The King’s Dream
Daniel 2
Introduction: King Nebuchadnezzar has a dream that he wants interpreted. The wise men respond, “Let the king tell his servants the dream, and we will interpret it” (7). The king says No! He must be told the dream and the interpretation. The astrologers respond, “There is not a man on earth who can do what the king asks…” (10) The king was so angry he ordered all the wise men, including Daniel and his friends, to be put to death! (13). Daniel goes to Nebuchadnezzar and asks for time so that he might interpret the king’s dream (16).
I. The Mercy of God
A. Did you notice that in Daniel 1:2 the Lord delivered “some of the articles from the temple of God…”?
B. But Isaiah said all the vessels would go to Babylon (II Kings 20:16-21).
C. How do you explain this?
1. “The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love (mercy)” (Ps.103:8)
2. God had spoken through Jeremiah that it was possible, through repentance, to stay God’s hand of judgment (18:7, 8). God told them to turn and reform their ways (18:11). He told them He was preparing a disaster for them (18:11). Their response: “It’s no use. We will continue with our own plans; each of us will follow the stubbornness of his evil heart” (18:12).
3. God gives opportunity to repent; when we reject that opportunity, judgment awaits us.
D. Daniel however pleads for mercy along with his friends (2:17-18).
1. Nebuchadnezzar kills without mercy.
2. God is merciful. What a contrast!
E. God answered their prayers (19)
1. “As they shared in the danger, so they could share also in the intercession” (Walvoord, pg.54)
2. “Instead of being in a panic they prayed.” (Walvoord, pg.55)
3. James 5:16
F. Daniel praised the Lord (20-23). Note: Psalm 113:1-2; 103:1-2; 31:15
G. “To God! That is your marching order, when you are troubled, frightened, overwhelmed, imperiled. To God! Do not consult equals, or measureable superiors, but flee! Haste thee! Beat urgently on heaven’s door! Knock and it shall be opened to thee…” (Joseph Parker, The People’s Bible, quoted in Newell, pg.32)
II. The Humility of Daniel (24:28)
A. Nebuchadnezzar asks Daniel, “Are you able?” (26)
B. Daniel responds “…there is a God in heaven that reveals mysteries” (28).
III. The Sovereign Plan of God- the Revealer of mysteries (29-49)
A. The dream revealed (31-35)
B. The dream interpreted
1. The head of gold – Nebuchadnezzar (36-38)
2. The chest of silver (39a)
3. The belly and thighs of bronze (39b)
4. The legs of iron and feet of iron and clay (40-43)
5. The rock cut out of the mountain not made by human hands (44-45)
IV. The Historical Reality
A. Nebuchadnezzar and Babylon are the head of gold.
B. Silver is inferior to gold. This is Medio/Persia (Dan.5:28)
C. Bronze would be Greece. The empire of Alexander the Great.
D. Iron represents Rome. The ten toes represent the final form of the empire (Dan.7:24; Rev.17:12)
E. Daniel points out that each kingdom is inferior to the one before it. Isn’t this the opposite of evolution and humanistic psychology?
F. “Instead of man beginning in the dust and consummating in fine gold, God reveals man in the times of the Gentiles to begin with fine gold and end in dust.” (Walvoord, pg.66)
V. The Rock
A. The rock is Jesus (Ps118:22; Matt.21:42-44; Is.28:16; I Peter 2:6-8) and His Kingdom, the kingdom of God!
B. Jesus is God! He isn’t made with human hands!
C. When will the Rock fill the entire earth (35)? The millennium!
D. When does the Rock crush the other kingdoms (44)? The second coming! (Rev.19:11-21)
VI. Nebuchadnezzar’s response
A. Fell prostrate before Daniel and honored him
B. Acknowledged “surely your God is the God of gods and the Lord of kings and the revealer of mysteries…” (47)
C. Daniel became ruler over all Babylon and in charge of the wise men.
D. Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego were also honored.
E. Would any of this have occurred if it wasn’t for “Daniel purposed in his heart not to defile himself…” (1:8)