Daniel 2:1-30 Study

Scripture Reading

READ Daniel 2:1-30

The Setup

“In the second year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar...” - This is likely within two years of Daniel arriving in Babylon. He’s probably not much older than 17 or 18.

The King has a very unsettling dream...

Herodotus, the Greek historian, recorded how throughout the Median-Persian empire, kings had dreams that foretold their empire’ future and wise men interpreted them for them. So this was a common thing.

Just one problem for Nebuchadnezzar...

There are signs within this chapter that Nebuchadnezzar couldn’t fully remember the dream… could be an instance of remembering just enough to know something bad was coming...

“According to eastern superstition it was ominous not to be able to remember a dream: ‘If a man cannot remember the dream he saw (it means): his (personal) god is angry with him.’ Until the dream was both recalled and interpreted it hung over him as an evil dream, bothering and defiling him."

The King & the Wise Men

The King calls in all of the wisemen he has… magicians, conjurers, sorcerers, Chaldeans...

Magicians - Used of dream interpreters at the Assyrian court

Conjurers - Babylonian term for magicians who could interpret signs and conduct rituals to change outcomes

Sorcerers - Skilled in charms & incantations; used of OT sinful magicians

Chaldeans - Originally referred to the whole Chaldean people; but later referred to people who can solve mysteries and reveal knowledge

All four of these are given to put stress on the WISDOM and UNDERSTANDING of the Babylonians.

Surely, out of all four of these groups of people, Nebuchadnezzar will be able to find someone who can reveal what he wants...

But Nebuchadnezzar has a peculiar request...

Normally, these wisemen interpreted dreams via...

Dreams followed cause-and-effect

Dream interpretation manuals were created recording dreams and subsequent events

But these became huge, dictionary length works to cover all of the possibilities

So the wise man would look through them and figure out what the dream meant.

But Nebuchadnezzar demands to know what his dream was as well as its interpretation.

But since dreams happen in a person’s mind, there’s no way for the wise men to access this information

He was asking the impossible of them.

And we see by verse 5-6 just what’s at stake...

“torn limb from limb” & “houses will be made a rubbish heap” (well known punishments for the time: dismemberment and turning a home into a public bathroom)

OR receive gifts, reward, great honor

But the problem remained: This was impossible.

So the wise men just press ahead - “Tell us what it was and we’ll interpret it to you.”

But Nebuchadnezzar refuses to fall for it - he threatens them again, asking the impossible.

Now, we might ask… why would he be willing to kill all of these advisors?

Based on the content of his dream AND his feelings of anxiety about it, Nebuchadnezzar likely thought that his empire might be in jeopardy… some of them might even be in on it… so he wasn’t exactly scared of losing them. We read about a Persian kind a century later who would kill all of his wisemen, so this wasn’t outside of the realm of possiblity.

In verse 10-11, the wisemen make a very astute and important admission...

“There is not a man on earth who could declare the matter for the king…there is no one else who could declare it to the king except gods, whose dwelling place is not with mortal flesh.”

And this is setting things up for Daniel to enter the scene...

The cultural riches and wisdom of Babylon are bankrupt… they can’t do what Nebuchadnezzar demands… hope can’t be put in Babylon.

So Nebuchadnezzar does what all earthly rulers do when their frailty is laid bare - he gets mad. “indignant and very furious”

And the command goes out to destroy ALL the wisemen, including Daniel and his friends.

Now, let’s take a moment to reflect on just how bad this situation was...

Daniel et al had been taken from their homeland and families...

They’d gone through years of training at Babylon U, learning how to be the perfect Babylonian wise man

And now, they were going to be executed because the wise men of Babylon couldn’t do what no person could do.

Now, we should ask ourselves… How did Daniel respond?

Daniel’s Response

Daniel’s Response was Measured...

“Daniel replied with discretion and discernment...”

"The word translated “discernment” (ṭĕʿēm) literally means “taste.” Wood explains that it “speaks of appropriateness, suitability. Daniel replied wisely and in good taste, in keeping with the occasion and importance of the visitors.”"

Notice what is absent - ANGER and FEAR

Instead, Daniel faces this dire situation with grace, love, and faith.

And he’s talking to the guy holding the execution sword!

