Feeling Anxious About the Furure - Daniel 2:1-49 - September 9, 2007

Sunday School Lesson – Feeling Anxious About the Future – September 9, 2007

This is lesson two (2) in our study in the Book of Daniel.

Our focus and background scripture is Daniel 2: 1-49.

The Sunday school material focuses on Daniel 2: 1-3, 27-29a, 36-43 and 44.

The key in the study of Daniel is the sovereignty of GOD. GOD reveals Himself to King Nebuchadnezzar and all the wise people of Babylon through Nebuchadnezzar’s dream. Babylon is a pagan society and King Nebuchadnezzar conquered Israel and took their symbols of worship out of their temple in Jerusalem. He placed the symbols in the pagan temple in Babylon.

This showed a physical defeat of Israel, as well as a spiritual defeat, because the GOD of Israel did not protect the Israelites or the items removed from the temple. So King Nebuchadnezzar was looked upon as a mighty leader of a mighty nation, his gods were with him. Little did Nebuchadnezzar know that he was only carrying out the plan of the true GOD.

GOD tells us that HIS ways are not our ways and HIS thoughts are higher than our thoughts in Isaiah.

Isaiah 55:8-9:
8 “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, and your ways are not My ways.” [This is]*The bracketed text has been added for clarity. the Lord’s declaration. 9 “For as heaven is higher than earth, so My ways are higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.

We cannot figure out what or how GOD is going to implement HIS plan and purpose. HE reveals our role in HIS plans when we respond to HIM in faith and obedience as HE reveals HIS work to us. Often the activity of GOD is a test for the believer as much as it is for those who are the object of HIS activity.

When situations come into our lives we always have a choice. Will we trust GOD and seek HIS help or will we do it our way or seek help from other sources? As we respond in obedience, GOD strengthens our confidence and trust in HIM.

Waiting and being patient is very hard for most of us to do. We like to plan and prepare. There is nothing wrong with planning and preparing. We just need to wait until HE gives the command for us to join HIM in HIS work.

Let’s read Daniel 2:1-49 with comments along.

1 In the second year of his reign, Nebuchadnezzar had dreams that troubled him, and sleep deserted him.[1] Gn 41:1,8

Some may question the second year of the King’s rule versus Daniel’s involvement. The Babylonian’s did not count the first year of King Nebuchadnezzar’s rule but considered it as zero (0) or his year of ascension to the throne.

Daniel was in a three (3) year training program. So year one (1) of Daniel’s training program was the zero (0) year of Nebuchadnezzar’s rule. Year one (1) of Nebuchadnezzar’s rule was the second year of Daniel’s program. The second year of the King’s rule was the third year of Daniel’s program, which was also the year Daniel graduated. Daniel and his three (3) friends, without knowing it, were pulled into the King’s disturbing dream problem along with all the rest of the wise people who advised the king.

This shows the hand of GOD at work to reveal Himself not only to the King but also to all the so called wizards or wise men of Babylon.

The next scripture implies that the king had doubts about the ability of the wizards who advised him. The king was testing them by not revealing his dream to them. He was giving them an opportunity to prove themselves and the source of their knowledge and wizardry.

We need to keep in mind that GOD calls all people to salvation. HE deals with a person any way HE chooses to achieve the desired result. We get to see one way GOD works in a person’s life to call them to a saving knowledge of HIM. In this case GOD needs to deal with false notions and gods in the King’s life. So GOD will expose them as frauds. HE will reveal the truth through the process of exposing the false. GOD does not want anyone to perish as we see in 2 Peter.

2 Peter 3:9:
9 The Lord does not delay His promise, as some understand delay, but is patient with you, not wanting any to perish, but all to come to repentance.

2 So the king gave orders to summon the diviner-priests, mediums, sorcerers, and Chaldeans[2] In this chap Chaldeans = influential Babylonian wise men to tell the king his dreams. When they came and stood before the king, 3 he said to them, “I have had a dream and am anxious to understand it.” 4 The Chaldeans spoke to the king (Aramaic[3] The text from here through chap 7 is written in Aramaic. begins here): “May the king live forever. Tell your servants the dream, and we will give the interpretation.” 5 The king replied to the Chaldeans, “My word is final: If you don’t tell me the dream and its interpretation, you will be torn limb from limb,[4] Lit be made into limbs and your houses will be made a garbage dump. 6 But if you make the dream and its interpretation known to me, you’ll receive gifts, a reward, and great honor from me. So make the dream and its interpretation known to me.” 7 They answered a second time, “May the king tell the dream to his servants, and we will give the interpretation.” 8 The king replied, “I know for certain you are trying to gain some time, because you see that my word is final. 9 If you don’t tell me the dream, there is one decree for you. You have conspired to tell me something false or fraudulent until the situation changes. So tell me the dream and I will know you can give me its interpretation.”

