DANIEL LESSON 2
We will begin this lesson in Daniel 2:1 "And in the second year
of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar Nebuchadnezzar dreamed dreams,
wherewith his spirit was troubled, and his sleep brake from him."
We would believe that a person, who was as successful as
Nebuchadnezzar, would not dream bad dreams. Wealth and fame do not
make a person happy. In this particular case, the dream is an
intervention from God. God directs men, sometimes, by dreams and
visions. Not all dreams are from God, but this one is. This dream is
to elevate Daniel in the kingdom, as the dreams of the king of Egypt
elevated Joseph to the second in command in the land.
Daniel 2:2 "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."
The subjects of the land are at the beck and call of the king.
When the king called them, they came. These astrologers were thought
of as the wise men of the day. The job of these astrologers,
magicians, and sorcerers was to advise the king on things of a
spiritual nature. They told of future events, as well as giving
advice. They do have some power, but it is limited. Their source is
the devil. Read, with me, what all believers are to do about things
pertaining to this, in the following verse. Acts 19:19 "Many of them
also which used curious arts brought their books together, and burned
them before all [men]: and they counted the price of them, and found
[it] fifty thousand [pieces] of silver." God will not share your love.
You must be loyal to God and not earthly astrologers, magicians, and
sorcerers.
Daniel 2:3 "And the king said unto them, I have dreamed a dream,
and my spirit was troubled to know the dream."
The king was aware this bad dream was not caused by eating the
wrong food for dinner, but was, in fact, a warning. He cannot continue
on, without knowing the meaning of this dream.
Daniel 2:4 "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."
These worldly wise men were smart enough to begin by saying
something nice to the king. "Syriack" means they spoke in Syrian. This
seems like a reasonable request for the king to give them the dream,
so they might interpret the dream.
Daniel 2:5 "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."
Even though the king has forgotten the details of the dream, he
is still greatly troubled by the dream. The astrologers, sorcerers,
and magicians were supposed to be able to read the minds of their
people. If they had the power they claimed to have, this would be no
problem for them. The truth is, they do not have power. The threat of
death should cause them to use all the power available to them to try
to know the dream and its meaning. It is in the power of the king to
kill them, if they do not please him.
Daniel 2:6 "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."
We saw in the previous Scripture, threat of cruel death, if they
did not know and bring the meaning of the dream to the king. Now, we
see they will be blessed greatly, if they can bring the king his
dream. This is a time of proving for them. They must prove their
powers to the king.
Daniel 2:7 "They answered again and said, Let the king tell his
servants the dream, and we will shew the interpretation of it."
This is the second time they have requested the king to tell the
dream to them. They have not understood his previous answer. He has
forgotten the details of the dream. Their mention of the fact they are
servants to the king, is to show their willingness to interpret the
dream, if it is in their power to do so.
Daniel 2:8 "The king answered and said, I know of certainty that
ye would gain the time, because ye see the thing is gone from me."
We can all relate to the king in this. At some time in our life,
each of us have had a troubling dream, that we could not recall, when
we woke up. We are aware that the dream troubled us, but we cannot
remember the dream. This is what has happened to the king.
Daniel 2:9 "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."
Astrology is calculated by the position of the moon and stars,
and time is wasting away here. This one incident will prove to the
king for all time, whether they have been lying about their powers,
or whether they truly do have supernatural power. This is much like
the challenge that Elijah gave to the prophets of Baal. If they have
power, prove it right now. The only thing that will save them, is the
dream and its interpretation.
Daniel 2:10 "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."
They have now made a truthful statement. No man can do these
things. This can only be revealed by the True God. They were used to
being asked about interpretaions, but never to tell what the dream
was, as well. They are almost scolding the king for even asking for
such a thing. They remind him, that no previous king has asked such an
impossibility.
Daniel 2:11 "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."
