Daniel 2:14-49
God Speaks to Men
Open your Bible to…
1Cor. 12:1 Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be ignorant:
1Cor. 12:2 You know that you were Gentiles, carried away to these dumb idols, however you were led.
And…
1Cor. 14:24 But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or an uninformed person comes in, he is convinced by all, he is convicted by all.
1Cor. 14:25 And thus the secrets of his heart are revealed; and so, falling down on his face, he will worship God and report that God is truly among you.
Pray
Intro
√ God speaks to Men
You’ll recall from our last study that the most powerful king in all the earth was distraught because he could not discern the meaning of his dream.
No one could help him, not the…
Astrologers
Magicians
Chaldeans
Soothsayers
False gods and goddess of
The reason…
…they were “dumb”!
I don’t mean “stupid”, I mean not able to speak.
Paul’s writing to the
1Cor. 12:2 You know that you were Gentiles, carried away to these dumb idols, however you were led.
The word “dumb” means…
“voiceless, i.e. mute (by nature or choice); figuratively, unmeaning: — dumb”
Paul’s point is that idols can’t help anyone because they can’t talk!
But, God does speak to people and Paul lists for the Corinthians many of the ways that He does by the gifts of His Spirit.
Word of knowledge
Word of wisdom
Prophecy
Our text in Daniel chapter 2 showcases these and other gifts of the Holy Spirit by which God revealed the secret of Nebuchadnezzar’s dream and it’s interpretation to Daniel.
By which Daniel and his friends lives were preserved and the future of the world revealed.
In fact, the gifts of the Holy Spirit as demonstrated in this chapter are sufficient of themselves to prove that God exists and that He does speak to Man.
Ap. Called to speak for God
Our generation is no different than Daniel’s. People still need to hear from God and to know His thoughts and plans for Mankind.
God still speaks through His Word and by the gifts of His Spirit.
Let’s follow Daniel’s example and Paul’s admonition to seek God’s gifts that we might speak for God in our day.
Help! (vs. 14-18)
Dan. 2:14 Then
with counsel and wisdom Daniel answered Arioch, the captain of the king’s
guard, who had gone out to kill the wise men of
Dan. 2:15 he answered and said to Arioch the king’s captain, “Why is the decree from the king so urgent?” Then Arioch made the decision known to Daniel.
Dan. 2:16 So Daniel went in and asked the king to give him time, that he might tell the king the interpretation.
Dan. 2:17 Then Daniel went to his house, and made the decision known to Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, his companions,
Dan. 2:18 that they might seek mercies from the God of heaven concerning this secret, so that Daniel and his companions might not perish with the rest of the wise men of Babylon.
√ Help!
Daniel and his friends are in trouble as they fall under the job classification that Nebuchadnezzar has slated for “down sizing”!
We’re told that Arioch comes to Daniel with instructions to kill him!
Yet, Daniel is granted what the other wise men were not…
…time!
Ex. In the king’s court
Remember that the wise men tried to gain a little time as they realized that they were in trouble…
Dan. 2:7 They answered again and said, “Let the king tell his servants the dream, and we will give its interpretation.”
Dan. 2:8 The king answered and said, “I know for certain that you would gain time, because you see that my decision is firm:
Nebuchadnezzar refused their request and heads started to roll.
Why then does Daniel get more time?
In a word, integrity!
Ex. Daniel’s stand
When Daniel and his friends honored the Lord by refusing to defile themselves with the king’s food, they made an impression on their captors.
It was obvious to all that these young men were men of honor, men of their word, and men with integrity.
They had put their lives at risk rather than compromise their devotion to God.
Their integrity earned them the respect of their captors.
So, Nebuchadnezzar granted Daniel more time because he and his friends had distinguished themselves from the other wise men who were not as honorable.
Ap. Be a person of integrity
Christians can distinguish themselves from the world by simply practicing their convictions.
Ex. Modern day Daniel ~ Georges Sada (a Chaldean!)
Survived Saddam’s cruel dictatorship, even though he was a Christian, because Saddam knew that Georges would always tell him the truth.
What’s your reputation like?
A vision (vs. 19-23)
Dan. 2:19 Then the secret was revealed to Daniel in a night vision. So Daniel blessed the God of heaven.
Dan. 2:20 Daniel answered and said:
“Blessed be the name of God forever and ever,
For wisdom and might are His.
