Dan 2:1-11 NAS77 Now in the second year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar, Nebuchadnezzar had dreams; and his spirit was troubled and his sleep left him. (2) Then the king gave orders to call in the magicians, the conjurers, the sorcerers and the Chaldeans, 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 anxious to understand the dream.” (4) Then the Chaldeans spoke to the king in Aramaic: “O king, live forever! Tell the dream to your servants, and we will declare the interpretation.” (5) The king answered and said to the Chaldeans, “The command from me is firm: if you do not make known to me the dream and its interpretation, you will be torn limb from limb, and your houses will be made a rubbish heap. (6) “But if you declare the dream and its interpretation, you will receive from me gifts and a reward and great honor; therefore declare to me the dream and its interpretation.” (7) They answered a second time and said, “Let the king tell the dream to his servants, and we will declare the interpretation.” (8) The king answered and said, “I know for certain that you are bargaining for time, inasmuch as you have seen that the command from me is firm, (9) that if you do not make the dream known to me, there is only one decree for you. For you have agreed together to speak lying and corrupt words before me until the situation is changed; therefore tell me the dream, that I may know that you can declare to me its interpretation.” (10) The Chaldeans answered the king and said, “There is not a man on earth who could declare the matter for the king, inasmuch as no great king or ruler has ever asked anything like this of any magician, conjurer or Chaldean. (11) “Moreover, the thing which the king demands is difficult, and there is no one else who could declare it to the king except gods, whose dwelling place is not with mortal flesh.”

• When did these dreams visit Nebuchadnezzar? Were there more than one? What kind of dreams were they?
• Who did Nebuchadnezzar call to help him to understand his dreams?
• Their response in verse 3, were the magicians, conjurers, and sorcerers concerned or surprised about the king’s request? What does this tell you about dream interpretation in the Chaldean culture?
• What is the king’s offer in verses 5 and 6?
• How is it received in verse 7?
• What does the king’s response in verse 8 and 9 tell you about Nebuchadnezzar and the importance he places on understanding this dream?
• What do you see in the magician’s, conjurer’s and sorcerer’s response in verse 10 and 11? Are they as confident as they were before? Why have they changed their attitudes?
• Both Nebuchadnezzar and his mystical court are “backed into a wall” over these dreams. Have you ever felt like you were “backed into a wall” with no way out? Who do you turn to in these situations? How do you know that their guidance is true?
• Nebuchadnezzar is looking for someone who is obviously different than the rest of the wise men, who can reveal something that normal men cannot. He doesn’t trust his advisers so he puts out a test. How does this seem similar to our relationship with God and maybe also our relationship with unbelievers?

Dan 2:12-23 NAS77 Because of this the king became indignant and very furious, and gave orders to destroy all the wise men of Babylon. (13) So the decree went forth that the wise men should be slain; and they looked for Daniel and his friends to kill them. (14) Then Daniel replied with discretion and discernment to Arioch, the captain of the king’s bodyguard, who had gone forth to slay the wise men of Babylon; (15) he answered and said to Arioch, the king’s commander, “For what reason is the decree from the king so urgent?” Then Arioch informed Daniel about the matter. (16) So Daniel went in and requested of the king that he would give him time, in order that he might declare the interpretation to the king. (17) Then Daniel went to his house and informed his friends, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah, about the matter, (18) in order that they might request compassion from the God of heaven concerning this mystery, so that Daniel and his friends might not be destroyed with the rest of the wise men of Babylon. (19) Then the mystery was revealed to Daniel in a night vision. Then Daniel blessed the God of heaven; (20) Daniel answered and said, “Let the name of God be blessed forever and ever, For wisdom and power belong to Him. (21) “And it is He who changes the times and the epochs; He removes kings and establishes kings; He gives wisdom to wise men, And knowledge to men of understanding. (22) “It is He who reveals the profound and hidden things; He knows what is in the darkness, And the light dwells with Him. (23) “To Thee, O God of my fathers, I give thanks and praise, For Thou hast given me wisdom and power; Even now Thou hast made known to me what we requested of Thee, For Thou hast made known to us the king’s matter.”

• The king was true to his word. Not only the wise men in attendance, but all “wise” men of Babylon were to be killed. Does this seem fair? How would you react to this sentence? How did Daniel react to the sentence (verse 14)? What does this reveal about Daniel’s character?
• What did Daniel do and in what order according to verses 16-18? What does the order of events in verses 16-18 suggest about Daniel’s relationship with God? Do you follow the same order when you are challenged in life? What might this reveal about your relationship with God? (Job 12:22, 2Sa 22:29)
• What attributes of God does Daniel praise in verses 20-23? What attributes of God do you see in these verses?