We see in the following Scripture that even true interpretaions
are from God alone. Genesis 40:8 "And they said unto him, We have
dreamed a dream, and [there is] no interpreter of it. And Joseph said
unto them, [Do] not interpretations [belong] to God? tell me [them], I
pray you." God is the dream giver, and God is the true interpreter. An
impossibility with man is possible with God. Matthew 19:26 "But Jesus
beheld [them], and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but
with God all things are possible."
Daniel 2:12 "For this cause the king was angry and very furious,
and commanded to destroy all the wise [men] of Babylon."
The king's eyes were opened, and he realized these worldly men
had no power at all. He had placed his faith in them, and they had
failed him. He demanded that they be killed.
Daniel 2:13 "And the decree went forth that the wise [men] should
be slain; and they sought Daniel and his fellows to be slain."
Now, we see the command to kill all of the wise men extends to
Daniel and his companions. The king has grouped them all together as
liars and deceivers.
Daniel 2:14 "Then Daniel answered with counsel and wisdom to
Arioch the captain of the king's guard, which was gone forth to slay
the wise [men] of Babylon:"
It seems, that "Arioch" was the chief executioner. He was seeking
out all the wise men to kill them, on orders from the king. The
wonderful thing about God is the fact He can turn an impossibility
into a miracle. What was impossible for the worldly wise, will not be
impossible for someone like Daniel. Daniel speaks the Words of God
that flow through him. God caused Daniel to be brave enough to speak
up to Arioch, here.
Daniel 2:15 "He answered and said to Arioch the king's captain,
Why [is] the decree [so] hasty from the king? Then Arioch made the
thing known to Daniel."
Daniel and his friends were not even aware of what had taken
place with the king and the {worldly wise men}. This is a request from
Daniel to give him and his friends a chance to see what they could do.
Daniel knew that his God was the real God, and could reveal these
secrets. The question, "Why is the decree so hasty from the king?" is
a very legitimate question. God had to intervene for Daniel to be able
to ask this question. The haste was because the king was angered.
Daniel 2:16 "Then Daniel went in, and desired of the king that he
would give him time, and that he would shew the king the
interpretation."
Notice, Daniel speaks for himself. We know that the executioner
would not speak for Daniel, fearing for his own life. Daniel has
confidence that God will reveal this to him. The men who had been
asked at first, did not ask for extra time. They had said, it was
impossible. They, also, said the king was in error asking for such a
thing. Kings do not like to hear they are in error.
Daniel 2:17 "Then Daniel went to his house, and made the thing
known to Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, his companions:"
Daniel believed God would save them by revealing this dream to
him. He, also, knew the importance of the prayer of agreement. Daniel
knew how he believed, but he also had confidence in the prayers of his
friends. These 3 are the same as Shadrach, Meshek, and Abednego.
Daniel 2:18 "That they would desire mercies of the God of heaven
concerning this secret; that Daniel and his fellows should not perish
with the rest of the wise [men] of Babylon."
In the book of Genesis, we see that many times the sinful are
saved from death along with the righteous. God will do whatever
necessary to protect His own. Genesis 18:28 "Peradventure there shall
lack five of the fifty righteous: wilt thou destroy all the city for
[lack of] five? And he said, If I find there forty and five, I will
not destroy [it]." In verse 18 above, Daniel believes that God will
stay the hand of the executioner for these 4 men.
Daniel 2:19 "Then was the secret revealed unto Daniel in a night
vision. Then Daniel blessed the God of heaven."
God hears the prayers of the righteous. James 5:16 "Confess
[your] faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be
healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth
much." The prayers of Daniel, and his 3 friends, have been answered.
God reveals the dream to Daniel. Whether this night vision is like a
dream, I cannot tell. Notice, Daniel praised God for the dream.
Daniel 2:20 "Daniel answered and said, Blessed be the name of God
for ever and ever: for wisdom and might are his:"
Daniel is recognizing that the praise goes to God. Daniel is
fully aware that his abilities lie in the abilities of God that flow
through him. It is God's wisdom and strength.