Dan. 2:21 And He changes the times and the seasons;
He removes kings and raises up kings;
He gives wisdom to the wise
And knowledge to those who have understanding.
Dan. 2:22 He reveals deep and secret things;
He knows what is in the darkness,
And light dwells with Him.
Dan. 2:23 “I thank You and praise You,
O God of my fathers;
You have given me wisdom and might,
And have now made known to me what we asked of You,
For You have made known to us the king’s demand.”
√ A vision
God answers Daniel and his friends prayers by giving him the dream and its interpretation through a vision.
“Then the secret was revealed to Daniel in a night vision.” ~ vs. 19
A vision is like a dream, except that you’re awake!
People in the Bible who had visions report that they are vivid, as if you’re actually in the middle of the events being displayed…
…like watching a movie without a movie screen or TV monitor!
So, God speaks to Daniel through a vision that reveals Nebuchadnezzar’s dream and the interpretation of the dream.
Good news for Daniel and company because that means they get to keep their heads!
But, before Daniel runs off to the king he worships the King of kings!
√ Worship
Daniel’s words of worship are important because they remind us that God is in control of all the events in the universe.
God establishes kings and kingdoms
God possess all wisdom and knowledge
God reveals truth at His discretion
Important truths to remember when the world seems out of control!
The reality is that nothing happens in all of the universe without first passing muster with God…
…the real King and power.
Even events that we would interpret to be “evil” can only take place at God’s discretion.
Ex. Jesus’ crucifixion
John 19:10 Then Pilate said to Him, “Are You not speaking to me? Do You not know that I have power to crucify You, and power to release You?”
John 19:11 Jesus answered, “You could have no power at all against Me unless it had been given you from above. Therefore the one who delivered Me to you has the greater sin.”
What Man and Satan meant for evil, God turns to good.
Ap. We live in an evil time
Wars, earth quakes, tsunamis and natural disasters with ever increasing frequency.
Political and social problems that defy human wisdom.
It’s enough to drive a person to despair! Yet, we have God’s Word that even at the darkest hour of human history…
…God is in control.
Luke 21:28 Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near.”
Give glory to God (vs. 24-30)
Dan. 2:24 Therefore
Daniel went to Arioch, whom the king had appointed to destroy the wise men of
Dan. 2:25 Then
Arioch quickly brought Daniel before the king, and said thus to him, “I have
found a man of the captives of
Dan. 2:26 The king answered and said to Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, “Are you able to make known to me the dream which I have seen, and its interpretation?”
Dan. 2:27 Daniel answered in the presence of the king, and said, “The secret which the king has demanded, the wise men, the astrologers, the magicians, and the soothsayers cannot declare to the king.
Dan. 2:28 But there is a God in heaven who reveals secrets, and He has made known to King Nebuchadnezzar what will be in the latter days. Your dream, and the visions of your head upon your bed, were these:
Dan. 2:29 As for you, O king, thoughts came to your mind while on your bed, about what would come to pass after this; and He who reveals secrets has made known to you what will be.
Dan. 2:30 But as for me, this secret has not been revealed to me because I have more wisdom than anyone living, but for our sakes who make known the interpretation to the king, and that you may know the thoughts of your heart.
√ Give glory to God
If ever there was an opportunity to promote himself, this was it for Daniel!
Only he and his friends knew how he obtained the information about the king’s dream and its interpretation.
He wouldn’t even have to lie to gain the king’s reward and promote himself!
All he had to do was recount the dream, give its interpretation, and simply not mention the fact that God revealed it all to him!
And, if the king came to some other conclusion, like “Daniel’s the man!”, it wouldn’t be as a result of Daniel’s self promotion.
But that is not the kind of man that Daniel was! Daniel was a servant of God and recognized that this was an opportunity to give glory to God…
…the One true God in heaven!
In fact, Daniel is careful to point out that no man, not the other wise men (vs. 27), nor himself (vs. 30) could do as the king had asked.
He said that only God had that kind of knowledge and revealed it at His discretion.
Ap. Don’t touch the glory!
God will gift us and use us in marvelous ways as long as we’re careful to give Him the glory!
As soon as we begin to promote ourselves instead of God…
…then we’re in line to get re-educated (like Nebuchadnezzar will be ~ Daniel 4).
The reality is that anything good that comes out of our lives is the result of God’s gifting and enabling…
…give glory to God!
