Daniel 2

A Dream and a Kingdom.

(Remember I said that this was going to be a work in progress, well as I recap each weeks study I will use her workbook as my guide. I will highlight questions she asked and that had an impact on me. Though I am over half way through my study, I can’t begin to tell you how much it has excited me. As I fumble back through it to write about it excites me even more.

Studies help us to unravel, untie or tie up loose strings so we can get closer to our faith. I believe though my heart was in the right place, my mind was what’s had been held captive, and they continually fought with each other. I now know had I not gone through those things, walked that path with him how I did, I would have missed the message. My captivity back then was with trust and it was what was holding me back. Instead of hiding on the path, I knew it was time to step out, and up to His challenge. I’ve been in the fire and the lions den a number of times. He showed me time after time I could trust him. My trust issue was being held captive by what was my own Babylon.

I’m getting ahead of week 2’s lesson plan though, but had to share how excited I was. I might not be able to trust certain humans, but I CAN, and I DO, truly and deeply, believe I can TRUST Him!.

If you want to learn more about the bible, you don’t have to wait for a study to come to you, at Lifeway you can buy your own studies. When I have missed a week, I buy the video of that session so not to get behind. I also plan to buy a few other studies I have seen but have yet to see come through our church. It’s a blessing and I praise God daily for making that possible.)

Onto week two.

A Royally Troubled Mind

In the second year of his reign, Nebuchadnezzar had dreams; his mind was troubled and he could not sleep.Daniel  2:1

A haunting dream, a troubling dream that would keep him up at nights. He wanted answers and demanded others to give them to him. He intimidated them with death, and still they were unable to interpret it. At least not a human or of this earth. I love that little stab to the king.

Can you remember your last spirit-striking dream?

Oh, yes! Sometimes I to was even afraid to go to sleep. They were definitely consistent, and sometimes so intense they too woke me in a jolt! I have only been able to share a few of them with 3 very special people in my life. A blog doesn’t seem the right place. Let’s just say some of my dreams made me feel very unsettled, the only thing I could do was pray and seek counsel. And just as God promised, and in His time, I do see the work He did and the work He is doing.

“What the king asks is too difficult. No one can reveal it to the king except the gods, and they do not live among humans” (v-11)

Urgent Tact, Urgent Prayer

He urged them to plead for mercy from the God of heaven concerning this mystery, so that he and his friends might not be executed with the rest of the wise men of Babylon. Daniel 2:18

Daniel being one of the wise, he saw no reason for him or the other wise men to be put to death. He confronted the king and asked for time to interpret the dream. Now he put his life on the line. And what did Daniel do, just what we have done when we are faced with a problem – Put our TRUST in God and PRAYED on it!

Then Daniel praised the God of heaven ²⁰ and said:

“Praise be to the name of God for ever and ever;
wisdom and power are his.
²¹ He changes times and seasons;
he deposes kings and raises up others.
He gives wisdom to the wise
and knowledge to the discerning.
²² He reveals deep and hidden things;
he knows what lies in darkness,
and light dwells with him.
²³ I thank and praise you, God of my ancestors:
You have given me wisdom and power,
you have made known to me what we asked of you,
you have made known to us the dream of the king.”

Do you thank and praise Him for what He has given you, or made known to you.

When you’ve lived on a roller coaster of a life as I have, how could you not. I wish I could have recognized or received such detailed messages from God. Only God knew exactly how things would work out, remember he warned years earlier this was going to happen. Having been faced with moments that turned your tummy upside down, you know you’re in the devils den, how could keeping God close by not be a benefit. Looking back, I can see why, how, and through it, Praise God!

Praise to the God of Heaven

During the night the mystery was revealed to Daniel in a vision. Then Daniel praised the God of Heaven. Daniel 2:19

Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah not only had to trust God: they had to trust Daniel as having heard from Him. Most of us have been in a position where we had to trust God’s message to someone else that also concerned us (a spouse, boss, pastor or trusted friend to name a few).

She asked if we were every in a position were we had to trust not only Gods message but who received it, when not to us.

I can honestly say YES! I even had to add more prayer to continue to trust it. Being raised with so much doubt, trust was/is my biggest issue. I continue to grow in it and through Him I have learned to trust more then I could before. Still a work in progress.

