Turn to the book of Daniel, the fourth chapter. We live in a day and age where so many things are taking place so quickly and many of them are very disturbing, not only in our nation, but worldwide. Is there ever a day that we need to see that God is on the throne, that he is the sovereign Lord? Today is that day. Please stand with me as we read portions of this lengthy chapter out of the book of Daniel. Chapter four, beginning with verse one. Hear the word of the Lord. King Nebuchadnezzar to all peoples, nations and languages that dwell in all the earth, peace be multiplied to you. It seemed good to me to show the signs and wonders that the Most High God has done for me. How greater His signs, how mighty His wonders. His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom. His dominion endures from generation to generation. 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. Verse 10. 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 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 heavens lived in its branches, and all flesh was fed by 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 beasts 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 beasts and the grass of the earth. Let his mind be changed from a man's, and let a beast's mind be given to him. 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, sets over it the lowliest of men. Verse 20, the tree you saw, and this is Daniel speaking now, which grew and became strong so that it's top touched to heaven and it was visible. to the end of the whole earth, whose leaves were beautiful and its fruit abundant, and in which was food for all, under which beasts of the field found shade, and 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, 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 and the tender grass of the field, and let him be wet with the dew of heaven, let his portion be with the beasts of the field, till seven periods of time pass over him." Verse 28. All this came upon King Nebuchadnezzar. At the end of 12 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, 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 beasts 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 man and gives it to whom he wills." 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. So his hair grew as long as eagle's feathers, and his nails were like birds' claws. 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 hosts 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. For the glory of my kingdom and my majesty and splendor returned to me. My counselors and my Lord 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. Those who walk in pride, he is able to help them. May the Lord bless the reading of his word and the preaching of it. Please be seated. Let's pray. Our Father and our God, For many of us, we know this passage well. But Lord, we are looking at verses that we need to underline in our own hearts and minds. We need to live. We need to trust fully in the sovereignty of God, in the majesty of God, in the unlimited power and rule of our Almighty God, even our Heavenly Father. For those who are struggling and With worry and fear these days, may they taste, as they drink deeply of your sovereignty, may they taste and rejoice and find grace and peace and your help, Lord. Encourage our hearts and help us to labor, help us to work in light of the sovereign God who has ordained all things and who works out the counsel of His will. Every detail of it, you are working it out, We thank you. In Jesus' name, Amen. I alluded to a particular individual and an idea last Sunday as we concluded our series in the Book of Job. It was 1981. that a widely acclaimed, best-selling book swept the nation. In literary reviews, Rabbi Harold Kushner's book, When Bad Things Happen to Good People, was described as astonishing and as heartwarming, as wise and compassionate a book all humanity needs. OK, what was it about? Well, in the book, which is an attempt to make sense out of a tragedy in his own family. And so he didn't take a neutral stand when he went to the scriptures to find out what God is like. None of us are neutral when we open the Bible. And we have to be careful with that. Rabbi Kushner concluded that the author of the Book of Job quote, forced to choose between a good God who is not totally powerful. OK, that's one choice from his perspective, or a powerful God who is not totally good. Chooses to believe in God's goodness. In Rabbi Kushner's view of the teaching of Job, he wrote, God wants the righteous to live peaceful, happy lives, But sometimes even he can't bring that about. It is too difficult, even for God, to keep cruelty and chaos from claiming they're innocent victims. I hope you see some flaws in his reasoning. I hope you see some flaws in the presuppositions that he brings to the Bible, and he places them on the Bible. Because if there's one thing the book of Job doesn't teach, She said, God is unable to do all His holy will. It teaches the sovereignty of God from the very beginning to the end of the book. God Himself made that clear, and Job didn't even say anything. He just amended. You're right. Strange, indeed, when we bring our own ideas, and we bring God down onto our human level. Is that encouraging? Was that a book encouraging the saints when you're telling them, I'm sorry, a disaster might meet you tomorrow morning and God may not be able to do anything about it? Let alone, God is not in control of all things. It's interesting, Jeremiah said, who can speak and have it happen if the Lord has not decreed it? Is it not from the mouth