SCRIPTURE: DANIEL 2
NEBUCHANEZZAR’S DREAM (vs. 1-49)
Nebuchadnezzar had a dream but he forgot what he dreamed. So, he summoned the magicians, enchanters, sorcerers and astrologers to tell him what he had dreamed. But all of them did not have any knowledge of what the king’s dream was. But the king insisted them to tell what his dream was. Otherwise he will cut them into pieces and burn their house into piles of rubble. Since they could not tell the king his dream, the king was so angry and furious that he ordered the execution of all the wise men of Babylon. A decree was issued to execute the wise men and men were sent to look for Daniel and his friends.
When Daniel knew about it, he asked Arioch, the commander of the king’s guard to tell him what the king wanted. Then he requested to give him time to think of the dream for him. Daniel went home and told his friends. They prayed to God and during the night, the mystery was revealed to Daniel in a vision. Daniel thank and praise God for for giving him wisdom and knowledge to interpret the dream.
Daniel told this dream to the king: A large statute stood before you O king – an enormous, dazzling statue, awesome in appearance. The head was made of pure gold, its chest and arms of silver, its belly and thighs of bronze, its legs of iron, its feet partly of iron and partly of baked clay. While you were watching, a rock was cut out, but not by human hands. It struck the statue on its feet of iron and clay and smashed them. Then the iron, the clay, the bronze, the silver and the gold were broken to pieces at the same time and became like chaff on a threshing floor in the summer. The wind swept them away without leaving a trace. But the rock that struck the statue became a huge mountain and filled the whole earth. (vs. 31-35)
DANIEL INTERPRETS THE DREAM:
The following morning, Daniel went to Arioch and told him that he will interpret the dream for the king. When Daniel met the king, he told the king that there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries. He told the king that his wisdom comes from the Almighty God.
INTERPRETATION OF THE DREAM:
“You, O king, are the king of kings. The God of heaven has given you dominion and power and might and glory; In your hands he has placed mankind and the beasts of the field and the birds of the air. Wherever they live, he has made you ruler over them all. You are that head of gold. After you, another kingdom will rise, inferior to yours. Next, a third kingdom, one of bronze, will rule over the whole earth. Finally, there will be a fourth kingdom, strong as iron – for iron breaks and smashes everything – and as iron breaks things to pieces, so it will crush and break all the others. The feet and toes partly of baked clay and partly of iron will be a divided kingdom. The toes made with mixed iron and clay will be a partly strong and partly brittle kingdom. As the iron was mixed with baked clay, so the people will be a mixture and will not remain united. (vs. 36-43)
In the time of those kings, the god of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed, nor will it be left to another people. It will crush all those kingdoms and bring them to an end, but it will itself endure forever. This is the meaning of the vision of the rock cut out of a mountain, but not by human hands – a rock that broke the iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver and the gold to pieces. (vs. 44-45)
Upon hearing this, King Nebuchadnezzar fell prostrate before Daniel and paid him honor and ordered that an offering and incense be presented to him. The king believe that Daniel’s God is the God of gods and the Lord of kings and a revealer of mysteries.(v. 47). Then the king placed Daniel in a high position and lavished many gifts on him. Daniel was promoted as ruler over the entire province of Babylon in charge of all its wise men. Moreover, at Daniel’s request, the king appointed, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego administrators over the province of Babylon. (vs. 48-49).
THOUGHTS:
REPRESENTATIONS OF THE DREAM:
* Head of gold – Nebuchadnezzar, ruler of the Babylonian Empire
*Silver chest and two arms – Medo-Persian Empire which conquered the Babylonian Empire in 539 B.C.
*Belly and thighs of bronze – Greece and Macedonia under Alexander the Great, who conquered the Medo-Persian Empire in (3334-330 B.C.)
*Legs of iron – Rome, which conquered the Greeks in 63 B.C.
*Feet of clay and iron – breakup of the Roman Empire when the territory Rome ruled divided into a mixture of strong and weak nations.
*The rock cut out of the mountain – God’s Kingdom which would be ruled eternally by the Messiah, the king of kings.
Daniel was at a crisis point. He did not shrink back in fear to see the king but confidently believed that God would tell him the king’s dream. He had his three friends prayed together. As a result, he also saved the lives of the king’s wise men who were his enemies. When we encounter difficult situations, share your needs with your trusted friend and pray to confirm your hope in God.
Daniel’s prayer was answered when God revealed Nebuchadnezzar’s dream to him. He took time to give God credit for all wisdom and power, thanking God for answering his request. Many times, God had answered our prayers. But due to our excitement, we forget to give God credit for the answer. Remember to give God credit for your answered requests.
When Daniel was promoted by the king and lauded with many gifts, he requested that his friends, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego be made administrators over the province of Babylon. Remember to think of others when you are successful.
King Nebuchadnezzar honored Daniel and Daniel’s God because Daniel gave God the credit. It is our mission to show people what God is like by acts of love and compassion. Through our actions, they would like to know more about Christ. Let people see God through you.