Daniel 2:1-12
In 184 Hebrew words Daniel describes the course of history from his day clear to the end of time, which came from the inspired interpretation of Nebuchadnezzar’s inspired dream.
The information in that day was to provide comfort to God’s people by assuring them that Messiah’s kingdom will prevail in the end; but first the earthly kingdoms must run their course.
It appears as if the gods of Nebuchadnezzar overpowered the God of Israel. Judah was taken into captivity, and their God was seen as powerless having no strength. Babylon sees themselves as the conquerors, and they plunder the temple and take all the sacred vessels. Nebuchadnezzar placed them in the temple of his god.
Daniel has been taken captive, along with the rest of his people, and made a eunuch. It is in this context that God is establishing Himself among the Babylonians by giving the king a dream. God has no need to use chariots, horsemen, or ships to conquer this king, this nation of Babylon; He simply uses a dream.
Remember, when you are in a difficult situation or seemingly impossible situation; we do not need to look at our own might, power, influence, etc. God does not need any of that, He can work with the impossible.
1 And in the second year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar Nebuchadnezzar dreamed dreams, wherewith his spirit was troubled, and his sleep brake from him.
2 Then the king commanded to call the magicians, and the astrologers, and the sorcerers, and the Chaldeans, for to shew the king his dreams. So they came and stood before the king.
3 And the king said unto them, I have dreamed a dream, and my spirit was troubled to know the dream.
4 Then spake the Chaldeans to the king in Syriack, O king, live for ever: tell thy servants the dream, and we will shew the interpretation.
Note: Beginning in verse 4 and clear to the end of chapter 7, Daniel is written in Aramaic rather than Hebrew. God was trying to reach them in their time and the same scripture is to reach us in our time. He is the Shepard searching for his lost sheep. His sheep are everywhere and he is gathering them.
Why did the wise men ask Nebuchadnezzar to tell them the details of the dream?
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All the wise men of Babylon are beside themselves. They have no clue how to meet the king’s demands.
5 The king answered and said to the Chaldeans, The thing is gone from me: if ye will not make known unto me the dream, with the interpretation thereof, ye shall be cut in pieces, and your houses shall be made a dunghill.
6 But if ye shew the dream, and the interpretation thereof, ye shall receive of me gifts and rewards and great honour: therefore shew me the dream, and the interpretation thereof.
Why did Nebuchadnezzar threaten his wise men with death if you could not interpret his dream?
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7 They answered again and said, Let the king tell his servants the dream, and we will shew the interpretation of it.
8 The king answered and said, I know of certainty that ye would gain the time, because ye see the thing is gone from me.
What did Nebuchadnezzar accuse them of doing?
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The king realizes they are fakes and they are trying to gain time. He wanted an answer right then and there, as wise men he expected them to produce results.
9 But if ye will not make known unto me the dream, there is but one decree for you: for ye have prepared lying and corrupt words to speak before me, till the time be changed: therefore tell me the dream, and I shall know that ye can shew me the interpretation thereof.
10 The Chaldeans answered before the king, and said, There is not a man upon the earth that can shew the king’s matter: therefore there is no king, lord, nor ruler, that asked such things at any magician, or astrologer, or Chaldean.
11 And it is a rare thing that the king requireth, and there is none other that can shew it before the king, except the gods, whose dwelling is not with flesh.
12 For this cause the king was angry and very furious, and commanded to destroy all the wise men of Babylon.
What did the wise men admit?
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Note: Chaldean and Babylonian are interchangeable terms.
The wise men are so distraught that they lay out the fact that nobody can do what the king is requesting; and that only the gods of heaven can delivery. Unknowingly, they are rolling out the red carpet for God and for Daniel to completely overthrow all of their wisdom, strength, and power. The stage is set for God to step in. It is amazing and beautiful how God works things out.
God’s challenge to all the other gods is: if your god is god then let him tell the future so that we may know that this is a god. As you look at what is happening with these wise men, it is clear that they realize they are incapable of knowing Nebuchadnezzar’s dream much less interpreting the dream. They face the fact, for them, telling the future is impossible.
God wants Nebuchadnezzar to come to him…not his gods, not his wise men, not other people. He is a heathen king who does not know God. God wants to give him and experience like no other, and gives him a dream. So, God begins this journey with him; and not only him but the people of Babylon. God’s interaction with Nebuchadnezzar was also to serve as a witness and encouragement to His own people who found themselves in captivity. God’s plan is all encompassing. God loves all people, and wants as many as possible to be saved.
Nebuchadnezzar, in his anger, sets forth a death decree that all the wise men are to be killed.
Practical Application
The practical application of this is really significant. As individuals we have our own Nebuchadnezzar experience where we have thoughts, dreams, and experiences that trouble our mind. We have to remember that there is a destiny that we have been made for, there is an experience that we have been created for; and nothing in this world can help us to figure it out. The help we need can only come from the Creator God. This world cannot help us, and we have a decision to make – are we going to transition in the spiritual and let the Word of God lead us, which is our Savior Jesus Christ.
All of us as some time or another will have a Nebuchadnezzar experience…what lays ahead…what does future hold for us…why am I here? God cares enough for us to show us the future and its outcome. He wants us to trust him with our future. This is what we are going to discover is that Bible prophecy is God saying: ‘Will you trust me with your future?’ He knows the thought that he has for us, thoughts of peace and of an expected end. The purpose of prophecy is for us to be convinced that if God knows the future, then he has our future in his hands and we should trust him with it. Why? Because He wants to spend eternity with us.