Pastor Peter's Bible Insights
Daniel Chapter Two
Daniel had barely completed his studies at the University of Babylon when he faced the first challenge in his diplomatic career. He had just turned 17. The prominent feature in this chapter is Nebuchadnezzar's amazing dream and Daniel's interpretation. Why God chose to reveal to an ungodly king the future kingdom of the world has been a mystery. Part of the answer lies in a provocative statement made by Jesus in Luke 21:24 "...Jerusalem will be trampled underfoot by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled." The Time of the Gentiles began with the fall of Jerusalem in 586 BC and will continue until Messiah returns to earth the second time. "Then the Lord will go forth and fight against those nations, as when he fights on a day of battle. And in that day His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, which is in front of Jerusalem on the east; and the Mount of Olives will be split in its middle from east to west..." (Zechariah 14:3-4). Nebuchadnezzar was given this great revelation of nations because God used him to usher in the "Time of the Gentiles."
Vs 1. Nebuchadnezzar was troubled. The word "troubled" indicates a deep disturbance. Why would a king at the pinnacle of his power have trouble sleeping? An interesting title for this text is "Royal Insomnia."
Vs 2. The king called in his top advisors. They are divided into four groups.
Magicians: These were scholars.
Astrologers/conjurers: Babylon was the home of the tower of Babel where astrology was born.
Sorcerers: Men who offered incantations to the Babylonian pantheon,
of whom Marduk was foremost.
Chaldeans: Top military officials and ranking citizens.
Vs 4. It is interesting to note that from chapter 2:4 through chapter 7:28, Daniel wrote in Aramaic rather than in Hebrew. These chapters that outline the rise and fall of the empires of the world were addressed in the language of the day.
Vs 5. I believe that how one translates the word "Azda" here and in verse 8 completely changes our understanding of Nebuchadnezzar's actions.
The KJV translates "Azda" as "The thing is gone from me..." leading one to the conclusion that the King had forgotten his dream.
The NIV translates "Azda" as "This is what I have firmly decided..."
The NASB translates "Azda" as "The command from me is firm..."
These last two translations lead one to the conclusion that the King did remember his dream and was using this occasion to find out whom he could trust. Keep in mind that he had inherited his father Nabopolassar's cabinet and might have been seeking an opportunity to bring in a fresh slate of officers.
Preaching/Teaching Suggestions
Contrast the response of the Arioch and the Chaldeans versus Daniel and his friends.
Contempt (Vs 7) versus Calmness (Vs 14)
Panic (Vs 13) versus Prayer (Vs 18)
Death (Vs 13) versus Life (Vs 18, 24; Deuteronomy 30:19)
Paralysis (Vs 10) versus Praise (Vs 19)
Nebuchadnezzar's Dream
Vs 31. The King saw a great statue of extraordinary splendor.
Vs 32. The head of that statue was made of gold, its breast and its arms of silver, its belly and its thighs of bronze, its legs of iron, its feet partly of iron and partly of clay.
A Dream That Unifies
Nebuchadnezzar's dream and its interpretation are the underlying theme that unifies the entire book of Daniel. Chapter two presents a preview of world history from a political viewpoint. Chapter seven presents the same history from God's viewpoint. Chapter eight shows how Israel will fit into this world history. Chapter nine shows how the church will fit into world history at the end of time.
FUTURE KINGDOMS
Chapter 2 Chapter 7 Chapter 8 Chapter 9
Political Spiritual Israel Church
Gold Winged Lion
Silver Bear Ram
Bronze Leopard Goat
Iron Composite Man
Iron and Clay
The dream in Chapter two was given to Nebuchadnezzar and interpreted by Daniel.
The dream in Chapter seven was given to Daniel and interpreted by an Angel.
Chaldeans 620 BC to 538 BC (also referred to as Neo-Babylon)
Medes & Persians 538 BC to 333 BC
Greece 333 BC to 168 BC (Empire of Alexander the Great)
Rome 49 BC to 400 AD (Rome continued as Byzantium until 1453 AD)
Revived Rome Yet to come
The site was written and produced by Rev. Peter McLewin 2001, all rights reserved