Daniel Chapter 2

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NEBUCHADNEZZAR’S DREAM

Daniel 2:1 — And in the second year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar, Nebuchadnezzar dreamed dreams, wherewith his spirit was troubled, and his sleep brake from him.

This chapter reveals the first recorded dream of King Nebuchadnezzar. God gave him visions, but he didn’t recognize the source of them nor the meaning. His rest was interrupted by these terrible dreams, and as a result, he was troubled.

Dan 2:2 — Then the king commanded to call the magicians, and the astrologers, and the sorcerers, and the Chaldeans, for to shew the king his dreams. So they came and stood before the king.

Nebuchadnezzar summoned the service of the chief magicians, astrologers, and sorcerers to interpret the meaning of his dreams. These men were the intellectual elite of Babylon, who sought their wisdom from various ungodly sources.

The term magician is used for those who practiced magic. They used magical lines, circles and diagrams to explain something divine. They practiced incantation and superstitious rites of fortune telling. Astrologers—were ungodly men, who pretended to foretell future events by reading the stars. Sorcerers- were those who pretended to communicate with the dead, they cast spells, practiced magic, and performed visual “miracles” (Spiritualism). The Chaldeans were the elite of all, they were philosophers who also practiced magic and astrology in order to explain mysteries and foretell the future. Throughout biblical history,

“people” who obtained their power from ungodly sources, have never been able to match the true power of God.

Daniel 2:3 — And the king said unto them, I have dreamed a dream, and my spirit was troubled to know the dream.

The king tells them of his disturbing dream and how troubled he was to know (or to understand) it. He had a burning desire to know the true meaning of the dream, because of its lingering impression.

Daniel 2:4 — Then spake the Chaldeans to the king in Syriack, O king, live for ever: tell thy servants the dream, and we will shew the interpretation.

The wise men urged the king to tell them his dream so that they could interpret it for him. Appeasing the king would have been simple under these circumstances, since each astrologer could offer his own interpretation of the dream with no regard for accuracy. But this time, they had a serious problem, they did not know what the king had dreamed and, therefore, could not even suggest an interpretation for him. This caused a desperate struggle between the king and the so- called wise men.

Daniel 2:5 — The king answered and said to the Chaldeans, The thing is gone from me: if ye will not make known unto me the dream, with the interpretation thereof, ye shall be cut in pieces, and your houses shall be made a dunghill.

From his frustration to agitation, Nebuchadnezzar impatiently let them know his need for someone to recount the dream in full details. He then threatened them by saying, he would cut them to pieces and, also turn their homes into rubbles if they could not tell him his dream, and he was serious about his threats. What made him so angry, was that, he now discovered that he was always the victim of lies and deception by these men.

Daniel 2:6 — But if ye shew the dream, and the interpretation thereof, ye shall receive of me gifts and rewards and great honour: therefore shew me the dream, and the interpretation thereof.

The king enticed and tempted them with promises of wealth and fame for revealing the events of his dream and its interpretation. If it was possible. They would have fabricated a plausible response, but this was an extra ordinary vision with a purpose. With all the serious threats upon their lives and the great offers, these men were unable to do what only God alone could do.

Daniel 2:7 — They answered again and said, Let the king tell his servants the dream, and we will shew the interpretation of it.

They again begged the king to tell them his dream, so they could interpret it for him. Still, Nebuchadnezzar simply could not remember the dream, and his wise men’s response only further agitated him.

Daniel 2:8 — The king answered and said, I know of certainty that ye would gain the time, because ye see the thing is gone from me.

Nebuchadnezzar realised their struggles and reiterated that the dream was gone from his remembrance. Neither Nebuchadnezzar nor the wise men realized that the dream was a special one from God. God caused Nebuchadnezzar to forget the dream in order to give Daniel the opportunity to glorify his God among the idolaters.

Daniel 2:9 — But if ye will not make known unto me the dream, there is but one decree for you: for ye have prepared lying and corrupt words to speak before me, till the time be changed: therefore tell me the dream, and I shall know that ye can shew me the interpretation thereof.