Dan 2:24-28 NAS77 Therefore, Daniel went in to Arioch, whom the king had appointed to destroy the wise men of Babylon; he went and spoke to him as follows: “Do not destroy the wise men of Babylon! Take me into the king\’s presence, and I will declare the interpretation to the king.” (25) Then Arioch hurriedly brought Daniel into the king’s presence and spoke to him as follows: “I have found a man among the exiles from Judah who can make the interpretation known to the king!” (26) The king answered and said to Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, “Are you able to make known to me the dream which I have seen and its interpretation?” (27) Daniel answered before the king and said, “As for the mystery about which the king has inquired, neither wise men, conjurers, magicians, nor diviners are able to declare it to the king. (28) “However, there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries, and He has made known to King Nebuchadnezzar what will take place in the latter days. This was your dream and the visions in your mind while on your bed.

• Who does Daniel intercede for? Himself alone? Why?
• Did Arioch hear the interpretation before bringing Daniel before the king? If the king has power over life of his subjects, what risk did Arioch take? What does this reveal about his relationship with Daniel? What would make you trust someone so implicitly?
• What does the king ask? What does Daniel answer? Who does Nebuchadnezzar expect to give him an answer? To whom does Daniel attribute the answer?
• What do you see in Daniel’s attributing the answer to God before the king? What does this reveal about Daniel, God, and yourself?

Dan 2:29-30 NAS77 “As for you, O king, while on your bed your thoughts turned to what would take place in the future; and He who reveals mysteries has made known to you what will take place. (30) “But as for me, this mystery has not been revealed to me for any wisdom residing in me more than in any other living man, but for the purpose of making the interpretation known to the king, and that you may understand the thoughts of your mind.

• What is Daniel trying to show the king in these verses?
  • What purpose do the dreams serve?
  • What purpose does Daniel serve?
  • Who spoke to the king and for what purpose?

Dan 2:31-45 NAS77 “You, O king, were looking and behold, there was a single great statue; that statue, which was large and of extraordinary splendor, was standing in front of you, and its appearance was awesome. (32) “The head of that statue was made of fine gold, its breast and its arms of silver, its belly and its thighs of bronze, (33) its legs of iron, its feet partly of iron and partly of clay. (34) “You continued looking until a stone was cut out without hands, and it struck the statue on its feet of iron and clay, and crushed them. (35) “Then the iron, the clay, the bronze, the silver and the gold were crushed all at the same time, and became like chaff from the summer threshing floors; and the wind carried them away so that not a trace of them was found. But the stone that struck the statue became a great mountain and filled the whole earth. (36) “This was the dream; now we shall tell its interpretation before the king. (37) “You, O king, are the king of kings, to whom the God of heaven has given the kingdom, the power, the strength, and the glory; (38) and wherever the sons of men dwell, or the beasts of the field, or the birds of the sky, He has given them into your hand and has caused you to rule over them all. You are the head of gold. (39) “And after you there will arise another kingdom inferior to you, then another third kingdom of bronze, which will rule over all the earth. (40) “Then there will be a fourth kingdom as strong as iron; inasmuch as iron crushes and shatters all things, so, like iron that breaks in pieces, it will crush and break all these in pieces. (41) “And in that you saw the feet and toes, partly of potter\’s clay and partly of iron, it will be a divided kingdom; but it will have in it the toughness of iron, inasmuch as you saw the iron mixed with common clay. (42) “And as the toes of the feet were partly of iron and partly of pottery, so some of the kingdom will be strong and part of it will be brittle. (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. (44) “And in the days of those kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which will never be destroyed, and that kingdom will not be left for another people; it will crush and put an end to all these kingdoms, but it will itself endure forever. (45) “Inasmuch as you saw that a stone was cut out of the mountain without hands and that it crushed the iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver, and the gold, the great God has made known to the king what will take place in the future; so the dream is true, and its interpretation is trustworthy.”

• Kingdoms reflect most popular Christian scholars interpretation (Hippolytus, Augustine, Thomas Aquinus, Martin Luther, E.J. Young, and Gerhard Pfandl); they are not absolutes.
• Another view, Flavius Josephus and contemporary H.H. Rowley suggest that the kingdom are 1) Babylon, 2) Media, 3) Persia, 4) Greece.
• Stone: Luke 1:32, Gen 49:10, 2Sa 7:12-16, Isa 8:14-15, Isa 28:16, Mat 21:42-44
• Look again at how the statue is made. Is it designed to last forever?
• Each of the metals of the statue requires refining by men? How does this compare to the stone?
• Where does the stone strike the statue and what effect does it have on the statue? What does this reveal about the nature of man’s kingdoms versus God’s?

Dan 2:46-49 NAS77 Then King Nebuchadnezzar fell on his face and did homage to Daniel, and gave orders to present to him an offering and fragrant incense. (47) The king answered Daniel and said, “Surely your God is a God of gods and a Lord of kings and a revealer of mysteries, since you have been able to reveal this mystery.” (48) Then the king promoted Daniel and gave him many great gifts, and he made him ruler over the whole province of Babylon and chief prefect over all the wise men of Babylon. (49) And Daniel made request of the king, and he appointed Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego over the administration of the province of Babylon, while Daniel was at the king’s court.

