Reading the Handwriting on the Wall - Daniel 5:1-31 - September 30, 2007

Sunday School Lesson – Reading the Handwriting on the Wall – September 30, 2007

This is the final lesson in our series of study.

Lessons for September 16 and 23 are missing because I was in Poland with a mission team from our church.

Special thanks to all who prayed for us. Without a doubt we knew we had prayer support as we ministered in Poland.

To me it was clear that our LORD is working in the hearts and lives of the Polish people, especially the youth and young adults. This age group is seeking truth. They have many questions about the Bible and how it relates to life. I see Poland developing economically each year that I go. It is also becoming more westernized. I believe we will see a great revival in Europe beginning with the young people.

It is interesting that our lesson is titled, “Reading the Handwriting on the Wall.” The lesson deals with a different subject but it is all about GOD revealing Himself to a nation and then to the world. GOD is sovereign in all matters.

Our scripture is Daniel 5:1-31.

GOD is sovereign. We see in our study that GOD dealt with Nebuchadnezzar over a period of time and the result was that King Nebuchadnezzar acknowledged the GOD of Israel as his GOD. GOD looks upon the heart of all of us and knows the potential we all have.

King Nebuchadnezzar died in 539 BC. He was succeeded by his son Evil-merodach (EE vihl mih ROH dak). He reigned for a short time and was followed by two (2) weak kings. The last ruler of Babylon was Nabondius (nab uh NIGH duhs). Nabondius was not a descendant of Nebuchadnezzar. There is speculation that Nabondius possibly married a daughter of Nebuchadnezzar. This would make Belshazzar a descendant of Nebuchadnezzar through his mother, making Belshazzar the grandson.

Now to further complicate things, Belshazzar was the king in charge while his father, King Nabondius, was off fighting the Medes and Persians and who had been captured by the time of Belshazzar’s feast.

Verse 22 tells us that Belshazzar knew what his grandfather had gone through to finally acknowledge the true GOD but Belshazzar himself never changed his heart toward the true GOD. We must keep in mind GOD knows our hearts. The final blow came when Belshazzar ordered that sacred vessels that Nebuchadnezzar brought from the temple in Jerusalem to be used to drink a toast to the false gods of Babylon.

Let’s look at this situation for a moment. GOD did not cause Nebuchadnezzar trouble when he took the vessels from the temple and placed them in the pagan temple. GOD knew the heart of Nebuchadnezzar and his potential for acknowledging HIM as the true GOD. HE, also, knew the vessels would play an important role in the future of Babylon to test Belshazzar’s heart. We get to see that role in our lesson today.

Belshazzar was in charge so he threw a big party. Often when people come into power it affects each one differently. It is often misused. Here is a case where Belshazzar thought he was above all even the true GOD of the Heavens.

Let’s read Daniel 5:1-31 with comments.
Belshazzar’s Feast
1 King Belshazzar[1] Dn 7:1; 8:1 held a great feast for 1,000 of his nobles and drank wine in their presence. 2 Under the influence of[2] Or When he tasted the wine, Belshazzar gave orders to bring in the gold and silver vessels[3] 1 Kg 7:51; Jr 52:19 that his predecessor[4] Or father, or grandfather Nebuchadnezzar had taken from the temple in Jerusalem, so that the king and his nobles, wives, and concubines could drink from them. 3 So they brought in the gold[5] Theod, Vg add and silver vessels that had been taken from the temple, the house of God in Jerusalem, and the king and his nobles, wives, and concubines drank from them. 4 They drank the wine and praised their gods made of gold and silver, bronze, iron, wood, and stone.[6] Isa 46:6

King Belshazzar had a great feast of 1,000 important people in his life, which included nobles, wives and concubines. Belshazzar got drunk and ordered that the sacred vessels which had been taken from the house of GOD be brought to them so they could drink wine from them and praise their gods. This was the last straw and GOD took action.

Often when we are under the influence of alcohol, drugs or anything that compromises our ability to think and reason clearly (bitterness, jealousy, hatred, anger, ego, selfishness, love of things or power, etc.) we make bad decisions. Belshazzar made a bad decision. He likely wanted to show his guests that he was all powerful and would show it by drinking toasts to his gods using the sacred vessels of the Israelites. He knew the GOD of Israel had protected the Israelites and that his grandfather had finally acknowledged the true GOD as his GOD. His decision reveals the attitude of his heart.