Nebuchadnezzar realised the inability of his wise men and that they were just seeking for more time until he loses interest.

The king was quickly losing his patience- he no longer trusted anything they said and granted them one last opportunity to prove themselves or die.

Dan 2:10 — The Chaldeans answered before the king, and said, There is not a man upon the earth that can shew the king’s matter: therefore there is no king, lord, nor ruler, that asked such things at any magician, or astrologer, or Chaldean. Daniel 2:11 And it is a rare thing that the king requireth, and there is none other that can shew it before the king, except the gods, whose dwelling is not with flesh.

The men finally confessed their inability to the king and let him know that he was unreasonable. They argued that his request could not be granted by any man on earth, it was impossible. This led to the complete exposure of the magicians and astrologers and bring into the picture Daniel who would use this occasion to exalt the God of heaven. The wise men admitted that only the gods who did not dwell with men could solve this mystery. They admitted that their source of revelation was inadequate. This proved that there was a higher power that they did not have access to- this opened the way for the exaltation of the true God.

Daniel 2:12 — For this cause the king was angry and very furious, and commanded to destroy all the wise men of Babylon.

This line of reasoning infuriated the king, he got extremely angry. In his moment of rage, he sends forth a command to kill all of Babylon’s wise

men because they could not tell him the dream which was so important to him.

Daniel 2:13 And the decree went forth that the wise men should be slain; and they sought Daniel and his fellows to be slain.

In his rage, the king sends out a hasty decree that ordered the deaths of all wise men throughout Babylon. The decree also included Daniel and his three friends although they were not consulted regarding the dream.

Application

In these passages, Nebuchadnezzar became so furious with the wise men’s inability to tell him his dream that he sentenced them to death. Obviously, by allowing his temper to cloud his rationale thinging, the king acted too hastily and never even stop to think of Daniel and the boys who had proven wiser than the men of Babylon.

Have you ever hastily said or done something in anger that you regretted later?

Decisions that we make while we are angry are generally hasty ones. After our anger subsides, we may change our mind about the situation, but we can never change the effects of what we said or did in anger. A wrathful man stirreth up strife, but he that is slow to anger appeaseth strife. Proverb 15:18 (KJV)

We need to maintain control of our emotions and always strive to exemplify the meek, calm self- control—and the lovely Spirit of Christ within us. He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city. Prov 16:32 (KJV).

People often use the excuse of “righteous indignation” to justify their anger, but God is very clear about His dislike to anger. But now ye also put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth. Col 3:8 (KJV)

Daniel 2:14 — Then Daniel answered with counsel and wisdom to Arioch the captain of the king’s guard, which was gone forth to slay the wise men of Babylon:

Daniel 2:15 — He answered and said to Arioch the king’s captain, Why is the decree so hasty from the king? Then Arioch made the thing known to Daniel.

Arioch was the one responsible for executing the wise men throughout the Babylonian Empire. Daniel, spoke to him with Godly wisdom and tact, and inquired about the hastiness of the decree. Arioch revealed that no one had successfully tell the dream itself to the king, much less to give the interpretation thereof.

Daniel 2:16 — Then Daniel went in, and desired of the king that he would give him time, and that he would shew the king the interpretation.

Daniel approached the king, and assured him that, if given time, he would interpret the king’s dream. Again Daniel found favour with the king, and was granted his request for additional time; he also, temporarily lifted the decree against the wise men until Daniel could prove himself helpful in the matter or be found to be incapable as the men of Babylon.

God Reveals Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream Daniel 2:17 Then Daniel went to his house, and made the thing known to Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, his companions: Daniel 2:18 That they would desire mercies of the God of heaven concerning this secret; that Daniel and his fellows should not perish with the rest of the wise men of Babylon.

To interpret the dream, Daniel must first know the dream, and that information could only come from God because the dream was from God. As soon as the king granted Daniel the time, he went back to his house and called for his friends: Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah—for support in prayer. Together, they prayed for God to reveal the king’s dream.Daniel could have prayed on his own, he invited his faithful friends- a good lesson for us to learn.

