DANIEL SERIES: KING NEBUCHADNEZZAR’S DREAM – CHAPTER 2

During his second year of reigning Babylon, King Nebuchadnezzar had a dream that was so troubling it woke him out of his sleep. The king summoned to him the magicians, astrologers, sorcerers, and Chaldeans to tell him what he dreamt and to interpret the dream.
The Chaldeans requested the king to tell them the dream; however, the king could not remember it. He also told them if they were not able to tell him what he dreamt, they would be killed and their houses destroyed. If, however, they were able to tell him the dream and interpretation, they would be rewarded with gifts and given great honor. After further unsuccessful attempts to get the king to tell them his dream, the Chaldeans 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. 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.” This angered the king, and he sent forth a decree that all of the wise men of Babylon were to be slain, which would include Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah.
When Daniel was informed of the decree by Arioch, the king’s captain of the guards and chief executioner, Daniel went to King Nebuchadnezzar and requested time to consult his God. With his request granted, Daniel met with Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, and they petitioned God for the king’s dream.
In a night vision, God revealed the dream to Daniel. His response was to bless God, proclaim His attributes and interaction with men, acknowledge His sovereignty, and be thankful for the wisdom, might, and dream interpretation that he had received. Then Daniel told Arioch he had the interpretation of the king’s dream and asked him to get him an audience with the king.
Arioch took Daniel to the king, and the king asked Daniel if he was able to tell him about his dream and give him an interpretation. Daniel said to the king, “The secret which the king hath demanded cannot the wise men, the astrologers, the magicians, the soothsayers, shew unto the king; But there is a God in heaven that revealeth secrets, and maketh known to the king Nebuchadnezzar what shall be in the latter days. Thy dream, and the visions of thy head upon thy bed, are these. But as for me, this secret is not revealed to me for any wisdom that I have more than any living, but for their sakes that shall make known the interpretation to the king, and that thou mightest know the thoughts of thy heart.”
Then Daniel proceeded to tell King Nebuchadnezzar about the dream. The king saw a great image of a man that was composed of four different metals. It had a gold head, the arms and breasts were silver, the thighs and belly were bronze, and the legs were iron; however, the feet were both iron and clay. The image stood erect until an uncut stone hit the feet of the image and broke the feet into pieces, causing the upper body of the image to pulverize and blow away. The dream ended with the stone that smote the image, becoming a great mountain that filled the whole earth.
Daniel shared with the king that King Nebuchadnezzar was the powerful gold head whom God had given dominion over other nations. After his death, an inferior kingdom, the silver, would rule, which history revealed was the Medo-Persian Empire founded by Darius the Mede and Cyrus the Persian. After that, Alexander the Great, who represented the bronze part of the image, would defeat the Persians and become the ruler. The legs of iron represented the Roman empire, with the ten toes representing ten kingdoms in this empire.
Finally, Daniel discloses the stone that becomes a mountain is a kingdom that will never end. This kingdom, which is not raised or supported by men or men’s policy, is the kingdom of Jesus, which will take place in the distant future.
Daniel assured King Nebuchadnezzar that God granted him the privilege of seeing future events. King Nebuchadnezzar, grateful and appreciative of Daniel, fell down and worshipped Daniel. Additionally, he commands sacrifices to be made to honor Daniel. The king declared, “Of a truth it is, that your God is a God of gods, and a Lord of kings, and a revealer of secrets, seeing thou couldest reveal this secret.” The chapter ends with the king elevating Daniel to ruler over the whole province of Babylon, as well as chief governor over all his wise men. Plus, he gave Daniel great gifts. Daniel did not forget about his three companions, for he requested the king to make them his assistants while he served as the chief magistrate in the king’s court.
Here are the nuggets I gleaned from this chapter:
Some dreams leave your spirit disturbed, but they cannot be remembered.
The magicians, astrologers, sorcerers, and Chaldeans were men whom the king relied on to solve problems and give direction.
Some people’s expectations of others are unreasonable.
God will create situations that only He can resolve.
God will open doors for believers to do what the world cannot do.
Apparently, the God of Daniel was unknown to the Babylon magicians, astrologers, sorcerers, and Chaldeans.
When you trust God, you will remain calm while others are frantic.
God will cause a believer to receive favor when others are denied it.When your life depends on it, pray.
Pray with people of like faith.
Knowledge of God’s abilities makes you confident of His capabilities.
God is a revealer of secrets to those who trust in Him.
God makes known the future to whomever He wills.
Always give thanks for answered prayers.
Acknowledge your limitations.
God uses events to show the real from the counterfeit.
God allows the actions of a believer to save the unrighteous.
Believers’ presence makes a difference.
That which was once massive and powerful can end up weak and powerless.
All the kingdoms of this world will end, but the kingdom of God is everlasting.
When you come into power, don’t forget about those who labored with you.