Daniel Chapter 2

NEBUCHADNEZZAR’S DREAM OF A GREAT STATUE

The Place of the Passage

This chapter provides our first dramatic look at Daniel as an interpreter of dreams, and God as a revealer of mysteries. The story is self-contained, though its themes will reappear in later chapters of the book of Daniel. Especially significant is the division of history into earthly empires represented by Nebuchadnezzar’s dream of a great statue and its interpretation. It is worth noting that this chapter introduces the portion of Daniel that was originally written in Aramaic. The chapter ends with Daniel and his three friends being promoted, which prepares the way for the events to follow in chapter Dan. 3.

The Big Picture

In Daniel 2:1–49, we see that God is the God of gods and Lord of kings because he is the revealer of mysteries.

Reflection and Discussion

Read through the entire text for this study, Daniel 2:1–49. Then interact with the following questions and record your notes on them concerning this section of Daniel’s prophecy. (For further background, see the ESV Study Bible, pages 1587–1591; available online at www.esvbible.org.)

1. The Dream and Nebuchadnezzar’s Threat Dan. 2:1–13

Verse 1 tells us that Nebuchadnezzar was deeply troubled by his dreams.

a) Why do you suppose that was?

In the ancient world, dreams were viewed as communication from the gods and thus thought to anticipate the future.

a) How does understanding this shed light on Nebuchadnezzar’s response?

Nebuchadnezzar called together a group of people who were trained to interpret dreams: “the magicians, the enchanters, the sorcerers, and the Chaldeans” Dan. 2:2.

a) What was unusual about Nebuchadnezzar’s request?

b) How did the Chaldeans respond?

2. Daniel’s Response and Prayer Dan. 2:14–24

Daniel requests an audience with Nebuchadnezzar to interpret his dream.

a) Why, in the flow of events in this passage,

b) is this such a bold and faith-filled thing for Daniel to do?

After God reveals the dream to Daniel, he praises God as the one “to whom belong wisdom and might” Dan. 2:20. But he also goes on to praise God for giving him this same “wisdom and might” Dan. 2:23.

In this context -

a) what does it mean for God to have wisdom and

b) might and then give it to Daniel?

3. Daniel Interprets the Dream Dan. 2:25–45

a) In what ways does Daniel ensure that God alone gets the credit for being the revealer of mysteries?

In Dan. 2:36–43 ,Daniel describes the content of Nebuchadnezzar’s dream. The parts of the statue represent four kingdoms, beginning with the “head of gold” Dan. 2:38, which is Nebuchadnezzar and the Babylonian empire.

a) Compare how these four kingdoms are described.

b) What is the significance of each of these descriptions?

Daniel sees that a stone shall strike the image, destroying it Dan. 2:34–35. In light of Dan. 2:44–45,

a) what is this stone?

b) How does this relate to what Jesus says about his own life and ministry?

4. Nebuchadnezzar Promotes Dan. 2:46–49

Nebuchadnezzar is amazed at what Daniel was able to reveal to him. He falls down prostrate and pays homage.

a) But to whom?

b) And yet how does that relate to what Nebuchadnezzar says in Dan. 2:47?

Daniel graciously asks the king to appoint his three friends to important positions in the empire, while Daniel stays in the court of the king Dan. 2:49.

a) How does this prepare for the situation in chapter 3?

Read through the following three sections on Gospel Glimpses, Whole-Bible Connections, and Theological Soundings. Then take time to consider the Personal Implications these sections may have for you.

Gospel Glimpses

SEEK MERCY

When Daniel is confronted with a truly desperate situation, the prospect of death, he doesn’t despair. Instead, he calls upon his three friends “to seek mercy from the God of heaven” (v. 18). This is a gospel-laced response to crisis. It’s the kind of reaction Jesus invites from his followers, regardless of their circumstances or situation in life. “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened” (Matt. 7:7–8). Daniel found this promise of Jesus (made centuries centuries later) to be gloriously true. And the only right response was adoration: “To you, O God of my fathers, I give thanks and praise” (Dan. 2:23).

INCARNATION

When Nebuchadnezzar confronts his wise men with an impossible request, namely, to tell him not only the interpretation, but the content of his dream, they respond in a way that exposes the limits of human wisdom: “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” (Dan. 2:11). An honest confession, to be sure, but one that the gospel overturns: “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us,” the opening chapter of John’s Gospel declares, “and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth” (John 1:14).

