Let God Direct your Dream Daniel 2:24-30

And what we have discovered so far, and from this passage we are dealing with today is that the King had been thinking about his kingdom one night before he went to sleep. I don’t know what he was pondering. He may have been thinking about what next. He was a go getter sort of guy. A man who didn’t let the moss grow under his feet fo rlong. He was always onto something else. But he had conquered the known world at the time, at least in his area. Maybe he was wondering where he should go next. It didn’t bother him about how many of his soldiers he lost in battle to satisfy his lust for power. He was probably looking for the next country to crush. Maybe he was bored and wondering what to do next.

What keeps you awake at night? When you go to bed what are you thinking about? Not many of us are thinking about that next challenge to accomplish or next mountain to climb. Usually when I go to bed, at least this week whenever I close my eyes to sleep I have been living with this passage. In fact, I was laying down with my eyes closed and it dawned on me this is exactly what King Nebuchadnezzar was doing when he had his dream. It hit me that he and I were thinking about the same thing 2500 years apart. He was thinking about his kingdom. We all are thinking about our kingdoms aren’t we. We may not be thinking of a country to conquer, but we surely are thinking about what we are going to do the next day. Possibly you are troubled by something that awaits you tomorrow, a difficult decision you have to make.

How are you to face it? What are you to think? What will get you through this night and into tomorrow to go through another day and another week?

Here is Daniel, he has a life and death situation before him, that God has laid out. We don’t often have life and death decisions to make, but we do have lots of little ones that will creep us in one direction or another. Like a builder who lays the foundation walls. If they are not right on accurate, by the time he gets two floors up his walls are going to be way off. But that might not have been noticed early on because he wasn’t paying attention to the little things. And it is the little things in your life you need to pay attention to or when you get to the end you will find you are way off in life.

I. Daniel Before Arioch

So Daniel, once he realizes that God has revealed to him the dream and interpretation, offers up praise to God as we saw last time, and then makes haste to get to Arioch the captain of the guard, the chief executioner and tells him the news before he kills anyone of the wisemen. Daniel declares to Arioch do not kill the wise men of Babylon.

I will show the king the interpretation. In other words, Daniel knows the Scripture (Dream) and its interpretation and it brings life to those who know it and believe it. The word interpretation used here in Daniel is a word that is used to follow a sentence of Scripture. In other words, one would read a portion of Scripture and then say “this is its interpretation.” Thus, this is one more highlight that what Daniel is about to do is give a revelation of Scripture then its interpretation. He is about to proclaim to the king the truth of God’s Word regarding the future.

The fact that you have good news shared in a timely manner might just save someone else. Just as it does here. Be ready to give an answer for the hope you have in Christ. You never know whether that word you share will bear fruit in someone else’s life for the glory of God.

II. Arioch brings him before the king

v.25 Arioch brings Daniel before the king with confidence he will reveal its interpretation.

I will show the king the interpretation. In other words, Daniel knows the Scripture (Dream) and its interpretation and it brings life to those who know it and believe it.

Now in v.25 Arioch brings Daniel before the king with confidence he will reveal its interpretation.

v.25 Arioch brings Daniel before the king with confidence he will reveal its interpretation.

Arioch, ‘in haste’ a word that means to be alarmed, dismayed, He is so alarmed at this, knowing the serious nature of what Daniel just told him, he quickly goes before the king with the news and brings Daniel to him.

The emphasis is on the mindset of Arioch that he wastes no time in bringing this news to the King.

The way Arioch puts this to the king is interesting.

He said, “I have found a man among the sons of the exiles of Judah who will make known to the king the interpretation.”

Notice:

1.I have found-it is as if he went looking for someone to accomplish this. He didn’t go looking for anyone except those whom he was to execute. in fact, Daniel came to him, not the other way around. But this is human nature, to take credit for something they didn’t do in order most likely to gain favor with the king.

2.the word ‘man’ is the word ‘gebar’ which is the root of the word meaning ‘strong man’ normally used of someone with strength and vitality of a successful warrior. The word is used in to refer to God as ‘mighty man, a man of war.’ it emphasizes or distinguishes between women, kids, or any non-combatants. This is a mid-teen young man. But the word usage here suggests that Daniel is not your typical teenage boy. He is referred to here as a mighty warrior, a man of war. One who is strong. This is not just some wimp of a pimply faced kid. He is acting with the boldness of a mighty warrior, because as he will say there is nothing in him that makes this possible, it is all God.

