What title would you give to this episode?
“God Humbles a King”
God is called the “Most High”… five more times.… As you come to each one, record the verse and any contextual insight…
v.2 – The Most High God – performs miraculous signs and wonders
“v.17” – “The Most High” – “is sovereign over the kingdoms of men”
“v.24” – “The Most High” – “issued a decree against the king”
“v.25” – “The Most High” – “demands acknowledgment of sovereignty”
“v.32” – “The Most High” – “is sovereign over the kingdoms of men”
“v.34” – “The Most High” – “lives forever and deserves praise, love and glory”
Let’s begin by reading Daniel 4:1-3. These words of acclamation followed a hard lesson learned. Nebuchadnezzar shares the lesson in verses 4-37, but verse 1 describes his audience. To whom was his testimony addressed?
“To every person in the world (and, therefore, to me and each of us)”
Offer your own example of a sly way the enemy can tempt a ‘spiritual’ believer to pride.
“Long time believers who have studied every book of the Bible at some time must be careful not to pridefully show off to newer believers (or worse yet, seekers)”
My bigger temptation to pride is “performance” because “I’m bad at abstinence, but I can do performance, and I love the praise it can bring.”
The best time for a public testimony tends to be after we’re thinking straight again. 
Have you ever given a testimony that was perhaps a bit premature? “yes” Heard one? “yes(?)”
Please note Nebuchadnezzar‘s wording in verse 2… ‘It is my “pleasure” to tell you about the miraculous signs and wonders that the Most High God has performed for me.’
Do you think a testimony that ended up glorifying the giver as much or more than God was intended to do such? “no” If your answer is no, how do you think it happens? “I think unconsciously we generally want some glory too – after all, we suffered through these circumstances, why should God get all the credit.”
Do you get my point? If so, say it in your own words:
“K. I. S. S. – Keep it simple sister.”
If you have known God for long, or, like Nebuchadnezzar, known about God for long, you have a testimony. Somebody needs to hear it. By any chance is your testimony one that risks your looking foolish? …If your answer is yes, describe in generalities how.
“Only that I procrastinated the decision for a while out of nervousness.”
Does it make God look big? Wise? Powerful? If so, how?
“I guess so, as much as any of His loving calls to salvation do – nothing above other people‘s though.”
If God presented you with the opportunity to share this testimony, whether one on one or with a small group, would you be willing to look foolish for God to be magnified and another life edified? “yes”
Dearest Rachel –
There’s not a whole lot for me to add to your notes on this study directly. Indeed, what Daniel 4 has to say should be common knowledge; the fact that, no matter how high you are on the human ladder, there’s always going to be Someone who is greater than you, and you can’t afford to develop an over-inflated sense of self and your accomplishments.
Then again, by saying this should be “common knowledge,” am I putting myself at that risk of that same pride you mentioned? It’s a good thing Nebuchadnezzar addressed his letter to all mankind (including, presumably, all of us to come; the most blatant breach in the fourth wall in scripture until John 17), because it’s a warning we could all take to heart.
As for your own comments, I’m not sure what you meant about being more tempted to pride by performance rather than abstinence. Maybe, due to your tendency toward procrastination, refraining from doing a thing came easily, leading you to want some praise for having done something. Not sure that counts as being “bad at abstinence,” unless you found yourself abstaining from doing something you should have been doing. On the other hand, I certainly understand what you mean about wanting some credit when you do something. Aren’t we all like that from time to time?
Letters to Rachel 