Lesson 3D The Dream No One Knew, Daniel 2:1- 16

The King’s Dream is Tough 2:1- 11

English Standard Version Chapter 2

2 In the second year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar, Nebuchadnezzar had dreams; his spirit was troubled, and his sleep left him. 2 Then the king commanded that the magicians, the enchanters, the sorcerers, and the Chaldeans be summoned to tell the king his dreams. So they came in and stood before the king. 3 And the king said to them, “I had a dream, and my spirit is troubled to know the dream.” 4 Then the Chaldeans said to the king in Aramaic, “O king, live forever! Tell your servants the dream, and we will show the interpretation.” 5 The king answered and said to the Chaldeans, “The word from me is firm: if you do not make known to me the dream and its interpretation, you shall be torn limb from limb, and your houses shall be laid in ruins. 6 But if you show the dream and its interpretation, you shall receive from me gifts and rewards and great honor. Therefore show me the dream and its interpretation.”

7 They answered a second time and said, “Let the king tell his servants the dream, and we will show its interpretation.” 8 The king answered and said, “I know with certainty that you are trying to gain time, because you see that the word from me is firm— 9 if you do not make the dream known to me, there is but one sentence for you. You have agreed to speak lying and corrupt words before me till the times change. Therefore tell me the dream, and I shall know that you can show me its interpretation.” 10 The Chaldeans answered the king and said, “There is not a man on earth who can meet the king’s demand, for no great and powerful king has asked such a thing of any magician or enchanter or Chaldean. 11 The thing that the king asks is difficult, and no one can show it to the king except the gods, whose dwelling is not with flesh.”

This dream of Nebuchadnezzar had not only perplexed himself, but his whole court of Mr. Wise and Smart People. People are still talking about the finer points of this story, even yet today. This dream actually has a date on it here in the early chapters. While there seems to be an incorrect time in this second year, we will discuss it for the sake of knowing if this happened so quickly in Daniels time in the King’s court. If Daniel and the chosen men from Judah were here for three years of testing, then the second year appears to be off. Many scholars are divided as to the timing, but I can say that the only people who are divided in opinion are the ones who are commenting many years after the dreams. Like us and every theologian since. We just were not there. It could be that the dream fits into another time frame than what we would expect in the life of Nebuchadnezzar as king. The guy had big dreams and they are documented here. If you want to be exact, then you may quibble over the year that is involved but if you believe the story by faith, then we will let Daniel solve it for us in glory.

The point is, the dream was real and it was one of many because it says “He had dreams- vs.1” Not only that, his spirit was troubled and it was so disturbing the king could no longer sleep. It is a word that described a deserted sensation. The sleep was long gone. The dream was long gone also. The command was made by the King to bring in all of the magicians, enchanters, sorcerers and Chaldeans to find someone who could tell him just what was the content of the dreams. I’m sure they thought they could tell the king the dream if they but knew. Standing before the king the whole lot of them was put on the spot. I’m thinking Daniel and his crew had not heard about the king’s decree of death if you do not reveal the king’s dream. But if you succeed in telling him the dream you will receive gifts, rewards and great honor. No one in the king of Babylon’s court could tell the dream, but then again Daniel and his friends were not there.

The king did not trust his own wise men at this moment. They told the king there is no one alive who could possibly honor the king’s request. When Daniel heard about his up and coming date with eternity, he asked, “why is the king’s request so urgent?” Arioch, the king’s captain made the matter known to Daniel and Daniel went in the king’s court and requested of the king an appointment that he might show the interpretation to the king. Wise men across the land suddenly know of Daniels importance if they had not heard already. Daniel has saved the day and all of their necks.

Daniel’s Preparation for the meeting with the King. Dan.1:17- 23

English Standard Version Chapter 2

17 Then Daniel went to his house and made the matter known to Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, his companions, 18 and told them to seek mercy from the God of heaven concerning this mystery, so that Daniel and his companions might not be destroyed with the rest of the wise men of Babylon. 19 Then the mystery was revealed to Daniel in a vision of the night. Then Daniel blessed the God of heaven. 20 Daniel answered and said:

“Blessed be the name of God forever and ever,

to whom belong wisdom and might.

21  He changes times and seasons;

he removes kings and sets up kings;

he gives wisdom to the wise

and knowledge to those who have understanding;

22  he reveals deep and hidden things;

he knows what is in the darkness,

and the light dwells with him.

23  To you, O God of my fathers,

I give thanks and praise,

for you have given me wisdom and might,

and have now made known to me what we asked of you,

for you have made known to us the king’s matter.

Daniel is not a text book on the art of dream interpretation, but rather we see the seriousness of which such things should be approached. Gathering your friends together and praying is a great start to things of extreme importance. We never know, except in this chapter that such a dream could be a matter of life and death. Immediately Daniel summons his brothers in the faith at “his house!”( vs.17) Just think, at this point in time Daniel had his own house. He had settled in and was making a life out of being “a wise man.” The four men next seek the God of Heaven concerning this mystery (a matter unrevealed.)vs.18 The object is so that they be not killed or destroyed with the rest of the wise men. Since only four of them were fathered here, I imagine this type of prayer meeting was not the way to do things in Babylon. The other groups of the special brain trust were conjuring up spirits, calling up magic powers, and the like or they were at home putting their wills together. Daniel and his friends got to work.

It happened in verse 19, in a vision after bedtime the mystery is revealed to Daniel. Then he praised the God of Heaven. We see this term of endearment frequently in Chronicles, Ezra, and Nehemiah. Sometimes a longer form is used such as the “God of Heaven and Earth!” The Persians under Cyrus the emperor made this an official title to recognize the God of Israel. This would be in accordance with those who considered the God of Heaven and Earth as the Creator. By the way. All three are proper names: God of Heaven, God of Heaven and Earth, and Creator. The praise scene is delivered up to us in these verses of 20- 23.

God’s name is blessed throughout eternity.

The God of Heaven has ownership of wisdom and might (power).

The creator changes times and seasons.

The God of Heaven sets up kings and tears them down.

The God of Heaven and Earth gives wisdom and knowledge to the wise and those of understanding.

The God of Heaven reveals deep and hidden things and knows what is in the darkness because light dwells within Him.

And here is the place he was assured he had the answer:

English Standard Version Chapter 2

, O God of my fathers, I give thanks and praise, for you have given me wisdom and might, and have now made known to me what we asked of you,

Here we are, not even finished with the chapter and there’s more action coming! Sometimes the the power of God is not only revealed through the answer but also in the delivery of the answer through God’s mighty servants. Prayer not only changes things but it also reveals things hidden from mortal man. Not every man is capable of delivering a holy message, but the Lord God of Heaven and Earth knows where His spokesmen are and once again Daniel is called upon to pull back the veil that has blocked everyone in the kings palace. The King of Kings is still the man in charge.