The dream (vs. 31-36a)
Dan. 2:31 “You, O king, were watching; and behold, a great image! This great image, whose splendor was excellent, stood before you; and its form was awesome.
Dan. 2:32 This image’s head was of fine gold, its chest and arms of silver, its belly and thighs of bronze,
Dan. 2:33 its legs of iron, its feet partly of iron and partly of clay.
Dan. 2:34 You watched while a stone was cut out without hands, which struck the image on its feet of iron and clay, and broke them in pieces.
Dan. 2:35 Then the iron, the clay, the bronze, the silver, and the gold were crushed together, and became like chaff from the summer threshing floors; the wind carried them away so that no trace of them was found. And the stone that struck the image became a great mountain and filled the whole earth.
Dan. 2:36a “This is the dream.
√ The dream
Daniel now recounts the dream for Nebuchadnezzar exactly as he had dreamt it.
Remember, the information came to Daniel by way of a vision…
…that is, Daniel saw what the king dreamt.
Nebuchadnezzar’s dream was of an image (or “idol”), the image of an awesome Man with a…
Head of gold
Chest of silver
Belly & thighs of bronze
Legs of iron
Feet & toes of clay and iron
Then, the awesome image was destroyed by a stone that was cut from a mountain (without hands) and every trace of the image was blown away by the wind…
…and the little stone became a mountain that filled the whole earth!
√ What a trip!
We can understand now why Nebuchadnezzar was so intent upon knowing the meaning of this dream.
He probably had a sense of the purpose of the dream…
…but could not understand its interpretation.
Note vs. 29…
Dan. 2:29 As for you, O king, thoughts came to your mind while on your bed, about what would come to pass after this; and He who reveals secrets has made known to you what will be.
That is, the dream came to Nebuchadnezzar’s as he thought about what would come of his kingdom after he was gone.
In response to his inquiring mind, God gives to
Nebuchadnezzar a preview of world
history from the time of
…to the time when the Kingdom of God will be established on earth.
So, the king must have had some idea that the dream provided him the answer to his thoughts…
…but he had no way of knowing what it meant!
√ Only God knows
Reminds us that only God knows the secrets of the future and the things of the Spirit.
Men are simply not equipped to know or discern what the future holds.
It’s a waste of time then to worry about it, or to seek the help of ungodly counsel.
Remember, none of the other “wise men”, astrologers, etc., could help the king.
Ask the Lord, if He wants you to know He will tell you!
So, we know the dream, what’s it all mean?
The interpretation (vs. 36b-45)
Dan. 2:36b Now we will tell the interpretation of it before the king.
Dan. 2:37 You, O king, are a king of kings. For the God of heaven has given you a kingdom, power, strength, and glory;
Dan. 2:38 and wherever the children of men dwell, or the beasts of the field and the birds of the heaven, He has given them into your hand, and has made you ruler over them all—you are this head of gold.
Dan. 2:39 But after you shall arise another kingdom inferior to yours; then another, a third kingdom of bronze, which shall rule over all the earth.
Dan. 2:40 And the fourth kingdom shall be as strong as iron, inasmuch as iron breaks in pieces and shatters everything; and like iron that crushes, that kingdom will break in pieces and crush all the others.
Dan. 2:41 Whereas you saw the feet and toes, partly of potter’s clay and partly of iron, the kingdom shall be divided; yet the strength of the iron shall be in it, just as you saw the iron mixed with ceramic clay.
Dan. 2:42 And as the toes of the feet were partly of iron and partly of clay, so the kingdom shall be partly strong and partly fragile.
Dan. 2:43 As you saw iron mixed with ceramic clay, they will mingle with the seed of men; but they will not adhere to one another, just as iron does not mix with clay.
Dan. 2:44 And in the days of these kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed; and the kingdom shall not be left to other people; it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever.
Dan. 2:45 Inasmuch as you saw that the stone was cut out of the mountain without hands, and that it broke in pieces the iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver, and the gold—the great God has made known to the king what will come to pass after this. The dream is certain, and its interpretation is sure.”
√ The interpretation
Daniel tells the king that the image represents the kingdoms of Men from the time of Nebuchadnezzar to end of time…
…or more specifically until the last world ruling empire of Man before God set ups His Kingdom!
Note, Nebuchadnezzar’s dream reveals the kingdoms of Men from Man’s perspective (exalting Man ~ “awesome” image).
