INTRODUCTION: As we approach this second chapter of Daniel, and look at the continued story of this prophet, I would like to take a moment and share some interesting thoughts – to kind of bring us up to speed …
As a young teenager, Daniel and several friends were taken to Babylon in the first group of captives. This occurred somewhere around (605 B.C.).
Daniel was trained with both his friends and other captives for civil service in Babylonian. Daniel and his friends almost immediately face a conviction trial concerning the food they were to be served. You will remember last week that Daniel and his friends were committed to honoring God and were successful in their desire to keep themselves pure and clean. God subsequently blessed them with favor, position, and prestige.
As we move further into the book we will see a few interesting things of note:
§ Daniel was advanced to the highest positions in the administration of three empires, and his lifetime spans the entire period of Judah’s Captivity.
§ Five incidents illustrate Daniel’s relationship with these world rulers:
o his decision not to defile himself with pagan foods (Daniel 1: ca. 602 B.C.);
o his interpretation of Nebuchadnezzar’s first dream (Daniel 2: ca. 595 B.C.);
o his interpretation of Nebuchadnezzar’s second dream (Daniel 4: ca. 567 B.C.);
o his reading of the writing on Belshazzar’s wall, when Daniel was at least 80 (Daniel 5: ca. 539 B.C.);
o and his being cast into the lions’ den (Daniel 6: ca. 537 or 536 B.C.).
§ In addition Daniel experienced, at least four times, special revelations of the future.
o Those recorded in Daniel 7-9 were probably given during Belshazzar’s reign,
o Those in Daniel 10-12 were in the first and third years of Cyrus’ rule.
§ It should be noted that the Book of Daniel is written half in Hebrew and half in Aramaic, the language of the Gentile world of Daniel’s day.
o The Aramaic portion, Daniel 2:4-7:28, seems to concentrate on Gentile issues.
We pick up the story with Nebuchadnezzar having a dream and being so moved by the dream that it wakes him up, yet, he is unable to correctly remember the dream. He will know it when he hears it, but cannot remember the details of it. His commands to his wizards, etc. are to both interpret the dream and to tell it to him first. The punishment is death. Daniel finds out about this, asks for time to consult God.
I DANIEL’S INTERACTION WITH GOD FOR AN ANSWER – 2:17-23
A The greater the issue the more to pray about it
1 Daniel involves his friends immediately
2 Often we wait to get others involved until the issue has grown.
a Pride may keep us from asking the help of other
b Fear or response may keep us from asking the help of others
c There is a difference between asking others for help in prayer for what we are going through, and it is QUITE another to “solicit” help for what others are going through.
1) One is biblical – the bearing of one another’s burdens
2) The other is biblical – the sin of gossip!
B Daniel petitions the “God of Heaven”
1 Phrase occurs
a 2 times in Genesis
Genesis 24:3 I want you to swear by the Lord, the God of heaven and the God of earth, that you will not get a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I am living,
Genesis 24:7 "The Lord, the God of heaven, who brought me out of my father’s household and my native land and who spoke to me and promised me on oath, saying, ’To your offspring I will give this land’--he will send his angel before you so that you can get a wife for my son from there.
b 1 time in 2 Chronicles
2 Chron. 36:23 "This is what Cyrus king of Persia says: " ’The Lord, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth and he has appointed me to build a temple for him at Jerusalem in Judah. Anyone of his people among you--may the Lord his God be with him, and let him go up.’ "
c 6 times in Daniel
Daniel 2:18-19 He urged them to plead for mercy from the God of heaven concerning this mystery, so that he and his friends might not be executed with the rest of the wise men of Babylon. [19] During the night the mystery was revealed to Daniel in a vision. Then Daniel praised the God of heaven
Daniel 2:37 You, O king, are the king of kings. The God of heaven has given you dominion and power and might and glory;
Daniel 2:44 "In the time of those kings, the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed, nor will it be left to another people. It will crush all those kingdoms and bring them to an end, but it will itself endure forever.
d 9 times in Ezra
Ezra 1:2 "This is what Cyrus king of Persia says: " ’The Lord, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth and he has appointed me to build a temple for him at Jerusalem in Judah.