The wise men wanted the King to tell them about his dream but he refused. He told them not to plead with him because he had decided not to tell them. He wanted them to tell him what he had dreamed. Some scholars say that the King forgot what he had dreamed. He may have forgotten it but GOD was in the middle of what ever was going on in Nebuchadnezzar. GOD wanted to expose the wise men as frauds and HE wanted to reveal truth.

King Nebuchadnezzar was holding their feet to the fire, so-to-speak. This was such a profound dream; the king knew if he told them the dream, they could come up with some interpretation just to get him off their backs. The king wanted truth and GOD wants the king and his advisors to see truth.

10 The Chaldeans answered the king, “No one on earth can make known what the king requests. Consequently, no king, however great and powerful, has ever asked anything like this of any diviner-priest, medium, or Chaldean. 11 What the king is asking is so difficult that no one can make it known to him except the gods, whose dwelling is not with mortals.”

A line has been drawn in the sand by the local wizards or Chaldeans themselves in verse 10. They establish the fact that no one on the face of the earth can reveal truth to the king. The wizards acknowledged their gods who could do it but did not dwell or communicate with mere mortals. No human can do it. Their gods could but they do not communicate with humans. These are the King’s key advisors.

This is exactly what GOD wanted. HE wanted the king’s advisors to acknowledge that they had exhausted all their resources for solving the king’s situation. GOD knew there was one human who represented HIM that would reveal the true GOD of the Israelites to the king. HE not only knew what the king dreamed, what it meant but HE would communicate it to HIS servant Daniel. Daniel would in turn reveal truth to the King and his advisors. This would confirm that the true GOD of Israel communicates with humans.

12 Because of this, the king became violently angry and gave orders to destroy all the wise men of Babylon. 13 The decree was issued that the wise men were to be executed, and they searched for Daniel and his friends, to execute them.

The king is ticked. So he ordered all the wise men of Babylon executed which includes Daniel and his friends. Daniel and his friends do not have a clue what was about to happen. They were not present when the king called the meeting. The fact that Daniel and his friends were included in the execution order likely shows that they were recent graduates of the three (3) year program.

14 Then Daniel responded with tact and discretion to Arioch (AIR ih och), the commander of the king’s guard,[5] Or executioners who had gone out to execute the wise men of Babylon. 15 He asked Arioch, the king’s officer, “Why is the decree from the king so harsh?”[6] Or urgent Then Arioch explained the situation to Daniel.

As already mentioned, Daniel was not present with all the other wise men of Babylon. However he and his friends were going to be executed along with the rest of the bunch. Again, we see the hand of GOD at work. HE wanted the pagans to exhaust their efforts before bringing forth Daniel to reveal the true GOD to the king and all the others.

Notice in verse 14 how polite Daniel was in asking the king’s commander, “Daniel responded with tact and discretion.” Daniel asked him, “Why is the decree from the king so harsh?” Arioch (AIR ih och) explained the situation to Daniel. Arioch likely either recalled or Daniel may have told him that he was not present when the king called all the wise men together. Arioch agreed for Daniel to speak to the king.

This was an anxious moment. Daniel and his friend’s lives are at stake. Approaching a delicate situation with tact and discretion is most often the best approach.

Daniel had much confidence in GOD. Daniel was in a foreign land against his will but he saw that his mission was to represent GOD to the pagans. He had utmost confidence in GOD. Daniel could have been angry with GOD but he knew GOD was his strength in anxious moments.

16 So Daniel went and asked the king to give him some time, so that he could give the king the interpretation. 17 Then Daniel went to his house and told his friends Hananiah (han uh NIE uh), Mishael (MY sheh uhl), and Azariah (az ah RYE ah) about the matter, 18 [urging]* The bracketed text has been added for clarity. them to ask the God of heaven for mercy concerning this mystery, so Daniel and his friends would not be killed with the rest of Babylon’s wise men.

Daniel approached the king with confidence and asked the king for time to interpret his dream. Notice it was not to see if Daniel could figure it out but time to give him the interpretation. Complete confidence. Likely, Daniel told the king that he was not even present when he called all his wise men together. The king knew that Daniel had graduated with honors. Perhaps he thought he should give him a chance. Earlier the king was provoked with the local wizards but here the king seemed to have confidence in Daniel. After all Daniel had the courage to come to the king and ask for more time.

Daniel’s solution, to an impossible situation, was to tell his friends and ask them to pray along with him to seek GOD’S solution to the mystery. GOD is the only ONE WHO can reveal the mystery. Did GOD use this opportunity to strengthen the faith of Daniel and his three (3) friends in preparation for events that would come into their lives in the near future? Every obedient step we take with GOD strengthens our relationship with HIM.

