A Dreamer of
Dreams
Simple Studies in the Scripture The Book of Daniel
The Book of Daniel
Human Author: Daniel
Divine Author: God the Holy Spirit
Date of Writing: 6th Century BC
Key Thought: The Sovereignty of God over the
Kingdoms of the Earth
Key Verse: Daniel 4:17
“This matter is by the
decree of the watchers, and the demand by the word of the holy ones: to the
intent that the living may know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of
men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will, and setteth up over it the basest of men.”
Special
Note. Since Daniel is a type of
Christ his words have been placed in red. The words of kings are in blue, the
words of angels in pink and all others in brown. The words of the Lord are
indigo.
1 In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of
King Josiah of
c. 640-609 BC
Elder son Middle son Younger Son
1:1 Jehoiakim.
The narrative begins in the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim (609-598 BC),
king of
Johanan
should have been the crowned king but Pharaoh Necho of
Pharaoh Necho thought that
he could control Jehoiakim. The king of
At first, the tribute money
was paid. Jehoiakim taxed the people (2 Kings
As the king of
Jehoiakim had built by
forced labor a splendid palace that violated the Law of the Lord (Lev.
1:1 Nebuchadnezzar,
king of
2 And the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of
1:2 Behind the
natural outworking of human evens is the unseen hand of God. From a human
perspective Nebuchadnezzar went forth to conquer with a mighty army. From a
divine perspective “the Lord gave
Jehoiakim king of
Charles H. Spurgeon wrote, “There is no attribute
more comforting to His children than that of God’s sovereignty. Under the most
adverse circumstances, in the most severe trials, they believe that sovereignty
has ordained their afflictions, that sovereignty
overrules them, and that sovereignty will sanctify them all. There is nothing
for which the children ought to more earnestly contend to than the doctrine of
their Master over all creation—the Kingship of God over all the works of His
own
hands—the Throne of
God and His right to sit upon that throne...for it is God upon the Throne whom
we trust.”
3 And the king spake unto Ashpenaz the master of his eunuchs, that he
should bring certain of the children of
1:2-3 In place of the king, Nebuchadnezzar took a
large portion of the great wealth of the house of God (1:2) plus political
hostages in selected children of Israel (Dan. 1:3). By allowing these things to
happen God manifested His justice. Once the people of the
Lord had brought the images ofother gods into His
temple. Now the Lord allowed the holy vessels to be carried into the
treasuries of other gods. Once the people of the Lord
absorbed the children of other nations. Now, the children of
4 Children in whom was no
blemish, but well favoured [gifted], and skilful in all wisdom, and cunning in
knowledge, and understanding science, and such as had ability in them to stand [serve] in the king's palace, and whom
they might teach the learning and the tongue of the Chaldeans.
5 And the king appointed them a daily provision of the king's meat, and
of the wine which he drank: so nourishing them three years, that at the end
thereof they might stand before the king.
1:4-5
When Nebuchadnezzar made his decision to deport the children of
v
The young people had to be physically sound.
v
The young people had to be intelligent.
v
The young people had to possess a great capacity to learn.
v
The young people had to be teachable.
v
The young people had to have a gift for learning languages.
To honor those selected for deportation, Nebuchadnezzar appointed them the best food and drink of the kingdom (Dan. 1:5). In all of this the king was politically wise for he was building for the future. In the years to come, the young captives would be assimilated into the Chaldean culture but still able to function as ambassadors to foreign nations or conquered territories.
6 Now among these were of the children of Judah, Daniel, Hananiah,
Mishael, and Azariah:
1:6
The Hebrew name Daniel means "judgment of God." He was of the tribe of
Ezekiel
paid honor to him (Ezek. 28:3) and place him in the esteemed company of Noah
and Job (Ezek.
Josephus
called Daniel one of the greatest prophets. Even the angel respected him for
Gabriel called him a man greatly beloved.
Daniel
was destined to lead a long and active life in the courts and councils of some
of the greatest rulers ever to have lived in the persons of Nebuchadnezzar,
Cyrus, and Darius.
It
is believed that Daniel finally died in
7 Unto whom the prince of the eunuchs gave names: for he gave unto
Daniel the name of Belteshazzar; and
to Hananiah, of Shadrach; and to Mishael, of Meshach; and to Azariah, of
Abednego.
Name Hebrew
Meaning
Daniel
God is my judge
New Name Chaldean
Meaning
Belteshazzar
The keeper of the hidden
treasures
of Bel
~*~
Name Hebrew
Meaning
Hananiah
The grace of the sun
New Name Chaldean
Meaning
Shadrach
The inspiration of the
Lord
~*~
Name Hebrew
Meaning
Mishael
He that is the strong God
New Name Chaldean
Meaning
Meshach Of
the goddess Shach
(Venus)
~*~
Name Hebrew
Meaning
Azariah
The Lord is help
New Name Chaldean
Meaning
Abednego
The servant of shining
fire
8 But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself
with the portion [ration] of the king's meat, nor with
the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs
that he might not defile himself.
9 Now God had brought Daniel into favour and tender love with the
prince of the eunuchs.
1:9
There is a divine proverb that guides certain
relationships. “When a man's ways please
the LORD, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him” (Prov 16:7).
10 And the prince of the eunuchs said unto Daniel, I fear my lord the king, who hath appointed your meat
[food] and your drink: for why should he see your faces worse [less healthy]
liking than the children which are of
your sort? Then shall ye make me endanger
my head to the king.
11 Then said Daniel to Melzar, whom the prince of the eunuchs had set
over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah,
12 Prove thy servants, I beseech thee, ten
days; and let them give us pulse [vegetable] to eat, and water to drink.
13 Then let our countenances be looked upon
before thee, and the countenance of the children that eat of the portion of the
king's meat [meat]: and as thou seest, deal with thy servants.
14 So he consented to them in this matter, and proved [tested] them ten
days.
15 And at the end of ten days their countenances appeared fairer and
fatter [healthier] in flesh than all the children which did eat the portion of
the king's meat.
16 Thus Melzar took away the portion of their meat, and the wine that
they should drink; and gave them pulse [vegetable].
17 As for these four children, God gave them knowledge and skill in all
learning and wisdom: and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams.
1:8-17
The courage of conviction. Following his
strong stand for a godly purpose (1:8), time passed quickly and quietly for
Daniel and his three friends.
Their
days were filled with concentrated education in all the knowledge of
18 Now at the end of the days that the king had said he should bring
them in, then the prince of the eunuchs brought them in before Nebuchadnezzar.
19 And the king communed with them; and among them all was found none
like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah: therefore stood [served] they
before the king.
20 And in all matters of wisdom and
understanding, that the king inquired of them, he
found them ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers that were in
all his realm.
1:18-20
One
by one King Nebuchadnezzar questioned the young men who stood before him. He
was particularly impressed with Daniel, Hanaiah, Mishael, and Azariah. No
matter what subject he spoke to them about, they were infinitely more informed
and knowledgeable than anyone else in his whole kingdom.