Ezra 5:11-12 This is the answer they gave us: "We are the servants of the God of heaven and earth, and we are rebuilding the temple that was built many years ago, one that a great king of Israel built and finished. [12] But because our fathers angered the God of heaven, he handed them over to Nebuchadnezzar the Chaldean, king of Babylon, who destroyed this temple and deported the people to Babylon.
Ezra 6:9-10 Whatever is needed--young bulls, rams, male lambs for burnt offerings to the God of heaven, and wheat, salt, wine and oil, as requested by the priests in Jerusalem--must be given them daily without fail, [10] so that they may offer sacrifices pleasing to the God of heaven and pray for the well-being of the king and his sons.
Ezra 7:12 Artaxerxes, king of kings, To Ezra the priest, a teacher of the Law of the God of heaven:
Greetings.
Ezra 7:21 Now I, King Artaxerxes, order all the treasurers of Trans-Euphrates to provide with diligence whatever Ezra the priest, a teacher of the Law of the God of heaven, may ask of you--
Ezra 7:23 Whatever the God of heaven has prescribed, let it be done with diligence for the temple of the God of heaven. Why should there be wrath against the realm of the king and of his sons?
e 4 times in Nehemiah
Neh. 1:4-5 When I heard these things, I sat down and wept. For some days I mourned and fasted and prayed before the God of heaven. [5] Then I said: "O Lord, God of heaven, the great and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of love with those who love him and obey his commands,
Neh. 2:4 The king said to me, "What is it you want?" Then I prayed to the God of heaven,
Neh. 2:20 I answered them by saying, "The God of heaven will give us success. We his servants will start rebuilding, but as for you, you have no share in Jerusalem or any claim or historic right to it."
f 1 time in Jonah
Jonah 1:9 He answered, "I am a Hebrew and I worship the Lord, the God of heaven, who made the sea and the land."
g 3 times in Revelation
Rev. 11:13 At that very hour there was a severe earthquake and a tenth of the city collapsed. Seven thousand people were killed in the earthquake, and the survivors were terrified and gave glory to the God of heaven.
Rev. 16:11 and cursed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, but they refused to repent of what they had done.
h 1 time in Psalm
Psalm 136:26 Give thanks to the God of heaven. His love endures forever.
WHY? Tremendous evidence as to the accuracy of the Word of God. This attention to detail is amazing! God’s glory had departed in front of the judgment yet to come. So, god is not in Jerusalem any longer!
Ezekiel 10:1-2
I looked, and I saw the likeness of a throne of sapphire above the expanse that was over the heads of the cherubim. 2The LORD said to the man clothed in linen, "Go in among the wheels beneath the cherubim. Fill your hands with burning coals from among the cherubim and scatter them over the city." And as I watched, he went in.
Ezekiel 10:4
Then the glory of the LORD rose from above the cherubim and moved to the threshold of the temple. The cloud filled the temple, and the court was full of the radiance of the glory of the LORD.
Ezekiel 10:15-22
Then the cherubim rose upward. These were the living creatures I had seen by the Kebar River. 16When the cherubim moved, the wheels beside them moved; and when the cherubim spread their wings to rise from the ground, the wheels did not leave their side. 17When the cherubim stood still, they also stood still; and when the cherubim rose, they rose with them, because the spirit of the living creatures was in them.
18Then the glory of the LORD departed from over the threshold of the temple and stopped above the cherubim. 19While I watched, the cherubim spread their wings and rose from the ground, and as they went, the wheels went with them. They stopped at the entrance to the east gate of the LORD’S house, and the glory of the God of Israel was above them.
20These were the living creatures I had seen beneath the God of Israel by the Kebar River, and I realized that they were cherubim. 21Each had four faces and four wings, and under their wings was what looked like the hands of a man. 22Their faces had the same appearance as those I had seen by the Kebar River. Each one went straight ahead.
