Daniel 2:1-30  Dreams and Interpretations, Part 1  

 

How many of you dream regularly?

A) They say that everyone dreams – but I have to say

I never remember mine at all.

 

B) That doesn’t bug me because Acts2:17 says that in the last days – Old men dream dreams – {not old

1) Young men will see visions – Lots of visions

  I AM STILL A YOUNG MAN

 

C) Interesting that any dream that I remember having is a dream that I would rather forget

1) Wake up thank you Jesus that was not real

 

Some dreams are just down right weird:

A) When I was maybe 9 yrs old – I used to watch this show on TV HR Puff in Stuff

 

B) Guys who made those shows – Willy Wonka/ HR were dropping Acid – Just plain weird

 

C) Hideous Character Witch big crooked green nose

Witchpoo

1) Well I dreamt one night that I fell in love with Witchypoo – woke up Kissing my Pillow

 

D) Weird Dream? Dreams are often very weird – sometimes pp tell me their dreams ask what do you think it means

1) BAD PIZZA – too much Ice Cream before bed

Some people have reoccurring dreams

A) My wife has these reoccurring dreams – actually common – a lot of pp have these.

 

B) She has the one where her teeth are falling out.

1) The most common recurring dream that pp have

 

C) Being Chased – Always fun – noises

1) Dream of everything unraveling – something can’t seem to finish

 

Dreams are Weird – We really can’t know exactly what they mean – different theories

A) Here in Daniel Ch.2 – King Neb has a dream maybe even a recurring dream that has very significant meaning.

 

B) God reveals that meaning to young Daniel – and how that story unfolds is very interesting

 

Read V.1-13 

V.1 Now in the second year of Nebuchadnezzar's reign,

A) You might be wondering – wait 2nd year – We learned last week that Daniel trained 3 yrs – going backward

 

B) No remember intro: The Babylonians didn’t count the first year of a king’s reign –

1) The year of Ascension – Neb and his dad transition

 

C) So this was the 2nd official year of His reign – which started after he brought the captives back

1) But this happens in the 3rd year after they were taken

D) After Daniel and his friends 3 yrs of training where they arose to a place of prominence

1) RD Ch.1:19-20

 

So in the second year of Nebuchadnezzar's reign,

Nebuchadnezzar had dreams and his spirit was so troubled that his sleep left him.

A) Dreams Plural – really recurring dream – because it is this one dream that is haunting him.

 

B) We find out in v.29 that it all started when Neb was thinking about – his rule and what happens after this

1) What is going to happen when I am gone?

 

C) He has this dream – apparently more than once.

 

D) And it troubled him = he was deeply disturbed

 

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."

 

So Neb calls for the counselors that he inherited from his dad – and says – Dream Problem

A) We are going to find here that Neb doesn’t really trust these guys.

 

B) Who were they: Magicians – not magic or tricks

Not entertainers

1) Magicians = fortune tellers.

Astrologers= Star gazers – those today writing horoscopes

 

Sorcerers = They were mediums, the type that would do sιances and try to talk to the dead.

 

Chaldeans = Wise men supposed to have a connection to the gods.

 

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."

A) That is a good thing to say to a guy like Neb when he is in a Bad mood -  Common greeting

 

B) Tell us the dream – Look by at the end of v.3

 

V.3 my spirit anxious to know the dream!
A) Some think that this statement means that Neb forgot the dream – wants them to tell him the dream and the Interpretation

 

B) Others think that Neb is simply putting his staff of wise men, Spiritists and soothsayers to the test.

 

C) Ultimate test to prove their worth – their connection to the gods

1) He will say “Tell me the dream and the interpretation.”

2) “Anyone can make up an interpretation – so start by telling me what I dreamed”  

Either way you want to look at it – Tall order

Huge Challenge.

A) Note V.4 4 Then the Chaldeans spoke to the king in Aramaic,

 

B) There is a language change at this pt in the book from Hebrew to Aramaic Ch.2:4- Ch.7

1) And we know from the Structure of the Book that the Aramaic is consistent with the Aramaic writing style of the 6th century BC –

 

C) The Aramaic used at the time of Christ had a different sentence structure.