While
Nebuchadnezzar did not bother to inquire what the ultimate source of their
wisdom was, the Bible is careful to
give the honor and glory to God.
The
Scriptures state plainly (Dan.
Men
who do not know God attribute the acquisition of learning to chance or natural
selection. Such thinking brings dishonor to the Lord and it dishonors man
himself for it is an illogical and unreasonable thought. Nothing
cannot make itself greater than it is. The chair cannot become a diamond
nor can the bird become an airplane. The infant in the cradle cannot increase
in knowledge unless God gives it the means and the opportunity.
Because
Christians recognize the Source of all learning and wisdom, believers can
appeal to that Source to
grant more grace in the distribution of these
gifts. James, the brother of Christ
according to the flesh,
instructs us to do this very thing (James 1:5).
21 And Daniel continued even unto
the first year of king Cyrus [of
1. During what time period does the narrative for the book of Daniel begin?
Answer.
2.
List the meaning of the names of Daniel and his friends in captivity,
their new names and what they mean.
Answer.
3.
Briefly identify the following:
Answer.
4.
What qualities did the Babylonians look for in the young people they
deported?
Answer.
5. How much wiser were the
Hebrew students than the Babylonian scholars?
1.
Do you believe in and embrace the biblical revelation of the absolute
sovereignty of God in human affairs? If not, why not?
2.
Do you have the courage of your convictions? Has that courage ever been
tested? What was the result of the test?
3.
Why do you think Daniel refused to each the food and wine from the
king’s table? What his decision rational? Why or why not?
4.
Do you believe that God speaks to people in dreams today? Explain. If
you do believe God has spoken to you in a dream, please share what was “said” to you.
5.
What role if any should astrology have in the Christian life? Should
Christians read horoscopes even for fun? Why or why not?
· Daniel 1:8 But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile
himself with the portion [ration] of the king's meat, nor
with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the
eunuchs that he might not defile himself.
In the ancient world dreams were regarded as
having significance and as portents of events yet to come. One night, King
Nebuchadnezzar of
The function of these Wise Men was to tap into
the supernatural. Such activities were condemned by the Law of Moses (cf. Deut.
While the King may not have forgotten the entire
dream (Dan. 2:9), he had to find a way to test the Wise Men to know if they
could really provide a correct answer as to the meaning of the dream. In his
heart the King must have known, as did the Wise Men, that
the religion of
1 And in the second year of the reign of
Nebuchadnezzar Nebuchadnezzar dreamed dreams, wherewith his spirit was
troubled, and his sleep brake from him.
2 Then the king commanded to call the magicians, and the astrologers, and the sorcerers, and the Chaldeans, for to shew the king his dreams. So they came and stood before the king.
3 And the king said unto them, I have dreamed a dream, and my spirit was troubled to know
[understand] the dream.
4 Then spake the Chaldeans to the king in Syriack, O king, live forever: tell thy servants the dream, and we
will shew the interpretation.
2:1-4 When the Wise Men first heard that the King had a dream,
they were not unduly concerned. Even when the King threatened them with
dismemberment and ruin, they were not alarmed. Such threats were common and to
be expected. The violence of an eastern despot was brutal. So the Wise Men
spoke to Nebuchadnezzar in Syriack [i.e. Aramaic] (Dan. 2:4) with great
confidence. If they were able to help the king, they would receive gifts,
financial rewards, and great honor. Now, if the King would simply tell them
what it was he dreamed they would immediately be able to provide him with an
interpretation that would comfort his heart.
5 The king answered and said to the Chaldeans, The thing is gone from me: if ye will not make known unto me
the dream, with the interpretation thereof, ye shall be cut in pieces, and your
houses shall be made a dunghill.
6 But if ye shew [tell] the
dream, and the interpretation thereof, ye shall receive of me gifts and rewards
and great honour: therefore shew me the dream, and the interpretation thereof.
7 They answered again and said, Let the king
tell his servants the dream, and we will shew the interpretation of it.
2:5-7 For the second
time the Wise Men asked the King to share his dream. But the King would not
reveal his dream nor would he cancel his threat to kill the Wise Men if they
proved not to be so wise. Now the Wise Men were concerned and for good reason.
It would soon be apparent for all to see that they had no real ability to tell
the King what he dreamed or what his dream meant. In anger Nebuchadnezzar
roared at his Wise Men whose hearts were beating rapidly beneath their flowing
robes.
8 The king answered and said, I know of certainty that ye would gain the time, because ye
see the thing is gone from me.
9 But if ye will not make
known unto me the dream, there is but
one decree for you: for ye have prepared lying and corrupt words to speak
before me, till the time be changed: therefore tell me the dream, and I shall
know that ye can shew me the interpretation thereof.
10 The Chaldeans answered before the king, and said,
There is not a man upon the earth that can shew
[reveal] the king's matter: therefore there
is no king, lord, nor ruler, that asked
such things at any magician, or astrologer, or Chaldean.
11 And it is a rare thing that the king requireth, and there is none other that can shew it before the king, except the gods, whose dwelling is not with flesh.
2:8-11
Speaking for the third time the Wise Men pleaded with the King. He was asking
too much (2:10-11). What he wanted was beyond human power. Of course it was!
And now the truth was out. Whatever the Wise Men could do they did with human
power. No wonder the King became furious at them. He was supporting a large
group of men who claimed to have access to supernatural power. But when the supernatural
power was needed, it was not available. The Wise Men with all their clever
tricks were but human after all. In his anger and frustration,
12 For this cause the king was angry and very
furious, and commanded to destroy all the wise men of Babylon.
13 And the decree went forth that the wise men should be slain; and they sought
Daniel and his fellows to be slain.
2:12-13
Nebuchadnezzar sent forth the royal decree that the Wise Men were to be
executed immediately. Included in this mandate were Daniel and his three
friends because they had been trained under the Wise Men. Unless something
happened quickly, Daniel and his friends were going to be executed for the sins
of
others. When word reached Daniel he acted
swiftly.
14 Then Daniel answered with counsel and wisdom to Arioch the captain
of the king's guard, which was gone forth to slay the wise men of Babylon:
15 He answered and said to Arioch the king's
captain, Why is the
decree so hasty [urgent] from the
king? Then Arioch made the thing known to Daniel.
2:14-15 First, he requested an audience with
Arioch, the guard of the palace to discover why the King was acting with such
harshness (not hastiness). In this behavior, Daniel provides a very important
example. It is vital to discover what is on the other person's mind without
assuming that one knows and without attributing things that one does not know
to be the case.
16 Then Daniel went in, and desired of the king that
he would give him time, and that he would shew the king the interpretation.
2:16 After he was fully
informed, the Bible says that Daniel secured an audience with the King to make
a request and to give a promise. The request was for just a little more time.
17 Then Daniel went to his house, and made the thing
known to Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, his companions:
18 That they would desire mercies of the God of
heaven concerning this secret; that Daniel and his fellows should not perish
with the rest of the wise men of
Babylon.