of the Most High that both calamities and good things come? He is the sovereign Lord over all events, great and small. And if anybody knew this, Job knew this by experience. I think he would have shuddered had he read that book back in 1981. Here's the theme, the proposition statement for you this morning. Biblical understanding of and belief in God's sovereignty is just the prescription for greater faith, worship, and service. For greater faith, worship, and service. For greater comfort, worship, and service. A.W. Pink, in his wonderful book entitled The Sovereignty of God, writes this about sovereignty. To say that God is sovereign is to declare that He is the Almighty, the possessor of all power in heaven and earth, so that none can defeat His counsels, thwart His purpose, or resist His will. That's the God of the Bible. Sovereignty of the God of Scripture is absolute, irresistible, infinite. Put it now in its strongest form, we insist that God does as He pleases, only as He pleases, always as He pleases, that whatever takes place in time is but the outworking of that union which He decreed in eternity. God makes His plans, and God's plans don't take in some things. They don't just take in the big things. God's plan covers every detail of history from beginning to end. God plans His work, and now God is working out His plan to perfection. Whether you understand it or not really isn't the issue. The issue is He is God, and He is sovereign, and we must bow before Him. Now, Nebuchadnezzar, in this passage, he's the king of Babylon the Great, and we have him giving a word of testimony. That's how the chapter begins. It's very interesting. He's talking. He's saying, I've got to tell you what happened to me. Now that's very interesting because when God humbles you in a certain way in the process of living, and he does it to all of us in different ways, there are some times I'm glad that it's just me I know of. I'm humbled and it's just me and the Lord. I don't have to share it with all of you. Guess what stupid thing I did and what I learned this week. But Nebuchadnezzar thought it was so amazing that he put it in writing and he sent it out to the people, to the glory of God. That's quite amazing. And there was a warning there. Remember the warning? What was he warned against? Oh, king, I wish this were for your enemies, said Daniel. Not for you. But you need to turn away from your pride. You need to repent. And you need to start doing good to those who are around you. Maybe God will be merciful to you. A year later, he doesn't turn from his pride. He is exalting himself in his pride. And at that very moment, he loses his mind. He loses his position. But as you read on, you see you come to the end of the chapter. It's a great chapter, great story. A great movie, I think. They did it according to the text. He's restored to his position, and we see his response here. Now, remember the context of chapter four of Daniel. Remember the whole book. Daniel is a captive, along with his three friends, along with a number of other Jews in Babylon. And they're captives, and they're under these pagan kings, as we read about them as you read through the book. And yet, it's interesting, God, in his sovereignty, elevates anybody he wants. And he elevates Daniel right up next to the king. And the king has more respect for him than anybody else because of what Daniel's able to do through, obviously, the power of God. Brothers and sisters, we're in a pagan nations today. And yet, if we're afraid, we'll overcome them. What is going on in Washington, or what's not going on and ought to be going on, And in other places of the world, economically, politically, and otherwise, then go back to Daniel 4 and drink deep of it, because God puts his people where he wants, and he does all his holy pleasures. That's the statement of this chapter. That's what I want you to walk away with. Point number one. Only God, most high, is the sovereign, eternal King. There's only one God, and we worship Him. He's the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, but only God Most High. Look at verse 34. 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. Now notice, how does he describe Him? Well, His dominion is an everlasting dominion, and His kingdom endures from generation to generation. Notice Nebuchadnezzar's incredible change. I built this kingdom, it's my kingdom, for my glory, and all of a sudden he's turning, he's going, I want you to look at the one true living God. The sub-point here is this, one who lives forever is sovereign. It's a part of sovereignty. One who lives forever, so one who dies, is not. It's amazing how men give sovereignty and bow down to gods that die and pass away. In Psalm 90 we read, Before the mountains were born, O thou didst give birth to the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, you are God. Again, out of Exodus, presents the creation of the world, his invisible attributes, his eternal power. His power is eternal and divine nature had been clearly seen. God speaking to Moses, whom shall I tell them sent me? You remember his response, tell them that I am sent you. I am what I am. I am the eternal, transcendent Lord. I am far removed from all human beings. My kingdom endures forever. You see, a beginning implies limited power and dependence upon something else to beget it, to bring it forth, even to sustain it. But God has no beginning. And ending implies outward force or inward weakness. I couldn't keep myself alive, or something else took my life away from me, you see, and so I must not be the sovereign one. God has