1) I point this out simply to remind you that this is another validation of Daniel’s authorship.

 

3 Biblical languages

A) Hebrew, Greek and Aramaic

 

B) Aramaic used in the OT is different from the NT

1) Aramaic used in the OT appears in only 4 places

 

Genesis 31:47

Laban called it Jegar Sahadutha, {Aramaic} but Jacob called it Galeed.{Hebrew} = The heep of witness

 

Jeremiah 10:11

“Thus you shall say to them: “The gods that have not made the heavens and the earth shall perish from the earth and from under these heavens."

 

 

Interesting because this was spoken at the time of that the Hebrews were taken captive by the Babylonians

A) Jeremiah speaks this one sentence in Aramaic – directed at their oppressors

 

B) The Hebrews were to repeat to those taking them captive – basically saying – Your gods will not prevail!

 

C) Ezra 4:8- Ch.6:18 and Ch.12:12-26 is written in Aramaic

1) Ezra living in Babylon no doubt learned Aramaic which also became the official language of the Medo Persian Empire.

 

D) Then here in Daniel 2:4 – Ch. 7 – Chapters dealing with prophecies concerning the Gentile nations 

1) Written in a Language they could understand

 

E) Ch.8 the focus is back on Israel and so the writing reverts back to Hebrew

 

F) So that might interest some of you 

 

So The Chaldeans in V.4 ask Neb – tell us the dream

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."

 

In the Kings eyes this was very simple – If you guys are as wise and connected as you claim – you tell me the dream and the interpretation.

A) If you can’t – cut you to pieces – burn down your houses

 

B) One way to CUT GOVT BUDGET –

1) President Bush – Dream – cutting congress off.

 

C) But on the flip side great reward if they pulled it off.

 

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, {just stalling for 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."

 

Shows the Power of Neb – he could make a decree to wipe out all the Governmental staff – no one could question it.

A) Now these guys are worried – freaking out – the Chaldeans the leaders of the group say: v.10

 "There is not a man on earth who can tell the king's matter; therefore no king, lord, or ruler has ever asked such things of any magician, astrologer, or Chaldean. 11 It is a difficult thing that the king requests, and there is no other who can tell it to the king except the gods, whose dwelling is not with flesh."

B) They were basically saying the King was being Unreasonable.

 

12 For this reason the king was angry and very furious, and gave the command to destroy all the wise men of Babylon.

 

V.12 It was right for the King to be angry and furious

A) If the gods were real and these were their servants and wise men  - Why was this so hard?

 

B) Reasonable request really { Today we should be able to call up a Physic and say – I had a dream tell me what it was  and what it means

 

C) Actually – I do believe that Satan and his demons can deliver that type of information

1) When someone opens themselves up to the occult – by consulting with a medium / fortune tellers

 

D) Information is given – talking to the dead – that is exactly what is happening { Demonic

 

Which makes this story very interesting:

A) The Magicians, astrologers, sorcerers and Chaldeans were no doubt tapped into demonic forces

 

B) But God is not going to allow them to do anything here -  He has a greater plan

1) Theme of this book is the Sovereignty of God

 

C) He is Sovereign in His ways / His dealings over Satan and the Demons – He gives them a degree of Freedom –

 

D) People who reject truth and want to go down that road – God lets them – Subject to deception

 

But here God had a bigger plan in mind –

A) The king's wise men had been forced to admit that only a supernatural being could reveal the details of a forgotten dream to anyone.

 

B) That admission set up the scene for Daniel exactly as God planned.

1) He was God's man commissioned to reveal prophetic truth at a time of crisis.

 

C) The events of this Chapter are going to result in the beginning or a spiritual awakening for Neb.

 

Daniel 2:13

So the decree went out, and they began killing the wise men; and they sought Daniel and his companions, to kill them.

 

D) At first glance things are not looking too good for Daniel and his friends are included in this group .