19 Then was the secret revealed unto Daniel in a
night vision. Then Daniel blessed the God of heaven.
2:17-19 The promise was that the dream would be revealed and explained. Observe in this three thoughts.
First,
Daniel's confidence which was based upon past experiences with the Lord. Daniel
knew that he had a special gift from God and so did other people.
Second,
consider Daniel's courage, which was extraordinary. "Men of deep faith," says Matthew Henry, "are bold."
Third,
notice Daniel's humility. While Daniel is confident, he is not presumptuous. He
needs to take this whole situation to the Lord in prayer, which he does. And he
invites others to join him in prayer as well. The basis of prayer will be the
mercy of God. (See Doctrine of Mercy)
20 Daniel answered and said, Blessed be the name of God forever and ever: for wisdom and might are his:
2:20
When Daniel told King Nebuchadnezzar with certainty that he would reveal the
dream and its interpretation, he was not being boastful. Daniel knew he had the
gift of prophecy. He had faith that God would make known to him the dream and
Daniel was right. In a night vision, the secret dream of Nebuchadnezzar's was
revealed. Daniel and his three friends had asked for mercy and they would
receive it from the Lord. The mercy of God was given to others besides Daniel
for the Wise Men of Babylon would also be spared.
The
blood bath the king had called for would not be administered. The sad part is
that the unbelieving community had no true God to thank for their lives. The
Babylonians sorcerers had been spared by the Lord and blessed by Him but they
still, knew Him not. What the Chaldeans did not know, Daniel did and so he
could render a heartfelt prayer of praise.
21 And he changeth the times and the seasons:
he removeth kings, and setteth up kings: he giveth wisdom unto the wise, and
knowledge to them that know understanding:
2:21
In his prayer of praise Daniel recalled the wonderful attributes of God. An
attribute is anything true about God.
v
The Bible
says that God is love (1 John 4:8), therefore, love is an attribute of God.
v
The Bible
says that God is a spirit (John 4:24) therefore, spirit is an attribute of
God.
v
The Bible
says that God cannot lie (Titus 1:2) therefore, truthfulness or holiness is an
attribute of God.
v
The Bible
says that God is eternal (Psa. 90:2) therefore, eternality is an attribute of
God.
22 He revealeth the deep and
secret things: he knoweth what is in
the darkness, and the light dwelleth with him.
23 I thank thee, and praise
thee, O thou God of my fathers, who hast given me wisdom and might, and hast made known unto me now what we desired [asked] of
thee: for thou hast now made known unto us the king's matter.
2:21-23
As the Scriptures are studied, it
becomes obvious that God has many attributes. How many attributes there are is
a matter of argument among the theologians. In his small but wonderful book, The Knowledge of the Holy, A. W. Tozer
considers nineteen attributes of God and their meaning in the Christian life.
In 1682, Stephen Charnock published a work of 1102 pages in which he dealt with
only eleven attributes of God. Some religious thinkers have insisted that there
are only seven attributes of God but Faber sang of the "God of a thousand attributes," and Charles Wesley exclaimed, "Glad thine attributes confess, Glorious all
and numberless." Whatever the exact number, what is wonderful to
realize is that God has revealed Himself to mankind. By faith we believe that
God exists and that He can be known. We can know something about God and beyond
that we can KNOW God personally. Daniel knew God personally and was able to
articulate what he knew about the Lord in a prayer of praise. In the prophet's
prayer, we find several attributes and an exhortation to honor God forever and
ever.
The
Attributes of God According to Daniel in the 6th Century BC
v
The Wisdom of God Daniel
2:20
v
The Power [Might] of God Daniel
2:20
v
Manifested in His ability to change times
and seasons Daniel 2:21
v
Manifested in His ability to remove kings
or exalt them Daniel 2:21
v
Manifested in His ability to give wisdom Daniel 2:21
v
Manifested in His ability to give
knowledge Daniel 2:21
v
The Omniscience of God Daniel
2:22
v
Manifested in His ability to reveal the
deep and secret things
Daniel 2:22
v
Manifested by His self knowledge of the
darkness Daniel 2:22
v
The Truthfulness [Holiness] of God for
light dwelth with Him
Daniel 2:23
2:23
The prayer of Daniel ends with a personal word of thanksgiving (Dan. 2:23).
Daniel had asked for something specific and the Lord had granted his request.
When we pray, let us praise God for who He is in His essence. And let us praise
Him for specific prayers He has and answered. Let all the earth praise the
Lord!
24 Therefore Daniel went in unto Arioch, whom the
king had ordained to destroy the wise men
of Babylon: he went and said thus unto him; Destroy
not the wise men of Babylon: bring me
in before the king, and I will shew [explain] unto the king the interpretation.
2:24
After Daniel finished thanking the Lord for His answer to prayer, the prophet
went to Arioch, the captain of the king's guard. The first thing that had to be
done was to reverse the order to execute the Wise Men of Babylon. By
intervening on behalf of the Wise Men of Babylon, Daniel was demonstrating the
principle of grace. He who had been shown so much mercy must now try to find it
for others. Daniel knew that God shows common kindness to the evil and to the
good (Matt. 5:45).
This is contrary to human nature. We want to
show kindness only to those who show kindness to us. But God rewards good for
evil and tells us to do the same. And then He gives us the opportunity. There
is no doubt but Daniel could have easily rationalized why the Wise Men of
Babylon should be executed.
v
They had told outrageous lies.
v
They had misrepresented themselves.
v
They had not honored the true Lord God of
Israel.
v
They were proud and arrogant.
v
They might continue to mislead people and
corrupt the Jewish youth.
v
The competition would be gone.
2:24
Daniel could have thought of many ways to save himself and his friends while
allowing the execution of the astrologers, magicians, and soothsayers. But
Daniel resisted all such lower impulses. With the death of the opposition,
there would be no opportunity for their conversion and it is salvation which
should always be the ultimate goal of all Christians. If the Wise Men are to be
religiously discredited, there must be a good reason.
If the Wise Men are to be exposed as frauds and
sinners in need of a true Saviour, perhaps such exposure will lead to their
repentance and godly sorrow.
But an unjust death based upon political and
religious intrigue would do nothing to advance the cause of God. The God of all
grace and mercy would not then be made known. In similar situations that
Christians face today, Daniel become a wonderful role model. Specific guiding
principles are found.
v
Hurt no one physically or emotionally
Daniel 2:24
v
Help everyone when possible.
v
Pray for Divine intervention Daniel 2:18
v
Speak the truth in love even if the truth
exposes wrong beliefs Daniel 2:27
v
Quickly use one's spiritual gift Daniel
2:16
v
Stand boldly on eternal principles Daniel
2:28
v
Give God the glory Daniel 2:28
The
Bible tells us that the same way we
treat others, God will treat us.
25 Then Arioch brought in Daniel before the king in
haste, and said thus unto him, I have found a man
of the captives of Judah, that will make known unto the king the
interpretation.