They first asked God for mercy that they be spared from the wrath of the king. They collectively, fervently prayed, believing God for the answer that would come.

Daniel 2:19 — Then was the secret revealed unto Daniel in a night vision. Then Daniel blessed the God of heaven.

In a vision that night, God gave Daniel the same dream He gave Nebuchadnezzar. This is the first recorded use of Daniel’s God-given gift of understanding visions and dreams. As for these four children, God gave them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom, and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams. Dan 1:17 (KJV)

Daniel 2:20 — Daniel answered and said, Blessed be the name of

God for ever and ever: for wisdom and might are his:

Daniel 2:21 — And he changeth the times and the seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up kings: he giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding: Daniel 2:22 He revealeth the deep and secret things: he knoweth what is in the darkness, and the light dwelleth with him.

Daniel 2:23 — I thank thee, and praise thee, O thou God of my fathers, who hast given me wisdom and might, and hast made known unto me now what we desired of thee: for thou hast now made known unto us the king’s matter.

Daniel’s first reaction to God’s revelation of the king’s dream was to thank the Lord, the faithful God who answered their prayers, granted them mercy, and spared their lives. He knew the source of the vision, so he could take no credit for the dream. Daniel simply rendered himself as God’s instrument, and he blessed the Lord God of heaven before he shared the secret with the king.

Daniel praised God for His power as the one in control of time and seasons. He declared that God through His sovereignty- determines all earthly authorities, even the wicked leaders of the world. Again, Daniel acknowledged that God alone bestows discernment and insight upon those who are perceived as wise and knowledgeable.

Useful Applications

Daniel appeals for time to find the answers that the king so desperately sought. The king granted his request, so he returned home and listened for God’s voice. In the stillness of the night, God answered Daniel’s prayer. We, too, must learn to stop, look, and listen for God’s guidance. Be still, and know that I am God, I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth. 11The LORD of hosts is with us, the God of Jacob is our refuge Psalms 46:10-11 (KJV). Never trust your own judgment in anything. When common sense says that a course is right, lift your heart to God, for the path of faith and the path of blessing may be in a direction completely opposite.

When voices tell you that action is urgent that something must be done, immediately refer everything to the tribunal of Heaven. Then, if you are still in doubt, dare to stand still. If you are called on to act, and you do not have time to pray, don’t act. If you are called on to move in a certain direction and cannot wait until you have peace with God about it, don’t move. Be strong, and brave enough to stand and wait on God, for none that wait on Him shall ever be ashamed. That’s the only way to outmatch the devil.

No one who waits upon God ever regrets doing so. He will not miss the boat, train, bus, or any opportunity, but he may very well bypass the heartache and confusion that accompany hasty actions. Recognizing that God is faithful and trustworthy to answer each of our prayers according to His perfect will and in His perfect time, we must stand still until we know His will?

Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. 6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Prov 3:5-6 (KJV).

God’s Eye on the Future

Daniel 2:24 — Therefore Daniel went in unto Arioch, whom the king had ordained to destroy the wise men of Babylon: he went and said thus unto him; Destroy not the wise men of Babylon: bring me in before the king, and I will shew unto the king the interpretation.

After Daniel offered praise and thanksgiving to the Lord, he went directly to Arioch, the man to whom was given the assignment of executing the death decree. He asked Arioch to take him before the king so that he could tell the dream and it’s interpretation. Arioch must have thought it difficult for Daniel, but that was his only hope of appeasing the king and saving the men. He knew how challenging the king’s request was; that an interpretation could not be accomplished unless the dream was known. He knew how humanly impossible this was and must have wondered what the outcome would be with Daniel.

Daniel 2:25 — Then Arioch brought in Daniel before the king in haste, and said thus unto him, I have found a man of the captives of Judah, that will make known unto the king the interpretation.

Arioch quickly took Daniel before the king as time for execution grace was running out. Arioch told the king that he, himself, had found the solution when in fact Daniel had volunteered his service under the providence of God. Maybe he thought of some kinds of rewards bestowing on him for a solution.

