2024-07-07 - Daniel 2:1-12 (5)

The Dream

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Daniel 2:1–12

1 Now in the second year of Nebuchadnezzar’s reign, Nebuchadnezzar had dreams; and his spirit was so troubled that his sleep left him.

The idea here is that Nebuchadnezzar, having had dreams, means that he had a repetitive dream over and over. That is why only one dream is interpreted later.

2 Then the king gave the command to call the magicians, the astrologers, the sorcerers, and the Chaldeans to tell the king his dreams. So they came and stood before the king.

I want to pause to discuss this list of men and what they were about to do and why.

3 And the king said to them, “I have had a dream, and my spirit is anxious (PAAM - Paw-am: to tap as in beat regularly; hence to impel or agitatie) to know the dream.”

In the ancient Near East dreams were considered one of the ways in which the gods communicated with humans. Since kings were believed to stand in a special relationship to the gods, their dreams were of particular importance. Several reports of dreams are found in royal inscriptions from Egypt and Mesopotamia. Nebuchadnezzar’s dream is an example of a symbolic dream, the meaning of which is not obvious and needs to be interpreted. Until this was done, he would not know whether it foretold good or ill. Dreams played only a secondary role in Mesopotamian divination. They were more important in the reigns of some kings than others, perhaps a reflection of the king’s personal piety. Dreams were thought to be messages from the gods brought by a spirit messenger whose Akkadian name was Zaqiqu. Basically two types of dream were recognized as communications from the gods. In message dreams a divine being spoke directly to the dreamer, so that interpretation was not needed. A symbolic dream involved the dreamer seeing or experiencing something, the meaning of which was not obvious; thus, interpretation was needed. All known records of this kind of dream come from Sumerian or Babylonian sources rather than from Assyrian ones. Interpretation could be done in one of two ways. Deductive interpretation relied on consultation of collections of dream omens (called “dream books”), which contained lists of things that might occur in dreams and assigned meanings to each one. Intuitive interpretation depended simply on the wisdom and insight of the interpreter. There is no evidence of a specific group of professionals who devoted themselves wholly to dream interpretation. Instead, this was done by priests, both male and female, who were competent in several types of divination. When a dream presaged something bad, there were rituals that could be performed to prevent the calamity from happening. This is one reason why it was important to discover the meaning of a dream as soon as possible. - NIV Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible: Bringing to Life the Ancient World of Scripture (Daniel 2)

4 Then the Chaldeans spoke to the king in Aramaic, “O king, live forever! Tell your servants the dream, and we will give the interpretation.”

Remember these guys, the Chaldeans are suppose to be the best of the best. But as Dr. Wiersbie so points out: “God disgraces the ‘WISE MEN’.” God was about to disgrace the WISE MEN of this world. God did it other times too.

Be Resolute 2. God Disgraces the “Wise Men” (Dan. 2:2–13)

Moses and Aaron defeated the magicians of Pharaoh and the gods of Egypt (Ex. 7–12), and Elijah on Mount Carmel exposed the deception of Baal worship (1 Kings 18). Jeremiah confronted the false prophet Hananiah and revealed his wickedness (Jer. 28), and Paul exposed the deception of Bar Jesus the sorcerer (Acts 13:1–12). But it was Jesus who by His life, teaching, and sacrificial death declared the wisdom of this world “foolishness” with God, and that includes all its myths and false religions (1 Cor. 1:18ff). The statement of the advisers in Daniel 2:10 wipes out astrology and other forms of human prophecy! Out of their own mouths they condemned their own practices!

5 The king answered and said to the Chaldeans, “My decision is firm: if you do not make known the dream to me, and its interpretation, you shall be cut in pieces, and your houses shall be made an ash heap.

6 However, if you tell the dream and its interpretation, you shall receive from me gifts, rewards, and great honor. Therefore tell me the dream and its interpretation.”

7 They answered again and said, “Let the king tell his servants the dream, and we will give its interpretation.”

8 The king answered and said, “I know for certain that you would gain time, because you see that my decision is firm:

Back and forth with the king, but he would not budge.

He I believe was testing them to see if they really knew what they were doing.