no beginning, and he has no end. Who else can you point to? What God? What man? What religious leader? We know that Jesus Christ is the eternal son of God. Is there any other leader out there? Any other intellect out there? Freud, Gandhi, Lenin, Hitler? Where are all these people? And we can name them right up to our day. Only the living God lives forever. And secondly, one who rules forever is son. I mean, that goes without saying, but that's exactly what Nebuchadnezzar claims here in our text. His dominion is an everlasting dominion. His kingdom endures. His rule, you see, endures from generation to generation. Now, you look at our text. You back up, and you contrast it, because the whole thing is set up as a great contrast. You contrast it with King Nebuchadnezzar, verse 30 and following. Is not this Babylon the Great, or Great Babylon? I mean, look at me. I don't know if he was alone, or his subjects were around him as he was exalting himself, looking out over his kingdom, and exalting himself before Almighty God, right in the face of God. I built this. It's by my mighty power. It's a royal residence for the glory and the majesty of my name. And then what happened? The one who was really sovereign, the greatest king of all, immediately removes him. Immediately he has the mind of a beast. Immediately, he's making his way around, trying to have lunch. He's out on the pasture, out there on all fours. There's old King Nebuchadnezzar chewing grass along with the cattle. And it happened. How long did it take? It took about that much time. Because there's only one who is completely, utterly soggy. Turn to 1 Chronicles. marvelous statement made here by King David as he prays in the assembly. Here's David's understanding of his God. Here's the God of David. Blessed are you, O Lord, the God of Israel, our father forever and ever. Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, for all that is in the heavens and in the earth is yours. Yours is the kingdom, O Lord, and you are exalted as head above all." That's clear, isn't it? David had very sound theology here. He says, both riches and honor come from you, and you rule over all. In your hand are power and might, and in your hand is to make great and to give strength to all. And now we thank you, our God, and praise your glorious name. Amen and amen. God raises up. God brings down. God is king and sovereign Lord in heaven and on earth. And his reign, his rule is forever and ever. There's something just to ponder when you think about sovereignty because it can be a scary concept if you think about it. I wouldn't want to be around any human knowing what I know about the human heart who has unlimited power. That's a scary thought. But with God, all good things come from God. You see, he has a sovereign power to rule, but what kind of a ruler is he? When you think about your life, salvation, and health, and wealth, intelligence, power, gifts, life, all these things, all good blessings, all good gifts, come from the sovereign ruling king of all. But remember something else. Nebuchadnezzar is testifying to this. They can be taken away. You see, you really don't own anything that can be taken from you. So what can't be taken from you? You see, where is your security? Is it in the living God and His Son? If it's not, then you're not secure at all. It doesn't matter what you have in terms of earthly human power and things and so on. But that's what people of this world build their lives upon. They build their lives upon sin. and not upon the rock. You see, the scripture teaches us that in him we live and move and have our very existence. He is the source of all things. His kingdom is eternal. Point number two out of our text is this. God's sovereign power is all comprehensive. It includes all of the inhabitants of heaven and earth. You see, for someone who doesn't like the biblical view of God, he's going to think of ways to get around that, circumvent that, maybe work underneath it to get rid of it, and so how could we do that? Well, Nebuchadnezzar says it's in heaven, as far as we can imagine heaven to be, and upon earth. Back to our text. 35 all the evidence of the earth are counted as nothing He does according to his will among the hosts of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth and none can stay his hand or say to him. What have you done? I like that When I need to be encouraged, I read verses like that, you see. That's my high tower, as David would put it. That's the rock that's higher than anything else, you see. There's my protection right there in my Father and in my God. Nebuchadnezzar was removed, the text says, in verse 33, I think it is, yes, immediately. So Nebuchadnezzar is the most powerful man in the world at that time. Maybe one of the most powerful kingdoms of all time in human history. But anyway, at that time, he was the most powerful man. And God just went, you're gone. And God didn't eliminate him. He did whatever he wanted with him. He gave him the mind of a beast. Nebuchadnezzar kind of hung around. He didn't know what else to do. You see, what's man? Man is nothing. That's what Nebuchadnezzar came up with. I used to think I was the greatest of all time, and now I realize I'm nothing. And God is arguing from the greatest to the least here, you see. The greater to the lesser. If God can take out the most powerful, can he not take out everything else underneath the most powerful? Of course he can. That's the point. Isaiah says, God looks down and the nations are like a drop from a bucket. How significant is a drop in a bucket? Even to you and to me, it's