Setting – God reveals to Daniel Nebuchadnezzar’s dream
Content – Nebuchadnezzar has a dream and demands that his wise men to reveal what he dreamt and what it meant, (v. 2, 5 NLT) “He called in his magicians, enchanters, sorcerers, and astrologers, and he demanded that they tell him what he had dreamed. As they stood before the king”, “I am serious about this. If you don't tell me what my dream was and what it means, you will be torn limb from limb, and your houses will be demolished into heaps of rubble!” They weren’t able to tell him of his dream (v. 10 NLT) “The astrologers replied to the king, "There isn't a man alive who can tell Your Majesty his dream! And no king, however great and powerful, has ever asked such a thing of any magician, enchanter, or astrologer!” Because no one was able to reveal the dream the king was going to have all the wise men killed (v. 12 NLT) “The king was furious when he heard this, and he sent out orders to execute all the wise men of Babylon” Daniel, Hananiah, Mishel & Azariah were to be killed also, so they prayed that God would reveal the dream to Daniel, (v. 18 NLT) “He urged them to ask the God of heaven to show them his mercy by telling them the secret, so they would not be executed along with the other wise men of Babylon” God revealed the dream and it’s reason to Daniel. Daniel praised God for what He does (v. 20-22 NLT) “Praise the name of God forever and ever, for he alone has all wisdom and power. He determines the course of world events; he removes kings and sets others on the throne. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the scholars. He reveals deep and mysterious things and knows what lies hidden in darkness, though he himself is surrounded by light.”
Daniel revealed the dream of the statue (v. 23 NLT) “Your Majesty, in your vision you saw in front of you a huge and powerful statue of a man, shining brilliantly, frightening and awesome” Nebuchadnezzar was the top (gold head) (v. 38 NLT) “He has made you the ruler over all the inhabited world and has put even the animals and birds under your control. You are the head of gold.” Then each lesser kingdom was the silver, bronze, iron and iron and clay. God then establishes His kingdom (v. 44 NLT) “During the reigns of those kings, the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed; no one will ever conquer it. It will shatter all these kingdoms into nothingness, but it will stand forever.”
Nebuchadnezzar acknowledged God (v. 47 NLT) “The king said to Daniel, ‘Truly, your God is the God of gods, the Lord over kings, a revealer of mysteries, for you have been able to reveal this secret.’” Daniel was place in high position (v. 48 NLT) “He made Daniel ruler over the whole province of Babylon, as well as chief over all his wise men.”
Application – God “alone has all wisdom and power. He determines the course of world events; he removes kings and sets others on the throne. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the scholars. He reveals deep and mysterious things and knows what lies hidden in darkness, though he himself is surrounded by light” God blessed Daniel and his three friends by revealing the dream, but we still need to remember they are in captivity. We can still be blessed in unfavorable circumstances. Joshua and Caleb went through the wilderness for 40 years to be blessed after all of that. Joseph went through 13 years of jail to rise to second in command.
If our goal and desire is to be used and blessed by God, our circumstances might not always be favorable; God can still use us in those unfavorable circumstances. It’s hard to maintain the goal, which is to bring God’s creation back to God. Once God establishes Christ kingdom forever, God isn’t giving second chances. So we need to be reminded that we are hear to serve God’s purpose, which is to bring God’s creation (mankind) back into a relationship with their Creator.
Content – Nebuchadnezzar has a dream and demands that his wise men to reveal what he dreamt and what it meant, (v. 2, 5 NLT) “He called in his magicians, enchanters, sorcerers, and astrologers, and he demanded that they tell him what he had dreamed. As they stood before the king”, “I am serious about this. If you don't tell me what my dream was and what it means, you will be torn limb from limb, and your houses will be demolished into heaps of rubble!” They weren’t able to tell him of his dream (v. 10 NLT) “The astrologers replied to the king, "There isn't a man alive who can tell Your Majesty his dream! And no king, however great and powerful, has ever asked such a thing of any magician, enchanter, or astrologer!” Because no one was able to reveal the dream the king was going to have all the wise men killed (v. 12 NLT) “The king was furious when he heard this, and he sent out orders to execute all the wise men of Babylon” Daniel, Hananiah, Mishel & Azariah were to be killed also, so they prayed that God would reveal the dream to Daniel, (v. 18 NLT) “He urged them to ask the God of heaven to show them his mercy by telling them the secret, so they would not be executed along with the other wise men of Babylon” God revealed the dream and it’s reason to Daniel. Daniel praised God for what He does (v. 20-22 NLT) “Praise the name of God forever and ever, for he alone has all wisdom and power. He determines the course of world events; he removes kings and sets others on the throne. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the scholars. He reveals deep and mysterious things and knows what lies hidden in darkness, though he himself is surrounded by light.”
Daniel revealed the dream of the statue (v. 23 NLT) “Your Majesty, in your vision you saw in front of you a huge and powerful statue of a man, shining brilliantly, frightening and awesome” Nebuchadnezzar was the top (gold head) (v. 38 NLT) “He has made you the ruler over all the inhabited world and has put even the animals and birds under your control. You are the head of gold.” Then each lesser kingdom was the silver, bronze, iron and iron and clay. God then establishes His kingdom (v. 44 NLT) “During the reigns of those kings, the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed; no one will ever conquer it. It will shatter all these kingdoms into nothingness, but it will stand forever.”
Nebuchadnezzar acknowledged God (v. 47 NLT) “The king said to Daniel, ‘Truly, your God is the God of gods, the Lord over kings, a revealer of mysteries, for you have been able to reveal this secret.’” Daniel was place in high position (v. 48 NLT) “He made Daniel ruler over the whole province of Babylon, as well as chief over all his wise men.”
Application – God “alone has all wisdom and power. He determines the course of world events; he removes kings and sets others on the throne. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the scholars. He reveals deep and mysterious things and knows what lies hidden in darkness, though he himself is surrounded by light” God blessed Daniel and his three friends by revealing the dream, but we still need to remember they are in captivity. We can still be blessed in unfavorable circumstances. Joshua and Caleb went through the wilderness for 40 years to be blessed after all of that. Joseph went through 13 years of jail to rise to second in command.
If our goal and desire is to be used and blessed by God, our circumstances might not always be favorable; God can still use us in those unfavorable circumstances. It’s hard to maintain the goal, which is to bring God’s creation back to God. Once God establishes Christ kingdom forever, God isn’t giving second chances. So we need to be reminded that we are hear to serve God’s purpose, which is to bring God’s creation (mankind) back into a relationship with their Creator.
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