26 The king answered and said to Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, Art thou able to make known unto me the dream which I have
seen, and the interpretation thereof?
27 Daniel answered in the presence of the king, and
said, The secret which the king hath demanded cannot
the wise men, the astrologers, the
magicians, the soothsayers, shew unto the king;
2:25-27
Once Daniel secured the safety of the Babylonians, he made his services
available to the king (2:24b). Anxiously had the king been waiting for someone
to help him interpret and understand his dream so sleep would return. Now he knew
such a man existed and had been found. In the selection process, Arioch wanted
the king to think that he had found Daniel when the truth was, Daniel had found
Arioch.
The Captain of the King's Guard sensed a good
political and public relations moment when he saw one. This was too good to
pass up. If Daniel proved to be able to provide a solution to the king's
problem, Arioch knew that Nebuchadnezzar would not forget his loyal captain who
found the subject for his ruler.
While Arioch was quick to seize a small amount
of glory for himself, Daniel seized the same moment to bring greater honor to
the Lord. Daniel was bold to declare the intellectual and spiritual limitations
of the Wise Men of Babylon (2:27). In contrast to man's insufficiency is the sufficiency
of God. "There is a God in heaven," said Daniel ‘that revealeth secret.”
28 But there is a God in
heaven that revealeth secrets, and maketh known to the king Nebuchadnezzar what
shall be in the latter days. Thy dream, and the visions of thy head upon thy
bed, are these;
v
The God in heaven is high above the gods
of the earth reflecting His superiority over them.
v
The God in heaven is invisible while the
Babylonian gods are visible for they are the products of the mind's and hands
of man.
v
The God in heaven is alive while the gods
of Babylon are dead!
v
The God in heaven is able to reveal
things.
v
He is able to reveal the secrets of men's
hearts. Their thoughts, dreams, motives, and ambitions.
v
He is able to reveal what shall be in the
latter days. The "latter days" refers to the Messianic Age. This age
was ushered in by the appearance of Christ upon earth as many passages teach.
6. Hebrews 1:1-2 God, who at sundry times
and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, 2
Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir
of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;
29 As for thee, O king, thy
thoughts came into thy mind upon thy
bed, what should come to pass hereafter: and he that revealeth secrets maketh
known to thee what shall come to pass.
2:29
The content of the dream is that which shall occur in the Messianic Age! The
reason why God can reveal the future is because He is the Sovereign of the
Universe in the absolute sense of the word. The past is known to Him as well as
the future. The future is actually history to God for it is HIS-story. All that
shall come to pass has been planned and decreed by God to come to pass in a
specific way.
This is not to say that the future is to be
identified with fatalism. In fatalism there is nothing personal. In fatalism
man is the product of irrational forces. The Christian's view of History is
that there is wise and loving personal God who is all powerful and is decreeing
all things that will happen according to the counsel of His good will and for
His own pleasure. History is not the result of constant clashes among the
social classes as Communism. Nor is history based upon economic determinism as
other's teach. History is the outworking of the glorious Plan of Redemption.
v
A people Abraham
v
A nation the
Jews
v
A tribe the
tribe of Judah
v
A family in
the
tribe of David
v
A woman in
the
family of the
tribe
of Judah Mary
v
A
son Jesus Christ
30 But as for me, this
secret is not revealed to me for any wisdom
that I have more than any living, but for their
sakes that shall make known the interpretation to the king, and that thou mightest know [understand] the thoughts of thy heart.
2:30
God has been willing to show His great plan with all men but not all men
understand. God has not hidden His design from anyone though not everyone cares
to read and study what has been revealed. No one has been left out. No one has
been neglected. The problem is that when God speaks, things are difficult for
some to understand. Daniel and Nebuchadnezzar become clear representative of
two groups of people. Nebuchadnezzar represents all natural men who have been
visited by God, spoken to by God, but do not understand a word the Lord has
said. Daniel represents all of the elect who are kept safe from destruction,
subject to the laws of sin and death, and he is divinely delivered by
revelation. To the redeemed God reveal His secrets and understanding of the
future. As Daniel embarks on the interpretation of the dream, he pauses one
last time to make an important point.
He
is but a servant of the Most High. He has no more wisdom than other men apart
from Divine revelation. The humility of Daniel is honorable. Daniel knows that
God is simply using him for the sake of others. Nebuchadnezzar's dream is
revealed to Daniel in order to comfort the Jewish captives. The dream would
give hope for the future. The dream would allow many lives to be spared.
31 Thou, O king, sawest, and
behold a great image. This great image, whose brightness was excellent, stood before thee; and the form thereof was
terrible.
2:31
The Great Image that King Nebuchadnezzar saw in his dream was not an idol, but
a statue in human form of four great empires. Because world powers are one in
essence and human by nature, they are united in one statue. This essential
unity is important to understand by way of interpretation.
The Great Image is said to be bright. The
brightness was caused, no doubt, by the reflection of its metals of gold,
silver, and brass. The massive size and shining image of the statue would
inspire fear and terror. From the head of gold to the feet of clay, there is a
steady deterioration. Only the head constitutes a unified whole.
32 This image's head was of fine gold, his breast and his
arms of silver, his belly and his thighs [loins] of brass,
33 His legs of iron, his
feet part of iron and part of clay.
34 Thou sawest till that a
stone was cut out without hands, which smote the image upon his feet that were of iron and clay, and brake
them to pieces.
35 Then was the iron, the clay, the brass, the silver, and the gold, broken to pieces together, and became like the chaff of the summer threshing floors; and the wind carried them away, that no place was found for them: and the stone that smote the image became a great mountain, and filled the whole earth.
2:32. This image's head was of fine
gold. The greatest of these four was the first, the Babylonian Empire,
represented by the head of gold. By all historical accounts the Babylonian
Empire could lay claim to a universal dominion (Dan.
2:38) though there were
parts of the earth it did not dominate in Asia, North America, etc. The
Babylonian Empire, according to the vision, would be replaced by another
kingdom represented by silver.
2:32 his breast and his arms of silver,
History identifies this
second empire as the Empire of the Medes and the Persians who united to
overthrow Babylon. This view has been accepted by the church Fathers, Jerome,
Luther, Calvin, and in more modern times by the great German scholar, Keil.
2: 32 his belly and his thighs [loins] of brass. The third Empire,
represented by brass, can be identified as that of Alexander the Great.
2:33 His legs of iron, his feet part of iron and part of clay. Then came Rome, represented by the
inferior metal of iron.
2:33 a stone was cut out without hands. This prophetic reference is and
was about Christ and the kingdom He established.
36 This is the dream; and we will tell the interpretation thereof before
the king.
2:36
Once Daniel described the Great Image that King Nebuchadnezzar had seen in his
dream, the next question to address was its meaning. Because no such image had
ever been known to man, there was no precedent from which the symbolism could
have been borrowed to help in the explanation. The Lord alone would have to
explain this
Great
Image, and He did. From the vantage point of history the interpretation becomes
rather easy. The four empires of the prophecy are the Babylon Empire,
Mede-Persian Empire, Grecian Empire, and Roman Empire.