19 The mystery was then revealed to Daniel in a vision[7] Am 3:7 at night, and Daniel praised the God of heaven 20 and declared: May the name of God be praised forever and ever,[8] Neh 9:5; Ps 41:13; 113:2 for wisdom and power belong to Him. 21 He changes the times and seasons; He removes kings and establishes kings. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding.[9] Jb 12:13 22 He reveals the deep and hidden things; He knows what is in the darkness, and light dwells with Him.[10] Jb 12:22 23 I offer thanks and praise to You, God of my fathers, because You have given me wisdom and power. And now You have let me know what we asked of You, for You have let us know the king’s mystery.[11]

GOD revealed the mystery to Daniel in a vision. Daniel could have run off to tell the King but instead immediately he broke out in praise to the FATHER. It was an outpouring of gratitude to GOD, WHO is sovereign over all and reveals the deep hidden things and mysteries. Daniel acknowledged that GOD is involved in all things. HE is sovereign.

Lit matter 24 Therefore Daniel went to Arioch (AIR ih och), whom the king had assigned to destroy the wise men of Babylon. He came and said to him, “Don’t kill the wise men of Babylon! Bring me before the king, and I will give him the interpretation.” 25 Then Arioch quickly brought Daniel before the king and said to him, “I have found a man among the Judean exiles who can let the king know the interpretation.”

Again Daniel went through the chain of command. He went to Arioch. It seemed Arioch wanted to claim that he found Daniel. It is not clear to me why Daniel seemed to have to be reintroduced to the king. Was the king having some senior moment? Later in the scripture we find that the king went off on the deep end and then was restored as he discovered the true GOD. Did GOD cause the king to have a mental lapse? Or simply was Arioch announcing Daniel like he would any other visitor and stating the reason for Daniel’s audience with the king as a reminder to the king?

26 The king said in reply to Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, “Are you able to tell me the dream I had and its interpretation?” 27 Daniel answered the king: “No wise man, medium, diviner-priest, or astrologer[12] Dn 4:7; 5:7,11 is able to make known to the king the mystery he asked about. 28 But there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries, and He has let King Nebuchadnezzar know what will happen in the last days.[13] Gn 41:25,28 Your dream and the visions [that came into]* The bracketed text has been added for clarity. your mind [as you lay]* The bracketed text has been added for clarity. in bed were these: 29 Your Majesty, while you were in your bed, thoughts came [to your mind]* The bracketed text has been added for clarity. about what will happen in the future.[14] Lit happen after this The revealer of mysteries has let you know what will happen. 30 As for me, this mystery has been revealed to me, not because I have more wisdom than anyone living, but in order that the interpretation might be made known to the king, and that you may understand the thoughts of your mind.

Daniel again was very gracious to the king. He addressed him as “Your Majesty”. Daniel made it clear that this was not his interpretation because not even the wisest human on the face of the earth or any wizards could know what he was about to reveal to him. Daniel revealed the true source of what he was about to reveal to him, the GOD of Heaven. It was the true GOD of Heaven that wants the King to know and understand the mystery of the dream. GOD wants the King to know HIM.

The Dream’s Interpretation
31 “My king, as you were watching, a colossal statue appeared. That statue, tall and dazzling, was standing in front of you, and its appearance was terrifying. 32 The head of the statue was pure gold, its chest and arms were silver, its stomach and thighs were bronze, 33 its legs were iron, and its feet were partly iron and partly fired clay. 34 As you were watching, a stone broke off without a hand touching it,[15] Lit off not by hands struck the statue on its feet of iron and fired clay, and crushed them. 35 Then the iron, the fired clay, the bronze, the silver, and the gold were shattered and became like chaff from the summer threshing floors. The wind carried them away, and not a trace of them could be found. But the stone that struck the statue became a great mountain and filled the whole earth. 36 “This was the dream; now we will tell the king its interpretation. 37 Your Majesty, you are king of kings. The God of heaven has given you sovereignty, power, strength, and glory. 38 Wherever people live—or wild animals, or birds of the air—He has handed them over to you and made you ruler over them all.[16] Jr 27:6; 28:14 You are the head of gold. 39 “After you, there will arise another kingdom, inferior to yours, and then another, a third kingdom, of bronze, which will rule the whole earth. 40 A fourth kingdom will be as strong as iron; for iron crushes and shatters everything, and like iron that smashes, it will crush and smash all the others.[17] Lit all these 41 You saw the feet and toes, partly of a potter’s fired clay and partly of iron—it will be a divided kingdom, though some of the strength of iron will be in it. You saw the iron mixed with clay, 42 and that the toes of the feet were part iron and part fired clay—part of the kingdom will be strong, and part will be brittle. 43 You saw the iron mixed with clay—the peoples will mix with one another[18] Lit another in the seed of men but will not hold together, just as iron does not mix with fired clay. 44 “In the days of those kings, the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed, and this kingdom will not be left to another people. It will crush all these kingdoms and bring them to an end, but will itself endure forever. 45 You saw a stone break off from the mountain without a hand touching it,[19] Lit mountain, not by hands [20] Dn 2:34 and it crushed the iron, bronze, fired clay, silver, and gold. The great God has told the king what will happen in the future.[21] Lit happen after this [22] Dn 2:29 The dream is true, and its interpretation certain.”