What if you are the one that can’t be trusted? I hate to admit it, but if I am to be true to my studies I must stand up on this one. To lose someone’s trust hurt, especially when it was someone you loved. Even though it was not the intention, the actions, or words did create a wound, that was then not properly treated or healed, and it destroyed trust. Oh how I wish I had met Daniel back then! During this struggle, God showed me why they couldn’t trust and why I shouldn’t trust them. Had I not already been searching for that connection back in 1989, when I was forced into the fire, the lions den, falling upon God for the strength to get through it helped me realize who I could trust and also who trusted me. I still believe the steps I took WERE by God. I did not have the tact or integrity of Daniel, but my stand was for the better of those I loved. No one can ever say which way was right but God, and I believe when you are trying to do what He would want you to do, losing the trust of someone you loved for the better of God’s children was the ultimate sacrifice. I have no regrets for God took them all from me and for me.

That was one tough section to get through, integrity!

When I confessed to God I could not be, nor could I trust those people, He called out to me, “Can you TRUST me!” You bet I can! Oh what an awesome God He is!

“I thank and praise you, God of my ancestors: You have given me wisdom and power, you have made known to me what we asked of you, you have made known to us the dream of the king.” (Dan. 2:23)

She asked, “What kind of person would you need to be should God choose you to be the “me” drawn from the “we”?”

I believe I understand what God wants and I pray daily for His guidance. Always did and always will. Only now I am not as silent about it. I was quieted for a time, while he continued His work within me. When He is ready to use me for His purpose, I will be too!

“Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.”

If we are to develop Daniel-like character, we need to practice Daniel-like approaches.

From Me to You

He changes times and seasons: he sets up kings and deposes them. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning. Daniel 2:21

“Every believer in Christ is called to extol the greatness of God and voice the manifold evidence of His faithfulness.” In other words, we are to make joyful noise, be it singing, writing, teaching, drawing, our skills are by Him, each different but yet for the same glory.

“God’s sovereignty means that He has supremacy over all things and does whatever He desires with whomever or whatever He pleases.”

If I hadn’t said it yet here, it’s time to share one of my Aunt’s favorite sayings to me, God knows all, see’s all and takes all into account! He did with me what was needed. Even when I thought I wasn’t ready, he believed I was and carried me through.

Thank goodness even the most foolish can be become wise. Godly wisdom is ours for the asking. Daniels point is that God continues to give wisdom to those who have a track record of receiving it.

Trials and Temptations

² Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters,^[a] whenever you face trials of many kinds, ³ because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. ⁴ Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. ⁵ If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. ⁶ But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. ⁷ That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. ⁸ Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do.

When my doubts and lack of trust caused me to fly about in the wind, I began to see just how unstable we really were. Since He has taken and given all he has promised, if ever I doubt, or mistrust, I only need to call upon Him for direction. How can you go wrong with that!

I wish I could write or describe how she does why Daniel was the only one who received the message. All four were supposedly worthy, yet only Daniel saw the vision. They all had to trust in him that the interpretation would cool the kings jets. Remember he was on edge and ready to chop them into pieces.

Read Daniel 36-45 for his description of the dream.

“The great God has shown the king what will take place in the future. The dream is true and its interpretation is trustworthy.” (vv.45)

I loved how she laid it out for us. Each portion of the statue represents a world empire: (see v.21)

• The head made of Gold (vv. 32, 37-38)

Famous ruler: Nebuchadnezzar

Historical fulfillment: Babylon Empire 626-539 B.C.

• The chest and arms made of Silver (Dan 2:39)

Famous ruler: Cyrus The Great

Historical fulfillment: The Media-Persian Empire 539-331 B.C.

• The belly and thighs made of bronze (vv 32, 39)

Famous ruler: Alexander the Great

Historical fulfillment: Grecian Empire 331-63 B.C.

• The legs made of Iron (vv 33,40-43)

Famous ruler: Octavian, (entitled Augustus), Tiberius, Nero

Historical fulfillment: The Roman Empire 63 B.C – A.D. 476

• The feet made of Iron and Clay (vv 33, 41-43)

She write, “Possible interpretations: The two feet may represent the outgrowth of the divided Roman Empire. As stated earlier, the toes on the feet may very well represent a political system yet to come. Ten horns foretell a Ten Kingdom (or ten-nation) confederacy that will operate jointly at the time of Christ’s return (Dan 7:7,24 Rev. 13:1;  17:12)”

The rock in his dream represents the kingdom of Messiah, the Lord Jesus Christ. This kingdom will fill the whole earth.

God is the Rock! He will fulfill all his warnings! He has proved it time and time again.

There’s a Kingdom Coming……