A Great Mountain that Will Fill the Whole Earth (Dan 2) (35 min)

Introduction

Our gracious God sent many prophets to the rebellious and stubborn Israel. Yahweh solemly warned his people, time and time again, to rpent from their wicked ways and keep the obligations given on Mount Sinai or wrath and exile would come upon Israel. Well, God kept his word, and Israel fell in 722 BC to the Assyrians. Though the Assyrans never conquered Judah, the Babylonians finished the the job by conquering Jerusalem in 605 BC and implemented the first stage of exile by deporting youths from royal and noble Judean families.

Context

Daniel was written during the Captivity of God’s people in Babylon. After many sucessive seiges of Jerusalem (607-586 B.C.), the king of Babaylon finally destroyed the Solomon’s temple and left Jerusalme in ruin. “

“Under the reign of King Nebuchadnezzar II, the Babylonian Empire spread throughout the Middle East, and around 607 B.C., King Jehoiakim of Judah was forced into submission, becoming a vassal to Nebuchadnezzar (2 Kings 24:1). It was during this time that Nebuchadnezzar took many of the finest and brightest young men from each city in Judah captive, including Daniel, Hananiah (Shadrach), Mishael (Meshach) and Azariah (Abednego).”

Reasons for Exile: The Israelites worshiped false gods in Canaan (Ezek. 8:12) . In the North Gate women mourned for Tammuz the Sumerian-Babylonian god of plant life who died during the heat of summer to be reborn during the Spring rains (Ezek. 8:14).

Worshipped the queen of heaven (Jer 44) This title refers to Ishtar, an Assyrian and Babylonian goddess also called Ashtoreth and Astarte by various other groups. She was thought to be the wife of the false god Baal

King Manasseh - (697-643 BC) - He reversed the reforms of his godly father Hezekiah by actively promoting the worship of the gods of the Canaanites. He sacrificed some of his sons in the fire, set up an Asherah pole in the Temple and "filled Jerusalem with innocent blood" (2 Kings 21:1-8, 16; 2 Chron. 33:1-8).

King Zedekiah (2 Kings 24–25, 2 Chronicles 36,) - sought to align with Egypt to defeat nebudchadnezzar. Didn’t keep God’s law regarding freeing slaves.

married gentile wives

Ezekiel and Jeremiah say that they are more sinful than Sodom (Ezek. 16:46-50; Lam. 4:6).

Is there any hope in the situation. The temple is destroyed, Jerusalem is is ruin. Yet,

Author: Daniel, was a faithful and intellegent young man from Israel. The king chose him and his 3 friends to be trained to serve the king for 3 years.

God gave them learning and skill in all literature and wisdom, and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams.

They wisely declined to eat the food that did not align with God’s dietary rules

Will God keep his Word and redeem a people to be a light to the nations? Would he establish his law upon the earth and se fourth a kingdom that will last forever?

Though some may think that hope is lost and God has left his people because of their sins, in realith, Babylon is a mere tool for God to fufill his all wise purpose. Our soveriegn God will use Babylon as an instrument of Wrath. Then, God will promptly inflict Babylon with the sam epunishment and ruin that they inflicted on the Israelites. As we’ll read in our passage, the Lord raises up kings and tears them down.

Yet, the Lord will keep his Word on time, and as promised.

Jeremiah 29:10–14 NIV

This is what the Lord says: “When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will come to you and fulfill my good promise to bring you back to this place. For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back from captivity. I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile.”

70 years proceeding this prophecy, Daniel was brought before King Belshazzar, Nebuchadnezzar ll, to read what the Lord had miraculously written on the walls of the banquet hall. One of the words was intepreted to mean, “Mene: God has numbered the days of your reign and brought it to an end.” That very night king Belshazzar was killed and the Medes and Persians took over.

King Nebuchadnezzar ll

Considered the greatest ruler of the Babylonians

restored babylon to a greater glory than the time of hammurabi

destroyed the neo-assyran and Egyptians empire in 605 B.C. at the Battle of Carchemish. He became king right after and went to become one of the most famous kings in the ancient world.

Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream (2:1-16)

God’s Sovereignity Over Absolutely Everyone (2:17-23

Times and Seasons

The trajectory of history

The course of the stars and catclismic weather events

God orchastrates the rise of mighty rulers. He grants favor from the peole adn in battle.

He can and does remove the most powerful of kings. In history he has swiftly orchestrated the fall of empires humans could never image crumbling

No astronomers, wise men, or enchanters can give revelation (2:24:30)

Interpretation of Dream (2:31-45)

(V37-39) Contrast between vice regency of Nebuchadnezzer and the Church.

What does this langague soundlike? The king is given domiion over the earth, the animals, birds. He is given rule over the earth. This is the same dominion mandate given to Adam, God’s vice regent, over God’s kingdom.

What is the kingdom of God?

The Kingdom of God is wherever the rule or reign of God exist. It is particularly present in regenerated people with the empowerment of the Holy Spirit.

Kingdom of God

Founded on Christ, the cornerstone

“Not of this world”

John 18:36 ESV

Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world.”

Not established by swords and fishing servants

It’s source is not from the ambitions, methods, and aims of mortals

But, his kingdom does has real, tactile effects on this world. After all, we pray, “ your kingdom come, your will be done on EARTH as it is in heaven”

Bottom up - regeneration

Non violent

As the church militant, It has been appointed for his soldiers to suffer and face persecution.

Starts small and grows to take over the whole world

Mustard Seed to large tree

Leven spreading to the whole loaf

Christ will rule until he puts all his enemies under feet.

Governed by God’s laws

Isaiah 42:4 ESV

He will not grow faint or be discouraged till he has established justice in the earth; and the coastlands wait for his law.

God’s Appointed Means of Kingdom Expansion

All authority on heaven and earth is given to son, Go therefore and make disciples of every nation.

Weapons of our warefare

Proclamation the the gospel

Intercessory prayer

The church suffering well demonstates the all surpassing value of Christ to a dying world

Sacrificial love

Establishing God’s law on the earth

Assurance of Victory