He just tested Daniel and his 3 friends and found they were 10x’s wiser then all the other men that he had inherited from his father.

9 if you do not make known the dream to me, there is only one decree for you! For you have agreed to speak lying and corrupt words before me till the time has changed. Therefore tell me the dream, and I shall know that you can give me its interpretation.”

10 The Chaldeans answered the king, and said, “There is not a man on earth who can tell the king’s matter; therefore no king, lord, or ruler has ever asked such things of any magician, astrologer, or Chaldean.

11 It is a difficult thing that the king requests, and there is no other who can tell it to the king except the gods, whose dwelling is not with flesh.”

12 For this reason the king was angry and very furious, and gave the command to destroy all the wise men of Babylon.

Application 2: Daniel had gone through tough stuff but God proved Himself faithful to Daniel, that He would be there. God is there with you too in your difficulties. Weather its a family matter, health, financial issues, God is there for and with you, if you have a personal relationship with Him. When your going through these tough moments, remember the goodness of God in your past and in the past of others like Daniel.

Conclusion: Sometimes what we are up against in this world seems difficult. If we try to approach it with anything but God, you wont make it. Next time will see how the faithfulness of Daniel to God will answer the dream.

Saved: What are you going through that seems impossible? If you know Jesus, He is with you, He is the Alpha and Omega, He knows all and sees all. Turn to Him for your help as Daniel soon would.

Unsaved: Likewise to those who may not know Jesus as their Savior, you don’t have a personal relationship with God, He wants you to know that if you turn to Him, He not only will save and forgive you from your sins, but He will be there with you in all of life's difficulties and challenge, WHY? B/c He cares about you and loves you immensely.

Revelation 1:5 “...To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood,”

Acts 16:31 “So they said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.”

DEVOTIONAL BASED ON THIS MESSAGE:

John Smith Jr. 05-19-2024

Read Daniel 1:18-2:12

The Interview of Faith

Imagine a job interview unlike any other. The stakes are life or death. You're not just vying for a position; you're facing a powerful king who demands the impossible – to reveal a dream he can't remember and interpret its meaning. This is the situation facing Daniel and his friends in the Bible.

Daniel and his friends weren't born fearless. They were young men taken from their homeland and forced to adapt to a new culture. But amidst the pressure to conform, they held fast to their beliefs. They remained committed to their God, a choice that would be tested time and again.

King Nebuchadnezzar, troubled by a forgotten dream, summons his advisors, the supposed "wise men" – magicians, astrologers, and Chaldeans. He expects them to decipher the dream and its meaning. But these men, despite their worldly knowledge, are stumped. They crumble under the pressure.

Like Daniel and his friends, we too face challenges that seem insurmountable. Maybe it's a job interview that leaves us feeling inadequate, a health scare that brings fear, or a broken relationship that feels beyond repair. In these moments, it's easy to feel like the "wise men," overwhelmed by the situation.

But Daniel and his friends offer a powerful message. They remind us that true wisdom doesn't come from earthly sources. It comes from a steadfast faith in God. Throughout their lives, they had cultivated this faith by studying scripture and staying true to their beliefs. Now, facing the king's impossible demand, they wouldn't waver.

Daniel knew that God was with him, just as God is with us. We can turn to Him for strength and guidance when we face seemingly impossible situations. Just as He guided Daniel, He can guide us too. We might not have all the answers, but we can trust His presence and plan.

Sometimes, God allows us to be tested. These challenges can be opportunities for our faith to grow stronger. When we face difficulties, it's a chance to rely on Him, seek His wisdom, and experience His faithfulness. Just as He delivered Daniel and his friends, He will deliver us too, in His perfect timing and in His perfect way.

The story of Daniel is a reminder that with faith in God, we can overcome any obstacle. It doesn't mean life will be easy, but it means we won't face it alone. When doubt creeps in, remember Daniel's courage. Remember that God is always with you, a source of strength and unwavering support.

Is there a situation in your life that feels like an impossible interview? Maybe you're wrestling with doubt or fear. If so, turn to God today. Open your heart to Him, and allow Him to guide you through the challenges. You might be surprised by the strength He provides.

Remember, you are not alone.