Daniel: There is a God in Heaven (4)
Text: Daniel 2:19-30
So last time we saw that Nebuchadnezzar had a dream. It wasn’t like MLK Jr’s. Dream. It was a dream given from God about the future. And it was a dream that only God could explain. We saw how God had a purpose and reason for giving that dream as well.
Now I know that some folks like to put a lot of stock in dreams and visions, but you’ve got to understand that in 6000+ years of history, God only does something like this less than a handful of times. And people say, “But Pastor Ken, Peter said in his Pentecost sermon that in the last days the old men would dream dreams and the young men would see visions.”
Yes… He did… He also said that the last days began 2000 years ago. We’ve been in those last days since Pentecost. So it’s not that God can’t give you dreams or visions. He absolutely can… But what I tend to have a problem with is when you say that God operates in ways contrary to what He has revealed in Scripture.
Let me quote to you the Apostle Paul from 1 Cor. 12… “Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? But earnestly desire the higher gifts and I will show you a still more excellent way.”
So let me just say it like this – If God gives you a vision or dream, it’s for His plan and purpose. It’s for His glory. It’s for something bigger than you – in-fact, every time God does this, it’s for His people, the Church, as a whole – for preserving, protecting, blessing them, and directing them as a whole. And it’s always… ALWAYS… going to line up with Scripture. Meaning, that God’s not going to give you a dream that contradicts His revealed will given in Scripture.
So, God has a plan and purpose for giving Nebuchadnezzar this dream, and the devil tries to subvert that and use it to get Nebuchadnezzar to kill God’s people.
The threat and danger is real.
Let’s go to our text and see what happens. Daniel 2:19-30 (READ TEXT)
So, Daniel hears this frightening news. The mad king wants to kill him and his friends. Same demons different day. Pharaoh did the same thing. Herod did the same thing. The devil wants to steal, kill, and destroy. He uses the world and world system to do it. The world and world system is not, nor has it ever been, nor will it ever be; your friend.
Ok…
But Daniel doesn’t freak out, or panic, he goes to his friends and says, “Let’s pray.”
I hope you see in that the importance of the Church. I hope you see the importance of having believing friends and a church family, who will get on their knees before the Lord, and pray. There are things in life beyond our control. There are things in life that duct tape and pliers can’t fix.
There are things in life that if God doesn’t intervene, we’re sunk. God’s people are to be a people of prayer. And we should NEVER make prayer our last resort. It should be the very first thing we do.
So Daniel goes to his friends, and he’s like, “Guys we need to pray. We need to seek God’s mercy. Because only He can help us in this.”
And our text begins by saying, “Then the mystery was revealed to Daniel in a vision of the night. Then Daniel blessed the God of heaven.”
So again, if God does give you a vision, or a dream. You’re first and proper response is to praise Him. To give Him glory, honor, and praise. In-fact; that’s the proper response for all that He gives us – right? I thank God every day that He counts me worthy to serve Him and you as a pastor. I thank God every day that He made me a husband and a dad. Every day when I wake up, I thank God that I can take a breath, get out of bed, and have another day. One day, God’s going to say, “That’s it, time to come home.” And I’ll thank Him for that too.
All our lives should be lives of praise to God. AMEN!
And what’s cool about our text is that we actually get to see the words Daniel used to bless and praise God. It’s in verses 20-23.
He starts out with talking about God’s wisdom and might. He talks about how God is sovereign over times and seasons, and how God is sovereign over kings and empires. How God blesses us with wisdom and knowledge, and reveals His plans and purposes.
It’s interesting, because Daniel is praising God, for these things, and these are the things that God has revealed to Daniel concerning Nebuchadnezzar’s dream.
You catch that right? God gave this dream concerning times and seasons, raising up kings and empires and bringing them down. And God gives Daniel the wisdom, knowledge, and understanding of all that. So he praises God for that. He praises God because God knows the heart… even the heart of the wicked – Daniel says, “He knows what is in the darkness.” That means things that we can’t see, but also God sees the plans of the wicked, and then brings them to nothing… because light dwells in God. There is no darkness in God. And His light drives out the darkness. The wicked plan and they plot and they scheme, but God is the One who is Sovereign and in control. God is the one who is All-Mighty… all that Nebuchadnezzar has, and all that he is, is only because God has allowed it for a time.
