Savage Street Church of Christ

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Is God Unconstitutional? 

Daniel 4.28–37

Don Ruhl • Savage Street, Grants Pass, Oregon • October 5, In the year of our Lord, 2014

Scripture Reader and Reading: Michael Crisp – Dan 4.34–37

Song Leader and Song Suggestions: Phil Joseph – No Suggestions

Prelude: 

1. In Daniel 4, King Nebuchadnezzar showed a dream he had of a tree. 
   1. The tree was tall and fruitful.
   2. Birds dwelt in it and animals underneath it.
2. Then a holy one came down from heaven and ordered the tree chopped down. 
   1. They left a stump,
      1. bound with a band of iron and bronze.
      2. The stump was to be wet with dew and
         1. it would graze with the beasts.
         2. His heart would be changed from that of a man to that of a beast.
   2. Then an explanation was given for these events.
3. The King did not understand the dream, so he called in Daniel to interpret it. 
   1. The King would suffer horribly until he learned something,
      
      19 Then Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, was astonished for a time, and his thoughts troubled him. So the king spoke, and said, “Belteshazzar, do not let the dream or its interpretation trouble you.” Belteshazzar answered and said, “My lord, may the dream concern those who hate you, and its interpretation concern your enemies! 20 The tree that you saw, which grew and became strong, whose height reached to the heavens and which could be seen by all the earth, 21 whose leaves were lovely and its fruit abundant, in which was food for all, under which the beasts of the field dwelt, and in whose branches the birds of the heaven had their home— 22 it is you, O king, who have grown and become strong; for your greatness has grown and reaches to the heavens, and your dominion to the end of the earth. 23 And inasmuch as the king saw a watcher, a holy one, coming down from heaven and saying, ‘Chop down the tree and destroy it, but leave its stump and roots in the earth, bound with a band of iron and bronze in the tender grass of the field; let it be wet with the dew of heaven, and let him graze with the beasts of the field, till seven times pass over him’; 24 this is the interpretation, O king, and this is the decree of the Most High, which has come upon my lord the king: 25 They shall drive you from men, your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field, and they shall make you eat grass like oxen. They shall wet you with the dew of heaven, and seven times shall pass over you, till you know that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whomever He chooses. 26 And inasmuch as they gave the command to leave the stump and roots of the tree, your kingdom shall be assured to you, after you come to know that Heaven rules. 27 Therefore, O king, let my advice be acceptable to you; break off your sins by being righteous, and your iniquities by showing mercy to the poor. Perhaps there may be a lengthening of your prosperity” (Dan 4.19–27).
      
   2. A year later these events were fulfilled:
      
      28 All this came upon King Nebuchadnezzar. 29 At the end of the twelve months he was walking about the royal palace of Babylon. 30 The king spoke, saying, “Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for a royal dwelling by my mighty power and for the honor of my majesty?” 31 While the word was still in the king’s mouth, a voice fell from heaven: “King Nebuchadnezzar, to you it is spoken: the kingdom has departed from you! 32 And they shall drive you from men, and your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field. They shall make you eat grass like oxen; and seven times shall pass over you, until you know that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whomever He chooses.” 33 That very hour the word was fulfilled concerning Nebuchadnezzar; he was driven from men and ate grass like oxen; his body was wet with the dew of heaven till his hair had grown like eagles’ feathers and his nails like birds’ claws. 34 And at the end of the time {Literally days} I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted my eyes to heaven, and my understanding 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 is from generation to generation. 35 All the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing; He does according to His will in the army of heaven And among the inhabitants of the earth. No one can restrain His hand Or say to Him, “What have You done?” 36 At the same time my reason returned to me, and for the glory of my kingdom, my honor and splendor returned to me. My counselors and nobles resorted to me, I was restored to my kingdom, and excellent majesty was added to me. 37 Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the King of heaven, all of whose works are truth, and His ways justice. And those who walk in pride He is able to put down” (Dan 4.28–37).
      
4. If Nebuchadnezzar lived in the United States, 
   1. he would have been unconstitutional, according to some.
   2. Years later Babylon fell to the Medo-Persian Empire
      1. during the reign of Nebuchadnezzar’s grandson.
      2. Darius the Mede brought down Babylon.
         1. He knew of Daniel and His God, and
         2. admired both.
      3. Then his advisers tricked him into condemning Daniel to the den of lions.
         1. The prophet survived and
         2. the king had Daniel’s conspirators thrown to the lions.
   3. Listen to the even more unconstitutional thing that Darius did,
      
      25 Then King Darius wrote: “To all peoples, nations, and languages that dwell in all the earth: Peace be multiplied to you.
      