The Handwriting on the Wall
5 At that moment the fingers of a man’s hand appeared and began writing on the plaster of the king’s palace wall next to the lampstand. As the king watched the hand[7] Lit part of the hand that was writing, 6 his face turned pale,[8] Lit writing, 6 the king’s brightness changed and his thoughts so terrified him that his hip joints shook and his knees knocked together. 7 The king called out to bring in the mediums, Chaldeans, and astrologers. He said to these wise men of Babylon, “Whoever reads this inscription and gives me its interpretation will be clothed in purple, have a gold chain around his neck,[9] Gn 41:42 and have the third highest position in the kingdom.” 8 So all the king’s wise men came in, but none could read the inscription or make known its interpretation to him. 9 Then King Belshazzar became even more terrified, his face turned pale,[10] Lit his brightness changed on him and his nobles were bewildered. 10 Because of the outcry of the king and his nobles, the queen[11] Perhaps the queen mother came to the banquet hall. “May the king live forever,” she said. “Don’t let your thoughts terrify you or your face be pale.[12] Lit your brightness change 11 There is a man in your kingdom who has the spirit of the holy gods in him. In the days of your predecessor he was found to have insight, intelligence, and wisdom like the wisdom of the gods. Your predecessor, King Nebuchadnezzar, appointed him chief of the diviners, mediums, Chaldeans, and astrologers. Your own predecessor, the king, 12 [did this]* The bracketed text has been added for clarity. because Daniel, the one the king named Belteshazzar, was found to have an extraordinary spirit, knowledge and perception, and the ability to interpret dreams, explain riddles, and solve problems. Therefore, summon Daniel, and he will give the interpretation.”

The handwriting on the wall got Belshazzar’s attention. He was visibly and physically shaken. His knees are knocking together. He knew this is something very serious and supernatural. But he does not connect the phenomenon with the true GOD. So he called in his wizards. He promised them great things if they can tell him the meaning of the message on the wall. However, they are unable to reveal the message.

It is interesting that the Queen came into the banquet and told Belshazzar about Daniel. The Queen was likely his mother or it could have been his grandmother. She remembered Daniel, who was then about 85 years old.

So why did GOD reveal Himself by writing on the wall? Of course we can only speculate. It did reveal to all in the banquet that the true GOD is real. GOD wrote on the wall for all to see. Rather than resulting in Belshazzar acknowledging GOD as the true GOD, he sought an explanation from his wizards.

Many of us see the things of GOD and seek an explanation from a variety of sources. We need to go to GOD Himself and seek HIM.

Daniel went before the King.
13 Then Daniel was brought before the king. The king said to him, “Are you Daniel, one of the Judean exiles that my predecessor the king brought from Judah? 14 I’ve heard that you have the spirit of the gods in you, and that you have insight, intelligence, and extraordinary wisdom. 15 Now the wise men and mediums were brought before me to read this inscription and make its interpretation known to me, but they could not give its interpretation. 16 However, I have heard about you that you can give interpretations and solve problems. Therefore, if you can read this inscription and give me its interpretation, you will be clothed in purple, have a gold chain around your neck, and have the third highest position in the kingdom.”

Belshazzar questioned Daniel and once he was convinced he was the Daniel his grandfather used to solve problems, Belshazzar promised him great things.

17 Then Daniel answered the king, “You may keep your gifts, and give your rewards to someone else; however, I will read the inscription for the king and make the interpretation known to him.

Daniel told the king to keep his gifts. He would give the king the interpretation.

18 Your Majesty, the • Most High God gave sovereignty, greatness, glory, and majesty to your predecessor Nebuchadnezzar.

Daniel honored the king by referring to him as “Your Majesty”. Then Daniel quickly focuses on GOD. It was GOD who was the secret of Nebuchadnezzar’s success. Belshazzar chose not to acknowledge the true GOD Nebuchadnezzar finally acknowledged. Daniel knows Belshazzar does not acknowledge the true GOD but has foolishly clung to the false gods of Babylon.

19 Because of the greatness He gave him, all peoples, nations, and languages were terrified and fearful of him.[13] Dn 6:26 He killed anyone he wanted and kept alive anyone he wanted; he exalted anyone he wanted and humbled anyone he wanted. 20 But when his heart was exalted and his spirit became arrogant, he was deposed from his royal throne and his glory was taken from him. 21 He was driven away from people, his mind was like an animal’s, he lived with the wild donkeys, he was fed grass like cattle, and his body was drenched with dew from the sky until he acknowledged that the Most High God is ruler over the kingdom of men and sets anyone He wants over it.