nothing. We're like dust on the scales. We're like grasshoppers before him. Job describes man like a worm. Jude says they're like unreasoning animals. Clouds without water, trees without fruit, waves of the sea casting up their own shame like foam. That sinful man before the sovereign Lord of all. Picture this, a little tiny baby in the cradle resisting his mother. What a fight that would be, huh? human babies are about as weak and as helpless a creature as anything on the earth. But what do you think you are? Who do I think I am? And what do the people in Washington, D.C. and in other high places around the world, do they actually think they can put their fist in the face of God and do something? Can they impact the course of history that God has ordained, that God has written out? Yes, they can, according to His script. in his script alone. Secondly, God's will cannot be thwarted or questioned. It can't be stopped. It can't be questioned. Immediately, Nebuchadnezzar was removed. He didn't go, well, wait a minute, wait a minute. Don't you remember all the good things I did for the poor over here? What about this beautiful garden I built? And what about everything else? What's going to happen to my kingdom? It feeds a lot of people. You can't just remove me. I'm needed here. They look to me. No. Not one question was put to the Almighty God. God did not hesitate. He simply removed him. During Noah's time, do you think the people could have stopped the flood? God ordained that flood. All of a sudden, the heavens opened up and the waters came down. All of a sudden, the earth opened up and the waters came up. How are you going to stop a tidal wave coming at you? What are you going to do as a little creature, you see? It's ridiculous, and we know that. And so what people do is say, well, that's this myth. We don't believe it ever happened. What about Sodom and Gomorrah? You're gonna put your raincoat on and get your umbrella over your head to stop that fire from falling down out of the sky and burning up and melting everything, cooking everything. You see, what is man? He's nothing. Goliath is a huge giant of a man, and David, just probably average height, this handsome young man, and just a handful of stones, and Goliath couldn't even stop one stone. This was a clash not just of two men, this was a clash of worldviews. It's not just David against Goliath, it's the Lord God saying, these are my people, how dare you try to take my people out and dishonor mine. The sovereign God sent that stone. And on and on we go. We see this in the ninth chapter of the book of Romans. You see, whose will in this universe is ultimately sovereign? Who's in charge? Is anybody? Or do you just say, good luck? If you really think what's behind that, it's not a very comforting statement. It's like Russian roulette. Good luck when you pull the trigger. I sure hope it works out for you. Oh, thank you. We say that without thinking to people. We ought to be saying what? May the Lord bless you. Good providence. Something like that. In Romans chapter 9, we see here Paul putting a number of questions. I don't have time. I'm not going to take the time to open all this up. But, Jacob I love thee, so I hate it. And after that, what shall we say then? Is there injustice on God's part? By no means. For he says to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion. It doesn't depend on the human will. or exertion, but on God, who has mercy. For the scripture says to Pharaoh, for this purpose I've raised you up, that I might show my power in you, that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth, so that he has mercy on whomever he wills, and he hardens whomever he wills. I am God. I do what I please. I say whom I will. You have no right to question me. It's like a piece of clay or a pot questioning the one that fashions it. I don't want to be a pot with a handle. It's silly. So Paul doesn't go into that, does he? He just says it's ridiculous to go off on this line of questioning and reasoning. Don't you know who you're talking about here? He's the sovereign Lord, the ruler of all. If He raises up some as objects of wrath and He judges them because of their sin and their rebellion against Him, they got what they want. They got justice. They got what was fair. They got what they deserved. That doesn't amaze me. What amazes me is those vessels of mercy. That's us. We got what we didn't deserve. We're not better than anybody else in the world. But God chose to love us and to have mercy upon us and to draw us with cords of love to his Son. Why did he do that? Why did he draw you? Why did he draw me? Because it was his sovereign choice, says Paul. Because he wanted to. Why? Well, I can't comprehend that, but I certainly can bow before Him, and worship Him, and give my heart to Him, and love Him, and praise Him for all of eternity. You know, it's interesting. As you grow in grace, you begin to realize more and more that blessedness in serving is just incredible. Yeah, the blessedness in you giving. When you give, it's amazing how God gives to you. There's more joy and happiness in giving than actually being on the receiving end. It's good to be on the receiving end. But the giving, there's something about that. And I hope you're seeing it. I hope that's why you're here. I hope that's what your week is about, this coming week is all about. Here's day number one. Let's serve one another to the glory of God. John Calvin once wrote, in God we are anything he pleases. In ourselves, we are nothing. Oh, Calvin was a Calvinist. You know, he was an extremist. Actually, he