      1. Darius wanted not only his nation to know, but
      2. all nations to follow what he was about to say.
         1. He could not make a decree for future nations, but
         2. he wanted his words written down
            1. that other nations might learn
            2. what he had learned,
               
               26 I make a decree that in every dominion of my kingdom men must tremble and fear before the God of Daniel.

               For He is the living God,
               And steadfast forever;
               His kingdom is the one which shall not be destroyed,
               And His dominion shall endure to the end.
               27 He delivers and rescues,
               And He works signs and wonders In heaven and on earth,
               Who has delivered Daniel from the power of the lions.”
               (Dan 6.25–27).
               

5. The Pledge of Allegiance Is Under Attack 
   1. A court decided that the Pledge of Allegiance is unconstitutional.
   2. Rather than dealing with this politically, I want to deal with it biblically.
      1. We may say that this is not a biblical matter.
      2. However, let us learn to view life from the biblical perspective.

Persuasion: 

1. If the Pledge of Allegiance Is Unconstitutional, So Is the Declaration of Independence. 
   1. On July 4, 1776, Congress signed The Declaration of Independence.
      1. They declared separation from
         1. a tyrannical power in the form of Great Britain, and
         2. they declared
            1. dependence upon God, because
            2. the writers knew that our nation is under God.
      2. In the first paragraph, congress declared,

         “…the separate and equal station to which the Laws of nature and of Nature’s God entitle them…”

      3. Therefore, in the second paragraph, congress affirmed,

         “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights…”

      4. The closing paragraph, begins with this dependence upon the One Abraham called the Judge of all the earth in Genesis 18:25,

         “We, therefore, the Representatives of the United States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world…”

      5. That same paragraph closes with these words of reliance upon God,

         “And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the Protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes, and our sacred Honor.”

   2. Is the day coming when reading the Declaration of Independence in school will be unconstitutional? After all, it declares we are under God.
      1. The Declaration of Independence gave birth to the Constitution.
         1. If the Declaration of Independence becomes unconstitutional,
            1. which it should,
            2. if the court is consistent,
         2. what will happen to the Constitution?
      2. I told brethren years ago after the Soviet Union broke up,
         1. that America and Russia started trading places.
            1. They are moving from atheism to theism and
            2. and we are moving from theism to atheism.
   3. If you think political liberals are going to stop with
      1. the teaching of creation, prayer, and the Pledge of Allegiance in schools,
      2. you better wake up.
2. God Gave Birth to Our Nation 
   1. While I have affirmed the relationship of
      1. the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution,
      2. it was actually God who used these documents
         1. to bring about our nation.
         2. This is the truth that Nebuchadnezzar learned the hard way.
      3. Do certain people of influence in our nation
         1. have to learn the hard way also
         2. that our nation is under God?
   2. Romans 13 is clear about the origin of any nation.
      
      1 Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities.
      
      1. Why should we be subject to them?
      2. Remember Paul was telling Christians in Rome to do this!
         
         For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God.
         
      3. If that is true, I had better be subject.
      4. If I am not subject, then what?
         
         2 Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves.
         
      5. Does this mean that if the government commands us to be silent about God, we should comply?
         1. From this verse alone you can see why the answer is no.
            1. When the governing authority denies that it is the tool of God,
               1. we have to go with the higher power.
               2. When these two are in conflict we have to chose God.
            2. We ask people in positions of influence in America,
               1. do not force us to make a decision between you and God,
                  
                  3 For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same. 4 For he is God’s minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God’s minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil.
                  
            3. Verses 2–4 show
               1. a severe penalty for the government,
               2. if it does evil.
                  
                  5 Therefore you must be subject, not only because of wrath but also for conscience’ sake. 6 For because of this you also pay taxes, for they are God’s ministers attending continually to this very thing. 7 Render therefore to all their due: taxes to whom taxes are due, customs to whom customs, fear to whom fear, honor to whom honor (Rom 13.1–7).
                  
3. What Shall We Do If We Are Told Not to Speak of God Anymore? 
   1. In Acts 4 Peter and John,
      1. were told by a nation not to speak at all about God.
         
         18 And they called them and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus. 19 But Peter and John answered and said to them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you more than to God, you judge. 20 For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard” (Acts 4.18–20).
         
   2. Peter and John did not obey the governing authorities, but
      1. did exactly what they said they would do.
      2. Therefore, they were arrested again,
         
         27 And when they had brought them, they set them before the council. And the high priest asked them, 28 saying, “Did we not strictly command you not to teach in this name? And look, you have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this Man’s blood on us!” 29 But Peter and the other apostles answered and said: “We ought to obey God rather than men (Acts 5.27–29).
         
         1. Peter explained why they were going to continue to speak.
            1. The Jewish Council conferred.
            2. They brought the apostles back in,
               
               40 …when they had called for the apostles and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. 41 So they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for His name. 42 And daily in the temple, and in every house, they did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ (Acts 5.40–42).
               