Maybe as chief executioner, he was aware of his role in this death sentence and was anxious to spare the lives of these men and ease the tension of his own conscience.

Daniel 2:26 — The king answered and said to Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, Art thou able to make known unto me the dream which I have seen, and the interpretation thereof?

Nebuchadnezzar, asked Daniel if he was able to reveal the dream and explain its interpretation. Maybe he questioned the ability of Daniel to make known this matter which the aged and experienced (so called) wise men failed to do. Even though, previously, his assessment showed that the Hebrews were more advanced in all learning than any other in his kingdom, he failed to consult them but, his death decree included them which, was most unreasonable.

Daniel 2:27 — Daniel answered in the presence of the king, and said, The secret which the king hath demanded cannot the wise men, the astrologers, the magicians, the soothsayers, shew unto the king; Daniel 2:28 But there is a God in heaven that revealeth secrets, and maketh known to the king Nebuchadnezzar what shall be in the latter days. Thy dream, and the visions of thy head upon thy bed, are these:

Daniel first explained to Nebuchadnezzar the same thing his wise men told him, that the astrologers, magicians, and soothsayers could not make known this secret. It was beyond their power-it was most impossible. Daniel referred to the dream as a “secret” to emphasize that its origin and truth existed beyond the realm of human knowledge. He then goes on to reveal to the king the true God, who rules above all and reveals secrets.

Daniel then, introduced the God of heaven as the only true God, who held the key to such secrets and had revealed an important secret to the king. Before Daniel explained the dream he made it clear that it was mainly for the “latter days.”

Daniel 2:29 — As for thee, O king, thy thoughts came into thy mind upon thy bed, what should come to pass hereafter: and he that revealeth secrets maketh known to thee what shall come to pass.

Daniel 2:30 — But as for me, this secret is not revealed to me for any wisdom that I have more than any living, but for their sakes that shall make known the interpretation to the king, and that thou mightest know the thoughts of thy heart.

Daniel was keen to admitted that the dream had not been revealed to him because of any superior intelligence that he possessed. Rather, he emphasized the dream had been given to him so that the king would finally understand the things that greatly troubled him and, for those who would interpret the dream.

The king was highly favoured of God to receive a vision of such nature, with end-time and global application, but the king should not be lifted up with pride. Daniel, then emphasised that the vision was given for the sake of those who would interpret it.

God had His servants there, and for their sake he was working. They are of more importance to him than the greatest kings or rulers on earth. If it wasn’t for them the king would not have a vision and it’s interpretation.

God used this one incident to accomplish at least seven things:

1. He releases the tension of the king’s heart by revealing his dream.

2. He reveals Himself to the heathen nation of Babylon.

3. He delivered his servants from death and exalted them. 4. He exposes the false system of the so-called wise men. 5. He saved the false men and their property.

4. He revealed a prophetic yardstick that was good for all generations following.

5. He gives us a clear view of where we are in the history of time.

Daniel Interprets the Dream Daniel 2:31 Thou, O king, sawest, and behold a great image. This great image, whose brightness was excellent, stood before thee; and the form thereof was terrible.

In the dream, Nebuchadnezzar saw an awesome image, magnificent, beautiful, and enormous in statue.

Daniel 2:32 — This image’s head was of fine gold, his breast and his arms of silver, his belly and his thighs of brass, Daniel 2:33 His legs of iron, his feet part of iron and part of clay.

Daniel 2:34 — Thou sawest till that a stone was cut out without hands, which smote the image upon his feet that were of iron and clay, and brake them to pieces.

Daniel 2:35 — Then was the iron, the clay, the brass, the silver, and the gold, broken to pieces together, and became like the chaff of the summer threshingfloors; and the wind carried them away, that no place was found for them: and the stone that smote the image became a great mountain, and filled the whole earth.

Daniel 2:36 — This is the dream; and we will tell the interpretation thereof before the king.

Daniel outlined the dream to the king and he must have been thrilled to hear the dream as he saw it in his sleep. While he was listening, Daniel then assured him, that he had the interpretation as well.

