by Lane Rogers
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The King's Forgotten Dream 1Now in the second year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar, Nebuchadnezzar had dreams; and his spirit was troubled and his sleep left him.2Then the king gave orders to call in the magicians, the conjurers, the sorcerers and the Chaldeans to tell the king his dreams. So they came in and stood before the king. |
Verse 1___Nebuchadnezzar was in the background in chapter one but in this chapter he is the main event.
Verse 2___He has had a very troubling dream.
Nebuchadnezzar's dreams cannot be ignored. They are "signs" "omens"and are related to the destiny of his empire.
A. Dreams and visions can be manufactured and need to be tested (Deut. 13: Jer. 23:25-32).
B. Like any other powerful administration, Nebuchadnezzar has backups for emergency needs. Four classes of interpreters are called on the scene.
a. The "magicians" or scholars
b. The astrologers or enchanters
c. The Sorcerers_____
d. The Chaldeans (men of great learning who could trace back the linage of the entire nation and race)
C. The idea was that Nebuchadnezzar wanted all the knowledge and wisdom available
Things to Note:
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A. Strange instruments of Divine Revelation 1. God gave revelations through wicked servants. Dan. 2:1 a. Caiaphas. Jn. 11:49-51 b. Balaam and his mule. Num. 22-24 B. The Unreasonable but wise request of a power mad king. |
The King Enraged 3-12
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3The king said to them, "I had a dream and my spirit is anxious to understand the dream."4Then the Chaldeans spoke to the king in Aramaic: "O king, live forever! Tell the dream to your servants, and we will declare the interpretation."5The king replied to the Chaldeans, "The command from me is firm: if you do not make known to me the dream and its interpretation, you will be torn limb from limb and your houses will be made a rubbish heap.6"But if you declare the dream and its interpretation, you will receive from me gifts and a reward and great honor; therefore declare to me the dream and its interpretation."7They answered a second time and said, "Let the king tell the dream to his servants, and we will declare the interpretation."8The king replied, "I know for certain that you are bargaining for time, inasmuch as you have seen that the command from me is firm,9that if you do not make the dream known to me, there is only one decree for you For you have agreed together to speak lying and corrupt words before me until the situation is changed; therefore tell me the dream, that I may know that you can declare to me its interpretation."10The Chaldeans answered the king and said, "There is not a man on earth who could declare the matter for the king, inasmuch as no great king or ruler has ever asked anything like this of any magician, conjurer or Chaldean.11"Moreover, the thing which the king demands is difficult, and there is no one else who could declare it to the king except gods, whose dwelling place is not with mortal flesh."12Because of this the king became indignant and very furious and gave orders to destroy all the wise men of Babylon. |
The dream upset Nebuchadnezzar. I think he is actually thinking here that the "movement of the stars" might tell him something based on those he called.
Verse 4___
A. Notice that the Babylonians spoke a form of Aramaic. Israel, when returned from captivity, will also speak Aramaic.
B. Those summoned assure Nebuchadnezzar, that they are able to interpret his dream.
Verse 5___Cutting them into pieces seems a little more severe than modern day "water boarding." Nebuchadnezzar did not have to worry about the modern Democratic party.
verse 7_____It is here that we recognize Nebuchadnezzar is no fool. This is a "test." They not only must interpret the dream, they are to tell what the dream was. He wants something that can be checked! In Mark 2:1-12, Jesus actually submitted to such a test Himself.
Verse 8_____The Great King is on to the scam. They are stalling.
Verse 9_____The King is steadfast in his demands.
Verse 10____The Court people tell the King that what he is asking is impossible.
Verse 11____The gods (Marduk)(Look Here) alone can tell the King his dream and they are not of the flesh.
Verse 12____The order to execute all the wise men!
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13So the decree went forth that the wise men should be slain; and they looked for Daniel and his friends to kill them.14Then Daniel replied with discretion and discernment to Arioch, the captain of the king's bodyguard, who had gone forth to slay the wise men of Babylon;15he said to Arioch, the king's commander, "For what reason is the decree from the king so urgent?" Then Arioch informed Daniel about the matter.16So Daniel went in and requested of the king that he would give him time, in order that he might declare the interpretation to the king. |
Verse 13__Nebbie is a man of extreme emotions. The command to execute all the wise men went forth. It took a while to "round up" all the wise men but it at this time that Daniel does something that the other wise men could not do.
Verses 14-16__This is an abbreviated account. There is no record of all that Daniel said, but he obviously has impressed Arioch and persuade him for an audience with the king. Daniel was acting of "faith" in God and surely Daniel had a "revelation" from God to made him rise to the challenge. We must also suppose that Daniel went through all the correct channels to see the king and the King allows Daniel time__something that the other seers were refused. Daniel was sure he could interpret the dream even before he knew what the dream was.
