January 17, 2012
Nebuchadnezzar has a dream. He is very troubled when he wakes up. The problem? He can't remember the dream. He wants to know what it was and what it means. So he calls all the fortune-tellers, magicians, wizards, "wise-men," etc. and asks them to tell him what it means. They said, "Tell us the dream... we will tell you what it means." But he couldn't remember the dream. He threatened them. Tell me the dream or, "I will have you torn apart and I will turn you houses into piles of stones," and still they could not tell him his dream. He promised them rewards, gifts and great honor, and still they could not do it. They told the king—Look, you are asking for the impossible. No one can do this. Daniel 2:11 - "Only the gods could tell the king this, but the gods do not live among people." They had no relationship with THE God. The king became very angry. He ordered all the wise men of Babylon to be killed.
When Daniel heard about this he went to the commander and with wisdom and skill (God given in Daniel 1:17 after Daniels obedience in Daniel 1:8); Daniel asked the king why this was ordered. After hearing why the king had ordered all the wise men to be killed did David attempt to hide? No. He boldly went to see the king and asked to be the one who explained the dream to him. He faced danger head on.
The next few verses describes how and why he could do this:
Faith. Trust. Courage.
The FIRST thing Daniel did when the answer came? He praised the God of heaven. He said:
Daniel goes to Nebuchadnezzar to explain the dream. He makes sure the king understands who should get the honor and glory. Before he tells him the meaning of the dream he says, "No wise man, magician, or fortune-teller can explain to the king the secret he has asked about. But there is a God in heaven who explains secret things... God, who can tell people about secret things showed you what is going to happen. God also told this secret to me, not because I have greater wisdom than any other living person, but so that you may know..." (Daniel 2:27-29)
Daniel goes on to explain the dream. Daniel 2:36 - "That was the dream. Now we will tell the king what it means." We. Daniel and God. Daniel had a personal relationship with God. Daniel finished his explanation of the dream by saying, "In this way the great God showed you what would happen. The dream is true, and you can trust this explanation." The great God. Daniel was in effect saying, You overpowered Jerusalem and I am standing in front of you as a prisoner, but my God is greater than all your gods. And the king replied, "Truly I know your God is the greatest of all gods, the LORD of all kings. He tells people about things they cannot know. I know this is true, because you were able to tell these secret things to me." (Daniel 2:47)
Important lessons to learn:
Nebuchadnezzar has a dream. He is very troubled when he wakes up. The problem? He can't remember the dream. He wants to know what it was and what it means. So he calls all the fortune-tellers, magicians, wizards, "wise-men," etc. and asks them to tell him what it means. They said, "Tell us the dream... we will tell you what it means." But he couldn't remember the dream. He threatened them. Tell me the dream or, "I will have you torn apart and I will turn you houses into piles of stones," and still they could not tell him his dream. He promised them rewards, gifts and great honor, and still they could not do it. They told the king—Look, you are asking for the impossible. No one can do this. Daniel 2:11 - "Only the gods could tell the king this, but the gods do not live among people." They had no relationship with THE God. The king became very angry. He ordered all the wise men of Babylon to be killed.
When Daniel heard about this he went to the commander and with wisdom and skill (God given in Daniel 1:17 after Daniels obedience in Daniel 1:8); Daniel asked the king why this was ordered. After hearing why the king had ordered all the wise men to be killed did David attempt to hide? No. He boldly went to see the king and asked to be the one who explained the dream to him. He faced danger head on.
The next few verses describes how and why he could do this:
- He went to his house and explained the whole story to Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego
- Together they prayed to God
- They sought God's mercy
- They sought Gods help
Faith. Trust. Courage.
The FIRST thing Daniel did when the answer came? He praised the God of heaven. He said:
"Praise God forever and ever (KJV - Blessed be the Name....) because he has wisdom and power. He changes the times and seasons of the year. He takes away the power of kings and gives their power to new kings. He gives wisdom to those who are wise and knowledge to those who understand. He makes known secrets that are deep and hidden; He knows what is hidden in the darkness, and light is all around him. I thank you and praise you, God of my ancestors, because you have given me wisdom and power. You told me what (we) asked of you; you told (us) about the king's dream."Daniel understood. It's not about me—it's about God. It's ALL about God and who HE is. And, it's not about "me," it is about "we" and "us." What (we) asked. You told (us).
Daniel goes to Nebuchadnezzar to explain the dream. He makes sure the king understands who should get the honor and glory. Before he tells him the meaning of the dream he says, "No wise man, magician, or fortune-teller can explain to the king the secret he has asked about. But there is a God in heaven who explains secret things... God, who can tell people about secret things showed you what is going to happen. God also told this secret to me, not because I have greater wisdom than any other living person, but so that you may know..." (Daniel 2:27-29)
Daniel goes on to explain the dream. Daniel 2:36 - "That was the dream. Now we will tell the king what it means." We. Daniel and God. Daniel had a personal relationship with God. Daniel finished his explanation of the dream by saying, "In this way the great God showed you what would happen. The dream is true, and you can trust this explanation." The great God. Daniel was in effect saying, You overpowered Jerusalem and I am standing in front of you as a prisoner, but my God is greater than all your gods. And the king replied, "Truly I know your God is the greatest of all gods, the LORD of all kings. He tells people about things they cannot know. I know this is true, because you were able to tell these secret things to me." (Daniel 2:47)
Important lessons to learn:
- We can't—but God can
- Seek God—always
- Don't go it alone—surround yourself with those of like mind
- Expect the supernatural—God can
- Praise God—it is ALL about him. ALL!
Next Entry: Daniel 3:1–30
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