God is the one who takes our weakness and makes us strong,

Philippians 4:13 ESV

I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

2 Corinthians 12:9–10 ESV

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

3.from the sons of the exiles of Judah, this really makes a huge contrast with the wise men of Babylon. just a lowly exile, a no body among nobodies to the king. Anyone who was someone to him was unsuccessful, but here is this nobody, kid who God uses to reveal the truth to.

or , .

This teaches us that God uses those whom He chooses, no matter a nobody, a teenage boy, or what to reveal the good news to others.

He gets the most glory out of using the low rung folks to reveal truth to the wise of this world, so that no flesh could glory in His presence.

Arioch presents Daniel to the king.

III. Daniel before the King, v.26-30

The King asks Daniel, note that mention is made of his Aramaic name ‘Belteshazzar’ which means ‘bel protects the king/life’. He asks him if he can make known the dream and its interpretation. This is the same question the Eunuch asked Philip: can you make known to me the scripture? that which I do not understand.

Same implied question Belshazzar asked Daniel in chapter 5

or Pharoah to Joseph in

really anyone who is troubled by a passage of Scripture.

Who can tell me what it means?

The question the king asks though is probably one of doubt, ‘can you really . . .?’

one point of interest here is that the king must have been at the very least a bit intrigued by this youth who was in exile because he himself, the king, had defeated his king with ease and destroyed his city. Furthermore, that his own wise men could not perform as he had commanded. It must surely have surprised him of this turn of events. That such a youth from a defeated country would be able to render some comfort to his troubled mind and soul.

I would suggest to you that you might face similar doubt at times that the way God is working things out in your life is really going to work. It may seem that the only thing that really makes sense to you is the worlds way of doing things.

Here is a classic example, as mentioned above in . The idea that we would be saved to eternal life by the death of someone else is complete folly to the unbeliever. It makes no sense at all. How can the death of another ensure that you will go to heaven? But that is just it, God’s ways are not our ways. How can God use the death of a loved one, a traumatic injury, a birth defect, a failure, forgiveness or the like, to bring glory to Him? It makes no sense to us, but He does do so and there are many hundreds if not thousands of examples of this very thing.

Daniel’s answer to his question is the focus of this message. It is three-fold.

1. The wisdom of the world will not work

Not humanly possible for the natural man to understand the things of God. That is why books about the bible written by unbelievers are complete foolishness.

When you are thinking on the direction of your life don’t follow your dreams. This isn’t the “Sound of Music” where you can ‘climb every mountain”

Climb every mountain, Search high and low, Follow every byway, Every path you know.

Climb every mountain, Ford every stream, Follow every rainbow, 'Till you find your dream.

A dream that will need All the love you can give, Every day of your life For as long as you live.

Climb every mountain,

A dream that will need All the love you can give, Every day of your life, For as long as you live.

Climb every mountain, Ford every stream, Follow every rainbow, Till you find your dream

A dream that will need All the love you can give, Every day of your life, For as long as you live.

You couldn’t get more false, humanistic and unbiblical than that in your thinking. if you think this way you are in for a lifetime of slavery to your selfishness. That last line “A dream that will need all the love you can give every day of your life for as long as you live.”

Read more: Sound Of Music - Climb Every Mountain Lyrics | MetroLyrics

You couldn’t get much worse if you followed the song made famous by Sinatra, “I did it my way” or Disney’s ‘Frozen’ song “Let it God” which every little girl knows by heart. But folks these are not what God teaches us. He doesn’t tell us to follow our heart our dreams. Unless like Jesus you follow God’s heart. Jesus dream from teh time he was born to the last breath on the cross when he declared, “It is finished!” was to live to please the Father.

My friend, the world doesn’t have that kind of an answer. It is foolish to them. Daniel points out the wise men of Babylon cannot reveal it, ie. unbelievers cannot know or understand the things of God, not even if they are connected to the spirit world. The paganism of Babylon is worthless. Only the God of heaven can help.

the wise men of Babylon cannot reveal it, ie. unbelievers cannot know or understand the things of God, not even if they are connected to the spirit world. The paganism of Babylon is worthless. Only the God of heaven can help.