Things to Note:
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Dan. 2:5-12 MAGICIAN'S FOOLISHNESS. Dan. 2:2-16 A. Proving of the Wise men 1. Magicians (soothsayer priests): Ancient wisdom of the occult (Ex. 7:11; 7:22; 8:7; 8:18-19; 9:11) 2. Conjurers, enchanters, astrologers: those who use incantations to consult the dead. 3. Sorcerers: shredded or cut to pieces, referring to drugs and magic potions 4. Chaldeans: master astrologers 5. The Bible as an authority on: Deut. 18:9-12; Lev. 19:31; 20:6; 20: 27; I Chron. 10:13-14; I Sam. 28:7; 2 Chron. 33:6 Isa. 8: 19-20; Hos. 4:6; Jn. 8:32; Acts 16:16ff. Rev. 9:20-21; Isa. 47:13-14. B. Failure of Astrology |
The King's Decree
The Prayer __Verses 17-35
Verses 17-18____It is implied here that the friends of Daniel were one with Daniel in faith to YHWH. Daniel ask for their counsel and consent. The purpose of this prayer was not for selfish reasons. In v.24__Daniel intercedes on behalf of the wise men of Babylon.
Verses 19-22___ The prayer
1. That the name of God be blessed forever.
2. Wisdom and power belong to God
3. God changes times and seasons
4. If there is any wisdom it comes from God
5. God gives knowledge to men who have the ability to understand
6. It is God who removes kings and establishes kings
7. One cannot hide anything from God.
A. This is one of the most interesting passages in the entire cannon of the Bible relating to the sovereignty of God over all the affairs of the earth. It does not teach "predestination," or "irresistible grace" in the Calvinistic sense. God "permits" things based on His foreknowledge. Stated a different way. God acts in what He permits. In II Sam. 24:1 and I Chron. 21:1ff, David was moved to number Israel and Judah, and that it was Satan who provoked David to number Israel. There is no contradiction in these two passages. God permitted Satan to provoke David to number Israel. Whenever God permits, He does so for His own purpose.
B. David was also a man of the Bible. Notice the Scripture in this prayer.
On v. 20a, see Psa. 103:1-2; Psa. 113:1-2, On v. 20b see 1 Chron. 29:11-12; Job. 12:13-22. On v. 21a see Psa. 31:15; on v. 21b see Job 12:18; Psa. 75:6-7, On v.21c see 1 Ki. 3:9-10; 4:29; on v.22a see Job 12:22; on v. 22b see Job 26:6; Psa. 139:12; Isa. 45:7; on v.22c see Psa. 36:9. On v. 23a see Gen. 31:42; Ex. 3:15.
C. Like Isa. 40-55. Daniel denies that history is controlled by planetary forces that the Babylonians studied. (see Isa. 40:25-26). History is under the control of the God of heaven. It cannot be predicted it cannot be divined but history (related to the future) can only be revealed.
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23"To
You, O God of my fathers, I give thanks and praise,For You
have given me wisdom and power; 24Therefore, Daniel went in to Arioch, whom the king had appointed to destroy the wise men of Babylon; he went and spoke to him as follows: "Do not destroy the wise men of Babylon! Take me into the king's presence, and I will declare the interpretation to the king |
Verses 23-24________
The original language "You praising am I"
God is placed first. Notice the "us." Daniel includes his friends in his prayers. Daniel seeks the audience with Arioch and begs for him not to destroy the wise men. "Take me to your king" I have the interpretation.
Things to Note:
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Daniel's Dependence on God. Dan. 2:13-30 A. Prayerful Trust. Dan. 2:13-18 1. The power of prayer. Jas. 1:5-6; 4:2-3; 5:16; Jn. 15:7,16. 2. God's answer to prayer: A vision of the night. Gen. 46:2 B. Grateful praise. Dan. 2:20-23 1. Praise the Eternal Name of God 2. God is in control of this world 3. If you have a King, God put him there 4. True wisdom is a gift from God 5. He will reveal hidden things 6. He is the God of our Fathers 7. Wisdom and power come from him 8. What we need to know, He has made known. C. Daniel shows unselfish concern for others D. Humble acknowledgment to God , not man |
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."25Then Arioch hurriedly brought Daniel into the king's presence and spoke to him as follows: "I have found a man among the exiles from Judah who can make the interpretation known to the king!"26The king said to Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, "Are you able to make known to me the dream which I have seen and its interpretation?"27Daniel answered before the king and said, "As for the mystery about which the king has inquired, neither wise men, conjurers, magicians nor diviners are able to declare it to the king.28"However, there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries, and He has made known to King Nebuchadnezzar what will take place in the latter days This was your dream and the visions in your mind while on your bed.29"As for you, O king, while on your bed your thoughts turned to what would take place in the future; and He who reveals mysteries has made known to you what will take place.30"But as for me, this mystery has not been revealed to me for any wisdom residing in me more than in any other living man, but for the purpose of making the interpretation known to the king, and that you may understand the thoughts of your mind. |
Verses 25-30_________
Verses 25-26__Arioch tells the king about Daniel. Daniel is now able to do something that no one else is able to do. Tell the dream and the interpretation.
The reason Daniel can do this: "There is a God in Heaven." God gets the credit.
Verses 27___Daniel disavows any human ability to tell secrets or dreams. It is a shame Sigmund Freud did not read Daniel before he wrote his most famous "The Interpretation of Dreams."
Verse 28___Daniel introduces Nebuchadnezzar to YHWH.
The "latter days" is a phrase that must be understood in its context and not out of context. It means the days which will follow from that present time to the coming of the Messianic kingdom which occurred in Acts chapter 2.
Verse 29___Apparently, the king had gone to bed thinking about the future. Nebbie was a forerunner to Alexander the Great in the sense that he had conquered nearly all the known world. Nebbie was already at the top of the ladder.
Verse 30___Again, Daniel disavows any personal knowledge of things. It all comes from YHWH.