A. Nebuchadnezzar's Troubling Dream (Daniel 2:1-13).
A. Nebuchadnezzar’s Troubling Dream (Daniel 2:1-13).
In Daniel 2:1, we find that even the most powerful ruler in the world can experience a sleepless night. Nebuchadnezzar, a "King of Kings," one who had power of life and death in his hands alone, was pacing the floor at midnight as any commoner would.
The worst thing about these dreams was that they were "troubling;" as, he could not remember them! This was in God's plan; for, if he remembered the dream and simply repeated it to his "magicians, astrologers, sorcerers, and Chaldeans," they could just make up an “interpretation.” If he could not remember it; but, someone could tell the dream and give the interpretation; that would be a sign the interpretation was true.
“When a prophet speaketh in the name of the Lord, if the thing follow not, nor come to pass, that is the thing which the Lord hath not spoken, but the prophet hath spoken it presumptuously: thou shalt not be afraid of him.” Deuteronomy 18:22
Evidently, since he could not sleep, he decided that his wise men did not need to sleep, either; and they were promptly called from their beds. (Daniel 2:2) Worse yet than missing sleep, they were informed by King Nebuchadnezzar that if they could not tell him the interpretation of a dream which he could not remember,
“...ye shall be cut in pieces, and your houses shall be made a dunghill.” (Daniel 2:5)
What a rude awakening! Failure to interpret would result in catastrophe! When the King threatened that " ye shall be cut in pieces, and your houses shall be made a dunghill," they knew he had the power to do it. We certainly could not give this king the title of “Mr. Nice Guy!”
The wise men tried to "buy a little time,”
"...Let the king tell his servants the dream, and we will shew the interpretation of it." (Daniel 2:7)
But, the wily Nebuchadnezzar had not only become Supreme Ruler because he was descended from a king. He was also wise in the ways of men. (Nebuchadnezzar was the son of Nabopolassar, who reigned from 626 to 605 B.C.) (Butler)
"I know of certainty that ye would gain the time, because ye see the thing is gone from me. (Daniel 2:8) 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.” (Daniel 2:8-9)
The wise men, realizing they were in a predicament, made a fatal error and criticized the king.
"There is not a man upon the earth that can shew the king's matter: therefore there is no king, lord, nor ruler, that asked such things at any magician, or astrologer, or Chaldean." (Daniel 2:10)
This infuriated the king who then decided to kill all the wise men, including Daniel and his friends. This was in God's plan all along. He could reveal the king’s magicians and astrologers as liars, who only pretended to predict the future. God wanted mankind to know He was in control and He was using a pagan, gentile king to teach His lesson.
God can use any individual to accomplish his means, even a lost person. In the Book of Jeremiah, the Lord referred to Nebuchadnezzar as “my servant” three times (Jeremiah 25:9; Jeremiah 27:6; Jeremiah 43:10). Nebuchadnezzar was the one who had acted as the instrument of God's punishment, in the carrying away of the Nation of Judah to serve their 70 year captivity (which they were now serving).
In Daniel 2:13-15, we find that Arioch, the captain of the king’s guard had already arrived to take Daniel. In other words, the executioner was at the door!
“And the decree went forth that the wise men should be slain; and they sought Daniel and his fellows to be slain. (Daniel 2:13) 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: (Daniel 2:14) He answered and said to Arioch the king's captain, Why is the decree so hasty from the king? Then Arioch made the thing known to Daniel.” (Daniel 2:13-15)
After Arioch explains the situation to Daniel, Daniel goes in to the king and…
"…desired of the king that he would give him time, and he would shew the king the interpretation." (Daniel 2:16)
Nebuchadnezzar gave him the time, as Daniel, and the other three captives, were known as being "ten times better" in such matters.
“And in all matters of wisdom and understanding, that the king enquired of them (Daniel and his friends), he found them ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers that were in all his realm.” (Daniel 1:20)
Then, Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego did the only thing left to do. They convened a prayer meeting, asking God to show mercy and to reveal the dream.
That is a lesson to us today. There is always time to pray, and seeking God’s wisdom in a matter should be the first thing we do; and, not the last resort!
God revealed the dream to Daniel in a night vision. (Daniel 2:17-19) In Daniel 2:20-23 we have Daniel's prayer of thanksgiving, which shows his trust in God
"...Blessed be the name of God for ever and ever: for wisdom and might are his: (Daniel 2:20)
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: (Daniel 2:21)
He revealeth the deep and secret things: he knoweth what is in the darkness, and the light dwelleth with him. (Daniel 2:22)
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 of thee: for thou hast now made known unto us the king's matter.” (Daniel 2:20-23)
In all this, God would have the glory in Nebuchadnezzar's eyes; for, Daniel made it clear to the king that men cannot explain such things; but,
"There is a God in Heaven that revealeth secrets and maketh known to the king Nebuchadnezzar what shall be in the latter days;"…"what shall come to pass hereafter."(Daniel 2:28-29)
In Verse 30, when Daniel returns with the answer, he tells the king that the secret was not revealed to him because he was wiser than anyone else; but, to spare the lives of those who could not do what the king had asked, and that “...the king might know the thoughts of thy heart.”
In Daniel 2:31-35, he describes the forgotten dream of a great image, or statue. The statue had a head of gold, chest and arms of silver, belly and thighs of brass, legs of iron, and feet of iron and clay. Please see Page 34 for “History Written In Advance,” Illustrated by a Large Image: Daniel, Chapter 2.”
In this dream, Nebuchadnezzar had a "personal appearance" from the Lord Jesus Christ as the "stone...cut out without hands." This showed that when our Savior returns to the Earth at the Second Coming, he will come in His own power as the true "King of Kings, and Lord of Lords." As the stone smashed the feet of iron and clay, and caused the whole statue to fall to the ground, and break into pieces, this will be the end of Gentile world power ("the times of the Gentiles") on this Earth. Israel will now have a King! The "Stone," representative of Christ, becomes a great mountain that fills the whole Earth, showing the Millennial Reign is a WORLD KINGDOM.
Before Daniel begins the interpretation of the dream, he reminds Nebuchadnezzar who is in charge! He would be nothing if God did not allow it. That is a lesson we all should remember. We are what we are by the Grace of God! (1 Corinthians 15:10)
“And he (God) changeth the times and the seasons: he (God) removeth kings, and setteth up kings: he (God) giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding:” (Daniel 2:21)
Even though Nebuchadnezzar was a “king of kings,” God has him learn that he only has all this power and might because God has given it to him.
“Thou, O king, art a king of kings: for the God of heaven hath given thee a kingdom, power, and strength, and glory.”(Daniel 2:37)