Daniel 2:21 "And he changeth the times and the seasons: he
removeth kings, and setteth up kings: he giveth wisdom unto the wise,
and knowledge to them that know understanding:"
Notice, with me, where the power, and wisdom, and gifts come
from. Exodus 31:3 "And I have filled him with the spirit of God, in
wisdom, and in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner of
workmanship," God sends His Spirit within us to empower us to do the
task He has set before us. I Corinthians 1:30 "But of him are ye in
Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness,
and sanctification, and redemption:"
Daniel 2:22 "He revealeth the deep and secret things: he knoweth
what [is] in the darkness, and the light dwelleth with him."
God reveals the secrets to His children. Psalms 25:14 "The secret
of the LORD [is] with them that fear him; and he will shew them his
covenant." Those who are true believers in God, are not in darkness.
We dwell in the Light. Darkness symbolizes evil. Light symbolizes
truth in God. Christians are filled with the Light of God, because He
dwells within us. We are not in darkness, that we might stumble and
fall.
Daniel 2:23 "I thank thee, and praise thee, O thou God of my
fathers, who hast given me wisdom and might, and hast made known unto
me now what we desired of thee: for thou hast [now] made known unto us
the king's matter."
Daniel is quick to recognize where this knowledge came from. True
wisdom is a gift to man from God. God has revealed the king's dream
and the interpretation to Daniel. God has manifest Himself to Daniel,
and He will manifest Himself to the king through Daniel. The gods of
this world are nothing compared to Almighty God. God brings the false
religions of the world down, and elevates the One True God in this
revelation.
Daniel 2:24 "Therefore Daniel went in unto Arioch, whom the king
had ordained to destroy the wise [men] of Babylon: he went and said
thus unto him; Destroy not the wise [men] of Babylon: bring me in
before the king, and I will shew unto the king the interpretation."
The execution of the wise men of Babylon has been stopped. God
will help His children. Many times the world around them is blessed by
the overflow. That is the case here. God's answer to Daniel's prayer
not only saves him and his 4 friends, but saves the worldly wise men,
as well. Daniel, now, desires to see the king, and tell him the dream
and interpretation. We will resume with that in the next lesson.
Daniel 2 Questions
1. When did Nebuchadnezzar dream dreams that troubled him?
2. What is a false concept we have of wealth and fame?
3. Are all dreams from God?
4. What is the purpose of this dream?
5. Who did the king call to interpret his dream?
6. What were the astrologers thought to be?
7. Quote Acts chapter 19 verse 19.
8. What had the king realized about this dream?
9. What were these worldly wise men smart enough to do?
10. What did they ask the king to do, before they could interpret the
dream?
11. Why can the king not tell them about the dream?
12. Why did the king believe they could do this for the him?
13. What would cause them to try harder than usual?
14. What will happen, if they cannot interpret the dream?
15. What do they ask the king the second time?
16. Why did they mention they were servants of the king?
17. How can we relate to the king in this?
18. If they cannot tell him of his dream, what is the decree against
them?
19. How is astrology calculated?
20. What will their inability to interpret this dream prove to the
king?
21. What was their answer to the king, when he wanted them to tell him
what his dream was?
22. Who, among fleshly people, could do what the king asked?
23. Who did Joseph say interpretations belong to?
24. Quote Matthew chapter 19 verse 26.
25. How did the king react to their answer?
26. What did the king say to do with the wise men?
27. Who was "Arioch"?
28. How did Daniel find the courage to speak to Arioch?
29. What did Daniel ask Arioch?
30. Who went to ask for extra time from the king?
31. Who did Daniel share the news of the dream with?
32. What did they all do?
33. How was the secret revealed to Daniel?
34. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man ___________ _____.
35. Quote Daniel chapter 2 verse 20.
36. Name some of the things God does in verse 21?
37. Quote Exodus chapter 31 verse 3.
38. Quote 1 Corinthians chapter 1 verse 30.
39. Who are the secrets of God revealed to?
40. Who did Daniel go to, to get permission to see the king?
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