In Daniel Chapter 2 , we come to Nebuchadnezzar's dream. Most of us dream at night - and most of the dreams we forget. We are told there are various reasons as to why we remember some dreams and forget others. But - now and gain - a dream can be wonderfully supernatural - and through the dream Jesus Christ can be speaking to us subconsciously - through the presence of the Holy Spirit.
God can speak to us in our dreams and through our dreams. Why? One reason may be that if we were conscious, we would refuse and reject what He was saying.
Think of Joseph in the Old Testament, in the book of Genesis - and Mary's Joseph, when God spoke to him in a dream about Mary. If it were not for dreams where Joseph was concerned, Jesus would have been killed.
Daniel Chapter 2 is one of the longest in the Bible - a dream? - more of a nightmare. This mighty man is trembling. He realises it was a dream from beyond. There is tragedy and horror in the dream. It has to have some meaning - but what?
Nebuchadnezzar is at the peak of his career - and he has no peace. He lies unable to sleep. God is going to reveal his future. God is going to reveal THE future.
If we grasp the meaning and significance of this dream, we have the key to the whole of world history and world events. This is the ABC of prophecy.
Here we have a picture of the impotence of man. With all our science and knowledge, there are certain questions we cannot answer.
What is the world coming to? And God reveals it through a nightmare.
What can we do? You can protest that no man can understand these things - or - you can pray.
Four young men got down their knees to pray - acknowledging the omnipotence of God - the all-powerfulness of God - the impotence of man, and the omnipotence of God – the weakness of men and the strength of God. God can recall the past and reveal the future.
Verses 1to 24 . The dream was related to the things he was thinking when he went to bed. He was reviewing his meteoric rise. He had shot up in a short space of time. Nebuchadnezzar was well satisfied with the past, but he was terrified of the future.
How long could he hold the top position? Who would take over? When would he be overtaken? He is wondering and asking questions.
He is disturbed - and he sends for these so-called wise men. "What does he want at this time of night?" "I have given you the best of my food - now you tell me the meaning - but I am not going to tell you the dream."
"The word has gone from me." Did he remember the outline but not the detail?
Or - is he testing those men to know the unknown past? If you claim to be able to tell me about what is going to happen in the future, then tell me what has happened to me in the past! If you are so clever, you should know the past as well as the future.
Could they do what they had been paid to do? You are trying to gain time. He could see through them, and he was furious. They said - this is beyond human minds - human intellect cannot handle this.
Verse 11 . You are going to need one of the gods – and we are not in touch with God. Here is a plain open confession of their inability. They claimed a lot, but they could not answer Nebuchadnezzar.
Verse 13 . These wise men and their pupils are to be executed.
Verse 15 . Daniel coolly asks - "What's up? Tell us what is the matter." Daniel is so in control, and we see his courage once again - the courage of the man of God.
He is 19 years old - facing death - and not panicking. Why are we being condemned to death? Just give me time and I'll tell you the truth. Daniel is confident.
But Daniel has to go and consult someone. He goes to have a Conference with the God of Heaven. He went and got his three friends. They gathered for prayer, and he prayed that their lives might be spared. Daniel seeks the grace of God in a time of real trouble. He pleads for mercy.
He gathers other committed ones to pray along with him. Learn the lessons.
“Loving gracious holy God – when challenged Daniel knows what to do – Daniel knows where to go – Daniel invites those whom he trusts to be with him in prayer. Daniel’s diet had consequences and these consequences lead on to this challenge. Help us Lord God when we face similar challenges in life – not to panic, but to pray. We remember those today, in various places, who are facing serious challenges. Hear us as we pray in Jesus’ name.” Amen.
Alexander 'Sandy' Shaw is pastor of Nairn Christian Fellowship in Nairn, Scotland. Nairn is 17 miles east of Inverness - on the Moray Firth Coast - not far from the Loch Ness Monster!
Gifted as a Biblical teacher, Sandy is firmly committed to making sure that his teachings are firmly grounded in the Word.
Sandy has a weekly radio talk which can be heard via the Internet on Saturday at 11:40am, New Orleans time, at wsho.com.