Daniel 2 Part 1

Theology and Politics from a Conservative, Biblical Perspective

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The second chapter of Daniel is made up of 49 verses and breaks down into four parts:

1. Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream (2:1-13)
2. God Reveals Meaning of Dream (2:14-23)
3. Daniel Explains the Dream (2:24-45)
4. Daniel and friends promoted (2:46-49)

Now in the second year of Nebuchadnezzar’s reign, Nebuchadnezzar had dreams; and his spirit was so troubled that his sleep left him. 2 Then the king gave the command to call the magicians, the astrologers, the sorcerers, and the Chaldeans to tell the king his dreams. So they came and stood before the king. 3 And the king said to them, “I have had a dream, and my spirit is anxious to know the dream.”

4 Then the Chaldeans spoke to the king in Aramaic, “O king, live forever! Tell your servants the dream, and we will give the interpretation.”

5 The king answered and said to the Chaldeans, “My decision is firm: if you do not make known the dream to me, and its interpretation, you shall be cut in pieces, and your houses shall be made an ash heap. 6 However, if you tell the dream and its interpretation, you shall receive from me gifts, rewards, and great honor. Therefore tell me the dream and its interpretation.”

7 They answered again and said, “Let the king tell his servants the dream, and we will give its interpretation.”

8 The king answered and said, “I know for certain that you would gain time, because you see that my decision is firm: 9 if you do not make known the dream to me, there is only one decree for you! For you have agreed to speak lying and corrupt words before me till the time has changed. Therefore tell me the dream, and I shall know that you can give me its interpretation.”

In the second year…(v 1)
We really cannot be certain when this was as some commentators say it was during Daniel’s study program, while others say it was just after he had completed the program. In any case, Daniel might have been around 20 years of age at this point

(Nebuchadnezzar’s) spirit was so troubled that his sleep left him…(v 1)
Nebuchadnezzar literally had a nightmare that woke him with a start and it caused him to wake up and think seriously about what he had dreamed. –Nebuchadnezzar certainly believed the dream to be significant. He then demanded to know not only the meaning of the his dream(s), but wants to know from his wise men exactly what he dreamed. (vv 2-9)

It’s possible he had a general sense of it but only a vague remembrance of the details, or he fully remembered the dream but wanted to find out the actual value of his wise men and their god. –Could they tell him the dream as well as the interpretation?

Nebuchadnezzar reasoned that if they could tell him what he actually dreamed, then they’d probably be able to tell him what it actually meant. He didn’t believe he was asking for a great deal in reality. After all, the wise men made their living providing on a supposed ability to contact the gods and learn secrets from the spiritual realm. Certainly, some god would be able to provide that information requested of the king.

The King’s threat to have them cut to pieces is exactly in line with what kings would do in ancient eastern monarchs. There are actual historical accounts of the gruesome nature of this type of execution occurring in ancient times. This chapter provides the first mention of the use of the word “Chaldean” to mean a class of soothsayers to the king.

“…the Babylonian word for an astrologer-priest and their word for their supposed master race were homonyms, both having the sound Chaldean (kas-du in Babylonian), but each retaining their own meaning.” (Enduring Word Commentary)

Daniel understood this and also used the word “Chaldean” to mean its racial sense (Daniel 3:8 and 5:30).

The Chaldeans responded to King Nebuchadnezzar in Aramaic. This section of Daniel 2:4-7:28 is in Aramaic, not Hebrew. This is the only section in Scripture highlighted in Aramaic. It was the language of the Babylonian Empire, which Daniel had learned as part of his education there.

In Daniel 2:3-10, wise men attempt to explain to the king why they could NOT do what he asked, “except the gods, whose dwelling is not with flesh.”

Wasn’t that their only job though – to gain secrets and insights from the spiritual realm? What good were they to the king if they could not do this?

The wise men’s answer to the king was not good enough. In fact, their answer prompted their execution because the king became very angry and demanded that ALL wise men in his kingdom be destroyed. This included Daniel and his three friends since they had been accepted into the king’s administration and he viewed them as culpable as if they stood before him.

Nebuchadnezzar was a fairly new king at this point. He had taken over from his father and he could have been using this situation as a test to determine the viability of his father’s wise men who became Nebuchadnezzar’s after his father died. Did they pass the muster? Apparently, not.

In Daniel 2:14-16 we see that Daniel speaks with Arioch and Daniel asks why the decree from the king was so urgent? Arioch told Daniel what the problem was and Daniel went to the king with his request. Daniel was not stalling here by asking for some time. Daniel knew it would take time to hear from God.

The lesson for us is the same. –When we have important decisions to make we should expect to take time to present our requests and WAIT for Him to respond in His time. Daniel was willing to put the time in to wait and seek the Lord IF the king would grant his request.

In Daniel 2:17-18, Daniel talks to his three friends and asks them to join him in prayer to seek wisdom and insight from the Lord. This is yet another lesson for us. When we have situations that only the Lord can address, we need to join in with other Christians in petitioning the Lord. This is one of the ways we build up the Church and strengthen our faith muscles.

We probably don’t emphasize prayer enough. I know that I do not emphasize prayer as I should at times. This prayer – communion with God – should be filled with praise for His intended responses to us, even before we receive His answer because ultimately, it is Him revealing His will for our lives. This often takes time and we must learn patience in waiting.

Together all four young men sought God for:

• His mercies
• His wisdom
• His revelation

Daniel reacts to God’s gracious revelation in Daniel 2:20-23 with PRAISE for what God has provided.

Daniel answered and said:
20 “Blessed be the name of God forever and ever,
For wisdom and might are His.
21 And He changes the times and the seasons;
He removes kings and raises up kings;
He gives wisdom to the wise
And knowledge to those who have understanding.
22 He reveals deep and secret things;
He knows what is in the darkness,
And light dwells with Him.
23 “I thank You and praise You,
O God of my fathers;
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 demand.” (NKJV)

What did Daniel pray/praise to/about God? He changes… He removes… He knows. Daniel praised God for His power and might. Daniel thought of how God is in command of all things, and how God is mightier than a mighty king like Nebuchadnezzar.

God gives…God reveals. –Daniel praised God for His communication to man. All God’s power and might were of little help to Daniel if God stayed silent. Daniel was grateful that God revealed His great knowledge.

“You have given…You have made known to us.” –Daniel had the certainty of faith to believe that God gave him the answer, even before confirming it before Nebuchadnezzar.
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The lesson for US: –Our level of faith is often indicated by how long it takes us to start PRAISING God.

Theology and Politics from a Conservative, Biblical Perspective