wasn't a Calvinist, really. He didn't preach just five points. He had a whole system of theology worked out. But was he an extremist? No. Calvin just really, when you read through his institutes. You know, there's a number of things that come out. One is he's brilliant. But another one is most amazing to me. This is theology, how much he loves the Lord. Calvin just loved the Lord. And he couldn't speak high enough of his God and low enough of himself. That's a man who knew God, really, really knew God. A final point, I'll try to be brief here. Thirdly, God's sovereignty or God's sovereign power is wise, just, and it's good. It's there in the text. That's what Nebuchadnezzar comes up with in verses 36 and 37, back to Daniel. He says, 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 Lord sought me out, and I was established in my kingdom, and still more greatness was added to me." Where did it all come from? It all came from the Lord. It all came from God. Now, I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise, 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. God is wise, and we ought to praise Him that this sovereignty of His, this power of His, is used in a manner that is wise. You see, He's not some bumbling fool. If He was, if He was a bumbling fool, you would hesitate to give your heart and your life to Him. Why should I turn my life over to Him? I don't, you know. But that's not the case. God uses the very best means to bring about the highest ends. His glory and your good. Now don't separate those two. And we tend to do that. We tend to think, I know, I know, God's going to get glory somehow. But then you separate the goodness. No, God's going to get glory and He's doing it for your good, for your blessing. But you see, His view is not just a little limited view. His view is eternity. And so it's for your good eternally. And since you and I can't see that, it doesn't look good to us, as we're right in the middle of it, as we're stuck in the mud. And we wonder why we're wallowing there, and what good can this be? But trust it. It is a wise, and it's a holy sovereignty. You know, it's not like Bill Cosby's brain surgeon. You ever hear that one? You have to be my age or older, I guess, to have heard it. But he creates this scene. The patient is here, and everything's quiet. And Bill Cosby goes, scalpel. And you can hear it slapping into his hand. And he asks for all his instruments. And then he quietly goes, oops. And the patient goes, what do you mean, oops? But God's not like that. You can't look back in your life, I can't look back in mine and say, God, wow, that was a mess up. You see, we're OK, brothers and sisters. Even if it's a painful will for you and me, I'm OK. I'm OK. God's on the throne. He's not messed up. He's perfect in knowledge, in wisdom, in truth, in power. In his inscrutable wisdom, King Nebuchadnezzar lost his kingdom probably seven years. It doesn't say that literally. I'm guessing it was probably that seven year period of time, a period of time of seven years. Is it amazing when you think about it, you look at verse 34, the first part of it, that it was all restored to him. It is true, if you immediately take out the head guy, unless there are other people set in place to pick up the ball immediately. I mean, we have that set up in our country. If the president is eliminated, he dies. It's scary to see who's in line, but whatever. God's on the throne. But he was restored to his kingdom. And God brings Nebuchadnezzar to his knees literally and figuratively, you see. And is that bad? Is God being really mean to this arrogant, proud king who's on the fast track to hell? No. You think Nebuchadnezzar was happy his kingdom was brought? He didn't need to be brought back. He didn't need to be put into place. And God gave him even more. Nebuchadnezzar was happier because I think he was beginning to see something beside himself. Because you know what? If you think you're what it's all about, and your plans, then you're one sad individual. If there's nothing beyond you and me, we're really sad people. And most non-believers, that's all they have. And some small things that kind of revolve around in their life. That's why we need to be bold and confident and happy by giving people the gospel, because it brings them into a relationship with the living God. What's greater than that? Nothing is. The fool says, I can't give my life to Christ, I think he'll goof it up. I know that. Now sometimes, you and I play the fool. We go off and we do things, and they're contrary to scripture. And at that moment, we're saying, I can't yield to you, Lord. I can't walk according to this your word. I got to run the show myself. I really don't think your will is as good as mine. And yet, we only see this bit of our life, and he sees the whole picture. He knows all the contingencies, all the second and third causes. It's crazy. The wise man says, God knows, and God is able to accomplish his holy will. Do it in my life, Lord, please. Accomplish your holy will in my life. I surrender to you. Not just once, but each and every day. Secondly, God is just. He's not just wise. He's just. He's fair. He does what is right. You notice Nebuchadnezzar doesn't say, how could you have done this to me? You had no right to do this to me. You've ruined my life! But he doesn't say that. 37, I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the King of Heaven, for all his works are right, and his ways are just. You see, God does what is right. It's a wise sovereignty, and it's a right, it's a just sovereignty. Unlike humans in this world