Daniel revealed the future to the king as GOD revealed it to him. He held nothing back and he did not sugar coat it.

The rock that breaks off from the mountain, without a hand touching it, is prophesy of the coming of CHRIST. CHRIST will not come as the result of any human effort. GOD is sovereign. CHRIST will come when GOD chooses.

Earthly kingdoms have a successor because earthly rulers die. However the kingdom GOD establishes will not need a successor because HIS kingdom is eternal as HE is eternal.
Scholars seem to think that the periods described in the dream are:

Gold – Head – Babylonian – 606 BC – 539 BC
Silver – Chest/Arms – Medo-Persian – 539 BC – 331 BC
Bronze – Stomach/Thighs – Grecian – 331 BC – 146 BC
Iron/Clay/Iron (Mix) – Legs/Feet – Roman – 146 BC – 476 AD

The message seems to be that no earthly kingdom or government will last forever except GOD’S Kingdom. Even the strongest kingdom, depicted by the gold head, would give way to a weaker kingdom and each succeeding kingdom gets weaker although they conquered more territory.

Each succeeding kingdom got larger but the increase in territory also brought compromise. Compromise resulted in diluting a national effort. The last parts of the figure in the dream are the feet. The feet are the key to stability and maintaining a solid foundation. However the materials used to make the foundation are made from materials that are not structurally sound. They are materials that can be shattered. In fact we see that the rock falls on the feet, shatters them and the structure crumbles.

The materials used to make the feet suggest that compromise in a society will compromise its very foundation. When a nation tries to accommodate various groups and compromises its values the result will be disastrous.
I thought about America. When we compromise our values to accommodate various religious and ethic groups when they become citizens it weakens us. It will result in our destruction. Our Nation is founded on values that embrace GOD and freedom to worship GOD. But our GOD is the GOD of Israel and the FATHER of THE LORD JESUS CHRIST. Others can worship as they choose but we must not compromise our foundation to accommodate other gods. If we do destruction is sure.

How do I know this? All we have to do is look at history of other kingdoms, especially Israel. GOD is warning us to avoid compromise. GOD wants us to keep our focus on HIM. When others become citizens of America, they have freedoms but we have already established who we shall serve. “IN GOD WE TRUST!!!”

Nebuchadnezzar’s Response
46 Then King Nebuchadnezzar fell down, paid homage to Daniel, and gave orders to present an offering and incense to him.[23] 1 Kg 1:31; Isa 49:23 47 The king said to Daniel, “Your God is indeed God of gods, Lord of kings, and a revealer of mysteries, since you were able to reveal this mystery.” 48 Then the king promoted Daniel and gave him many generous gifts. He made him ruler over the entire province of Babylon and chief governor over all the wise men of Babylon.[24] Gn 41:41 49 At Daniel’s request, the king appointed Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego to manage the province of Babylon. But Daniel remained at the king’s court.

The king honored Daniel and recognized that the GOD of Daniel is the true GOD of all the gods. GOD has given the king an opportunity to become a follower of the true GOD but we know from events later on that this got the king’s attention but his heart was not changed.

Daniel and his friends were rewarded. This was an opportunity for Satan to try to get Daniel and his friends to compromise, however, we know from events to follow, they maintained their focus on GOD.

GOD is sovereign and is in control of all things. When we have anxious moments in our lives, we need to turn our eyes and thoughts to JESUS.

1 Peter 5:6-7:
6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, so that He may exalt you in due time,[10] Lit in time [11] Jb 22:29; Mt 23:12; Lk 14:11; 18:14; Jms 4:10 7 casting all your care upon Him, because He cares about you.[12] Ps 55:22; Mt 6:25–34

Luke 12:29: JESUS tells us:
29 Don’t keep striving for what you should eat and what you should drink, and don’t be anxious. 30 For the Gentile world eagerly seeks all these things, and your Father knows that you need them. 31 “But seek His kingdom, and these things will be provided for you.