Advent Midweek I

Rescue and Redemption in Daniel

Advent Midweek I: “Christ, the Stone that Shatters the Kingdoms of the Earth”

December 6, 2023

Text: Dan. 2; John 18:33-40

            What is this great image in Nebuchadnezzar’s dream?  What do the details represent?  And what does it all mean?  It is an image, an idol, and that is worth noting.  And in general, it stands for the great idol of worldly power.  Now, we know, as St. Paul says, that government is a good gift of God, to bring order and prevent chaos: “For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God” (Rom. 13:1; ESV).  So, the point is not that governmental authority is evil as such.  Quite the contrary.  But it is true that such authority very easily becomes (and nearly always does become) an idol, both to the rulers, and to the ruled.  And when this happens, such world powers become hostile to the one true God, to His Word, and to His people.

            But in specific, each component of the image represents actual, historical world powers.  The golden head represents Nebuchadnezzar’s reign, and the might of the Babylonian Empire.  Then each succeeding component represents the power of an empire yet to come.  The chest and arms of silver represent the Kingdom of the Medes and Persians; the middle and thighs of bronze, the Greeks under Alexander the Great; the legs of iron, the Roman Empire, strong to break and crush all who are in its path; and finally, the feet, partly of iron, and partly of potter’s clay, an ill-advised mixture in marriage, probably a reference to Rome’s intermixing with the Germanic peoples, which led to Rome’s brittle condition.  Notice that the kingdoms of the world come and go.  All of them.  The great powers are exalted one moment, and cast down the next.  So it goes with all the kingdoms of the earth, including our own.  Let Americans take heed. 

            Now, there is an arrogance, a hubris innate in human power, a pride that overcomes those in power, so that they think: 1.) They have exalted themselves to this position by their own intellect, talent, might… as Nebuchadnezzar will say in Chapter 4 (v. 30): “Is not this great Babylon, which I have built by my mighty power as a royal residence and for the glory of my majesty.”  2.) They are above the law of any god, much less the God of Israel… Think here of Nebuchadnezzar’s heir, Belshazzar, in Chapter 5, who shamelessly carouses with his court, drinking from the sacred golden vessels stolen from the Jerusalem Temple.  3.) Their power will never come to an end.  This is why Nebuchadnezzar, upon his arrogant proclamation of self-praise is reduced for a time to live as a beast in the field, and why, on the very night of his drinking party, Belshazzar sees the handwriting on the wall, and is killed, and Darius the Mede (the chest and arms of silver!) takes over the kingdom.  This is to say, rulers have a predisposition to self-idolatry.  They think they are gods.  And they bid their subjects worship them.  It is true of every one of these kingdoms represented in the dream.  And if we’re honest, it is even true (and increasingly so) of America.  And when there are subjects who will not worship these earthly powers, but insist on worshiping the one true God, exclusively, and living in faithfulness to His Law, even when it contradicts the laws of men, these powers seek to rid them from the world.  They punish.  They persecute.  They kill.  “The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD and against his Anointed,” which is to say, His Christ (Ps. 2:2).  And they do it by setting themselves against His Church.

            But “He who sits in the heavens laughs; the Lord holds them in derision” (v. 4).  How does the dream end?  This Stone is cut from the Mountain by no human hand.  It strikes the image, the idol, and smashes it to pieces.  And the Stone itself becomes a great Mountain that fills the whole earth.  What is this Stone?  Or, better, Who is this Stone?  It is the Lord Jesus Christ.  He is a Stone from the Mountain… that is, He is eternally begotten of the Father, God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God.  He is cut by no human hand… that is, He is conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary.  He smashes the kingdoms of the earth so that they become like chaff.  “His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and gather his wheat into the barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire” (Matt. 3:12).  All the kingdoms of the earth come to an end.  But His Kingdom will stand forever.  It fills the earth, even now, by the preaching of the Gospel.  And in the End, the whole earth will be filled with His glory (Ps. 72:19).  “The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.  This is the LORD’s doing; it is marvelous in our eyes” (Ps. 118:22-23).  “The LORD said to me, ‘You are my Son; today I have begotten you.  Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage, and the ends of the earth your possession.  You shall break them with a rod of iron and dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel” (Ps. 2:7-9). 

            Now, this side of that great Day, it often appears as though the earthly powers have the dominion.  Even as, one Friday afternoon, it appeared as though the Chief Priests and Pilate had the final word, even to the point of killing God!  As a matter of fact, they did kill God.  “Suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried.”  There stands the image, proudly towering over the inhabitants of the earth.  Ah, but the Stone is not done.  “The third day He rose again from the dead!  He ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty!”  He rules.  Even now.  Even Nebuchadnezzar cannot deny it: “Truly, your God is God of gods and Lord of kings” (Dan. 2:47).  In the end, even he must acknowledge the preaching of Daniel: “the Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he will” (4:25). 

            Beloved, do not let appearances deceive you.  The earthly authorities are not God.  Do not fear them above the Lord your God.  And do not look to them for rescue and redemption in your time of need.  “Put not your trust in princes, in a son of man, in whom there is no salvation” (Ps. 146:3).  Do submit to them.  Honor them.  Pay your taxes (Rom. 13).  Live as a good citizen.  Seek the welfare of the city in which you live, and pray to the LORD on its behalf (Jer. 29:7).  Pray for kings and all who are in high positions (1 Tim. 2:1-2).  But do not worship them.  Whenever their word comes into conflict with God’s Word, resist them, for we must obey God rather than men (Acts 5:29).  And then suffer the consequences faithfully, in faith that God will deliver you… whether here and now, as we’ll hear in the next two midweeks, or ultimately then, when every eye sees, every knee bows, and every tongue confesses that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father (Phil. 2). 

            We have to make mention here of St. Nicholas at the Council of Nicaea in 325.  Legend has it, he hauled off and punched that arch-heretic, Arius, in the face, for denying the full divinity of Jesus Christ, the Son of God (some say it was a slap, but this is, after all, a legend, so you choose the version you like).  Nicholas knew his Lord Jesus to be the Stone from the Mountain, cut by no human hand, very God of very God.  It pained him to his core to hear Arius’ blasphemies.  And so, in front of Emperor Constantine and all the holy Fathers of the Church, Nicholas decked the old snake.  Who knows, maybe it didn’t happen, but according to legend, it got him thrown in prison!  Fine.  So be it.  Not that I’m encouraging you to punch, or otherwise do violence to, your theological opponents (perhaps that was a bit much).  But follow St. Nicholas’ example in this: Faithfulness to Christ, and faithful suffering for it, even at the hands of earthly powers.  Always in hope.  Always in faith that the Lord sees, delivers, and rewards.  These are our marching orders. 

            Look, “The nations rage, the kingdoms totter,” but “he utters his voice, the earth melts.  The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress” (Ps. 46:6-7).  Jesus comes, beloved.  He lives.  He reigns.  And soon all the world will know it.  “The King shall come when morning dawns And light and beauty brings.  Hail, Christ the Lord!  Your people pray: Come quickly, King of kings!" (LSB 348:5).  In the Name of the Father, and of the Son X, and of the Holy Spirit.  Amen.