37 Thou, O king, art a king of kings: for the God of
heaven hath given thee a kingdom, power, and strength, and glory.
38 And whosesoever the
children of men dwell, the beasts of the field and the fowls of the heaven hath
he given into thine hand, and hath made thee ruler over them all. Thou art this head of gold.
39 And after thee shall
arise another kingdom inferior to thee, and another third kingdom of brass,
which shall bear rule over all the earth.
40 And the fourth kingdom
shall be strong as iron: forasmuch as iron breaketh in pieces and subdueth all things: and as iron that breaketh all
these, shall it break in pieces and bruise.
41 And whereas thou sawest
the feet and toes, part of potters' clay, and part of iron, the kingdom shall
be divided; but there shall be in it of the strength of the iron, forasmuch as
thou sawest the iron mixed with miry [common] clay.
42 And as the toes of the feet were part of iron, and part of clay, so the kingdom shall be partly strong,
and partly broken.
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.
44 And in the days of these
kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed:
and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it
shall stand for ever.
45 Forasmuch as thou sawest
that the stone was cut out of the mountain without hands, and that it brake in
pieces the iron, the brass, the clay, the silver, and the gold; the great God
hath made known to the king what shall come to pass hereafter: and the dream is certain, and the interpretation
thereof sure.
2:44-45 As attention is focused on the image of the Great Uncut Stone which speaks of the kingdom of God, several facts can be noted.
1.
The kingdom of God is not of human
origin. Man's hands did not form this kingdom. God sets it up.
2.
The kingdom of God is eternal in its
duration. It shall never be destroyed, nor shall it last only 1,000 years.
Since this kingdom is divine, it is therefore eternal.
3.
The kingdom of God shall not change hands
(2:44). It shall not be left to other people.
It
will always be in the hands of the true Israel of God, that is the church.
4.
The kingdom of God will break in pieces
and destroy the other kingdoms.
KINGDOMS
OF THE COLOSSUS KINGDOM OF GOD
v
Human origin Divine
v
Temporary Duration Eternal
v
Overcame by each Cannot
be
v
Succeeding kingdom conquered
Only Christ can fulfill the
aspects of this prophecy as He strides all the elements of man. In complete
triumph Jesus destroys the kingdoms of men and sets us His own.
46 Then the king Nebuchadnezzar fell upon his face,
and worshipped Daniel, and commanded that they should offer an oblation and
sweet odours unto him.
47 The king answered unto Daniel, and said, Of a truth it is, that your God is a God of gods, and a Lord
of kings, and a revealer of secrets, seeing thou couldest reveal this secret.
48 Then the king made Daniel a great man, and gave
him many great gifts, and made him ruler over the whole province of Babylon,
and chief of the governors over all the wise men of Babylon.
49 Then Daniel requested of the king, and he set
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, over the affairs of the province of Babylon:
but Daniel sat in the gate of the king.
2:46-49
In response to Daniel's ability to provide an accurate and rational
interpretation of the dream, Nebuchadnezzar honored Daniel in a number of
different ways.
v
First, the king showed Daniel personal
honor by bowing down to him (Dan. 2:46). In this symbolic act, the king was
representing the day that would come when all the kings of the earth will bow
before Daniel's God.
v
Second, the king commanded that Daniel be
given an oblation. The Hebrew word speaks of some sort of pouring as in a
libation. Sweet odors were also to be poured out around him.
v
Third, Daniel received personal gifts
(Dan. 2:48) of houses, servants, clothing, jewels and food.
v
Fourth, he was made the ruler, next to
the king, over all of Babylon.
v
Finally, Daniel was made the head of the
religious order of Wise Men. As Daniel was honored, so was the God he served
but in a qualified way. The Lord was recognized as the God of truth, the
Sovereign among other gods (i.e., idols) and the Lord of the kings of the
earth. a revealer of secrets. Men love
secrets. In secrecy things can be said and done without much accountability.
Secrecy is not part of the Christian experience.
The Bible tells the Christian to walk in the light and to walk in the
truth. For the Christian there is nothing to hide. The Bible tells us
that one-day God is going to expose every thing that we say and do so that we
must give an account. The best preparation for eternity is to live without
regret in time and to live openly and honestly before each other.
Questions and Answers on Daniel 2
The Attributes of God According to Daniel
in the 6th Century BC
1.
What attributes of God did Daniel notice?
Answer.
2. List some guiding principles
for Christians from Daniel 2:24-28.
Answer.
3. Why would the anger of
Daniel against the wise men of Babylon have been justified?
Answer.
4.
Describe the image Daniel was able to comment
on and identify each body part with its historical analogy.
Answer.
5. State three facts about the
kingdom of God.
Answer.
1.
Do you believe God
still speaks to individuals in dreams? Why or why not?
2.
How do you think
you might have reacted with the wise me of Babylon if you were in Daniel’s
position? Would you have shown them equal grace?
3.
Do you think the
actions of the wise men of Babylon support the doctrine of the natural
depravity of the human heart? Explain.
4.
Does the accuracy
of Daniel’s prophetic vision with respect to the succeeding empires enhance
your faith in the Bible? Why or why not?
5.
Is there a place
for secrecy in the life of the believer? If so when and where and under what
circumstances?
Hiding God’s Word in My
Heart
Daniel 2:20 Daniel answered and said, Blessed
be the name of God for ever and ever: for wisdom and might are his: 21 And he
changeth the times and the seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up kings: he
giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding: 22
He revealeth the deep and secret things: he knoweth what is in the darkness,
and the light dwelleth with him.
Student’s Study Notes
2:17-19
Doctrine of Mercy
1.
Mercy is that aspect of God's love that
causes Him to help the helpless, just as grace is the aspect of His love that
moves Him to forgive the guilty.
2.
Those who are without hope may be so
either because of the breaking God's law or because of circumstances beyond
their control.
3.
God shows mercy upon those who have
broken His law (Dan. 9:9; 1 Tim. 1:13,16), although such mercy is selective,
demonstrating that it is not deserved (Rom. 9:14-18).
4.
God's mercy on the hopeless extends
beyond punishment that is withheld (Eph. 2:4-6). Withheld punishment keeps us
from hell, but it does not get us into heaven. God's mercy is greater than
this. Mercy takes us to Calvary where our sins are forgiven. According to His
mercy He SAVES us.
5.
God shows mercy in time by actively
helping those who are hurting due to circumstances beyond their control. We see
this aspect of mercy especially in the life of our Lord Jesus.
v
Jesus was a Man of great compassion.
v
Jesus had compassion for people who
needed spiritual guidance.
·
Matt
9:36 But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them,
because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd.
v
Jesus had compassion on those who were
sick.
