Character Needed - Bible Sketches 33

CHARACTER NEEDED – BIBLE SKETCHES

Character Needed, by Robert Allen, published by Regular Baptist Press, includes 33 skits illustrating the truths of each of the verses in Proverbs 15.  These Character Needed – Bible Sketches are designed to accompany those contemporary plays, illustrating the same character traits by use of a Bible story. 

CHARACTER NEEDED

  

NEBUCHADNEZZAR’S DREAM

Proverbs 15:33

Daniel 4:1-37

Character Trait: Humility

Cast of Characters

                        Narrator

                        Nebuchadnezzar

                        Daniel

                        Servant

NARRATOR:                         Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon, reclined on a golden couch in a jewel-studded room in the palace.  As he slept he had a dream.  It wasn’t just any old ordinary dream.  It was a dream that was very important, because it was his dream.  When he woke up he called all the magicians, and astrologers, and Chaldeans, and soothsayers to him.

NEBUCHADNEZZAR:        I’ve had a dream.  You all know that it was an important dream, because I am the most important man in the entire world.  I want you to tell me what my dream meant.

NARRATOR:                         But no one could interpret the dream.  He was totally frustrated until he remembered Daniel.

NEBUCHADNEZZAR:        Daniel, I know that you are able to interpret dreams.  Listen to my dream and tell me what it means.  In my dream I saw a very tall tree.  The top of it reached to the heavens.  The leaves were beautiful and animals lived under the tree and ate of its fruit.  Then in my dream a voice from heaven said, “Cut down the tree and cut off the branches, but leave the stump.  Let his heart be changed for the heart of a beast until seven times pass over him.”  What does that mean, Daniel?  It is the dream of Nebuchadnezzar the king, and therefore it is very important.

NARRATOR:                         Daniel listened to the king tell his dream and was amazed.  For an hour he sat without saying a word.  Finally the king grew impatient.

NEBUCHADNEZZAR:        Daniel, don’t let the interpretation of the dream trouble you.  Tell me what it means.

DANIEL:                                My lord, the dream will make those men happy who hate you.  Your enemies will be glad to hear it.  You are the tree.  You have grown and become strong so that your dominion covers all the earth.  Everyone lives under your branches and eats of your fruit.  But you have grown proud, o king.  You do not realize that there is a God who rules in the affairs of men.  Therefore you are going to be deposed from your throne even as the tree was cut down.  For seven years you will become like a beast and eat grass until you know that God is the King of kings.

NEBUCHADNEZZAR:        What should I do, Daniel?

DANIEL:                                My advice is that you stop sinning.  Forget your pride and start to rule your kingdom in righteousness.  Help the poor and needy.  If you stop being proud it my be that God will not let this happen to you.

NARRATOR:                         The king listened to Daniel, but he didn’t change.  He still bragged about all he had done to build the kingdom of Babylon.  One day as he walked in the palace he called to all his servants.

NEBUCHADNEZZAR:        Look at this great Babylon which I have built.  Is there anyone anywhere who is as great as I am?  This kingdom has been built by the might of my power and it is for the honor of my majesty.  Just look around and you will know how great I am.

NARRATOR:                         Even as he spoke, a voice came from heaven and announced that the dream was now going to be fulfilled.

SERVANT:                            Look at him.  His hair and fingernails.  They’re growing.

NARRATOR:                         Nebuchadnezzar became just like a beast of the field.  He ate grass like an ox.  His hair grew like eagle’s feathers.  His servants watched over him and protected him like they would an animal until the time was over.  When he had learned his lesson, his mind returned to him and he was restored to the throne again.  The first thing he did was to give a speech telling what had happened to him.

NEBUCHADNEZZAR:        Now I know that the Lord God is the most High God and that He rules in the kingdoms of men.  He only is to be praised and honored because He lives forever and ever, and His kingdom goes on from generation to generation.  And now, I Nebuchadnezzar, praise the Lord.  All of His works are truth and His ways are just.  Most of all, I have learned the important lesson that all those who walk in pride He is able to bring low.

NARRATOR:                         And that was a lesson Nebuchadnezzar never forgot.