That’s why I say, “Don’t envy the rich and powerful, and those in this life who seem to have it all… because if they don’t know Jesus as Lord and Savior, then that’s as close to heaven as they will ever get.” You and I have an eternal, ever-lasting inheritance, that is far greater than anything the world could ever offer.
So Daniel is brought before the king, and Nebuchadnezzar asks him, “Can you tell both the dream and the interpretation?”
And Daniel… remember he’s wise. He says, “Actually, your counselors were right. No man can do this.” And I say that’s wisdom, because in one very real sense, Daniel has indebted the wise men to himself. He’s saying, “They were right. It’s not possible with men.” But then Daniel says, verse 28, “BUT THERE IS A GOD IN HEAVEN who reveals mysteries, and HE has made known to King Nebuchadnezzar what will be in the latter days. Your dream and the visions of your head as you lay in bed are these.”
And Daniel makes sure that he doesn’t take any credit.
In verse 30 he’s like, “I’m not any smarter or wiser than anyone else. I’m not special. It’s God who has made this thing known.” GOD GETS THE GLORY!
Now before you get to thinking, “Wow! It would be so cool to be like Daniel.
To be a prophet who goes before the most powerful king on earth, and explains to him God’s plans and purposes. That would be so awesome.” Before you get to thinking that, understand what Daniel is going to tell Nebuchadnezzar.
He’s going to interpret the dream… and in doing so, he’s going to tell Nebuchadnezzar. Hey Neb… old fella’… you’re kingdom is going to fall. You’re going to be conquered. You’re the head of gold in your vision, but another king is going to come. And another one after that, and then a 4th and 5th kingdom. And it’s all going to get smashed to bits, because God is going to send Jesus.
All this wealth, and power, and authority you’ve got… it’s temporary.
And all of this stuff you’ve built and achieved is going to be relegated to the history books. Those hanging gardens you created, they won’t even know exactly where they were in 2600 years. Everything you’ve accomplished and done will be swallowed up by time.
So you say you want to be a prophet… Imagine going before the President of the United States, regardless of who it is and saying, “Mr. President, everything you’ve done and accomplished. All your policies and executive orders… it’s all going to be forgotten and changed in 40 years time.”
I hope you can see Daniel’s faith here.
This is actually pretty amazing to me. Daniel knows the king’s decree. You have to tell the dream and then give the interpretation of the dream. If you fail, you’re dead meat. It’s not just the chopping block… if you get it wrong, you’ll be drawn and quartered.
So not only does he have to tell the king that his kingdom isn’t going to last.
He has to fully trust that what God has revealed to him is accurate and right.
It’s kind of awesome when you think about it. This is God’s way of shutting up all those false prophets and false teachers. You’re either right or you die. And they’re like, “I’m not going to weigh in on this one… I think I’ll just keep quiet this time.” God ensures that it’s His Word, and His prophecy that is given, and interpreted, correctly.
And so, Daniel goes before the king, and he’s not concerned with what the king thinks about the prophecy, or whether or not he’s going to like what God says. He just straight up tells him what God has revealed. And again, there’s a lesson for us there – It’s God’s opinion that matters.
Daniel is unashamed, and full of courage here – and it’s because he’s a man full of faith. Full of faith, and faithfulness. And that goes back to what we looked at in chapter one. Daniel has already resolved himself to follow and obey God, no matter what. No matter the cost. He’s going to live for God, he’s going to serve God, and he’s going to remain faithful to God. The world has no pull on him, and no power over him.
Daniel is going to do right and risk the consequences. He knows his God, and he knows that it’s God’s opinion of us that matters.
A few years ago there was this kind of slogan created and it went around, particularly in youth circles. “Dare To Be A Daniel.” You probably heard it. But let me just tell you, you don’t have to dare to be a Daniel… or even be daring to be a Daniel. You have to know God and love God to be like Daniel. Know God and His Word, and love God and His Word.
Love God with ALL your heart, soul, mind, and strength… and as you do that you’ll find that perfect love casts out all fear. You’ll find that the world actually doesn’t have any pull or power on you as well. Because you’re living for Jesus, and loving Jesus, and your one desire is to see Him, face to face, and hear Him say those words, “Well done good and faithful servant.”
Let’s Pray.