Whole-Bible Connections

AN EVERLASTING KINGDOM

When Jesus entered into public ministry, he came preaching the gospel of God, which was an announcement of the dawning of the kingdom of God in his own person and work (Mark 1:14–15). Many centuries before, Daniel got a glimpse of this good news, the coming of an everlasting kingdom (vv. 44–45). Indeed, he saw the stone the builders would reject—the stone that became the cornerstone (v. 35; Matt. 21:42). And he understood, as Jesus demonstrated, that the initiative to establish this kingdom rests, not with man, but with God (v. 44). Ultimately, this kingdom shall reach its consummation with the dawning of a new heaven and new earth (Rev. 21:1), at which point we will be able to say, “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign forever and ever” (Rev. 11:15).

MYSTERY

In Daniel 2, God stands forth as the “revealer of mysteries” (v. 47). In Daniel, as well as the rest of the Bible, the word “mystery” is not intended to refer to something cryptic or clandestine; rather, it refers to what God has yet to disclose about his purposes for the world. When God reveals to Daniel the mystery of Nebuchadnezzar’s dream (Dan. 2:18–19), Daniel is thus given insight into how history is going to unfold according to God’s sovereign, saving plan. The apostle Paul speaks of this mystery in several of his letters (see Rom. 11:25; Eph. 3:1–10; Col. 1:25–26). This mystery “was kept secret for long ages but has now been disclosed and through the prophetic writings has been made known to all nations, according to the command of the eternal God, to bring about the obedience of faith” (Rom. 16:25–26).

Theological Soundings

REVELATION

The Christian faith is rooted in the fact of divine revelation. Apart from God’s gracious self-disclosure, there would be no Christianity. Daniel 2, then, puts its finger on an important theological truth: divine revelation, or the fact that God “reveals deep and hidden things” (Dan. 2:22). But this chapter also reminds us of the goal of revelation: doxology, or the adoration and worship of God, which we see exemplified in both Daniel’s (Dan. 2:20–23) and Nebuchadnezzar’s response to God’s revealing his mystery (Dan. 2:46–47).

WISDOM

The book of Proverbs famously asserts that wisdom, or insight for right living, begins with the fear of the Lord (Prov. 1:7). Daniel 2 both illustrates and reinforces this theme. God is the one “to whom belong wisdom and might” (Dan. 2:20). And yet God gives this wisdom to those who seek it with reverent trust, as Daniel and his three friends did (Dan. 2:18, 23). To glean such wisdom is to get to the heart of what theology is meant to be—rightly knowing who God is.

Personal Implications

Take time to reflect on the implications of Daniel 2:1–49 for your own life today. Consider what you have learned that might lead you to praise God, repent of sin, and trust in his gracious promises.

Make notes below on the personal implications for your walk with the Lord of the

1. Gospel Glimpses

2. Whole-Bible Connections

3. Theological Soundings

4. Daniel 2:1–49

As You Finish This Unit . . .

Take a moment now to ask for the Lord’s blessing and help as you continue in this study of Daniel. And take a moment also to look back through this unit of study, to reflect on key things that the Lord may be teaching you—and perhaps to highlight and underline these things to review again in the future.

Definitions

1 Aramaic – A language related to Hebrew, spoken throughout much of the ancient Near East. It was the everyday language of most Israelites after their exile to Babylon, and it continued to be spoken by many Jews (including Jesus) living in Palestine during the Roman era. Portions of the books of Ezra and Daniel were written in Aramaic.

2 Incarnation – Literally “(becoming) in flesh,” it refers to God becoming a human being in the person of Jesus of Nazareth.

3 Kingdom of God – The sovereign rule of God. At the present time, the fallen, sinful world does not belong to the kingdom of God, since it does not submit to God’s rule. Instead, God’s kingdom can be found in heaven and among his people (Matt. 6:9–10; Luke 17:20–21). After Christ returns, however, the kingdoms of the world will become the kingdom of God (Rev. 11:15). Then all people will, either willingly or regretfully, acknowledge his sovereignty (Phil. 2:9–11). Even the natural world will be transformed to operate in perfect harmony with God (Rom. 8:19–23).

Wilson, Todd. Daniel (Knowing the Bible) (p. 18). Crossway.