God speaks to Nebuchadnezzar
God speaks to Nebuchadnezzar (v1-11)
- Looking at v1-23
- Looking at the interpretation next week
- God has put eternity in the hearts of all people
- Men and women live as though there is no eternal life
- What about Nebuchadnezzar?
- He needed to know that God exists and to know God
- God gave him a disturbing dream
- As Christians we are not to be superstitious
- If God speaks in a dream, this will be clear
- This dream to Nebuchadnezzar was a message from heaven
- He knew he must have the interpretation - it seemed to frighten him
- Brief explanation
- 1 Cor 15 reminds us that God must reign
- Nebuchadnezzar must know that God reigns
- What sort of man is Nebuchadnezzar?
- He seems to distrust others
- He seems to be angry and irrational
- He seems to be volatile
- He is frightened by the dream he has
- He wants to establish himself as the all powerful king
- Yet God speaks to Nebuchadnezzar
- God is going to humble him
- God is going to raise up Daniel and his friends
- Can God speak to powerful men today?
- History is in God's hand
- v21 - He raises up and puts down kings
- God is God
- Nebuchadnezzar was to learn the impotence of pagan gods and human philosophies
- He needed to know there was only one true God in heaven
- He needed to know his other sources of 'help' were cut off
- The Chaldeans initially looked like they had the answers - but they were frauds
- Only the 'gods' could give an answer and the Chaldeans were not 'in touch' with the gods
- All the could give was guesses and superstitious views
- Science can tell us 'what' but not 'why'
- Are we like the Chaldeans?
- Do we need a jolt?
- It is our prayer that people would search for God
Daniel's Response (v12-18)
- Daniel knew what to do
- He knew his life was in danger
- He went to the captain of the guard - God had given favour
- He was wise and diplomatic
- He went to see the king - God gave further favour
- Daniel asked for time
- Nebuchadnezzar did not give time to the Chaldeans (v8)
- God gave Daniel time
- He called a prayer meeting
- He called his three friends
- They pray and seek mercy from the God of heaven
- They come in faith
- We can learn a lot from Daniel
- Daniel trusted in the Lord
- Ps 118:8, Prov 3:26
- Do we trust in the Lord (especially in a crisis)?
God's Answer (v19-23)
- God's answer did not come directly to Daniel
- He later received a vision when sleeping/at night
- He sees the same image that Nebuchadnezzar saw
- He understands the interpretation
- God reveals His mysteries to His servant
- Does God speak in dreams and visions today?
- God does sometimes speak to unbelievers in this way?
- God does not usually speak to believers in this way - for we have the final and complete revelation (the Bible)
- However, God is not bound just by speaking in the Bible
- God might rarely speak in this way
- No situation is too hard for Him or beyond Him
- God promotes Daniel and his friends (v48-49)
- Daniel first worships after receiving the answer - he does not rush back to Nebuchadnezzar
- v20 - he is humble and recognises that it is God who has given him wisdom
- v22 - he recognises that God has given him the interpretation of the dream
- He is full of praise
- He knows the killing will stop - God had spoken to the king
- Jer 29:11 - a word to those in exile
Closing Remarks