who vie for power, and it's going on around us even as I speak, an author of a book that I just think is a classic. It's entitled Idols for Destruction. He writes this. It's Schlossberg is the author. When the law is regarded wholly as the expression of state sovereignty, the citizen is ripe for manipulation. A reliable sign of this is the multiplication of laws and regulations covering all areas of life. You ever heard of the Federal Register? There are literally thousands upon thousands of laws that the politicians have put there. They don't even know what they all are. We certainly don't know them, and we're breaking them every day. And Rand has portrayed the logic in besetting the citizen with so many rules that it is impossible to distinguish what is permitted from what is not. One of Utopia's elite asks, quote, did you really think that we want those laws to be observed? We want them broken. There's no way to rule innocent men. The only power any government has is the power to crack down on criminals. Well, when there aren't enough criminals, one makes them. One declares so many things to be a crime that it becomes impossible for men to live without breaking laws. Who wants a nation of law-abiding citizens? What's there in that for anyone? But just pass the kind of laws that can neither be observed, nor enforced, nor objectively interpreted, and you create a nation of lawbreakers. And then you cash in on guilt. Is that the best man can do? To be sovereign? is to put such a guilt over its subjects that I can somehow control and manipulate you? You see, God's sovereign rule is just. That was right, that was fair, and I know it. Have you ever come to the Lord and confessed your sins and said, Lord, but I don't really think that command is really so fair? I'll admit it, I broke it, but I'm not so sure about that. I never have. Finally, he's good. He's good. 36. 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 Lord sought me, and I was established in my kingdom, and still more greatness was added to me. God delights in blessings. That's his nature. He's a good God. He's not a stingy God. You see the life of Job. Yes, pain and the questions and the debates and finally he's humbled before God and the insight and then the blessings that flow. Twofold in everything. Look at Jonah. How did God work with Jonah? He rebelled against God's command to go and preach to the Ninevites, the sovereign providence of God, and using that huge fish, the insight, the new opportunity, the mercy of God, the patience of God, as he worked with this hard-headed prophet. God is sovereign. He's wise. He's just. and he's good. A couple of words of application. First of all, our God is in the heavens. He does whatsoever He pleases. That's enough. Take that with you. God is doing whatever. If you know Him as your Heavenly Father, if you know Him as our God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who came to this earth, then just drink deep of His sovereignty. He does whatever He pleases. you're okay. No matter what happens in the months and the years ahead, no matter what has happened, he's able to work it all out. He is utterly and completely sovereign. He's wise, just, and good. And he is holy. Secondly, it's interesting to me, but the Bible makes it very clear, God dwells with the lowly. God dwells with the lowly. In Isaiah 57, 15, it thus says, the one who is high and lifted up, who inhabits eternity, whose name is holy, I dwell in the high and holy place, and also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit. Revive the spirit of the lowly and to revive the heart. So how are we to address him? How are we to go to him? Will God even even hear my prayer? Will he even care about me? I am a high and holy one. I have lived it up, he says, above all. And yet I come down. I condescend. How far down? I condescend. be with you. God is transcendent, but you're going to learn in seminary he's also imminent. There's a radical distinction between the creator and the creature, and we must maintain that in theology. But I love it. He's the transcendent Lord. I need someone who's bigger than all this world, and yet he's the imminent savior of sinners. And he dwells with the Lord. Here's a final thought for you to take with you. He sovereignly came down and took on human form. It was a sovereign act of God. Jesus came, and he took on human nature, and he went to a cross, and he took our place there. And because he's sovereign, he conquered sin and death and the devil. And because he's sovereign, he lives forever. And he makes intercession on our behalf. He's not weak. He's able. He's the perfect Savior. So brothers and sisters, how can we not but be encouraged? My God and your God is in the heavens. He's come down to this earth in flesh and blood form. He's communicated to us through the good news of the gospel, and he is able to keep all the promises of the gospel, and a myriad of promises flow out of that gospel. And that's what we live in, not just the moment of salvation, but each and every day we live in the good news of the risen Lord, of the sovereign Lord who intercedes for us and cares for us, who leads us and provides for us. Wow. So we worship. And we serve. Let's pray. Father, how do we respond to this? What do we say? We give thanks to you for all of these mighty truths that just cry out, not just out of Daniel 4. This isn't some unique special passage, but on every page of Scripture, we know that God is God. And Father, through the covenant, we know that you are our God, and we are your people. We pray for that in Jesus' name. Amen.