C Daniels Pattern in Seeking God
1 Prayer – asking God
2 Ministry of God – God answering
3 Worship – Adoration of God
II DANIEL’S INTERACTION WITH NEBUCHADNEZZAR WITH THE ANSWER – 2:26-47
A Declaring who is really giving the answer
1 Not Daniel
2 Not his friends
3 God is the answerer – important to give God the credit, ALL OF IT!
B Declaring the answer
1 Dream is a vision of the future
2 Dream concerns the entire “Time of the Gentiles”
Luke 21:24 They will fall by the sword and will be taken as prisoners to all the nations. Jerusalem will be trampled on by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.
C General thoughts concerning the vision
1 The time of the Gentiles is viewed as one unit – one statue = one unit
a Same world power, different phases
b Each incorporates the former
c Each incorporation loses “glory”
2 Vision is primarily political in nature
3 Far more is incorporated in the vision than is revealed by Daniel
4 The statue is a reverse of stability
a Feet are weaker then the head
b Heavier metals are on top
5 Simultaneous movement from significance to insignificance and insignificance to significance
a Statue to rubble
b Stone to mountain
6 The ultimate establishment of an eternal kingdom
D Interpretation concerning the vision
1 Head of Gold
a Reference to Nebuchadnezzar and his kingdom
b It is the start of the time of the gentiles
c Nebuchadnezzar rules with the authority from God – verse 37
d Nebuchadnezzar possesses the dominion man had in the garden, but lost because of sin – verse 38
2 Chest and Arms of Silver
a Reference to the Medes and Persians
b Shared power
c Nobility is ruling
1) Rank is equal
2) Position is not equal
d Dependency on others to rule
Ezra 7:14 You are sent by the king and his seven advisers to inquire about Judah and Jerusalem with regard to the Law of your God, which is in your hand.
Esther 1:13-16 Since it was customary for the king to consult experts in matters of law and justice, he spoke with the wise men who understood the times 14and were closest to the king--Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena and Memucan, the seven nobles of Persia and Media who had special access to the king and were highest in the kingdom.
15"According to law, what must be done to Queen Vashti?" he asked. "She has not obeyed the command of King Xerxes that the eunuchs have taken to her."
16Then Memucan replied in the presence of the king and the nobles, "Queen Vashti has done wrong, not only against the king but also against all the nobles and the peoples of all the provinces of King Xerxes.
e Lack of authority to rule
Daniel 5:18-19 "O king, the Most High God gave your father Nebuchadnezzar sovereignty and greatness and glory and splendor. 19Because of the high position he gave him, all the peoples and nations and men of every language dreaded and feared him. Those the king wanted to put to death, he put to death; those he wanted to spare, he spared; those he wanted to promote, he promoted; and those he wanted to humble, he humbled.
Daniel 6:14-15 When the king heard this, he was greatly distressed; he was determined to rescue Daniel and made every effort until sundown to save him. 15Then the men went as a group to the king and said to him, "Remember, O king, that according to the law of the Medes and Persians no decree or edict that the king issues can be changed."
3 Belly and thighs of bronze
a Reference to the empire of the Greeks and Macedonians
b Baser metal, less dense than the others
c Empire extended as far east as the borders of India
d Alexander the Great had himself proclaimed, “King of all the World”
e Greater division in the kingdom
f Prominence of the belly may have a reference to the drunkenness of Alexander and the luxury of the Ptolemies.