Contrasted with Daniel’s visions in chapters 7 & 8, which show us the same kingdoms, but from God’s perspective (wild beasts driven by pride to destroy one another).
Daniel tells us that (see handout)…
Vs. 32 & 37-38;
Head of Gold represents the
Vs. 32 & 39; Chest/arms of Silver represents the kingdom the Medes and Persians under Cyrus and others.
Vs. 32 & 39;
Belly/thighs of Bronze represents the
Vs. 33 & 40; Legs
of Iron represents the
Vs. 33 & 41; Feet
of Iron & Clay represents the
future kingdom of the Antichrist. Either, a 10-nation confederation in Europe,
or a 10-region world government ruled from
Will have the strength of the ancient
Vs. 34-35 & 44-45; represents Jesus the Christ, referred to in scripture as the Rock, and a Stone in many places; Ps. 118:22, Isa. 8:14, Isa. 28:16 & I Peter 2:6-8.
The stone is cut without hands, a possible reference to His virgin birth. The stone strikes the kingdoms of man and destroys them so that there is not even a trace left; chaff is the part of the wheat that is carried away by the wind after the grain is removed; the stone then becomes a mountain - a kingdom that rules the whole earth (Rev. 11:15 & 19:11-20).
The
Now you can understand why critics of the Bible try to discredit the date of authorship!
Daniel nails the identity of the world ruling kingdoms over the next 500 years…
…and gives us the identity of the final world ruling empire before the Return of the True King!
Confirms the divine inspiration of the book as well as providing indisputable evidence of God’s existence and interaction with Mankind!
Ap. The coming kingdom
4 of the kingdoms of Men predicted by Nebuchadnezzar’s dream have already come and gone…
…one kingdom has yet to rule.
The gap in time between the 4th and 5th
kingdoms is probably related to the existence of
The prophecies revolve around God’s purposes and plans for
It would make sense then that once
…represented by the feet and toes of iron and clay.
Ap. It’s here!
The EEC grew out of a group called the “Club of Rome” whose purpose is stated…
The Club of
As a non-profit, non governmental organization (NGO), it brings together scientists, economists, businessmen, international high civil servants, heads of state and former heads of state from all five continents who are convinced that the future of humankind is not determined once and for all and that each human being can contribute to the improvement of our societies.
That is…
“Forget what God says the future holds, we’re going to create our own utopia without Him!”
The events of our own day suggest that we are very close to seeing the fulfillment of Nebuchadnezzar’s dream.
A final world ruling empire with roots in the ancient
So, since Daniel was correct about the king’s dream, and its interpretation…
…the only rational response is to bow before God and worship Him as the Sovereign of the Universe!
Conviction (vs. 46-49)
Dan. 2:46 Then King Nebuchadnezzar fell on his face, prostrate before Daniel, and commanded that they should present an offering and incense to him.
Dan. 2:47 The king answered Daniel, and said, “Truly your God is the God of gods, the Lord of kings, and a revealer of secrets, since you could reveal this secret.”
Dan. 2:48 Then the
king promoted Daniel and gave him many great gifts; and he made him ruler over
the whole province of
Dan. 2:49 Also
Daniel petitioned the king, and he set Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego over
the affairs of the province of
√ Conviction
In response to Daniel’s message King Nebuchadnezzar throws himself flat on the floor in front of Daniel!
Would have totally shocked all of the king’s attendants!
The king of the ancient world bowing before a captive!
Ex. The King and I
Yet, Nebuchadnezzar does so because he is convicted in his heart that there is in fact a real God and Daniel has a connection with Him!
Note his testimony…
“Truly your God is the God of gods, the Lord of kings, and a revealer of secrets, since you could reveal this secret.” ~ vs. 47
That is, he recognizes that all the gods of
Tamuz, Semaramis, Nebo, & Bel
…are just pretenders because they and their servants (the Chaldeans et al) were not able to tell the dream and its interpretation.
Ap. God speaks to Man
Paul told us that idols are “dumb”, that is, they don’t talk.
But God does! He wants to communicate with Mankind and has done so through His Word, by His Spirit, and through the different gifts of the Holy Spirit.
More than ever people need to know what God is speaking to people.
We’re called to be ambassadors of the King, like Daniel…
…to stand up in a fallen world and tell them what God is saying.
Get into His Word so you can tell them. Be open to the gifts of the Holy Spirit…
…He may give you a dream, show you a vision, or grant you a word of knowledge.
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