• What was Nebuchadnezzar’s reaction to Daniel’s prophecy?
• Why did Nebuchadnezzar give glory to Daniel’s God?
• Even though Nebuchadnezzar gave glory to Daniel’s God, he still also gave him worldly gifts as well (promotion, great gifts, ruler over all of Babylon, chief prefect over all the wise men). What does this reveal about worldly blessings and heavenly blessings?
• What did Daniel do for his companions? What does this reveal about Daniel’s character. Is there a blessing from association with Godly people?

THEME

CHARACTER OF GOD

APPLICATION

REFERENCES

Job 12:22 NAS77 “He reveals mysteries from the darkness, And brings the deep darkness into light.

2Sa 22:29 NAS77 “For Thou art my lamp, O LORD; And the LORD illumines my darkness.

Luk 1:32 NAS77 “He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David;

Gen 49:10 NAS77 “The scepter shall not depart from Judah, Nor the ruler\’s staff from between his feet, Until Shiloh comes, And to him shall be the obedience of the peoples. (Shiloh: masculine noun meaning he who it is – often referring to the Messiah)

2Sa 7:12-16 NAS77 “When your days are complete and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your descendant after you, who will come forth from you, and I will establish his kingdom. (13) “He shall build a house for My name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. (14) “I will be a father to him and he will be a son to Me; when he commits iniquity, I will correct him with the rod of men and the strokes of the sons of men, (15) but My lovingkindness shall not depart from him, as I took it away from Saul, whom I removed from before you. (16) “And your house and your kingdom shall endure before Me forever; your throne shall be established forever.”‘”

Isa 8:14-15 NAS77 “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. (15) “And many will stumble over them, Then they will fall and be broken; They will even be snared and caught.”

Isa 28:16 NAS77 Therefore thus says the Lord GOD, “Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a tested stone, A costly cornerstone for the foundation, firmly placed. He who believes in it will not be disturbed.

Mat 21:42-44 NAS77 Jesus *said to them, “Did you never read in the Scriptures, ‘THE STONE WHICH THE BUILDERS REJECTED, THIS BECAME THE CHIEF CORNER stone; THIS CAME ABOUT FROM THE LORD, AND IT IS MARVELOUS IN OUR EYES’? (43) “Therefore I say to you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you, and be given to a nation producing the fruit of it. (44) “And he who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces; but on whomever it falls, it will scatter him like dust.”

Parallel verses of dream with interpretation

Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream	Daniel’s Interpretation	Addendum
31 \”You looked, O king, and there before you stood a large statue—an enormous, dazzling statue, awesome in appearance.		44 The great God has shown the king what will take place in the future.
	36 \”This was the dream, and now we will interpret it to the king.	The dream is true and theinterpretation is trustworthy.
	37 You, O king, are the king of kings. The God of heaven has given you dominion and power and might and glory; 38 in your hands he has placed mankind and the beasts of the field and the birds of the air. Wherever they live, he has made you ruler over them all.
32 The head of the statue was made of pure gold,	You are that head of gold.
its chest and arms	39 “After you, another kingdom will rise,
of silver,	inferior to yours.
its belly and thighs	Next, a third kingdom,
of bronze,	one of bronze,
	will rule over the whole earth.
33 its legs	there will be a fourth kingdom,
of iron,	strong as iron—for iron breaks and smashes everything—and as iron breaks things to pieces, so it will crush and break all the others.
its feet	41 Just as you saw that the feet and toes … kingdom
partly of iron and partly of baked clay.	were partly of baked clay and partly of iron,	so this will be a divided kingdom;
	even as you saw iron mixed with clay.	yet it will have some of the strength of iron in it
	42 As the toes were partly iron and partly clay,	so this kingdom will be partly strong and partly brittle.
	43 And just as you saw the iron mixed with baked clay,	so the people will be a mixture
	any more than iron mixes with clay	and will not remain united,
34 While you were watching,	44 “In the time of those kings,
a rock was cut out,	the God of heaven will set up a kingdom	45 This is the meaning of the vision of the rockcut out of a mountain,
but not by human hands.		but not by human hands
	that will never be destroyed,
	nor will it be left to another people.
It struck the statue on its feet of iron and clay
and smashed them.	It will crush all those kingdoms
35 Then the iron, the clay, the bronze, the silver and the gold		… the iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver and the gold …
were broken to pieces		a rock that broke … to pieces.
at the same time
and became like chaff on a threshing floor in the summer.
The wind swept them away	and bring them to an end,
without leaving a trace.
But the rock that struck the statue
became a huge mountain	but it will itself endure forever.
and filled the whole earth.

Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nebuchadnezzar%27s_statue_vision_in_Daniel_2