Daniel 2:37 — Thou, O king, art a king of kings: for the God of heaven hath given thee a kingdom, power, and strength, and glory.

Daniel 2:38 — And wheresoever the children of men dwell, the beasts of the field and the fowls of the heaven hath he given into thine hand, and hath made thee ruler over them all. Thou art this head of gold.

The image represents global kingdoms of the earth that should successively bear rule among the nations and have influence on the affairs of the Jewish people and God’s (church). Daniel reveals to the king that there would be a succession of kingdom starting with his. The kingdoms were not represented by different statues, but by one image, indicating that they were all guided by the same spirit, and were all against the people of God. It was the same pagan power in different times and locations.

At this point in history, Nebuchadnezzar had only recently begun his reign as Babylon’s king. By the end of his reign, however, he had made the Babylonian Empire the most powerful kingdom in the world, with its dominion stretching over other powerful nations such as Egypt, Arabia, and Syria. Everyone and everything in the region submitted to the authority of Nebuchadnezzar; Nevertheless, Daniel strongly reminded the king that the God of heaven had given the king this empire and all the benefits that came with it. (I have made the earth, the man and the beast that are upon the ground, by my great power and by my outstretched arm, and have given it unto whom it seemed meet unto me [6] And now have I given all these lands into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon, my servant; and the beasts of the field have I given him also to serve him [7] And all nations shall serve him, and his son, and his son’s son, until the very time of his land come: and then many nations and great kings shall serve themselves of him, Jeremiah 27:5-7

(KJV).

Daniel 2:39 — And after thee shall arise another kingdom inferior to thee, and another third kingdom of brass, which shall bear rule over all the earth.

Daniel emphasized that God-ordained the king’s power, God divinely appointed Nebuchadnezzar as ruler of all people and gave him dominion over animals and birds. He then explained that the golden head of the image in the dream represents Nebuchadnezzar and his empire, But! His kingdom would not last forever and he should undoubtedly pay attention to that prediction. (And it shall come to pass, when seventy years are accomplished, that I will punish the king of Babylon, and that nation, saith the Lord, for their iniquity, and the land of the Chaldeans, and will make it perpetual desolations, Jeremiah 25:12 KJV).

Babylon reigned from around 605BCE until 538BCE. The duration of Nebuchadnezzar’s reign would be limited. Daniel told the king that another kingdom would succeed his, and that it would be inferior to his, as indicated by the silver chest and arms in the king’s vision, history has proven that after his empire, the Medes and Persians ruled the world. This was fulfilled in 538 B.C. when another kingdom with inferior governmental structure arisen and conquered the Babylonian Empire. But, as silver is inferior to gold so was that kingdom, it never possessed the grandeur of Babylon. The Medo-Persian Empire was a limited monarchy, the king of this empire had full control to do as he pleased but was accountable to other leaders according to its system of government. The Medes and Persian reigned from 538BCE until 331BCE.

Nebuchadnezzar was then told that a third empire, represented in the image by the brass belly and thighs, would follow the second one. This kingdom, we know, to be the Greco-Macedonian Empire. The government of Alexander the (Great?), took Greco-Macedonian Empire to its pinnacle of power after he conquered the Medes and Persian government, but it was a limited monarchy ruled by military powers after the quick and sudden death of Alexander. As brass is weaker than silver so was this empire. The Empire of Greece reigned from 331 BCE- 168 BCE. History shows that that part of the prophetic image was accurately fulfilled.

Daniel 2:40 — And the fourth kingdom shall be strong as iron: forasmuch as iron breaketh in pieces and subdueth all things: and as iron that breaketh all these, shall it break in pieces and bruise.

Daniel pointed out to the king that the fourth kingdom would be as strong as iron and would subdue all things. This fourth and final kingdom is Rome, who ended the dominion of the kingdoms that preceded it. Being strong and powerful, it smashed and crushed all the other kingdoms that stood in its way. Rome conquered, subdued, and reigned with great power from 168BCE until 476 AD when its Empire was divided into ten European states. For over four hundred years Rome ruled the world with an iron fist. The kingdom was called the iron monarchy. Rome was divided into two sections- eastern and western.