·
Matt
14:14 And Jesus went forth, and saw a great multitude, and was moved with
compassion toward them, and he healed their sick.
v
Jesus had compassion on the hungry.
·
Matt
15:32 Then Jesus called his disciples unto him, and said, I have compassion on
the multitude, because they continue with me now three days, and have nothing
to eat: and I will not send them away fasting, lest they faint in the way.
v
Jesus had compassion on those who were
blind.
·
Matt.
20:39-40 So Jesus had compassion on them, and touched their eyes: and
immediately their eyes received sight, and they followed him.
v
Because God is merciful, He expects His
children to be merciful (Matt. 5:7; James 1:27).
~*~
The Attributes of God
A.W. Tozer, 1897-1963
v
The Holy Trinity
v
God's Omnipresence
v
The Self-existence of God
v
God's Faithfulness
v
The Self-sufficiency Of God
v
The Goodness of God
v
The Eternity of God
v
The Justice of God
v
God's Infinitude
v
The Mercy of God
v
The Immutability of God
v
The Grace of God
v
The Divine Omniscience
v
The Love of God
v
The Wisdom of God
v
The Holiness of God
v
The Omnipotence of God
v
God's Sovereignty
v
The Divine Transcendence
~*~
The Attributes of God
Stephen Charnock
b. 1628
v
Existence of God Psalms 14:1
v
God's Being a Spirit John 4:24
v
Eternity of God Psalms 90:2
v
Immutability of God
Psalms
102:26,27
v
Omnipresence of God
Jeremiah 23:24
v
God's Knowledge Psalm 147:5
v
Wisdom of God Romans 16:27
v
Power of God Job 26:14
v
Holiness of God Exodus 15:11
v
Goodness of God Mark 10:18
v
Dominion of God Psalm 103:19
v
Patience of God Nahum 1:3
~*~
Where is America in Biblical Prophecy?
To the ever-popular inquiry, "Where is America in biblical
prophecy?" let me preface my response with this observation. When
Daniel saw his Panorama Of Human History, he did not see ALL of human history
but only the unfolding of a time period of about 490 years. Daniel saw the rise
of four world empires and one spiritual empire. Daniel saw the rise of the
Babylonians, the Medes/Persians, the Greeks and the Romans. And then he saw the
collapse of these four world empires by the rising of the one Divine Empire
represented by the Uncut Stone from the mountain. Concerning the Kingdom of
God, Daniel saw four things.
v
It would never be destroyed.
v
It would never be conquered.
v
It would dominate all previous empires.
[Notice the word "these" in
Dan. 2:44. The pronoun reference is to the preceding empires prior to the
Divine Kingdom, i.e. Babylon, Medes/Persians, Greece, and Roman]
It
is important to stay focused on what Daniel saw because that is all Daniel saw
by way of interpretation. Daniel did not see anything beyond the coming of the
Messianic kingdom. Daniel did not see any new nations that would arise to fight
the kingdom of God.
v
He did not see the rise of Islam.
v
He did not see the rise of Communism.
v
He did not see the rise of Catholicism.
v
He did not see the rise of the Chinese.
What
Daniel saw is what is recorded, no more and no less. Therefore, it is wrong for
modern day Bible teachers to say that Daniel saw something more than the
Scriptures reveal. While it is wrong for new things to be taught, it is done.
Men and women shamelessly teach new things. Thousands of books are printed.
Charts are made. Dogmatic statements are declared without scriptural basis.
Daniel saw a specific time period of history that stretched from his day to the
days of the Messiah the Prince and it all happened as he predicted and
interpreted. Why then, do we have so much new teaching in our church today? Why
are more day prophetic concepts attributed to Daniel? There are several
reasons.
v
Application has replaced interpretation.
v
Pride has replaced humility.
v
The sensational is very appealing.
v
Satan has infiltrated the church to focus
attention upon his power and now the power of Christ.
v
We are strangers to the Bible.
Interpretation
has been replaced by application. And then to make matters worse, the
application has become the interpretation. For example, if we were to ask, "Where s America in biblical prophecy?" the correct
answer would be that there is not a single verse in the entire Bible that
speaks of America by way of interpretation. The proof of this is that God knows
how to spell. There are hundreds of geographical locations in the bible so that
the adding of one more name would be no problem to a sovereign, omniscient God.
If
God wanted to put America in the Bible,
He could have easily and plainly. It is very humbling to realize that, while we
might think our nation great, God does not deem fit to mention it. We are
impressed with our strength, our spirituality, and our ancestry but God is not
impressed at all. At least not enough to write about us two thousand to twenty
five hundred years ago. This is humbling to realize. The last nation the bible
spoke of prophetically was Rome. John called it a Beast in the Revelation and
saw its judgment.
Therefore,
by way of interpretation, mark it down, America is not in the Bible. Neither is China, Russia, Japan,
Italy, or England.
However,
by way of application, America and all the nations of the earth are in the
bible. For example, the Bible teaches that the kingdom of God will dominate the
other kingdoms of this world now that it has been established. This is what
Daniel saw and it is what John saw in the book of the Revelation. But it takes
faith to believe this for the natural eye looks around and wonders.
The
natural eye sees the Communist coming to power in 1917 in Russia and wonders
where God is. How can such an Evil Empire emerge? But wait! The Sovereign God
is not through with Communism and within 70 years the nation is subdued. The
eye of faith sees the Lord judging the Communist and the kingdom of God being
triumph. Today, America is going the way of all flesh.
On
Monday, March 25, 1996, the homosexuals in San Francisco were openly united in
marriage by the major of that city. This is an abomination upon our land and is
certain to bring the swift and just judgment of God upon everyone. And the
judgment will come. Blatant sins and multi-culturalism
will prove to be the curse on our culture.
In
the decades to come, America will look more and more like the face of Europe if
history teaches us anything. People who are afraid of the United Nations have
nothing to fear. People who believe we are moving towards a one-world
government have nothing to fear. More nations are being created, not less. The
world is becoming more fragmented, not more united. And this too is a form of
divine judgment. Evil shall not be allowed to reign forever (Isa. 59:19).
Sensationalism teaches one thing. The Scriptures teach another. If we
understand the difference between biblical interpretation and practical
application of biblical principles then we will be careful not to read into the
texts of scripture. We will be careful to read out only what the texts allow us
to read. There are technical concepts for these two ideas. The first is summarized
in the word exegesis. Exegesis is a term derived by transliteration from the
Greek [exegesis] meaning "narration"
or "explanation." Exegesis
is the science of interpretation. It tries to fix the meaning of individual
statements and passages. Exegesis is founded upon two fundamentals.
First,
it is believed that thoughts can be accurately conveyed in words that have
shades of meaning.
Second,
exegesis assumes that the Bible is so important that all painstaking effort to
discover exactly what God said is important. The search is on for the literal,
grammatical, historical understanding of a text.
In
contrast to exegesis is another concept which is not scholarly but subjective.
The issue is not, "What has God
said?" Rather, the issue for some people remains this: "What is God saying to me? Today? In
light of the morning news stories?" Freedom is found to read into the Bible whatever the mood of the moment
is.