               1. Peter, John, and the church did not bring any lawsuits, but
               2. they continued to do what Heaven told them to do.
4. What Happens to Nations That Reject God? 
   1. Let me take you back to the Book of Daniel.
   2. Earlier we were in chapters 4 and 6.
      1. What happened between those chapters brought down Babylon and
      2. brought the Persian Empire to the forefront.
         1. What happened in chapter 5 is multiplied throughout the Bible.
         2. It happened to the Soviet Union, hence it merely lasted just over 70 years.
            1. It is what will happen to America, if she is not careful.
            2. It may not even be Islamic terrorists who bring down America, but
               1. political and religious liberals
               2. and the silence and fear of Christians!
                  
                  2 While he tasted the wine, Belshazzar gave the command to bring the gold and silver vessels which his father Nebuchadnezzar had taken from the temple which had been in Jerusalem, that the king and his lords, his wives, and his concubines might drink from them. 3 Then they brought the gold vessels that had been taken from the temple of the house of God which had been in Jerusalem; and the king and his lords, his wives, and his concubines drank from them. 4 They drank wine, and praised the gods of gold and silver, bronze and iron, wood and stone (Dan 5.2–4).
                  
      3. God sent a hand to write a message on a wall.
         1. No one understood the writing.
         2. Belshazzar’s wife recommended that Daniel be brought,
            
            17 Then Daniel answered, and said before the king, “Let your gifts be for yourself, and give your rewards to another; yet I will read the writing to the king, and make known to him the interpretation. 18 O king, the Most High God gave Nebuchadnezzar your father a kingdom and majesty, glory and honor. 19 And because of the majesty that He gave him, all peoples, nations, and languages trembled and feared before him. Whomever he wished, he executed; whomever he wished, he kept alive; whomever he wished, he set up; and whomever he wished, he put down. 20 But when his heart was lifted up, and his spirit was hardened in pride, he was deposed from his kingly throne, and they took his glory from him. 21 Then he was driven from the sons of men, his heart was made like the beasts, and his dwelling was with the wild donkeys. They fed him with grass like oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven, till he knew that the Most High God rules in the kingdom of men, and appoints over it whomever He chooses. 22 But you his son, Belshazzar, have not humbled your heart, although you knew all this. 23 And you have lifted yourself up against the Lord of heaven. They have brought the vessels of His house before you, and you and your lords, your wives and your concubines, have drunk wine from them. And you have praised the gods of silver and gold, bronze and iron, wood and stone, which do not see or hear or know; and the God who holds your breath in His hand and owns all your ways, you have not glorified. 24 Then the fingers of the hand were sent from Him, and this writing was written. 25 And this is the inscription that was written: MENE, {Literally a mina (50 shekels) from the verb “to number”} MENE, TEKEL, {Literally a shekel from the verb “to weigh”} UPHARSIN. {Literally and half-shekels from the verb “to divide”} 26 This is the interpretation of each word. MENE: God has numbered your kingdom, and finished it; 27 TEKEL: You have been weighed in the balances, and found wanting; 28 PERES: Your kingdom has been divided, and given to the Medes and Persians” (Dan 5.17–28).
            
   3. How can a nation continue when it denies and rejects its Creator?
5. How Are Political Liberals and Religious Liberals Making So Much Head Way? 
   1. They get into positions of influence.
   2. They have an agenda to pursue rather than pursuing money.
      1. Oh yes, they make money, but
      2. they find a profession that promotes their agenda and
         1. then make money at it.
            1. They get into government,
            2. they become lawyers,
            3. they become judges,
            4. they anchor the news,
            5. they teach in universities.
   3. They do it in parts, increments.
      1. They are patient.
      2. You have the Scopes Monkey trial in the 1920s,
         1. the ban on school prayer in the 1960s and
         2. an attempt to ban the Pledge of Allegiance in the new century and
         3. other things.
6. What Harm Is There to the Secularist? 
   1. We disagree with the teaching of evolution, but
      1. we did not hire a lawyer and
      2. make a court case out of it.
         1. We simply teach the opposite.
   2. Will anyone’s freedom in America be harmed because
      1. school children take just over 10 seconds
      2. to recite the Pledge of Allegiance?
   3. Why are the liberals of society bent out of shape?
      1. It is not as though the whole Bible is being read.
      2. School children are just affirming the beauty of our nation.
   4. The Pledge does not even mention Jesus Christ or the Bible.
   5. Are social liberals going to be converted to Christianity,
      1. if prayers are said and
      2. the Pledge quoted?
      3. Are we asking them to become members of our congregations?
   6. Humor us for a few moments.
      1. If you are offended,
      2. take your civil action against us.
         1. We will not stop living what we believe.
         2. You do not have to pray or say the Pledge.
            1. We will honor your right to silence, but
            2. do not force us to be silent.

Exhortation: 

1. Influence your children to work into positions of influence. 
2. Pray without ceasing for our nation. 
3. Speak up. 
4. Be converted today. 
5. Come to our seminar.