Ralph Porter

ã 2002 by Ralph Porter

All rights reserved

    The next few weeks we’re going to consider the Bible and Tomorrow’s News from the perspective of Daniel’s prophecy. Daniel is neither a prophet nor a preacher. He’s a politician who seeks to live for God in the midst of a pagan culture. Times are hard and the future is dark.

    Daniel’s message predicts even more difficult days ahead. His message concerning the future presents a frightening perspective. Nevertheless, Daniel’s message to God’s people living in the midst of such difficult times in a pagan culture is that the faithful always triumph in the end!

    In the first six chapters, Daniel looks back in order to present historical evidence which demonstrates his point. He presents six examples from the past which demonstrate that God controls history, even in pagan lands. To trust God when facing an uncertain future, we need reminders of how God has worked in past. If God could protect the faithful in past, we can trust Him with our future.

    In the first chapter of Daniel, he and his friends determined not to entangle themselves with perks of power and human success. They determined to be faithful to God. God honored their commitment. As a result, they were honored for faithfulness. Their experience demonstrates that the faithful ultimately triumph.

    Daniel 2 tells us about the second historical incident in which God protects and ultimately rewards those who remain faithful to Him. This is the story of Nebuchadnezzar's dream. Most studies of this incident focus on the content of the dream. However, a careful observation of the chapter reveals that of forty-nine verses, only fifteen deal with the content of the dream itself. Thirty-four verses deal with the challenge Daniel faces and how God intervenes on behalf of His faithful servant. That distribution should tell us something about the message Daniel wants to affirm. The emphasis is on the miracle itself--NOT on the content of the vision!

    Daniel wants us to see that in spite of the impossibility of the king's demand, God is able to intervene in an apparently impossible situation to deliver His faithful servant and exalt His name. Once again his theme is repeated: the faithful triumph in the end!

THE KING'S IMPOSSIBLE DEMAND 2:1-16

    The story makes clear that the king issues an impossible demand (2:1-12). It is totally unreasonable and impossible. No king had ever asked such a thing (2:4, 7, 9, 10-11). No one could do what he asked; no magician; no fortune teller; no one could do it! They try to tell him, "Only the gods know! and they aren’t talking! They won’t tell us!

    He didn’t just demand that they interpret the dream; they had to tell what he dreamed! His logic was right: anyone who could tell him the content of what he dreamed could certainly tell him what it means! The problem is that no human could do what he asked! Are they right, or are they just trying to escape their responsibility?

    None of us has faced such an impossible challenge! We may have gone through situations that seemed impossible but nothing so absolutely impossible. How would we face such a challenge? What kind of help can we expect from God?

    When they objected to the king’s demand, the king responded that the decree was firmly fixed; there was no getting out of it. Some versions translate verses five and eight: "the thing is gone from me" as though he were saying, "I forgot it!" In this view he was troubled by the dream but couldn’t remember it. Nevertheless, he was concerned to find out what it means. Thus the interpreters would have to remind him of the dream and tell him its meaning.

    A literal translation of his statement would be: "The word has gone from me!" or, "My word has gone forth!" It seems more likely that he is saying: "I have spoken!" Like a parent telling his child that he’s made up his mind and there’ll be no more discussion. He could be saying, "That's the end of the matter! That’s enough! Just do it!!!" They weren't going to change his mind; their attempts were just stalling.

    This challenge came during Nebuchadnezzar's second year. Daniel was still in school. He didn't take part in the dialogue. They didn’t consult him. He’s just a youth--a student. What would he know? His teachers didn't even have the answers! How could he?

    The astrologers' answer leaves no doubt about what was at stake here: No one could do it! Only the gods could do it. But they were far away. Gods don't get involved in matters like this. The gods don't live among humans; and they don't tell their secrets to men. The gods would know, but they won't tell. This is the problem with the gods men make for themselves. They can't tell us answers to life's mysteries!

    Daniel didn't find out what was happening until they came to take him away. When he did hear about it, Daniel saw the opportunity to demonstrate to the pagan community that Yahweh, the living God, is different than their gods. Until we face an impossible demand, we don’t discover that we follow the God who specializes in the impossible! If we never face a problem too big for us to handle, we’ll never realize what God is able to do! Daniel asks for a little time to talk it over with God

DREAM REVEALED TO DANIEL 2:17-23

    Daniel and his friends take their petition to the Lord (17-18). He didn't try to deal with impossible situation alone. He went after other godly people; not just anyone would do. He depended on men who were proven--men who joined him in his commitment to do God’s will. Together they took their concern to God. When facing an impossible challenge, call in other godly people!

    They didn't try to fake it, or work it out for themselves. They throw themselves entirely on God's mercy for the solution. If God doesn't solve it, they have no hope! The pagans are right! NO ONE can do what king asks! Not even Daniel!

    So, what happens when Daniel appeals to a Higher Court? God reveals it to him (19). God knows the future and is able to show us what we need to know. So Daniel praises God (20-23). He praises God before the king accepts his answer! How did he know he had the right answer?

    Daniel acknowledges that God is the Only one who could do this. Yahweh is the One Who reveals (21-22)! God reveals mysteries that men can't guess and pagan gods don't tell! The pagan gods don’t tell because they can’t tell. Our God is worthy of praise! He is the true God. He is the only God; the only One Who is able to reveal what no human or god can. Since this is the kind of God we serve, we can trust Him to deal with issues too big for us to handle!

