With every stage of life, pride is our greatest enemy. It’s the cancer of the soul and the beginning of all sin. It diminishes our capacity to say what needs to be said, hear what needs to be heard, and give what needs to be given. This is why God is committed to keeping His people humble. If pride is our greatest enemy, then humility is our greatest asset, because only with humility can we live an uncompromised life for God’s glory alone. ~ Pastor Dave
Open: Have you ever been prideful? Share a story from your life that demonstrates the failure of pride.
Read: Daniel 4; Psalm 121:1; Jeremiah 9:23-24; Jonah 2:1-9; James 4
Discuss:
1. Notice the beginning of Daniel 4:1. Who is writing this chapter? Does this surprise you to think that a pagan secular king writes a chapter in the Bible? How does Daniel 4:1-3 compare with Daniel 4:34-35? What happened that led Nebuchadnezzar to this conclusion?
2. What made Nebuchadnezzar so prideful? How would you define pride? What areas of pride do you see exemplified in our current culture? In what ways do you struggle with pride? What are the differences between good and bad pride? What does the Bible say about pride? How does humility counter pride? How can we cultivate a healthy self-respect while actively fleeing from sinful pride?
3. Describe Nebuchadnezzar’s dream. While it seems like an obvious interpretation, why do you think so many of his dream tellers didn’t interpret the dream? What makes it so alarming to Daniel (Daniel 4:19)? What is the meaning of Nebuchadnezzar’s dream? Have you ever felt like your pride was “chopped” down? Share your story.
4. Read Daniel 4:28. Notice that twelve months later, Nebuchadnezzar has forgotten this dream. How do the verses that follow demonstrate a heart of pride (note the “I’s” and “Me’s”)? What consequences does Nebuchadnezzar experience as a result of his pride? What consequences have you experienced as a result of pride?
5. Go back through Daniel 4 and mark all the times the title “Most High” is used. What happens in life when God ceases being the “Most High”? In the end, Nebuchadnezzar looks to the Lord. Describe the progression of Nebuchadnezzar’s response. How does “breaking off” sins and showing mercy reflect humility (Daniel 4:27)? How are these examples of issues in our culture? In what ways do these actions help us stand out as Christians in our generation?
Pray: Take a moment and ask God to reveal the prideful areas of your life. Spend some time confessing your pride to God. Ask Him to give you a Kingdom perspective in your daily dealings. Praise God for His reigning in your life.
Memorize/Meditate: 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 host of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth; and none can stay his hand or say to him, “What have you done?” Daniel 4:34-35