 

Pick up RD v.14-16

 

Now this is really interesting to me – Daniel goes in and asked the King for some time – the very thing the other guys were seeking

A) And the King granted this to Daniel – which I think really speaks of how much he respected Daniel

 

B) Daniel was genuine – don’t you just appreciate when someone is genuine –

1) Not going to try to snow you – not trying to sell you something – really care

 

C) Read about a used car dealership in Michigan very successful – what do pp hate about used car places –do the opposite

 

D) No pressure sales – Go in – Computer – stations beverages – look through the list –

1) Don’t talk to someone until you are ready

 

E) Neb appreciated how Genuine Daniel was

 

 

What does Daniel do? Rd v.17-18

A) Goes and get his 3 friends – we need to pray – Pray for Mercy

 

B) Seek the mercies from the God of heaven

 

C) Good to pray for mercy – never pray God give me what I deserve.

 

How do you handle a crisis? Where run?

A) Daniel runs to his friends and together they pray to the Lord.

 

B) The degree of our dependency upon the Lord is going to be seen in how quickly we turn to him in prayer

 

C) And how patient we are to wait for Him to answer

 

Philippians  4:6-7 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

 

Some of you are Anxious tonight

A) Anxious about Jobs – Relationships –

Anxious about the Future

 

B) Have you run to the Lord in Prayer? Have you called some brothers or sisters – pray with me

1) Have you waited on the Lord to answer?

 

C) Here is what is interesting – that Phil 4:6-7 – It doesn’t say that God is going to answer –

1) Doesn’t say – He will immediately respond

 

D) What it does say – is God gives a peace that surpasses all understanding &  He will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus

That is what is needed in times of Crisis/ when anxious The devil loves to use those type of situations to get my heart flustered – heart ache –

A) Loves to play games with my mind – thoughts and scenarios that are not true

 

B) But when I go to the Lord in prayer –when I come to him in worship with a thankful seeking heart

 

C) My heart is filled with peace – My mind clear

1) Things that make no sense to me – I am at total REST

 

Prayer changes things – the first thing it changes is me.

 A) Jr. High Prayed God move on our campus

  Revivals began{ Few people to got together to pray

 

B) Didn’t see Revival happen on our Campus – but Revival happened in our hearts { Your School

 

C) God always answers prayer – Yes / NO / Wait –

1) But prayer impacts our hearts

 

D) Daniel and his friends – prayed – they sought the Lord – God answered 

                                RD v.19-23

 

God answers their prayer and before running to the King – Daniel breaks out into praise.

A) Often too busy to worship God –

 

Matt Redman “The heart of God loves a persevering worshipper who, though overwhelmed by many troubles is overwhelmed even more by the Beauty of God”

 

B) Matt – Tells the story of the time that Charles Wesley holding a prayer meeting in an upstairs room

1) Floor collapsed – 100 pp crashed right thru the ceiling

 

C)The place was in chaos /some screaming others were crying – Wesley himself was wounded lying on the floor when he yelled out – FEAR NOT The Lord is w/ us our lives are all safe –

 

Then he breaks out in singing the Doxology – Praise God from whom all Blessings flow

 

Redmond Writes – “Perhaps a bizarre choice considering what just happened but here is the point: while everyone else was still licking their wounds the heart of this unstoppable worshipper was responding with unshakeable praise”

 

A) What is interesting about this outbreak  of praise is it is very Biblical

 

B) Daniel used 15 direct quotes from 6-7 OT books including Psalms, Job, 1,2 Chronicles

C) Which reveals how much even as an 18 year old he knew the word of God.

1) All the great men of God throughout history have been those who KNEW HIS WORD.

 

D) Too many distractions today: Last days – God said there would be a famine for the word.

1) Not here –I pray not in your hearts

 

24 Therefore Daniel went to Arioch, whom the king had appointed to destroy the wise men of Babylon. He went and said thus to him: "Do not destroy the wise men of Babylon; take me before the king, and I will tell the king the interpretation."

 

Daniel had a heart for People  

A) Goes to Arioch & says don’t destroy the wise men of Babylon

 

B) Now this is interesting to me – Could have said those guys are the false prophets kill them - but not us

1) But he doesn’t do that Why? – Saw the potential for them to be won to the true & living God

 

C) QUESTION:   How do you view those around you?

1) Especially those who are different –

 

D) See People as Problems – Pains or as Potential Brother in the Lord

 

E) Disciples saw pp as a nuisance/ Jesus wayward shp