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Go Beyond: Salt and Light for the Most High (Daniel 4; Matthew 5:13-16

I. Introduction: a small dot on a big map

  1. Going beyond – toward what, and under whom?

II. The Most High reigns over the nations (Daniel 4:1, 17, 25)

  1. Nebuchadnezzar’s own testimony to all people (Daniel 4:1)
  2. The Most High rules the kingdom of men, and gives it whom He will (Daniel 4:17, 25; Proverbs 21:1; Psalm 22:28; Acts 17:26; Job 12:23; Isaiah 40:15, 17)

III. The warning: a dream, a prophet, a year of grace (Daniel 4:4-27, 29)

  1. The dream and Daniel’s interpretation (Daniel 4:4-18, 19-26)
  2. Daniel’s plea and the year of grace (Daniel 4:27, 29)

IV. The mirror: three tests (Daniel 4:29-30)

  1. “Is not this great Babylon, that I have built…by the might of my power” (Daniel 4:30; Isaiah 10:13, 15; Ezekiel 28:2, 5)
  2. The test applied – nation, church and personal life (1 Corinthians 4:7; Deuteronomy 8:17-18)

V. The fall: what pride actually costs (Daniel 4:28-33)

  1. Judgment falls while the word is still in his mouth (Daniel 4:31; Proverbs 16:!8; James 4:6; 1 Peter 5:5)
  2. Pride blinds – drive from men, reason lost, dignity gone (Daniel 4:33; Obadiah 1:3-4)

VI. The repentance: from “I built” to “He reigns” (Daniel 4:34-37)

  1. “I lifted up mine eyes unto heaven, and mine understanding returned” (Daniel 4:34; Psalm 113:6-7; Luke 1:52; James 4:10; Psalm 34:18)
  2. “All his works are truth…those that walk in pride he is able to abase” (Daniel 4:37)

VII. Salt: preserving what is right (Matthew 5:13)

  1. Salt prevents decay – quiet, lifelong consistency (Leviticus 2:13; Daniel 6:4; Titus 2:7-8; Daniel 1:8; Daniel 3:17-18; Ephesians 5:11; 1 Timothy 3:7)
  2. Salt enhances – gracious speech, seasoned well (Colossians 4:6; Proverbs 15:1; Ephesians 4:29; Philippians 4:5)

VIII. Light: revealing the Father’s glory (Matthew 5:14-16)

  1. Identity, not achievement – “Ye are the light of the world” (Matthew 5:14-15; Ephesians 5:8; John 8:12)
  2. Visible for the Father’s glory, not our own (Matthew 5:16; 1 Peter 2:12; 1 Corinthians 10:31; Genesis 39:2-3, 23)
  3. Light stepping into crisis – “For such a time as this” (Esther 4:14; Proverbs 31:8-9; Ruth 1:16)
  4. Light’s limit – it reveals the way but cannot make a heart walk it (2 Corinthians 4:6; John 1:9)