Daniel wanted to drive home to Belshazzar the point that GOD is sovereign and orders the steps of mankind. HE leads a person to the point of either acknowledging HIM as the true GOD or rejecting HIM. Nebuchadnezzar had to go through a terrible ordeal before he acknowledged GOD as the true GOD. However, Belshazzar’s heart had not been changed.

22 “But you his successor, Belshazzar, have not humbled your heart, even though you knew all this. 23 Instead, you have exalted yourself against the Lord of heaven. The vessels from His house[14] = God’s temple were brought to you, and as you and your nobles, wives, and concubines drank wine from them, you praised the gods made of silver and gold, bronze, iron, wood, and stone, which do not see or hear or understand. But you have not glorified the God who holds your life-breath in His hand and who controls the whole course of your life.[15] Lit and all your ways belong to Him 24 Therefore, He sent the hand, and this writing was inscribed.

Daniel made it clear to Belshazzar that his heart arrogant toward the thing of the true GOD. Belshazzar worshiped gods that were nothing but manmade objects and were powerless.

Often many of us place our hope in things that are meaningless. We read our horoscopes and do all sorts of things to keep us from having bad luck. Our only true protection comes from GOD.

In the case of Belshazzar, GOD revealed Himself to him by writing on the wall. GOD makes Himself clear to all. Will we accept HIM or reject HIM? Belshazzar chose to reject HIM even in the face of GOD revealing Himself to him and all those attending the banquet. Did others choose to acknowledge GOD as the true GOD? Only eternity will reveal that answer.

The Inscription’s Interpretation
25 “This is the writing that was inscribed: MENE, MENE, TEKEL, PARSIN 26 This is the interpretation of the message: MENE[16] Or numbered, or a mina; = a weight of 500 to 600 grams [means that]* The bracketed text has been added for clarity. God has numbered [the days of]* The bracketed text has been added for clarity. your kingdom and brought it to an end. 27 TEKEL[17] Or weighed, or a shekel; = a weight of 10 grams [means that]* The bracketed text has been added for clarity. you have been weighed in the balance and found deficient. 28 PERES[18] Or divided, or half a shekel; sg form of PARSIN in v. 25 [means that]* The bracketed text has been added for clarity. your kingdom has been divided and given to the Medes and Persians.” 29 Then Belshazzar gave an order, and they clothed Daniel in purple, [placed]* The bracketed text has been added for clarity. a gold chain around his neck, and issued a proclamation concerning him that he should be the third ruler in the kingdom. 30 That very night Belshazzar the king of the Chaldeans was killed, 31 [19] Dn 6:1 in Hb and Darius the Mede[20] Dn 6:1; 9:1; 11:1 received the kingdom at the age of 62.

GOD wants us to respect the things that are sacred. Often we become flippant with the things GOD considers sacred. When we do, it reveals the attitude of our heart toward GOD.

Daniel gave Belshazzar the interpretation. Belshazzar bestowed on Daniel what he had promised. Was Belshazzar trying to bargain or simply a man of his word? We do not know. But the fact is GOD showed Belshazzar and all the 1,000 that HE is sovereign.

GOD knows all and we know from history that Belshazzar’s father had been captured and Belshazzar was the heir apparent to the throne but GOD saw his heart and ended his reign. The great Babylonian Empire fell to the Medes. Belshazzar lost his life and the kingdom as well.

We must make sure we do not miss our opportunity to acknowledge CHRIST as our SAVIOR and LORD. If you have not asked HIM to forgive you of your sins and to come into your life, do it now. Loosing your life is one thing but loosing eternity is quite another. It is your decision. Why wait. None of us are promised our next breath. GOD is sovereign and gives every breath and beat of our heart.

We see in verse 27 that Belshazzar was weighed in the balance and found deficient. I can tell you any human weighed in GOD’S balance will come up deficient. But our lesson is from the Old Testament. Thanks to GOD we live in the New Testament and those who have been born-again through CHRIST live under grace.

John 5:24 to me is the essence of the gospel. JESUS is talking.

24 “I assure you: Anyone who hears My word and believes Him who sent Me has eternal life and will not come under judgment but has passed from death to life.

Do you want to know for sure you will go to heaven? Do you want to escape judgment? Verse 24 is your assurance. Give your life to CHRIST right now.

Does this mean we will live a prefect life? NO! But 1 John 1:9 tells us to:

9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Do It!!! NOW!!!

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.