DREAM REVEALED TO THE KING 2:24-45

    When Daniel receives the answer, he goes to the captain to inform him. The captain ran to tell the king (25). The king couldn't believe it! "Are you able to tell me what I saw in my dream AND interpret it?" (26). Daniel gives an appropriate response: he can’t do it either (27)! Daniel can’t do it! No magician or fortune teller can! You can picture the king, about to shout a death sentence! Then Daniel adds: "But, there is a God who reveals mysteries!" (28). God sent the dream and He revealed it! Daniel serves the God Who reveals mysteries. God’s intervention doesn’t come because we deserve it! God intervenes because He’s the God Who knows it all and controls it all! He knows all about and controls our life also! God chose to show Nebuchadnezzar what will happen in the future (29-30).

Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream Described 2:31-35    What does he see?

    Nebuchadnezzar saw a great image--a statue--like a strong man, glorious and frightening, standing in front of him. The head of the statue was made of pure gold. Its chest and arms were made of silver. Its stomach and muscles were made of bronze. Its legs were made of iron. Its feet were made of iron, mixed with clay. As he was watching the statue a rock appeared which struck its feet and the entire statue was shattered. Then the rock turns into a huge mountain and fills the whole earth.

    The statue represents four empires that will rise to control history. It begins with Nebuchadnezzar himself, who represents Babylon (37-38). God gave him dominion over the entire world. The other empires are identified specifically later in the book. The second empire to come along will be weaker; it represents Media-Persia (39a). The third empire which arises will rule the earth; it represents Greece (39b).

    The fourth empire will be stronger, like iron; it represents Rome (40). It will be divided and become weaker (41-42). That empire will form alliances with other kingdoms (43). It will remain strong, but not as strong, since it’s diluted by alliances with other nations. In the end it will make alliances with other powers, but it will not form a union with them.

    Finally, another empire will arise; this final kingdom will crush all the other kingdoms. The entire image and its power are destroyed by this eternal kingdom, the kingdom of the coming Messiah. (44-45a). This One comes from God, conquers all the kingdoms of this world, and remains forever.

    Daniel clarifies again in the conclusion of the story that God had shown the king what will happen in the future (45b). God has revealed the nations that would control history from their day until the millennium.

DANIEL AND HIS GOD HONORED 2:46-49

    In the end Nebuchadnezzar honored Daniel (46). He doesn’t honor him on account of the content of the dream he has revealed, but because he had done what no man could do. This was impossible. Only God could do such a thing. Thus God must be with Daniel! When we are faithful to Him--when we give Him credit--both God and those who are faithful are honored.

    As a result, God is glorified (47). This God must be the greatest of all gods! Nebuchadnezzar had never heard of a god who could do such a thing: a god who reveals mysteries and speaks to his followers.

    In the end God's faithful servant is promoted (48-49). Nebuchadnezzar promoted Daniel to a high position in the land and promoted his three friends with him. If God can reveal mysteries by His messenger, it would be beneficial to take advantage of his help.

This story provides some things for us to think about. It reveals a number of things about our God:

1) God knows the future.

2) God controls the times we live in.

3) God answers prayer. When we cry out to Him, He hears us!

4) God does the impossible

5) God reveals mysteries--both the unknown and unknowable!

 

    How impossible are the circumstances you are facing? Are they more impossible than Daniel's? God answered prayer and did the impossible for Daniel. He is just as capable of hearing our prayer and doing the impossible for us! Whether the impossible circumstances we face have to do with church finances, with job-related stress, with family tension, or with political or economical uncertainties. What will the stock market do to our 401-K this week? Will the terrorists strike again? Whatever issues we have to face, we can trust the God Who reveals mysteries! He knows what tomorrow holds. He holds our future in His hands!

    So, how should we face the impossible tasks in our life? Daniel moved ahead in quiet dependence on God. He models four steps we would be wise to imitate--and to model for our kids as well:

                              2) Trust God to handle it! Daniel knew god could resolve conflict

3) When God answers, do whatever he tells you! Daniel never questioned God’s word! He reported what God said. That was Daniel’s habit. "Just do it!"

4) After God answers, give him all the credit! There is no limit to what God will do when our only concern is that God gets all the glory.

 

    Samuel Morse, was asked, "When you were doing your experiments, did you ever come to a standstill, not knowing what to do next?'

        "Oh, yes, more than once," he replied.

        "What did you do?' the inquirer asked.

        "Frankly, I prayed for more light."

        "And did God give you the knowledge you needed?"

        "Yes. That's why I never felt I deserved the honors because . . . it was all through God's help. It wasn't because I was superior to other scientists. When the Lord wanted to give this gift, He had to use someone. I'm just grateful He chose to reveal it to me."

    It's not surprising that the first message to go out over the telegraph was: "What hath God wrought!" That should be our response as well. When we trust God to take charge of the impossible tasks we face, we can only respond adequately by giving Him all the glory!

    What impossible task might be ahead for you, as you look ahead into your future? Don’t panic! Trust God to handle it for you! Give your problem to Him! Do whatever He tells you! Then give Him all the credit for what He does! Our God is a big enough God to handle whatever impossible situation comes our way. Trust Him! The faithful will ultimately triumph.