The four-fold list here shows how completely unable are those to reveal the secrets.

Notice he goes through the list of anyone in Babylon that was considered wise: wise men, astrologers, magicians, soothsayers. Everyone that anyone turned to for help, for wisdom and direction in their lives was a complete failure, a con game.

The normal means of discerning the affairs of life are shown here to be completely impotent in their ability to give wise discretion in the things of life. Yet, how many believers today go first to the culture, to politics, to the majority for deciding which way they blow with regards to the affairs of life that occupy our news today, such as transgender, same sex marriage, abortion. They go to those secular ‘authorities’ rather than the Bible to get their morning take on affairs in our day.

Don’t go to secular wisdom for direction for your life go to God.

2.God in Heaven does reveal secrets, v.28, 29 this shows the total inability of the heathen gods to reveal secrets. this reveals or highlights the sufficiency of God who is willing to make known His plans. The gods of the heavens could not do it, but the God of heaven could.

God reveals the topic-what shall be in the latter days,

This phrase used 14x always refers to the future

God reveals the future to the king Remember earlier that the wisemen said only the gods could reveal the dream to the king, v.11

Now Daniel says God in heaven can do that.

As Nebuchadnezzar lay on his bed thinking about the future about to fall asleep, God reveals to him the fate of his kingdom and those after him.

This was a prophetic dream revealing what is going to happen in history. This is called the ‘times of the gentiles” leading up to the coming of the Messiah to set up His kingdom. It shows that Nebuchadnezzar is the first of many kings who will be in power by God’s appointment.

He is the one who is completely sufficient to guide you in your spiritual life, your finances, your work, your personal relationships, how to face hardship, disease, death.

pursue the kingdom of God first. that is the way to really find life. Jesus also said the person who tries to save his life will lose it and the one who loses it for His sake will find it.

3.God in heaven reveals secrets to the one He has chosen, v.30

and I there is no wisdom in me more than all the living this secret revealed to me but because the interpretation be made known to the king and the thoughts of your heart you may know.

Daniel shows his humility.

there is three elements in this verse

1.affirmation of God’s revelation

2.Daniel’s denial of any special power - he is making himself as small and inconspicuous as possible in this deal. He, as far as he is concerned, is only an instrument, a tool if you will, through which God chooses to reveal His ordering of history.

3.the purpose of the revelation

In other words, Daniel tells the king it is not because he has more wisdom than all the others that he is able to make known the thoughts of his heart. But rather as he states in v.28 it is God who makes known to him these things.

The purpose is to reveal the interpretation to the king, that is that the king would know what is troubling him. The dream as we have seen is the Word of God. It is the Word, the plan of God as revealed that is troubling him. It is the future that troubles him.

The future ought to trouble all of us. It is what is after death that should trouble us so much that we seek the truth about it and how to deal with it.

Ironically what we will see is that rather than humbling the king, the revelation emboldens him to make an idol of the image and demand others worship it. It is an image of him as he sees it and thus demands worship of himself. That is met with a judgment on him because of pride. Then after his humility he appears to respond rightly to God.

In the book of revelation, the similar truth is revealed only it is to John one of the apostles. He too needs an interpreter in the form of an angel, rather than a man like Daniel.

Conclusion

The comforting thought here is “There is a God in heaven, and this God may be called upon to supply sustenance and wisdom far beyond what is available from human resources. Although circumstances sometimes may look impossible from an earthly standpoint, there is a God in heaven who can do all things. He can solve seemingly insoluble problems, supply needs, and provide strength for impossible tasks. He is a God who is there and who is able.”1

1 Miller, S. R. (1994). Daniel (Vol. 18, p. 89). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.

True knowledge about spiritual matters and the future only come from God, not psychics, palm readers, tarot cards, etc.

God is the only one who knows the future and reveals it to His people through His Word. So if you really want to know what you should be doing with your life, you need to be scouring the Word of God and praying for insight. Then be willing to jump in and obey it when He reveals it to you.

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