Dependent Faith

Describe a time when you experienced increased pressure or anxiety.

What were the circumstances surrounding that experience, and how did everything work out?

When we face these times we need to realize God is in control. He is orchestrating all events for our good. Even though there are times we may question why, we know we serve a mighty awesome God who loves us very much. We can see this in the way Daniel 2 plays out. Let’s begin our study

Daniel 2:1–13 ESV

1 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.” 12 Because of this the king was angry and very furious, and commanded that all the wise men of Babylon be destroyed. 13 So the decree went out, and the wise men were about to be killed; and they sought Daniel and his companions, to kill them.

Daniel and his friends has finished their three year training. Even though it says it was only the second year of N’s rule. The way the Babylonians counted the reigns of kings, they didn’t start with the first year the king was in power. They waited until the second year had begun according to the way we count years. That would be the reason there appears to be a conflict in the counting here.

Why do you think the king reacted so harshly about his dream?

When he was in the first few years of his reign, N was trying to establish himself as one of the leaders of one of the most formidable powers in the area. He was I’m sure nervous about making sure he was doing things right and making sure he kept his enemies at bay within his country as well as the ones who would like to see him fall from other countries.

Dreams also held very significant meaning back during these days. He not only needed to have them interpreted for him, but done right.

He was also asking them to tell him what his dreams were without him sharing any details of the dream. The scribes were right when they said only a God without flesh would be able to do this.

What would you have done if you were Daniel and his friends?

Daniel 2:14–19 ESV

14 Then Daniel replied with prudence and discretion to Arioch, the captain of the king’s guard, who had gone out to kill the wise men of Babylon. 15 He declared to Arioch, the king’s captain, “Why is the decree of the king so urgent?” Then Arioch made the matter known to Daniel. 16 And Daniel went in and requested the king to appoint him a time, that he might show the interpretation to the king. 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.

What do we learn from Daniel’s response of bold faith?

How might that translate to our lives when we feel threatened or overcome?

What does Daniel’s response say about his view of God?

What role did his companions play?

What keeps us from asking for God’s wisdom first?

What are some of the reasons we rely on our own wisdom instead?

Daniel 2:20–23 ESV

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.”

What was Daniel’s response to God giving him the vision of the king’s dream?

What specific things did Daniel say about God in his song of praise?

What is the take away for us from Daniel’s words in these verses?

Some questions to think about as we end tonight’s lesson:

What is your initial reaction when life starts pressing in on you?

What is one thing you have learned to be true about God from a past experience when your faith was tested?

Where are you most tempted to rely on your own wisdom?

Where do you need to ask for wisdom from God today?