g Community status played an important part in the ability to rule – Aristocracy was important
4 Legs or Iron
a Reference to the Romans
b Strong as iron
c Less kingly
d Baser metal
e Diminished ability to rule – Leaders elected by popular MILITARY vote
5 Feet of Iron and Clay
a Possibly now
b Possibly a revival in the tribulation period
c Interesting information concerning this part of the statue
Daniel 2:43 And just as you saw the iron mixed with baked clay, so the people will be a mixture and will not remain united, any more than iron mixes with clay. (NIV)
Daniel 2:43 And whereas thou sawest iron mixed with miry clay, they shall mingle themselves with the seed of men: but they shall not cleave one to another, even as iron is not mixed with clay. (KJV)
Daniel 2:43 "And in that you saw the iron mixed with common clay, they will combine with one another in the seed of men; but they will not adhere to one another, even as iron does not combine with pottery. (NASB)
1) Mixture will bring weakness
2) Mixture will make foundation brittle
3) “Seed of men”
note -- We are dealing with a political vision
note -- We are dealing with the political fall of the time of the Gentiles
a) Allusion to the state of mankind before the flood
Genesis 6:1-2 Now it came about, when men began to multiply on the face of the land, and daughters were born to them, 2that the sons of God saw that the daughters of men were beautiful; and they took wives for themselves, whomever they chose.
Genesis 6:5-7 Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great on the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. 6And the LORD was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart. 7And the LORD said, "I will blot out man whom I have created from the face of the land, from man to animals to creeping things and to birds of the sky; for I am sorry that I have made them."
(1) An intense situation of wickedness
(1) A Universal wickedness – “every”
(1) A Situation so vile that God would bring a flood
b) We also know that great rulers of the earth can be and were controlled by demons
Ezekiel 28:11-19 Again the word of the LORD came to me saying, 12"Son of man, take up a lamentation over the king of Tyre, and say to him, ’Thus says the Lord GOD,
"You had the seal of perfection,
Full of wisdom and perfect in beauty.
13"You were in Eden, the garden of God;
Every precious stone was your covering:
The ruby, the topaz, and the diamond;
The beryl, the onyx, and the jasper;
The lapis lazuli, the turquoise, and the emerald;
And the gold, the workmanship of your settings and sockets,
Was in you.
On the day that you were created
They were prepared.
14"You were the anointed cherub who covers,
And I placed you there.
You were on the holy mountain of God;
You walked in the midst of the stones of fire.
15"You were blameless in your ways
From the day you were created,
Until unrighteousness was found in you.
16"By the abundance of your trade
You were internally filled with violence,
And you sinned;
Therefore I have cast you as profane
From the mountain of God.
And I have destroyed you, O covering cherub,
From the midst of the stones of fire.
17"Your heart was lifted up because of your beauty;
You corrupted your wisdom by reason of your splendor.
I cast you to the ground;
I put you before kings,
That they may see you.
18"By the multitude of your iniquities,
In the unrighteousness of your trade,
You profaned your sanctuaries.
Therefore I have brought fire from the midst of you;
It has consumed you,
And I have turned you to ashes on the earth
In the eyes of all who see you.
19"All who know you among the peoples
Are appalled at you;
You have become terrified,
And you will be no more." ’ "
Daniel 10:13 "But the prince of the kingdom of Persia was withstanding me for twenty-one days; then behold, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I had been left there with the kings of Persia.
d Conclude that the fall of the last part of the times of the Gentiles will come about by the influence of demonic activity in the political realm.
1) It may be that fallen angels left their habitation and inhabited bodies of human despots and warriors, the mighty ones of the earth.
2) Christianity blended with paganism
6 The Cut Out Rock
a Small and insignificant
b Will bring the statue down
c Will be a judgment upon the entire time of the Gentiles
1) Each part of the statue will be broken
2) Each part of the statue crushed to pieces
3) Illusion of Chaff
Psalm 1:4-5 The wicked are not so, But they are like chaff which the wind drives away. 5Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, Nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous.
d Kingdom of God will not be from the remains of others, but will be new on its own
e The three-fold perception of the rock
1) To Israel – a Stumbling Block
2) To the church – a Foundation
3) To the world – a Destroyer
Isaiah 8:14 "Then He shall become a sanctuary;
But to both the houses of Israel, a stone to strike and a rock to stumble over,
And a snare and a trap for the inhabitants of Jerusalem.
Ephes. 2:20
having been built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone,
Zech. 12:3
"And it will come about in that day that I will make Jerusalem a heavy stone for all the peoples; all who lift it will be severely injured. And all the nations of the earth will be gathered against it.
