Can You Tell What Time It Is?
What Does The Dream Teach Us About Time?
God Directs Time (v. 21)
God’s unlimited control over seasons and times is seen in this, that He sets up and casts down kings.
Thus Daniel explains the revelation regarding the dream of Nebuchadnezzar made to him as announcing great changes in the kingdoms of the world, and revealing God as the Lord of time and of the world in their developments
Evidences of His power are seen in His control of events (He changes times and seasons) and of the destiny of nations (He sets up kings and deposes them). Nebuchadnezzar was on the throne because God determined to use him there to fulfill His will.
“He changes times and seasons” and “he sets up kings and deposes them” stress Yahweh’s sovereignty. The first clause refers to the fact that God governs the different eras and events of human history and is able to change them at will.
Changes times and seasons: the verb used here expresses somewhat indirectly the idea that God has authority over time and history. This is in contrast with the Babylonian idea of history, which seemed to indicate that the gods could do nothing to modify its course.
Note the similar expression in Gen 1:14.
14 And God said, “Let there be lights in the expanse of the heavens to separate the day from the night. And let them be for signs and for seasons, and for days and years, 15 and let them be lights in the expanse of the heavens to give light upon the earth.” And it was so.
he deposes kings and he sets up kings A prominent theme throughout the book: God is sovereign over all nations and their rulers
The book was written to give hope and instruction to the exiles.
God Connects Time (v. 22)
Evidences of God’s wisdom are seen in His imparting wisdom to the wise (v. 21b) and in His revealing deep and dark things (v. 22). Light dwells with God in the sense that all things are clear to Him though people are surrounded by darkness. God knows and can reveal the future. God, not Daniel’s insight, gave him the dream and its interpretation
Removeth kings. Here is portrayed the true philosophy of human history. Kings and rulers are ultimately under the direction and control of an almighty Potentate
God reveals Himself in nature (Ps. 19), in personal experience, through the prophetic gift and other gifts of the Spirit (1 Cor. 12), and His written Word
The friendship of the LORD is for those who fear him,
and he makes known to them his covenant.
In the second clause it is explained that human history is changed by Yahweh as he “sets up kings and deposes them.” Nebuchadnezzar was the most powerful king on earth at that time, but he had been granted his authority by the sovereign Lord and was under his complete control.
This verse explains that God is able to reveal “wisdom” and “knowledge” to his followers because he knows the “deep and hidden things”—in this context, Nebuchadnezzar’s dream.
Removes … sets up: in many languages it will be more natural to reverse the order of these two verbs. In some cases there are special words for the installation (enthronement) of a king and for his removal (dethronement). Or translators may also consider saying “he gives authority (power) to kings, and he takes their power (authority) away.”
Deep and mysterious things: most commentators see this as a reference to the fact that God enabled Daniel to understand the secret of Nebuchadnezzar’s dream
reveals the deep and the hidden things God as revealer is the second major theme of the book (see vv. 21, 47). God’s revelatory work through Daniel distinguishes him from the other sages in Nebuchadnezzar’s service
Part of Statue
Kingdom
Head of Gold
Babylon
Chest and Arms of Silver
Media or Media-Persia
Middle and Thighs of Bronze
Persia or Greece
Legs of Iron, Feet of Iron and Clay
Greece or Rome
God Perfects Time (v.23)
the importance of the dream should put him in mind to lay the matter to heart, and give honour to God who imparted to him these revelations
Daniel’s prayer of praise closed with thanks that God had revealed the king’s dream to the four who had trusted Him.
2:45b. Daniel had validated his interpretation by first recalling the dream (vv. 31–35) and had certified that the interpretation (vv. 36–45a) was trustworthy because it had come from God (cf. vv. 19, 23, 28, 30), who holds the destiny of nations in His own power. He knows what will take place in the future (cf. vv. 28–29).
The only hope for this world is the return of Christ. When He comes to the earth, it will be to conquer the nations (Rev. 19:11ff) and to establish His own glorious kingdom.
God’s revelation was granted in response to Daniel’s petition. This demonstrates the principle that believers should not grow weary in prayer, for God hears and answers their cries for help. Daniel also illustrated the necessity of collective prayer as he summoned his friends to join him. Special power seems to be promised when believers worship and pray together as a group
Faith is evident in the words of these verses as well. Daniel trusted that the revelation was accurate, and he thanked God for the information before he ever heard the king confirm it.
First, it is revealed that this kingdom will be established “in the time of those kings.”
Therefore the establishment of Christ’s rule at his second advent during the time of these kings is the meaning of the rock striking the statue upon its feet and toes
Second, the kingdom of God will be of divine origin. God himself (“the God of heaven”) will establish it.
What a comforting passage this is. In this present world of injustice, wars, and crime, it is reassuring to know that Christ is coming; and when he comes, all of the evils of this age will end. There is indeed coming a day when “the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea” (Hab 2:14), for Messiah’s reign of righteousness will extend to the ends of the earth.
The dream is certain and its interpretation is sure: the theme of the content and the meaning of the dream is maintained here. AB renders these words “this is certainly the dream and its interpretation is trustworthy.” Another way of saying this in some languages may be “This is exactly what you dreamed, and you can be sure that this (what I have told you) is its meaning.” The emphasis is on the absolute certainty of both the form and the meaning of the king’s dream.
will never be destroyed The fifth and final kingdom in Nebuchadnezzar’s dream is the kingdom God Himself will establish universally. This is the great hope for Daniel’s readers
its explanation trustworthy The events Daniel describes will happen in the manner revealed to him by God (see Dan 8:26).
God, who had enthroned Nebuchadnezzar and would transfer authority from Babylon to Medo-Persia, then to Greece, and ultimately to Rome, will one day invest political power in a King who will rule over the earth, subduing it to His authority, thus culminating God’s original destiny for man (Gen. 1:27).