For
those who were persecuted during the Reformation period, the Pope was the
Anti-Christ. For those were afraid during the 19th century, Napoleon was the
Anti-Christ to come. For those afraid during the 20th century, Germany's Kaiser
was the Anti-Christ to come during WW I. Then came WW II and some people
thought Mussolini was the Anti-Christ. Others decided it was Adolph Hitler.
During
the 1970's, more than one American Protestant prophet said Henry Kissenger was
the Anti-Christ. What all of these things have in common is isegesis
not exegesis. God's people are guilty of reading into the Scriptures instead of
reading out of the Bible what God has
said. I do not have much hope that this will ever stop.
The
Bible tells us that God's people will
always have itching ears. God's people will always be gullible. God's people
will always be lead astray to a certain extent by those who are bold enough to
find keys to unlock ancient mysteries. All some of us can do is to be faithful
and tell the truth. America by way of interpretation is not in the Bible and it
is prideful to think that we merit mentioning. The exciting truth to believe
and realize is that the Kingdom of the Messiah has been established according
to promise and of that kingdom there will be no end. Let the church be the
church and let the people rejoice.
“Onward, Christian soldiers,
marching as to war,
With the cross of Jesus
going on before.
Christ, the royal Master,
leads against the foe;
Forward into battle
see His banners go!
Onward, Christian soldiers,
marching as to war,
With the cross of Jesus
going on before.
At the sign of triumph
Satan’s host doth flee;
On then, Christian soldiers,
on to victory!
Hell’s foundations quiver
at the shout of praise;
Brothers lift your voices,
loud your anthems raise.
Like a mighty army
moves the church of God;
Brothers, we are treading
where the saints have trod.
We are not divided,
all one body we,
One in hope and doctrine,
one in charity.
~*~
“Whit-Monday [the day after
Pentecost] is a great day for school festivals in Yorkshire. One Whit-Monday,
thirty years ago, it was arranged that our school should join forces with
that of a neighboring village. I wanted the children to sing when marching
from one village to another, but couldn’t think of anything quite suitable;
so I sat up at night, resolved that I would write something myself. “Onward, Christian Soldiers” was the
result. It was written in great haste, and I am afraid some of the rhymes are
faulty. Certainly nothing has surprised me more than its popularity. I
don’t remember how it got printed first, but I know that very soon it found
its way into several collections. I have written a few other hymns since
then, but only two or three have become at all well-known.”
This hymn was sung at the
funeral of American president Dwight Eisenhower at the National Cathedral,
Washington, DC, March 1969.
Introduction
to
Daniel
3
Having
faithfully interpreted the dream of King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon (605-562
BC), and having been honored for his service, Daniel will now face the greatest
challenge to his faith by way of temptation. The temptation will be to cling to
all the newfound honor and glory he has received by paying the price of
worshipping an idol. Since Daniel's three friends were honored with him, they
too will face the same temptation.
The
reason why Daniel and his companions will be tested is found in the pride of
Nebuchadnezzar. Because of someone else's sin, the people of God will be
persecuted. While this is not fair, such situations are to be expected as part
of the spiritual warfare that rages in the universe. According to the
interpretation of the vision by Daniel, Nebuchadnezzar was the head of gold. Gold
speaks of riches and riches are one source of wielding power. Because of the
wealth of the empire, Nebuchadnezzar did have great power over other lands and
people. Daniel had told the monarch that all his power was the result of the
grace of the Sovereign God of the universe (Dan. 2:36). Nebuchadnezzar soon
forgot that point and began to consider himself unique in all the earth.
1 Nebuchadnezzar the king made an image of gold,
whose height was threescore cubits, and the
breadth thereof six cubits: he set it up in the plain of Dura, in the province
of Babylon.
31:1
Having faithfully interpreted the dream of King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon
(605-562 BC), and having been honored for his service, Daniel will now face the
greatest challenge to his faith by way of temptation. The temptation will be to
cling to all the newfound honor and glory he has received by paying the price
of worshipping an idol. Since Daniel's three friends were honored with him,
they too will face the same temptation.
The
reason why Daniel and his companions will be tested is found in the pride of
Nebuchadnezzar. Because of someone else's sin, the people of God will be
persecuted. While this is not fair, such situations are to be expected as part
of the spiritual warfare that rages in the universe. According to the
interpretation of the vision by Daniel, Nebuchadnezzar was the head of gold.
Gold speaks of riches and riches are one source of wielding power. Because of
the wealth of the empire, Nebuchadnezzar did have great power over other lands
and people. Daniel had told the monarch that all his power was the result of
the grace of the Sovereign God of the universe (Dan. 2:36). Nebuchadnezzar soon
forgot that point and began to consider himself unique in all the earth.
2 Then Nebuchadnezzar the king sent to gather
together the princes, the governors, and the captains, the judges, the
treasurers, the counsellors, the sheriffs, and all the rulers of the provinces,
to come to the dedication of the image which Nebuchadnezzar the king had set
up.
3:2
Once the great image was established, Nebuchadnezzar sent word that all the
government officials in his empire were to gather before the colossus on the
plains of Dura. The officials came. There were satraps (kingdom/guardians much
like presidential cabinet members), administrators, governors, counselors,
treasurers, judges, and magistrates.
3 Then the princes, the governors, and captains, the
judges, the treasurers, the counsellors, the sheriffs, and all the rulers of
the provinces, were gathered together unto the dedication of the image that
Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up; and they stood before the image that
Nebuchadnezzar had set up.
4 Then an herald cried aloud, To you it is commanded, O people, nations, and languages,
5 That at what time ye
hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, dulcimer, and all
kinds of musick, ye fall down and worship the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar
the king hath set up:
6 And whoso falleth not
down and worshippeth shall the same hour be cast into the midst of a burning
fiery furnace.
3: 3-6 The government officials gathered before the great image of gold believing that a dedication service was about to take place. However, once together, the officials found that the crafty king had a hidden agenda. Nebuchadnezzar wanted more than a ceremonial service.
He wanted to be honored by all men in a
special way. The penalty of death was threatened if honor was refused. There
was no freedom of the will involved in the king's new edict. There was no
freedom of conscience. Either he would be honored or their would be a fiery
form of death based upon the pretext of treason. Anticipating that there would
be contentious souls who would refuse to worship the golden image,
Nebuchadnezzar had an execution chamber prepared in the form of a fiery
furnace. Furnaces or kilns were used in Babylon for firing bricks. If the
furnaces could harden bricks, the king knew they could easily consume human
flesh and bones for execution by burning was an well known practice in the
ancient world (Jer. 29:22). Those who would not worship the king now set the
stage for suffering.
7 Therefore at that time, when all the people heard
the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and all kinds of
musick, all the people, the nations, and the languages, fell down and
worshipped the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up.
3:7 To make the act of idolatry more palatable and the threat of death less
menacing, Nebuchadnezzar prepared an orchestra to be present at the ceremonies.
