind of Christ in all we do.

Jesus must increase; I must decrease. The old man must die to sin; the new man—Christ Jesus—must sit on the throne of my heart.

May God work fruit in our hearts and minds as we seek to live as Christians today!

In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen.