Do You Need to Eat Grass?
John Weaver | SermonAudio
| Lecture Metadata | Details |
|---|---|
| Speaker | John Weaver |
| Source | SermonAudio |
| Media ID | 414261929177361 |
| Subject | Old Testament Studies |
| Course | Daniel |
| Genre | Sermon |
| Date | 2026-04-05 |
| Dictation Name | |
| Book | Book 087: Daniel — Chapter 20 |
| Source Timed Segments | 70 |
Synopsis: John Weaver uses the story of Nebuchadnezzar's humbling in Daniel 4 to teach that God hates pride and will wage war against the proud. He illustrates how human life is likened to grass in Scripture—frail, temporary, and worthless in the flesh—and warns that unless we learn biblical humility, God may bring severe humbling, even to the point of 'eating grass.' The sermon calls believers to submit to God, recognize that all good comes from Him, and walk humbly in obedience.
Formatted Transcript
Introduction: The Question of Eating Grass
Weaver introduces the title and asks if we have ever considered eating grass, stating that most people, even Christians, need to eat grass in a spiritual sense.
So let's open our Bibles then tonight, if you would please, to the book of Daniel chapter 4. And just to begin with, I'm going to be reading verse 27. We will certainly come back to this passage. So the title of the message is, Do You Need to Eat Grass? So notice, if you would, Daniel chapter 4, verse 27. This is the counsel that Daniel gave to King Nebuchadnezzar. He said,
"Wherefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable unto thee, and break off thy sins by righteousness, and thine iniquities by showing mercy to the poor; if it may be a lengthening of thy tranquility."
So my first question tonight is this: have you ever considered eating grass? And I will make a statement, and most people might object to it, but it is certainly a true statement, so don't throw a hymn book at me. And that is this: that most people, really and truly, even Christians, need to eat grass. You will see the intent and the impact of that statement just a little later.
But I must make it clear that when I'm talking about eating grass, I'm talking about real, genuine grass, grass that grows in the woods, grass that grows in our lawns. But I'm not talking about drugs by any stretch of the imagination, because some of that oftentimes is called grass as well. But I suppose that you know that dogs eat grass. I see my dog grazing like cattle on newly grown grass in the woods. And of course dogs eat grass for a multitude of reasons. Number one, I would say that they simply eat it for dietary fiber. They need roughage just like you and I need roughage as well. But they also eat grass sometimes, I think, out of boredom and anxiety. And other times some people have suggested that they have a nutritional need that's only met by eating grass. And then sometimes I think that they might eat grass just because they like the taste of it and the texture of it.
Literal Grass and Its Nutritional Value
He clarifies he means real grass, not drugs, and shares anecdotes about dogs eating grass and a pastor friend who bought wheatgrass for juice, highlighting the nutrition in grass.
So let's open our Bibles then tonight, if you would please, to the book of Daniel chapter 4. And just to begin with, I'm going to be reading verse 27. We will certainly come back to this passage. So the title of the message is, Do You Need to Eat Grass? So notice, if you would, Daniel chapter 4, verse 27. This is the counsel that Daniel gave to King Nebuchadnezzar. He said,
"Wherefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable unto thee, and break off thy sins by righteousness, and thine iniquities by showing mercy to the poor; if it may be a lengthening of thy tranquility."
So my first question tonight is this: have you ever considered eating grass? And I will make a statement, and most people might object to it, but it is certainly a true statement, so don't throw a hymn book at me. And that is this: that most people, really and truly, even Christians, need to eat grass. You will see the intent and the impact of that statement just a little later.
But I must make it clear that when I'm talking about eating grass, I'm talking about real, genuine grass, grass that grows in the woods, grass that grows in our lawns. But I'm not talking about drugs by any stretch of the imagination, because some of that oftentimes is called grass as well. But I suppose that you know that dogs eat grass. I see my dog grazing like cattle on newly grown grass in the woods. And of course dogs eat grass for a multitude of reasons. Number one, I would say that they simply eat it for dietary fiber. They need roughage just like you and I need roughage as well. But they also eat grass sometimes, I think, out of boredom and anxiety. And other times some people have suggested that they have a nutritional need that's only met by eating grass. And then sometimes I think that they might eat grass just because they like the taste of it and the texture of it.
And so I've often smiled when I've heard mothers encourage their children to drink their milk because they need the calcium in the milk. And the reason I smile is because I wonder if they ever thought how the cows get the nutrients to make the milk, the calcium in the milk. And of course it comes from eating grass, obviously and clearly. So years ago when I was preaching in Los Angeles, California, I had a pastor friend who asked me to go to the health food store with him and I consented. And when he went to the health food store, he purchased a 12 by 12 plot of grass, and he paid 10 bucks for it. This had to be 30 to 40 years back, which I thought was really exorbitant. So I asked him why he bought this grass, and his answer was to make juice, and he said that he would show me when we got back home. And so when we got back to his house, he took scissors and cut some of the grass down close to the dirt and then he took those clippings and put them in a little press and mashed the press and out came about an ounce of juice and he gave it to me to drink.
I drank it and I thought to myself, wow, this tastes just like wheatgrass or ryegrass or oatgrass. And I asked him what kind of grass it was and he said wheatgrass. I said, what? Wheatgrass? I said, that's what I plant for my cows. That's what I plant for the deer in the woods. I said, have you paid 10 bucks for this one little 12 by 12? So I got to thinking how much money I could make if I could sell two acres of this at 10 bucks for a little 12 by 12.
And of course, obviously, I'm not going to be doing that. But clearly, I mean, you'd have to be insane. I suppose today is probably closer to 20 bucks for someone to buy that in a health food store. But it's amazing to me how much of grass and herbs are really nutritional and good for us. Since that time, every time I plant my wheat and rye and oat grass, when it first comes up and gets a good couple of inches, I just go out and work some of it off and put it in my mouth and chew and get all the good juice, the chlorophyll, and spit the cud out and keep going. And so it's astounding to me. But since that experience, it's really hit me how much nutrition there is in a lot of grass, that is for sure.
Human Life Likened to Grass in Scripture
Weaver surveys multiple Bible passages (Psalm 90, 92, 102, 103; Isaiah 40; James 1; 1 Peter 1) that compare human life to grass, emphasizing its brevity, fragility, and worthlessness.
Now, I gave you those illustrations so that you will know that this is not what I'm referring to by the title of this message. When I ask, do you need to eat grass? It has another potent answer and yes, we need to eat grass unless we learn biblical humility. Now before I get to the body of the message, let me ask you another question. Have you ever considered your life in relationship to grass? I've been astounded at the Word of God as how we are likened to grass over and over. So if you will hold Daniel chapter 4, but if you will turn back in your Bibles beginning with Psalm 90, which was the Psalm of Moses, now would you look if you would please at verse 5, Psalm 90 and verse 5. Look what the Word of God says. Psalm 90, verse 5. The Bible says,
"...they are carried away as with a flood; they are as a sleep; in the morning they are like grass which groweth up."
Now look at verse 6.
"In the morning it flourisheth and groweth up; in the evening it is cut down and withereth."
So here our life is likened to grass. If you would turn right over to Psalm 92. And look, if you would please, at verses 5 through 8. Psalm 92, verse 5.
"O LORD, how great are thy works! and thy thoughts are very deep. A brutish man knoweth not; neither doth a fool understand this. When the wicked spring as the grass, and when all the workers of iniquity do flourish; it is that they shall be destroyed for ever: But thou, LORD, art most high for evermore."
Now it's not just the wicked that are likened to grass, each of us are. So if you will turn in your Bibles to the book of Psalm 102, and notice if you would there beginning with verse 11. Psalm 102 verse 11.
The psalmist said, "My days are like a shadow that declineth; and I am withered like grass. But thou, O LORD, shalt endure for ever; and thy remembrance unto all generations." But notice he said, I'm withered like grass. Now if you look in Psalm 103, in verses 15 and 16, again he says it like this,
"As for man, his days are as grass: as a flower of the field, so he flourisheth. For the wind passeth over it, and it is gone; and the place thereof shall know it no more."
Wow. Then if you will turn right on over to Isaiah chapter 40, Isaiah 40, and look if you would please at verses 6 through 8. Isaiah 40, verses 6 through 8. It's astounding how many times this is repeated in the Word of God. Isaiah 40, notice if you would, verse 6.
The voice said, Cry. And he said, What shall I cry? All flesh is grass, and all the goodliness thereof is as the flower of the field: The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: because the spirit of the LORD bloweth upon it: surely the people is grass. The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever."
Now, if you will turn in your Bibles to the New Testament, to the book of James chapter 1, and then we're going to go to 1 Peter. Hebrews, James. Look in James chapter 1, beginning there with verse 10. James chapter 1, verse 10. The Bible says,
"...but the rich, in that he is made low: because as the flower of the grass he shall pass away. For the sun is no sooner risen with a burning heat, but it withereth the grass, and the flower thereof falleth, and the grace of the fashion of it perisheth: so also shall the rich man fade away in his ways."
Now if you turn over just a few pages to 1 Peter chapter 1 and look at verses 24 and 25. 1 Peter chapter 1 verses 24 and 25. Where he says, "...for all flesh is as grass."
So actually he's quoting from Isaiah 40. "For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away: But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you." So, when you think of grass, you think about the brevity, the fragility of grass. You can walk upon grass and stomp it and kill it and break it and bruise it and do all kinds of things to it. So here's a picture then, not only of our weakness, of our fragility, our impotence, and the brevity of our lives. He even talks about when the sun arises in its heat, then the grass is gone. And that is true.
It grows up in the morning and it's dead in the evening. So, in Psalm 90, if you remember, our lives were likened unto a flood, which is over with very quickly, and then a tale that is told, and then there's a sleep. It's astounding how you can lie down to sleep, and you might get to sleep eight hours, and when you wake up it seems like just a few minutes have passed. So it's over with very quickly. And when you get to Job chapter 20 in verse 8, Job describes our lives as a dream. How long does a dream last? I mean it can be just moments, it can be seconds, but it's over with very quickly. And then James 4 and verse 14, he describes our life as a vapor. What is your life but as a vapor?
The Worthlessness of the Flesh
He explains that our flesh cannot please God (Romans 8:6-8) and quotes John Gill on how all flesh is grass, even our physical bodies being formed from grass.
It appears for a little while and then it is gone. So it should be exceedingly humbling to us when you think that our lives are compared to grass, to a tale, to a dream, to a vapor, everything's over with very quickly. And I think there's another application that we can see. And I think that application shows you the absolute worthlessness of our flesh. In other words, grass does not please God in the sense of the word and our flesh cannot please God. So you must remember that passage in Romans chapter 8, verses 6 through 8, where the word of God says,
"For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace."
And then he says this,
"Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be."
Now listen,
"So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God."
Wow.
Now John Gill, the great Baptist commentator and preacher, made a comment on "all flesh is grass" and I would like to read the two paragraphs to you and one part of this should really make you sit up and take notice. Listen to what he says: "All men are born of corruptible seed, are frail, mortal, and perishing; they spring up like grass and look beautiful for a while, but are very weak and tender, and in a little time they are cut down by death and wither away." Now listen to this, "and while they live are, in a good measure, nothing but grass in another form." The substance of their life is greatly by it. What is the flesh they eat, but grass turned into it? So think about that good steak that you just ate. That steak was made by grass. So, think about this. He said, "in this mortality is not only the case of wicked men, but of good men, even of prophets and preachers of the gospel. And yet the word of God spoken by them continues forever." And then he makes his comment, "and all the glory of man as the flower of the grass." He says, "all those things which are in esteem with men, and render them glorious one to another, as riches, honor, wisdom, strength, external righteousness, external holiness, and external goodness, all which are fading and transitory, like the flower of the field. But the gospel continues and reveals durable riches and honor with Christ, and true wisdom and strength with him, and spiritual knowledge in comparison of which all things are dross and dung, and an everlasting righteousness and true holiness in him."
Some have thought respect may be had to the legal dispensation, that is, the ceremonies of the temple, etc., and to all the glory and stateliness and goodliness of the worship and ordinance of it, which were to endure but for a time, and are now removed. But the gospel has taken its place and will continue to the end of the world. Wow. It is true that everything that we have is transitory.
Nebuchadnezzar's Pride and Humbling
Weaver returns to Daniel 4, recounting Nebuchadnezzar's pride, Daniel's counsel to repent, and the king's refusal, leading to seven years of insanity eating grass.
Now, I want you to think about this. Would it not be humbling to have nothing to eat but grass? If I came to your house and you invited me for supper and then you served me a plate of nothing but grass and you had nothing but grass yourself, that would truly be humbling I can assure you. So let me ask you this: what would you think if you had to eat grass for seven years? Now I want you to think about this: eating grass for seven years, no meat, no vegetables, no chocolate, no ice cream, no desserts whatsoever, nothing but grass. See, when you look back in Daniel chapter 4, Nebuchadnezzar was a proud, arrogant, haughty monarch. He refused to listen to Daniel, the prophet of God. He refused to listen to God when he refused to listen to Daniel. He refused repentance. He refused humility. He refused submission to God. Now, I want you to note Daniel, of course, gave him good counsel. He told the king, "to break off thy sins by righteousness, and thine iniquities by showing mercy to the poor; if it may be a lengthening of thy tranquility."
I want you to understand that the sin of pride has historically been the sin of kings and rulers and politicians and basically anyone that has been trusted with any power or authority whatsoever. Let me show you this. I want you to turn to two passages. You know that Zedekiah was the last man to be king before Nebuchadnezzar destroyed him and Jerusalem. So if you look in your Bibles, first of all to Jeremiah chapter 13, and then we're going to turn back to 2 Chronicles. So look if you would in Jeremiah chapter 13, and note if you would beginning there with verse 15. Jeremiah chapter 13 and verse 15. Look what he said. Jeremiah is preaching and he says,
"Hear ye, and give ear; be not proud: for the LORD hath spoken."
In other words, don't be lifted up with pride, be not proud for the LORD has spoken. And look what he tells the king and queen to do.
"Give glory to the LORD your God, before he cause darkness, and before your feet stumble upon the dark mountains, and, while ye look for light, he turn it into the shadow of death, and make it gross darkness."
Now look what he said in verse 17,
"But if ye will not hear it, my soul shall weep in secret places for your pride; and mine eye shall weep sore, and run down with tears, because the LORD's flock is carried away captive. Say unto the king and to the queen, Humble yourselves, sit down: for your principalities shall come down, even the crown of your glory."
So look what Jeremiah said, if you do not humble yourself, if you do not submit, everything is coming down.
Now, look if you would, in the book of 2 Chronicles, chapter 36 and let's begin reading there with verse 11 and notice if you would now what is said to King Zedekiah who was the man who was in charge of Jerusalem when Nebuchadnezzar took it. So 2 Chronicles chapter 36 and verse 11.
"Zedekiah was one and twenty years old when he began to reign, and reigned eleven years in Jerusalem. And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD his God, and humbled not himself before Jeremiah the prophet speaking from the mouth of the LORD. And he also rebelled against king Nebuchadnezzar, who had made him swear by God: but he stiffened his neck, and hardened his heart from turning unto the LORD God of Israel. Moreover all the chief of the priests, and the people, transgressed very much after all the abominations of the heathen; and polluted the house of the LORD which he had hallowed in Jerusalem."
But note, if you would, Zedekiah refused to hear the prophet Jeremiah. And in refusing to hear Jeremiah, he refused to hear God himself.
So, the problem with pride is not just simply the problem with kings and rulers and princes and politicians, it is our problem as well. Because the sin of pride is the sin of practically every man and every Christian. We are proud in so many different ways. In fact, we're proud of our works. We're proud of our accomplishments. We are proud of how we live. We are proud of what we do. And you say, well, I live for the Lord and I serve the Lord and I do this and I do that. Well, I'm thankful for that and you should be doing that.
The Sin of Pride in All People
He argues that pride is not just a problem for kings but for every person, citing Scriptures that show God works all good in us and we have nothing we did not receive.
But may I remind you of Isaiah chapter 26 and verse 12, where the word of God says it like this.
"LORD, thou wilt ordain peace for us: for thou also hast wrought all our works in us."
Any good thing in us, it is from God. It is God who works it in us. It is God who gives us the mind. It is God who gives us the ability. It is God who gives us the desire.
Now let me give you another passage. You have to understand this. In and of ourselves, in our flesh, we can do absolutely nothing to please our Heavenly Father. Do you remember the passage in Philippians 2 and verse 12? The Apostle said,
"Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence,"
now listen to what he said,
"work out your own salvation with fear and trembling."
Now, he is not telling the Philippians to earn their salvation, neither is he saying that salvation is by works. But when he says, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, it must be understood, that's verse 12, in light of verse 13. Because verse 13 says,
"For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure."
So God puts the to will in us and God puts the to do in us. So any time we will to do that which is right and holy and godly and obedient and submissive and humble, it's God who put it in us. It would not be in us by nature. And once God puts it in us, he requires us to work it out, that is to bring it forth into application in our lives.
Now verse 13, chapter 4 and verse 7 ask three questions and I want you to consider these questions. The apostle Paul asks. Now this is in 1 Corinthians chapter 4 and verse 7. The first question is this. "For who maketh thee to differ from another?"
Now stop and think about that. Who makes you to differ from another? Why is it you are saved and you have family and friends that are not saved? Why is it you understand truth and you have family and friends who do not understand truth? Why is it that you're healthy and some of your family and friends are deathly sick? Why is it you have certain abilities and others do not? Who makes you to differ?
Obviously the answer is God. Now this is the second question. He asks, well who makes you to differ one from another? Here's the second one. "And what hast thou that thou didst not receive?"
Now stop and think about this. Even your intellect was given to you by God. You say, but I studied. Who gave you the ability to study? Who gave you the ability to understand? Who gave you the ability to comprehend? Who gave you the ability to apply? Everything you have, God gave you. He gave you life. He gave you health. He gives you breath. And if you don't believe that, just let him withhold your breath and see how long you can continue.
So he said, "For who maketh thee to differ from another? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive?" Now, this is the third one. "Now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it?" In other words, if God gave it to us, it was not ours. It was not in us by nature. And we have no right to glory in ourselves and say, I can do this, or I have this, or this is my specialty. No, no, no. Everything we have is from God.
Now, let me point something out. Here it is. God hates pride. God condemns pride. But our flesh loves pride. And the problem with pride is not just that it adheres to people like Zedekiah and Nebuchadnezzar, it goes to all of us. So if you will turn back in your Bibles to Jeremiah chapter 13, and look if you would please at verse 10, Jeremiah chapter 13 and verse 10, look at what God says even now concerning the people. Look what he says. Jeremiah 13 verse 10, he says, "This evil people, which refuse to hear my words," why do they refuse? Pride, arrogance, haughtiness, headiness, high-minded. "This evil people, which refuse to hear my words, which walk in the imagination of their heart, and walk after other gods, to serve them, and to worship them, shall even be as this girdle, which is good for nothing."
God's Hatred and War Against Pride
Weaver demonstrates from Proverbs, James, and 1 Peter that God hates pride and actively resists (wars against) the proud, and that self-exaltation leads to abasement.
Well, the truth of the matter is this. We usually take pride in everything we do the wrong way. We take pride in our accomplishments, not even thinking that it was God who gave us the desire, the wisdom, and the strength to do it, even if it was done for Him. It is our failure to recognize Him and acknowledge him and honor him in this area that actually results in stealing his honor and glory.
Now what did he say in Isaiah? He said, "I am the LORD: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images." So when God says he's not going to share his glory with another, that another would even include you, it would include me. So many times, we just become extremely proud and prideful. You know, and I've said this before, I don't have TV, don't watch TV, don't care for TV.
But somewhere years ago, I was in a building and the TV was on. And that Simpson, the Simpsons were on that cartoonish thing. And it was Thanksgiving. And here's this little kid saying, why should we thank God for this food? We bought this turkey. We cooked this dinner. That's utter blasphemy. I mean, if God didn't give you the means to purchase it, you would be without. If God didn't give you the intellect to cook and prepare, you'd have done without.
I'm just simply pointing out, we oftentimes are just arrogant and haughty like the king of Assyria. I want to show you that. I want you to turn back in your Bibles to Isaiah chapter 10. You see, God did use the king of Assyria. In fact, he used the king of Assyria to subdue and to break the Northern Kingdom, that is, Israel. And so I want you to watch what the Bible says in verse 5. So we know for sure that God sent the Assyrians, look what he said, verse 5 Isaiah 10,
"O Assyrian, the rod of mine anger, and the staff in their hand is mine indignation."
Look what God says,
"I will send him against an hypocritical nation, and against the people of my wrath will I give him a charge, to take the spoil, and to take the prey, and to tread them down like the mire of the streets."
Howbeit he, the Assyrian, meaneth not so; neither doth his heart think so; but it is in his heart to destroy and cut off nations not a few. Now here's what God is saying. God is saying, I'm sending the Assyrians. I'm giving them a charge. But He doesn't mean to obey me. He doesn't mean to serve me. He doesn't mean to do my will. The only reason He's going is to rape and rob and kill and plunder. That's it. Okay?
Now, if you would, skip down now to verse 12. Look what God says He's going to do to the king of Assyria. "Wherefore it shall come to pass, that when the Lord hath performed his whole work upon mount Zion and on Jerusalem, I will punish the fruit of the stout heart of the king of Assyria, and the glory of his high looks." Now, wait a minute. God is going to punish him for doing what he sent him to do. But no, he sent him to do it but the man did not mean to obey God, he did not mean to honor God, no, no, no, no. So look, here was his attitude, watch in verse 13, "For he saith," this is king of Assyria, "For he saith, By the strength of my hand I have done it, and by my wisdom; for I am prudent: and I have removed the bounds of the people, and have robbed their treasures, and I have put down the inhabitants like a valiant man: And my hand hath found as a nest the riches of the people: and as one gathereth eggs that are left, have I gathered all the earth; and there was none that moved the wing, or opened the mouth, or peeped."
Now look what God asks. "Shall the axe boast itself against him that heweth therewith? or shall the saw magnify itself against him that shaketh it? as if the rod should shake itself against them that lift it up, or as if the staff should lift up itself, as if it were no wood. Therefore shall the Lord, the Lord of hosts, send among his fat ones leanness; and under his glory he shall kindle a burning like the burning of a fire. And the light of Israel shall be for a fire, and his Holy One for a flame: and it shall burn and devour his thorns and his briers in one day; And shall consume the glory of his forest, and of his fruitful field, both soul and body: and they shall be as when a standardbearer fainteth." Notice God said, I'm going to destroy him. I'm going to destroy Assyria. Why? It was by my hand. I did it. My might. My prudence. My wisdom. I did this. It was all me. And God fought against the king of Assyria.
Now, the sin of pride has to be rooted out of our lives. If you would take time to examine your life, you'll find many times things happen and God blesses. And the next thing you know, you're singing God's honor and God's glory, thinking it was you. But it wasn't you. It was all God. I've often thought about this. When you hook a water hose up to the water spigot, and water runs through the hose and waters the garden, and you have great produce from that water, what if the hose simply said, Without me, the water is nothing. But, the hose is nothing. The hose is but a vessel. The water is everything.
Remember the Apostle Paul said, we have this treasure in earthen vessels. You can take a pitcher and pour some of the best lemonade you've ever seen and the pitcher can boast and say I'm holding this lemonade and I'm pouring out this lemonade. It's not the pitcher that is nourishing, it's the lemonade. But so many times we turn everything around. What did the Apostle Paul say in 1 Corinthians chapter 3? He said one sows and one waters but God gives the increase. So neither is he that soweth anything or he that watereth, but God that giveth the increase. Look at our churches that boast of all their numbers, of all their programs, of all their buildings. Look at Christians that boast all the time and they never stop to think that it is God who gives us everything. So we're kind of like the two monks I saw in a cartoon years ago, they were walking side by side in their robes with their hands up their sleeves. And one monk looked at the other monk and said, you know, it kind of makes you proud that we're so humble, doesn't it? That's it.
Now, I want you to follow up with me in some scriptures. So I want you to begin with me in Proverbs chapter eight. I want to just show you some passages. And I'm going to start making an application back to our text momentarily. So look if you would in the book of Proverbs chapter 8 and notice with me verse 13. Proverbs 8 and verse 13. Look at this. Proverbs 8 verse 13.
"The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate."
What is the fear of the Lord? It's to hate evil. And part of that evil is pride and arrogancy. Not just the evil way and the froward mouth, but pride and arrogancy. Look in Proverbs 11 and verse 2. Proverbs 11 and verse 2. "When pride cometh, then cometh shame: but with the lowly is wisdom."
Pride always produces shame. Well, maybe that's why the Sodomites have their gay pride month because it's nothing but shame. Okay? Look in Proverbs chapter 13 and verse 10. Proverbs 13 and verse 10. Again, he says this, "Only by pride cometh contention: but with the well advised is wisdom." That is fussing and fighting and feuding comes from pride. Well, I don't like what you said to me. Why is it you don't like what I said to you? Well, because it hurt my feelings. Fine. Well. So. He says in Proverbs 13 and verse 10, "Only by pride cometh contention: but with the well advised is wisdom." Look in Proverbs chapter 14 and verse 3.
I hope you're astonished at how many times God speaks about this. "In the mouth of the foolish is a rod of pride: but the lips of the wise shall preserve them." Here's one, Proverbs 16, verse 18, which you should know. The Bible says there,
"Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall."
But if you look in Proverbs chapter 29, and verse 23, Proverbs 29, verse 23, the word of God says this, "A man's pride shall bring him low: but honour shall uphold the humble in spirit." Do you know the Bible says in 1 Timothy chapter 3 and verse 6, "Not a novice," that is a neophyte, a newbie, a beginner, "not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil." He's talking about preachers. "Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil." And let me quote one for you before we turn back to Daniel 4. How about 1 John 2 verses 15 and 16. Don't you listen?
He said, "Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world." Love not the world, neither things are in the world.
So let me put it to you very plain. Humility is the opposite of pride. Humility is hearkening unto and submitting unto and obeying the Word of God. So if you will go back in your Bibles to the book of Daniel chapter 4 and let's begin reading with verse 22. Daniel is interpreting the dream for Nebuchadnezzar and look what he tells him. "It is thou, O king, that art grown and become strong: for thy greatness is grown, and reacheth unto heaven, and thy dominion to the end of the earth. And whereas the king saw a watcher and an holy one coming down from heaven, and saying, Hew the tree down, and destroy it; yet leave the stump of the roots thereof in the earth, even with a band of iron and brass, in the tender grass of the field; and let it be wet with the dew of heaven, and let his portion be with the beasts of the field, till seven times pass over him." So, seven times is just the Chaldean way of saying seven years.
Then he says this, "This is the interpretation, O king, and this is the decree of the most High, which is come upon my lord the king: That they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field, and they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and they shall wet thee with the dew of heaven, and seven times shall pass over thee, till thou know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will. And whereas they commanded to leave the stump of the tree roots; thy kingdom shall be sure unto thee, after that thou shalt have known that the heavens do rule." Now here's his counsel. "Wherefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable unto thee, and break off thy sins by righteousness, and thine iniquities by shewing mercy to the poor; if it may be a lengthening of thy tranquility." Now, what in the world did Daniel counsel Nebuchadnezzar? He basically counseled him to repent, to break off his transgressions, submit to God in His law, and evidence that submission by showing mercy.
The question is this, did he listen? And the answer is no, a thousand times no. So now skip down to verse 28. Look at this.
"All this came upon the king Nebuchadnezzar."
Everything that Daniel told him, all of it came upon him.
"At the end of twelve months he walked in the palace of the kingdom of Babylon. The king spake, and said, Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for the house of the kingdom by the might of my power, and for the honour of my majesty?"
Pride, arrogance, haughtiness.
"While the word was in the king's mouth, there fell a voice from heaven, saying, O king Nebuchadnezzar, to thee it is spoken; The kingdom is departed from thee. And they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field: they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and seven times shall pass over thee, until thou know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will."
Watch verse 33, "The same hour was the thing fulfilled upon Nebuchadnezzar: and he was driven from men, and did eat grass as oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven, till his hairs were grown like eagles' feathers, and his nails like birds' claws." So, Nebuchadnezzar was driven insane for seven years. Seven years he lived like an animal. Seven years he ate grass. Seven years his hair grew like bird's feathers. His fingernails like bird's claws. It's a condition known as lycanthropy, where a man lives and even begins to look like an animal. Wow.
Well, I want to point out, this breaking of the pride, especially of God's people, is an act brought upon us by the curse in the book of Leviticus chapter 26 verses 18 through 20. So I want you to listen. God said to his people, "And if ye will not yet for all this hearken unto me, then I will punish you seven times more for your sins. And I will break the pride of your power; and I will make your heaven as iron, and your earth as brass: And your strength shall be spent in vain: for your land shall not yield her increase, neither shall the trees of the land yield their fruits." God said, I will break the pride of your power. That is exactly what God did to Nebuchadnezzar. Let me make a statement. And I want you to think about this. You heard that old adage, different strokes for different folks. I'm here to tell you, God knows exactly what it will take to break you. He knows exactly what it will take to humble you. He knows exactly what it will take to bring you to the end of yourselves. He knows exactly what will take away our pride, our arrogance, our haughtiness, our self-confidence. We may end up losing everything. We may end up losing a member of our family. We may end up losing our spouse. We may end up losing our mind.
Or we may just have nothing to eat or dress for seven years. God knows exactly what it's going to take. May I tell you that Nebuchadnezzar turned the hard way. Daniel told him what to do if it may be a lengthening of thy tranquility. But he would not listen. And that's one of our greatest sins. We just will not listen. So God drove him insane for seven years.
Now look at verse 34. "And at the end of the days I Nebuchadnezzar lifted up mine eyes unto heaven, and mine understanding returned unto me, and I blessed the most High." He knew that previously, but now he's ready. "And I blessed the most High, and I praised and honoured him that liveth for ever, whose dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom is from generation to generation: And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou? At the same time my reason returned unto me; and for the glory of my kingdom, mine honour and brightness returned unto me; and my counsellors and my lords sought unto me; and I was established in my kingdom, and excellent majesty was added unto me. Now I Nebuchadnezzar praise and extol and honour the King of heaven, all whose works are truth, and his ways judgment: and those that walk in pride he is able to abase."
Didn't he begin as they learn? Yes. Did he learn the hard way? Yes. So you and I, as his children, have an opportunity to learn the easy way rather than the hard way. So let me make some truths and some applications concerning this lesson and concerning pride. Here's number one, listen to me. Here's the truth concerning God and pride. God not only hates it, He not only despises it, He not only condemns it, He actually fights against it. So when you are proud, and you express your pride, you are engaging God as an enemy.
So let me show you. Turn in your Bibles to two passages. First of all, James chapter 4, Hebrews, James, and then we're going to go to 1 Peter chapter 5. So if you look in James chapter 4, and look if you would please at verse 6. James 4 verse 6. And then we're going to 1 Peter chapter 5. So James 4 verse 6. Look what he says.
"But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble."
Now I want you to note that word resisted. God resisteth the proud, but he giveth grace unto the humble. Now if you look in 1 Peter chapter 5 and verse 5, 1 Peter chapter 5 and verse 5, he says it like this,
"Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble."
Now the word resisteth in James 4 and verse 6 and the word resisteth in 1 Peter chapter 5 and verse 5 happen to be the same exact Greek word antitassomai.
And it actually means to rage in battle against, to oppose, and to make war against. So when it says that God resisteth the proud, God rages in battle against the proud. He makes war against the proud. He despises pride. He hates pride. He condemns pride. He wars against pride. Wow. Let this truth sink in. If you want God to fight against you, just continue your pride and you'll have God as your enemy.
You say, but I'm his child. You will still have God as your enemy because of your pride and your sin. We realize that three times in the New Testament, our Lord warned against pride and the consequences of pride. Listen to this, Matthew 23 verse 12, "And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted." God said if you want to exalt yourself, if you want to lift yourself up, I can bring you down. Then he said in Luke 14 verse 11, "For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted." One more time he said it. Luke chapter 18 and verse 14 talking about the publican. He said, "I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted." Wow. So here's my second application. If you don't mind being abased, if you don't mind eating grass, if you don't mind God having to wage a war against you, then continue to walk in pride, arrogance and haughtiness, and you will be facing the sovereign God who will make war against you. And may I tell you, He never loses. He always wins. If, however, on the other hand, you desire peace with God and His blessings upon you, and you want to walk pleasing in His sight, then you must walk humbly with Him in faith and obedience. And I'm sure you know Micah 6 and verse 8. "He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God."
Walking Humbly with God
He concludes with applications: remember God is Father, Lord, Creator, Potter; we must submit and obey; confess and fight pride; and acknowledge all is by His grace.
So how do we walk humbly with our God? With submission and obedience. Now here is something I hope will help each of us. We have to remember something. Here's what we must remember. He's the father, we're the child. Every father in this room has given an order or command or direction to his child. And when the child gets older, he says, why? And daddy says, because I said so. Daddy says, I'm the head of this house, I'm the authority. When God gives us directions in his word, we must obey them because he said so. He's the father, we're the child. Moreover, secondly, he is the Lord, we're the servant or the slave. We're duty-bound and obligated to obey him. Moreover, thirdly, he is the creator and we're the creature. And then fourthly, he is the potter and we're the clay. In each instance, he has the absolute right to direct our lives, to order us, command us, dictate to us, to direct us, or to do as He pleases. He's the Father. He's the Lord. He's the Creator. He's the Potter. And we just simply need to obey.
Isn't that simple? If we just submit, obey. Remember that song we used to sing, trust and obey? For there's no other way to be happy in Jesus but to trust and obey. And that is the secret of the Christian life, really. Submission, trusting, and obedience. Remember, if you would, God hates pride and he fights against it. I do not want to eat grass. I don't want God fighting against me. I want to walk pleasing in his sight. And I want to double check myself. And I want to confess pride. Fight against pride. Deny pride.
And recognize that everything I am, everything I have, everything I ever will be or ever will have or ever will do is only by His grace, mercy, and strength. I don't eat grass, do you? Now here is something I hope will help each of us. We have to remember something. Here's what we must remember. He's the father, we're the child. Every father in this room has given an order or command or direction to his child. And when the child gets older, he says, why? And daddy says, because I said so. Daddy says, I'm the head of this house, I'm the authority. When God gives us directions in his word, we must obey them because he said so. He's the father, we're the child. Moreover, secondly, he is the Lord, we're the servant or the slave. We're duty-bound and obligated to obey him. Moreover, thirdly, he is the creator and we're the creature. And then fourthly, he is the potter and we're the clay. In each instance, he has the absolute right to direct our lives, to order us, command us, dictate to us, to direct us, or to do as He pleases. He's the Father. He's the Lord. He's the Creator. He's the Potter. And we just simply need to obey.
Isn't that simple? If we just submit, obey. Remember that song we used to sing, trust and obey? For there's no other way to be happy in Jesus but to trust and obey. And that is the secret of the Christian life, really. Submission, trusting, and obedience. Remember, if you would, God hates pride and he fights against it. I do not want to eat grass. I don't want God fighting against me. I want to walk pleasing in his sight. And I want to double check myself. And I want to confess pride. Fight against pride. Deny pride.
And recognize that everything I am, everything I have, everything I ever will be or ever will have or ever will do is only by His grace, mercy, and strength. I don't eat grass, do you?
Study Guide
Major Themes
The Brevity and Fragility of Human Life
Summary: Scripture repeatedly compares human life to grass, emphasizing its temporary nature, weakness, and worthlessness before God.
Evidence: Weaver cites Psalm 90:5-6, 92:5-8, 102:11, 103:15-16; Isaiah 40:6-8; James 1:10-11; 1 Peter 1:24-25, all likening life to grass that withers and fades.
The Sin and Danger of Pride
Summary: Pride is a universal sin that God hates and actively fights against; it leads to destruction and abasement.
Evidence: Weaver references Proverbs 8:13, 11:2, 13:10, 16:18, 29:23; James 4:6; 1 Peter 5:5; and the examples of Nebuchadnezzar and the king of Assyria.
God's Sovereignty and Our Dependence
Summary: Everything we have and are comes from God; we have no grounds for boasting, and we must acknowledge Him as the source of all good.
Evidence: Weaver explains 1 Corinthians 4:7 (who makes you differ, what do you have that you did not receive) and Isaiah 26:12 (God works all our works in us).
The Necessity of Humility and Obedience
Summary: Humility is the opposite of pride and is demonstrated by hearkening to, submitting to, and obeying God's Word.
Evidence: Weaver states, 'Humility is hearkening unto and submitting unto and obeying the Word of God,' and cites Micah 6:8 to walk humbly with God.
God's Discipline to Break Pride
Summary: God knows exactly what it takes to humble each person and will use severe measures, like Nebuchadnezzar's insanity, to break pride if we refuse to repent.
Evidence: Weaver references Leviticus 26:18-20 ('I will break the pride of your power') and Nebuchadnezzar's seven years of eating grass.
Key Arguments
Most people, even Christians, need to 'eat grass' spiritually.
Summary: Weaver argues that unless we learn biblical humility, we will face humbling circumstances from God, symbolized by eating grass like Nebuchadnezzar.
Evidence: He states, 'most people, really and truly, even Christians, need to eat grass' and later, 'yes, we need to eat grass unless we learn biblical humility.'
Human life is as worthless and temporary as grass.
Summary: Scripture's repeated comparison of humanity to grass underscores our frailty and inability to please God in our flesh.
Evidence: Weaver cites multiple passages (Psalm 90, 103; Isaiah 40; 1 Peter 1) and says, 'grass does not please God in the sense of the word and our flesh cannot please God.'
Pride is the root sin that leads to contention, shame, and destruction.
Summary: Pride causes strife, precedes a fall, and is hated by God; it is the sin of kings and all people.
Evidence: He quotes Proverbs 13:10 ('only by pride cometh contention'), 16:18 ('pride goeth before destruction'), and notes Nebuchadnezzar's boast about Babylon.
God actively resists and makes war against the proud.
Summary: The Greek word 'antitassomai' means to rage in battle against; God fights against pride in believers and unbelievers alike.
Evidence: Weaver explains James 4:6 and 1 Peter 5:5, defining 'resisteth' as 'to rage in battle against, to oppose, and to make war against.'
We have nothing that we did not receive from God.
Summary: All abilities, intellect, and spiritual good are gifts from God, so boasting is stealing His glory.
Evidence: He expounds 1 Corinthians 4:7 ('what hast thou that thou didst not receive?') and Isaiah 42:8 ('my glory will I not give to another').
God will break the pride of His people if they refuse to humble themselves.
Summary: Using Leviticus 26 and Nebuchadnezzar's example, Weaver warns that God knows exactly what it takes to humble each person and will do so severely if needed.
Evidence: He says, 'God knows exactly what it will take to break you... We may end up losing everything' and cites Leviticus 26:18-20.
Scripture References
Daniel 4:27
Context: Daniel's counsel to Nebuchadnezzar to break off sins by righteousness and show mercy to the poor.
Psalm 90:5-6
Context: Life likened to grass that grows up in the morning and is cut down in the evening.
Psalm 92:5-8
Context: The wicked spring as grass and flourish but will be destroyed forever.
Psalm 102:11
Context: The psalmist says his days are like a shadow and he is withered like grass.
Psalm 103:15-16
Context: Man's days are as grass; the wind passes over it and it is gone.
Isaiah 40:6-8
Context: All flesh is grass; the grass withers but the word of God stands forever.
James 1:10-11
Context: The rich man will fade away like the flower of the grass.
1 Peter 1:24-25
Context: All flesh is as grass; the word of the Lord endures forever.
Romans 8:6-8
Context: The carnal mind is enmity against God; those in the flesh cannot please God.
Jeremiah 13:15-17
Context: Jeremiah warns against pride and calls the king and queen to humble themselves.
2 Chronicles 36:11-14
Context: Zedekiah did evil and did not humble himself before Jeremiah.
Isaiah 26:12
Context: God ordains peace for us and has wrought all our works in us.
Philippians 2:12-13
Context: Work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for God works in you to will and to do.
1 Corinthians 4:7
Context: Who makes you differ? What do you have that you did not receive? Why boast?
Isaiah 10:5-15
Context: God used Assyria as a rod but will punish the king's pride for boasting in his own strength.
Proverbs 8:13
Context: The fear of the Lord is to hate evil: pride, arrogancy, and the evil way.
Proverbs 16:18
Context: Pride goes before destruction and a haughty spirit before a fall.
Daniel 4:22-37
Context: Nebuchadnezzar's dream interpreted, his pride, insanity, eating grass, and restoration.
James 4:6
Context: God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble.
1 Peter 5:5
Context: Be clothed with humility, for God resists the proud and gives grace to the humble.
Historical References
Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon
Context: His pride, refusal to repent, seven years of insanity eating grass, and eventual restoration.
Zedekiah, last king of Judah
Context: Refused to humble himself before Jeremiah and rebelled against Nebuchadnezzar.
King of Assyria
Context: Used by God to punish Israel but boasted in his own strength; God punished his pride.
John Gill, Baptist commentator
Context: Quoted on 'all flesh is grass,' noting that human flesh is grass in another form.
Stock market crash of 1929
Context: Illustration of the transitory nature of riches; millionaires committed suicide when wealth vanished.
Important Quotes
most people, really and truly, even Christians, need to eat grass.
Significance: Introduces the central metaphor that spiritual humbling is necessary for all.
All flesh is grass, and all the goodliness thereof is as the flower of the field: The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: because the spirit of the LORD bloweth upon it: surely the people is grass.
Significance: Key Scripture quotation emphasizing human frailty and temporariness.
So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.
Significance: Highlights the inability of human effort to please God apart from His work.
God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.
Significance: Key verse showing God's active opposition to pride.
God knows exactly what it will take to break you. He knows exactly what it will take to humble you.
Significance: Warning that God will tailor discipline to root out pride.
Discussion Questions
In what ways might pride manifest in our lives without us realizing it?
Context: Weaver says pride is the sin of practically every man and Christian, and we are proud of our works and accomplishments.
How does the biblical imagery of grass shape our view of human achievement and self-worth?
Context: Multiple passages compare human life to grass, emphasizing brevity and fragility.
What does it mean that God 'resisteth' the proud, and how should that affect our daily walk?
Context: Weaver explains the Greek word means to rage in battle against; God actively fights pride.
Why is it so difficult to acknowledge that everything we have is received from God?
Context: 1 Corinthians 4:7 challenges us to recognize that all abilities and blessings are gifts.
How can we practically 'walk humbly with thy God' in our daily decisions and relationships?
Context: Micah 6:8 is cited as the requirement to do justly, love mercy, and walk humbly.
What are some 'easy ways' we can learn humility instead of facing severe discipline like Nebuchadnezzar?
Context: Weaver contrasts learning the easy way through repentance versus the hard way through judgment.
Applications
Examine your life for pride and confess it.
Summary: Weaver urges self-examination to identify pride and actively fight against it through confession.
Evidence: He says, 'I want to double check myself. And I want to confess pride. Fight against pride. Deny pride.'
Submit to God's Word in obedience.
Summary: Humility is demonstrated by hearkening to and obeying Scripture, recognizing God's authority as Father, Lord, Creator, and Potter.
Evidence: Weaver states, 'Humility is hearkening unto and submitting unto and obeying the Word of God' and lists the four relationships.
Acknowledge God as the source of all good.
Summary: Recognize that every ability, accomplishment, and blessing comes from God, not ourselves, to avoid stealing His glory.
Evidence: He expounds 1 Corinthians 4:7 and says, 'Everything I am, everything I have... is only by His grace, mercy, and strength.'
Repent of pride to avoid severe discipline.
Summary: Like Nebuchadnezzar, we can choose to humble ourselves or face God's war against our pride, which may involve loss and suffering.
Evidence: Weaver warns, 'If you don't mind being abased, if you don't mind eating grass... then continue to walk in pride.'
Trust and obey as the secret of the Christian life.
Summary: The path to happiness and peace with God is simple submission, trusting, and obedience to His commands.
Evidence: He references the hymn 'Trust and Obey' and says, 'that is the secret of the Christian life, really.'
deepseek | deepseek-v4-pro | clean_readable_transcript | 2026-06-05T16:29:52Z
deepseek | deepseek-v4-pro | weaver_study | 2026-06-06T07:21:19Z