Bible Studies
None Can Declare, But God In Heaven (Dan. 2:1-6)
Series: There is a God in Heaven (Studies in the Book of Daniel)Introduction:
1. One of the unique features of the God of heaven is that He is eternal. 2. He stands outside the regular time limitations associated with humans. No human being can foretell the future. 3. But God is not limited in His knowledge to the here and now. His knowledge rests on the fact that He transcends time. He knows what will occur in the future and therefore can reveal future events. 4. This is clearly the presupposition in Daniel 2. Here, as elsewhere in Scripture, this quality is primary in defining who God is, and in this text, it distinguishes Him from all the so-called gods of the Babylonians.Discussion:
I. King Nebuchadnezzar recognized the difference between those who actually had information from God and those who did not (2:7-11).A. He called on the magicians, conjurers, the sorcerers and the Chaldeans to tell him his dream and then its interpretation.
1. He realized that if they could not tell him the dream that their interpretations would be suspect.
2. Delay, he interpreted, as stalling for time. Delay would be accompanied by lying and corrupt words until the situation changed, or so thought the king.
3. Nebuchadnezzar’s presupposition was that if these men had any genuine contact with God. God would reveal both the dream and its interpretation to them. Revealing the dream would validate the interpretation as come from God.
B. Who were these magicians, conjurers, sorcerers and Chaldeans? The terms used in the English do not fit exactly with the ancient Hebrew. (Definitions from Keil, p. 87.)
1. The magicians were not of the David Copperfield variety. The Hebrew word translated “magicians” is from the word for “stylus” a writing instrument. It refers to those learned in sacred writings and in literature (cf. 1:4c). Also found in Egypt (Gen. 41:24).
2. The word translated “conjurers” comes from Hebrew terms meaning “to breath, to blow, to whisper.” These practiced their incantations by movements of the breath.
3. The word for “sorcerers” refers to a priestly cast of Babylonian wise men. Note also Ex. 7:11; Isa. 47:9, 12.
4. The word “Chaldeans” sometimes refers to Babylonians generally, but here refers to a special priesthood.
5. There is an additional group mentioned in Dan. 2:27 described as “diviners” in NASB. Sometimes this is translated “astrologers.” These are those who announced events by the appearances of the heavens (cf. Isa. 47:13), those who forecast horoscopes, who determine the fate of men from the position and the movement of the stars at the time of their birth.
7. All of these seem to have worked together even though they had their areas of specialty.
8. All such are condemned in Deut. 18:10.
C. It is obvious that king Nebuchadnezzar had his doubts about them. The magicians themselves must have known that the religion of Babylonia was mere superstition and not the truth. Evidenced in 2:11. Such is the case with nearly all religion today. It is merely “make believe.” It is a “willing suspension of disbelief.” It is just pretend.
1. Many believe that the Bible is merely make believe, just pretend. They believe that it is merely the word of men, that no God is behind it.
2. For them their worship, their practices are all founded upon “make believe.”
3. I say if that is the case we might as well all go home, eat, drink and be merry because what we are doing here is useless. There may be some redeeming humanitarian value, but the reality is that the whole thing is really useless.
4. If you want to know why so many religionists advocate for homosexual sex,
homosexual marriage, abortion, one religion is as good as another, etc. it is because they do not believe in the God of heaven who stands above time, who has all knowledge and who has revealed Himself in the pages of the Bible. For them all religion is just like theirs—man made. It is make believe and therefore it is used to justify whatever they want to justify and to condemn whatever they want to condemn.
5. And we can’t even get some of our own people to come and hear the word of God. They say they believe it, but they have other things to do. Is their thinking like the other religionists of the world? “It’s just make believe!?”
II. Daniel recognized that only the God of heaven could revealthe dream and the future (2:17ff).A. Prayer was the first consideration.
B. God revealed the information to Daniel (19).
C. Daniel’s response was to praise God for the revelation he was given (20ff).
D. Daniel contrasted the king’s wise men, conjurers, magicians, and diviners with the God of heaven (27-28).
E. Daniel then revealed the dream and its interpretation, confessing that he was merely God’s mouthpiece to reveal the information to the king (30).
III. The God of heaven revealed to King Nebuchadnezzar his dream and its interpretation (2:31-45).A. The dream revealed (31-35).
B. The head of gold—represented King Nebuchadnezzar (36-38).
C. The breast and arms of silver, its belly and thighs of bronze.
1. A second and a third kingdom to follow Nebuchadnezzar.
2. There is a deteriorating element to the image.
D. Its legs of iron and its feet and toes were partly of iron mixed with clay.
1. It will be a divided kingdom.
2. The division is associated with the diminished strength of the kingdom.
E. While various identifications have been given to the second, third and fourth kingdoms the prevailing view is that the second and third kingdoms are the Medo-Persian and Greek kingdoms and the fourth is the Roman kingdom.
1. These identifications fit the historical context.
2. And they fit with the coming of God’s kingdom (vs. 44-45) as evidenced in the coming of the Messianic king during the Roman period.
3. This kingdom will never be destroyed, but will endure forever. It will crush and put an end to all these other kingdoms. This fifth kingdom originates with God, not man; it is eternal, not temporary like the kingdoms of men; in terms of power the kingdom of God is unconquerable; the kingdoms of men are destroyed by it.
IV. Nebuchadnezzar did homage to Daniel, exalted Daniel’s God and exalted Daniel in his kingdom (46-49).A. Should not interpret Nebuchadnezzar’s actions as anything more than typical of the polytheist that he was.
B. Should not interpret Daniel’s exaltation over the wise men as him compromising with their false beliefs.
1. Such would be inconsistent with his previous commitment (1:8).
2. It would also be inconsistent with the commitments and the tone throughout the book of Daniel.
Conclusion:
1. We must not let our interest in the image and its interpretation cause us to miss the main point of the passage. 2. The main point is only the God of heaven reveals the mysteries of life. 3. There are powerful implications regarding our perception of the Bible. Do you believe the Bible is a revelation from God or are you skeptical and rationalistic? 4. There are powerful implications regarding our personal faith. Are you really a believer or are you a skeptic? Are you like the Babylonian’s—pretending? 5. Pretending evidences itself in lack of conviction, a lack of confidence, and mediocre commitment. This is seen in King Nebuchadnezzar. Daniel, however, stands in stark contrast! 6. Is your religion real or just pretend? 7. If you are ready to make the transition from pretend to real... “There is a God in heaven!”