The musicians would play their instruments, which included the horn, the flute,
the lyre, and the psaltery. While the symphony played, people would fall down
and worship the golden image. The great day came. The golden image was polished
brightly.
A multitude of people of various nations and
languages gathered. The king made his royal entrance and was seated on a
special platform prepared for him and his entourage. Finally, the moment arose.
The royal orchestra leaders raised his hands. The musicians took a deep breath.
The signal was given. The sound of music went forth and all the people fell
down in an overt act of homage. All the people fell down to worship, that is,
except the Jews to include Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. These men
refused to obey the order of the king thereby setting the stage for suffering.
8 Wherefore at that time certain Chaldeans came
near, and accused the Jews.
9 They spake and said to the king Nebuchadnezzar, O king, live forever.
10 Thou, O king, hast
made a decree, that every man that shall hear the sound of the cornet, flute,
harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, shall fall down
and worship the golden image:
11 And whoso falleth not
down and worshippeth, that he should be cast into the midst of a burning fiery
furnace.
12 There are certain Jews
whom thou hast set over the affairs of the province of Babylon, Shadrach,
Meshach, and Abednego; these men, O king, have not regarded thee: they serve
not thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.
3:8-12
By building an image of gold and demanding that all people in his kingdom
worship it or face a certain death by fire, Nebuchadnezzar set the stage for
suffering. Those who opposed the policy of the king on religious grounds were
destined for persecution. For Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, the persecution
began when certain Chaldeans asked for a private audience with the king. Once
alone with the king, the Chaldeans began to speak things into his ears that
were partially true but wholly wrong in conclusion. The Chaldeans spoke of
certain Jews who were high officials in the king's court. They had been
appointed by royal decree. However, unlike other officials, these Jews were not
worshipping the golden image nor the gods of Babylon. All of this was true.
What was not true was that the Jews were showing disrespect for the king as
charged.
13 Then Nebuchadnezzar in his rage and fury
commanded to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Then they brought these men
before the king.
3:13
When Nebuchadnezzar first heard what the Jews were doing, the Bible says that
he was filled with fury and with rage. While it is possible to be angry and to
sin not, it is also possible to have unjustified anger. Nebuchadnezzar's anger
was unjustified for it was grounded in a distortion of the Jews and his own
foolish pride at having a wicked commandment challenged.
Like
so many people in a position of power, Nebuchadnezzar thought that authority
alone is all that matters. He spoke, others should respond. What the king
forgot was that there is a God who gave him his kingdom and it is to this one
true God that he himself is subject to. The God of heaven demands justice and
righteousness in the rulers of the earth and not arrogant decrees.
Nebuchadnezzar is going to find himself fighting both godly men and the God of
the men in his passion. In his anger he does not think for rage does not
reflect, it only threatens.
14 Nebuchadnezzar spake and said unto them, Is it true, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, do not ye
serve my gods, nor worship the golden image which I have set up?
3:14
To his credit, Nebuchadnezzar did give the Jews an opportunity to answer the
charges. If he did not reveal the source of the accusations, he at least
provided a public forum for the truth to be known and the position of the Jews
to be crystallized. What the king discovered is that the Jews had a good reason
for their position. When given the chance, people who have been falsely hurt
usually can provide a good account of themselves.
15 Now if ye be ready that
at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery,
and dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, ye fall down and worship the image which
I have made; well: but if ye worship not, ye shall be cast the same hour into
the midst of a burning fiery furnace; and who is that
God that shall deliver you out of my hands?
3:15 Unfortunately, Nebuchadnezzar was not listening to the good
reasoning offered. In his arrogance he threatened the Jews with death while
taunting their God (Dan. 3:15). However, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, were
not intimidated. The righteousness have nothing to fear except fear itself.
16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, answered and
said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not
careful to answer thee in this matter.
17 If it be so, our God
whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will
deliver us out of thine hand, O king.
18 But if not, be it
known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the
golden image which thou hast set up.
3:16-18 Respectfully, the three men answered the king.
First,
they professed their confidence in the Lord. "Our God is able to deliver us", they said.
Second,
the Jews submitted themselves to His sovereign will. They did not know that the
Lord would save them and so they did not presume to tell what they did not
know.
Third,
the Jews remained loyal to their convictions. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego,
did not compromise, they did not rationalize, and they did not justify bad
behavior.
What
these three men did do was prepare themselves to suffer for righteousness sake
while maintaining their faith in God.
1.
The Chaldeans flattered the proud in
order to destroy the innocent, they deified a blood stained and capricious
tyrant, that they might doom to death three unoffending strangers and captives,
whom they hated.
2.
In all of this the Chaldeans are a true
picture of the world in every age. It exalts the oppressor and tramples on the
innocent.
3.
Nebuchadnezzar is a perfect example of
the favorite of this world. He is courted, envied, flattered, admired and
adorned--outwardly.
4.
The Christian is commanded not to fear
man but to fear God.
5.
The Christian cannot bow down before golden
idols and still worship the Living God. We must be equally decided in our
relationship with them.
6.
It is the course of religion to
deteriorate to the point that it becomes an instrument of tyranny. Christianity
has been no exception witnessed by its misuse by the church and kings for
centuries 325 - 1500.
7.
Duty to God is stronger than gratitude to
man.
8.
The only way to stand in the hour of
ultimate testing is to make a conscious decision to depend upon God. If sinners entice thee, consent not.
9.
To know the origin of the conflict is to
understand it better. Most conflicts start when someone says or does something
that will hurt someone else.
10. The
first sin was designed to hurt God. We must not be surprised when we as
Christian become the target of bad behavior that is unreasonable and
unnecessary.
11. We
honor the Jewish youths because they made religion personal, they put their
trust in God, and they put eternal matters before temporal.
19 Then was Nebuchadnezzar full of fury, and the
form of his visage was changed against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego:
therefore he spake, and commanded that they should heat the furnace one seven
times more than it was wont to be heated.
3:19 The boldness of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, to oppose the policy of the king to worship an idol infuriated him. In addition, their actions caused him to change his attitude towards them. Once the king thought that the three Jewish captives were among the brightest in the land. Now he considered them foolish. Once Nebuchadnezzar thought the Jewish youths to be the most respectful of his subjects.
Now he considered them obstinate,
unreasonable, and defiant. They were being brought too often into his presence
challenging his policies.
First,
there was the issue of the food. Now there is this matter of honoring the king.
Will the Jews never be reasonable? Must they always call trouble? If there is a
lesson for the church, it is that we must learn to say, "No!"
to many temptations.
Without
further comment, King Nebuchadnezzar ordered that the fiery furnace should be
heated seven times more intense than it normally was. Unreasonable anger is
manifested in a desire to overkill. Once the fire was ready, Shadrach, Meshach,
and Abednego, were cast into the midst of the burning fire. Persecution came to
the people of God. When the Lord allows His people to be tested there is always
a purpose.