Daniel 2:41 And whereas thou sawest the feet and toes, part of potters’ clay, and part of iron, the kingdom shall be divided; but there shall be in it of the strength of the iron, forasmuch as thou sawest the iron mixed with miry clay. In 476 AD Rome disintegrated into ten independent states, some of them were strong and the others were weak. Daniel tells the king that the iron would be mixed with potters clay.

But now, O LORD, thou art our father; we are the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand. Isaiah 64:8 (KJV). He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings. Psalms 40:2 (KJV).

Daniel 2:42 — And as the toes of the feet were part of iron, and part of clay, so the kingdom shall be partly strong, and partly broken.

Daniel 2:43 — And whereas thou sawest iron mixed with miry clay, they shall mingle themselves with the seed of men: but they shall not cleave one to another, even as iron is not mixed with clay.

The disintegrated empire was mixed with barbaric nations and tribes; it even had in it some of the people of God who eventually became miry clay through apostasy, they all formed part of the divided ten kingdoms. These are the kingdoms: Alamanni (Germany), Frank (France), Burgundian (Switzerland), Suevi (Portugal), Lombard (Italy), Visigoth (Spain), Anglo- Saxon (England), Vandals, Heruli and Ostrogoth are destroyed as pointed out in chapter seven.

Since the division, many have tried to reunite Europe as world empire but they have all failed.

Charlemagne, Charles V, Louis XIV, Napoleon tried to unite the fragmented nations of the Roman Empire but, they failed. These are the words of Napoleon: “I wanted to found a European system, a European code of laws and court of appeals: there would have been but one people throughout Europe… Europe would soon have become one nation.” Hitler tried to unite divided Europe; this is what he had to say: “To my people: We do not need anything from God. We do not ask Him for anything except that He may let us alone… We want to fight our own war with our own guns without God.” He committed suicide and died a broken man. The set up the European Common Market, and set up their parliament and introduced one currency, but with Brexit, they are struggling. They have mingled with the seen of men in marriages and inter-marriages with the hope of uniting the old empire, but that failed. Daniel told the king, “they shall not cleave,” and they never shall!

Daniel 2:44 — And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever.

Daniel 2:45 — Forasmuch as thou sawest that the stone was cut out of the mountain without hands, and that it brake in pieces the iron, the brass, the clay, the silver, and the gold; the great God hath made known to the king what shall come to pass hereafter: and the dream is certain, and the interpretation thereof sure.

All the preceding empires have swallowed up each other successively, but this divided kingdom shall remain to the end of the world. The EU is now working hard to unite these nations but, the bible says in the time of these kings, the God of heaven will set up His kingdom that shall have no end. This dream of Nebuchadnezzar nave become the yardstick that measures the history of this world, and its measurement is most accurate. “the great God hath made known to the king what shall come to pass hereafter: and the dream is certain, and the interpretation thereof sure.” Amen!

Daniel Is Promoted Daniel 2:46 Then the king Nebuchadnezzar fell upon his face, and worshipped Daniel, and commanded that they should offer an oblation and sweet odours unto him.

Daniel 2:47 The king answered unto Daniel, and said, Of a truth it is, that your God is a God of gods, and a Lord of kings, and a revealer of secrets, seeing thou couldest reveal this secret.

Daniel 2:48 Then the king made Daniel a great man, and gave him many great gifts, and made him ruler over the whole province of Babylon, and chief of the governors over all the wise men of Babylon.

Daniel 2:49 Then Daniel requested of the king, and he set Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, over the affairs of the province of Babylon: but Daniel sat in the gate of the king.

All these faithful men were promoted in Babylon, indicating that God has the power to bring blessings, fame and promotion to His people wherever they are, if they only trust Him like Daniel.

Psalm 75:6 For promotion cometh neither from the east, nor from the west, nor from the south.

Psalm 75:7 But God is the judge: he putteth down one, and setteth up another.