Now, if Daniel is able to face this guy with grace, love, and faith - then shouldn’t we be able to do the same as we find ourselves in a hostile culture?

And yet, how often do we react to the threats of our culture with ANGER and FEAR?

We too often overreact... we lash out at others… we get terrified… etc.

Daniel has so much confidence in God that he’s able to face death without getting worked up. THAT is Faith.

We might think of the martyrs throughout Christian history who have done the same.

This kind of confidence and faith under pressure is what causes people to ask… “What kind of person is this?” And it’s the reason the Church has consistently grown wherever it has been genuinely persecuted.

Daniel’s Response was Developed in Prayer

Daniel gets Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego and they have a prayer meeting - “they might request compassion from the God of heaven concerning this mystery...”

They are recognizing God as the “God of heaven”, the one who is over and above all - but who is also able and willing to concern himself with human events and needs.

We see that Daniel’s response to this cultural problem is FIRST, prayer.

Do we have the same responses to our cultural problems?

Do we bring them to God consistently and fervently? Or is it easier for us to air our cultural grievances with our friends? Or on social media? Or by taking them out on others?

God is the only one who can transform hearts and really change things… so, he’s the one we must petition to deal with our cultural problems.

God would give direction on what to do next...

Daniel’s Response Began in Praise

Throughout this passage, Daniel recognizes that God is the source of everything he needs...

This is why, when he gets this revelation, he doesn’t immediately run out to tell Nebuchadnezzar and save his own skin.

He’d likely be tempted to get there ASAP since he knows the danger he’s in.

But he stops - like the one leper who returned to give God praise - and “blessed the God of heaven.”

This short psalm has two key themes that recur throughout Daniel...

God is the source of all wisdom.

God is in complete control.

And because of this, Daniel offers God the praise that’s due his name.

God’s people have always been a people of praise - even when things aren’t going our way… even when we don’t understand… even when all seems lost...

We should be marked off as different because of our praise of God - and these are two reasons why - Wisdom, Control

Is the average Christian conversation marked by praise of God today? Is mine? Is yours?

Or is it characterized more by criticism, anger, fear, nitpicking, pride, arrogance, mocking, etc?

Daniel’s Response was Carried Out in Love

“He went and spoke to him as follows: ‘Do not destroy the wise men of Babylon!’” - verse 24

This shows that Daniel wasn’t just concerned with his skin… he wasn’t just concerned with the skin of his friends… or of the Jews… but he was concerned about even the pagan wise men of Babylon.

Daniel lived a life of love and concern for others.

Again, when we think about this in light of our own cultural Babylon, we’d be wise to ask… “Would I say this about my cultural enemies?”

“God, do not destroy the [INSERT ENEMY] of America!”

Or would we smirk and stay silent, thinking, “Well, they’ve gotten what they deserve...”

How deep does our love go for the lost people around us?

Daniel’s Response Pointed to God

Daniel goes in to the King and makes a bold statement...

“As for the mystery about which the king has inquired, neither wise men, conjurers, magicians, nor diviners are able to declare it to the king...”

And here, the king is probably thinking, “Then why did you waste my time?!”

But Daniel continues, “HOWEVER, there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries, and he has made known to King Nebuchadnezzar what will take place in the latter days. This was your dream and the visions in your mind while on your bed...”

Daniel doesn’t take any credit for this… he uses this response to point Nebuchadnezzar and all Babylon to the God who is over ALL - even the most powerful nation in the world.

And this is how we must approach the culture we find ourselves in...

If we aren’t pointing people to Christ, we’re failing in the Great Commission...

This is the reason we have to be careful with social media, because we are presenting an image to the world… what do they see? Do they see God revealed and glorified? Or do they see vulgarity? Arrogance? Bitterness? Even hate?

We don’t engage with our culture to score points… or to win political battles… or even to save our own skin… we do so to point people to Christ and his Kingdom… to reveal, like Daniel the stone cut from the mountain without hands.

So, as we navigate this Babylonian culture...

Are we approaching things in a measured, tactful way?

Are we approaching things prayerfully?

Are we approaching things with praise on our lips?

Are we approaching things out of love for others - even our enemies?

Are we approaching things always with a finger pointed toward God?