“Have you ever had a dream that was so real it almost seemed to be true? How did you feel when you woke up? Scientists tell us that we dream every night – and most of the time we enjoy it. But some dreams terrorize us. They are dreams C. S. Lewis called ‘dreams that make you afraid to sleep again.’
Powerful kings in ancient Babylon had dreams too! Mighty King Nebuchadnezzar had a dream that he couldn’t forget. He knew it came from someone far greater than himself. The dream and the meaning of it are recorded in Daniel chapter 2.
Daniel 2 is one of the most amazing predictive chapters in the Bible. It was written in the 6th century B.C., yet it accurately described the future rise and fall of four great empires! Some of Daniel 2 may seem like so much ancient history to us, but it was all future to Daniel. He peered through future centuries with God’s eyes. Daniel declares ‘Blessed be the name of God forever and ever: for wisdom and might are His.’ “ **
As you study this lesson think about what God’s prophetic plan means to your life. How did Daniel respond to the crisis that could have caused his death?
Read Daniel 2.
I. God distresses a king – Dan. 2:1
1. How did Nebuchadnezzar respond to this dream that God had given to him?
II. God disgraces the “wise men” – Dan. 2:2 – 13
2. What did Nebuchadnezzar do about his troubling dream? (v. 2- 6)
3. Why do you think Nebuchadnezzar demanded to know the content of his dream from his wise men as well as the dreams interpretation? (v. 7 – 9)
4. Why was the task assigned by the king too difficult for the astrologers to accomplish? (v. 10 – 11)
5. What is the king’s response? (v. 12, 13)
III. God discloses the secret – Dan. 2:14 – 23
6. What was Daniel’s course of action in the face of the king’s order? (v. 14 – 16)
7. What did Daniel and his friends ask of God in the midst of a desperate situation? ( v. 17 -18)
8. From Daniel’s example what can we learn about how we should react to a personal crisis? (v. 14 -18)
9. How did Daniel respond to answered prayer? (v. 19 -23)
IV. God displays His wisdom and power – Dan. 2:24 – 45
10. What transpired between Daniel and Arioch? Why do you think Daniel sought to spare the lives of the wise men? (v. 24 – 25)
11. What did Daniel want King Nebuchadnezzar to know about the true God? (v. 27 – 30)
Application Question: Three aspects of Daniel’s spiritual maturity stand out in this chapter: his wisdom in response to a crisis, his prayer in response to a problem and his praise in response to God’s work in his life. Which of those marks of maturity is most well-developed in your life? Which of them is weakest? **
12. Nebuchadnezzar had demanded that any interpreter of his dream had to first tell him what happened in the dream. What about Daniel’s description of the dream (vv. 31 – 35), would have caused Nebuchadnezzar to be troubled (v. 1)?
13. The image represents four Gentile kingdoms: What metal is associated with each one?
· Babylonian Kingdom - __________________________
· Medo-Persian Kingdom - _________________________
· Grecian Kingdom - ______________________________
· The Roman Empire - ____________________________
14. What can we learn from the interpretation of the dream?
· Who is in control of history? _____________
· What happens to human kingdoms as time passes? _________________________________________
· What does the iron and clay mixture tell you about strength and unity of this later empire? _______________________
· What does “the stone that smote the image become a great mountain”(v.35) represent (v. 44)? ____________________
V. God distinguishes His servants – Dan. 2:46 – 49 *
15. What did the king do in response to Daniel’s interpretation? (v.46 – 49)
Concluding Thought: “Our response ought to be one of joyful confidence, knowing that the Lord has everything under control and will one day reign on this earth. While God’s people should do everything they can to alleviate suffering and make this a safer and happier world, our hope is not in laws, political alliances, or moral crusades. Our hope is in the Lord. People’s hearts need to be changed by the grace of God, and that means God’s people must be witnesses to the ends of the earth. The only kingdom that will stand forever is Christ’s kingdom (Dan. 2:44), and the only people who will be citizens of that kingdom are those who have trusted Him and been born again by the Spirit of God [(John 3:1 – 18) W. Wiersbe].” That being the case, what should you be doing in this present day, to prepare for the coming of Jesus Christ?
__________________________
* Main points of outline from Warren Wiersbe commentary on Daniel. Victor Books.
** Quoted from Daniel Spiritual Living in a Secular World Life Guide Bible Study, Douglas Connelly, IVP Press. Downers Grove, Ill.
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