Todays Thoughts...Daniel 2  Part 2

We are at the part of the chapter where there is a lot of symbolism but with  thanks to God it is later explained. This book is interesting because it has been referred to as the ABC book of God's prophecies and except for two chapters in Revelations it is similar in it's imagery and symbiology in the prophetic writings of the chapters. 

Although Daniel was never credited as a prophet, he most definitely was one of the first to receive the Visions from God.

Interesting Side Note: 

God only gave visions and often explanations followed. to those who truly believed and had a kinship to Him.

But to those who didn't believe or have a relationship to Him they were often dreams that he would enter their minds with confusing symbolism.

This reminds me a lot later where Jesus is telling parables and is talking to his disciples and refers to them as confusing to those who don't believe but explains them to his disciples so they can understand.

Mathew 13: 10-13

Now, close your eyes and imagine a tremendous statue about as big as the statue of Liberty, and imagine that this statue was made of gold, silver, brass, iron and iron mixed with clay. 

That would be unusual by itself but now imagine a great big boulder being hurled at it. Can you see it smash as it makes impact and crashing to the ground and shattered into pieces. Now imagine a wind as strong as a hurricane blowing all of it away and now the boulder now grows into a mountain.                      

Well that is pretty much what King Nebuchadnezzar's dream consisted of only the statue looked more like this...

                                                                       

Now I think you can see why maybe this imagery might have kept the King up at night. Of course, as we already know, none so far were able to satisfy the King and he was already angry enough to place a decree that everyone was to die by the next day. 

Then enters Daniel, who after hearing the dilemma from Arioch ( The very guard who was ordered to kill everyone). Insisted to have company with the king that very night, to see what he might be able to do. Arioch agreed and led him up to the entrance and the rest was up to Daniel.

Which here I find poignant in that this guard respected Daniel and Daniel had shown before that he was good at his word. Of course it helped that God was in the middle of it the whole time.

This was quite brave to attempt because ordinarily you had to wait to be invited by the king to be in his company or get his attention, but for Daniel he made the exception and allowed Daniel to make his case. 

Daniel asked the king for one more day and he would pray to God to reveal it to him and give him the answer the next day. The king decided to grant him this request. but I think the king was doubtful that Daniel could pull it off but decided to entertain the idea.

He returned to his home and he asked Mishael, Hannaniah, and Azzariah ( of course most know them as; Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego) and told them to fast along with him and to pray and earnestly plead with God to reveal this to him to spare their lives.

That night while Daniel slept the very dream the king had had, entered into Daniel's dream and along with it God  helped revealed to him what all of it meant.

Daniel woke up that morning confidant and made his way to see the king that very morning. Soon he found himself in front of the king who already had most of his court entertaining him. The king ordered everyone to leave and then requested Daniel to speak. Of course Daniel did without hesitation.

He told him of the statue he had seen and how the Head was made of gold, it's Chest and Arms were made of Silver,  the Belly and Thighs made of Bronze, Legs of Iron and Feet and Toes made of Iron and Clay (partially baked), and then a Large Boulder came and hurled itself at the statue and shattered it to the ground, then a Large Wind blew every bit of it away and the Boulder grew into a Mountain.

Daniel 2:24-49

I can only imagine at this point what the king must have been thinking as he leaned in interested to hear more. 

Daniel continued to explain; 

I added the historical information to give you a historical perspective.

The Gold Head- Was The Kingdom of Babylon, (from King Nebuchadnezzar II-Belchassar -who reigned from 671-538 BC)

The Chest and Arms of Silver- Was the Medo -Persian Empire, (from King Cyrus-Darius - who reigned from 538-331 BC)

The Belly and Thighs of Brass- Was the Greek and Macedonian Empire,(Alexander the Great-who reigned 331-160 BC)

The Legs of Iron- Roman Empire ( but could have been shared with another empire) (The Ceasars 160 BC-395 AD)

The Feet and Toes made of Part Iron/Part clay {Partially Baked}-10 Kingdoms 

1. Italy 496 AD   2. France 752 AD  3.England 803 AD                   

4. Belgium 806 AD,  5. Holland 922 AD  6. Portugal 1138 AD

7. Prussia 1139 AD 8. Austria 1139 AD 9. Spain 1179 AD 10. Greece 1829 AD

SPECIAL NOTE: This is the source for the above mentioned but I must add I'm not sure if this is accurate and open to interpretation!! So sorry if this caused confusion.

As for the Large Rock- That is God where He will Rule and Reign with His Son Christ over the Earth.  

The smashing is Him putting an end to all earthly governments or kingdoms,    When the Rock becomes a Mountain that is when God's Heavenly Kingdom will fill the earth in place of mankind's.

Upon hearing this the king fell prostrate before Daniel. That is that he laid stretched out with his face toward the ground in a position of submission and reverence humbling himself., because he was overcome with this news.

I believe it is important to note that this is the same position we should be in when pleaing to God. We need to be in a position of humility and respect before the very God who reigns.

 Immediately rewarded Daniel with his finest and a position in the palace having a place of not only administrative but advisory position to the king.

I want to talk a little about Daniel's Character & Spiritual Maturity1.

1. His Wisdom (In Response to a Crisis)a.

a.  He stayed Calm and didn't panic and knew exactly who to go to for the answers. 

b.  Acknowledgement Of God- Knowing only He possessed the Wisdom, Knowledge, Sovereignty and Power over all things.

c. Sincere Expression- He was Confident in the Lord before he even went to God and possessed an "Attitude of Gratitude" acknowledging God's willingness and ability to hear acknowledge and overcome the problem.

Daniel 2:21 " He changes times and seasons; He removes kings and raises up kings."

Psalm 75:6-7 " Exaltation neither comes from the East, West, North or South but God is Judge. He puts down one and exalts another." 

d. He deescalated the situation with sound reasoning and intellect. 

2. His Worship

a. He worshipped God for His willingness to reveal the mysteries to him known only to God.

Deuteronomy 29:29 " The secret things belong to the Lord our God but the things revealed belong to us and to our children forever, so that we may follow all the words of the Law.

Daniel 2:22 " God knows what is in the darkness and light dwells with Him."

3. Praised God 

a. He praised God for how his life had been touched and affected by God's character. 

b. Daniel's Song 

Daniel 2:20-23

c. He exalted God and acknowledged all His wisdom and power over time, seasons, ability to raise people up or take them down " Make or Break", Giving wisdom to the wise, knowledge to the discerning, reveals mysteries and deep and hidden things, Knows what's in the dark and in the light.

Amazing, we all need to be a little more like Daniel in our faith and I pray that you do as i do for myself. 

God Bless 🙏🕆