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INTRODUCTION:

1. At the end of the last Chapter, after Darius the Mede conquered Babylon and killed King Belshazzar, Daniel was promoted to be one of three leaders of the Medo-Persian Empire.

2. In this Chapter, the other leaders of the Empire plot to destroy Daniel and remove him and his power and influence!

3. Also in this Chapter, we see the weakness of human leaders as King Darius falls into the trap set by these other leaders of the Empire.

4. In this Chapter, our sovereign GOD again intervenes to protect the life of HIS servant, exalts him, and destroys those who sought to destroy him!

EXPOSITION:

6:1-5 When godly people are rewarded, ungodly people will seek to destroy them and they often use their faithfulness to GOD as the reason!

(1) “It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom 120 satraps, to be throughout the whole kingdom; (2) and over them three high officials, of whom Daniel was one, to whom these satraps should give account, so that the king might suffer no loss. (3) Then this Daniel became distinguished above all the other high officials and satraps, because an excellent spirit was in him. And the king planned to set him over the whole kingdom.

(4) Then the high officials and the satraps sought to find a ground for complaint against Daniel with regard to the kingdom, but they could find no ground for complaint or any fault, because he was faithful, and no error or fault was found in him. (5) Then these men said, “We shall not find any ground for complaint against this Daniel unless we find it in connection with the law of his God.”

6:6-9 When ungodly people seek to destroy godly people, they often use the government leaders to do it!

(6) Then these high officials and satraps came by agreement to the king and said to him, “O King Darius, live forever! (7) All the high officials of the kingdom, the prefects and the satraps, the counselors and the governors are agreed that the king should establish an ordinance and enforce an injunction, that whoever makes petition to any god or man for thirty days, except to you,    O king, shall be cast into the den of lions.

(8) Now, O king, establish the injunction and sign the document, so that it cannot be changed, according to the law of the Medes and the Persians, which cannot be revoked.” (9) Therefore, King Darius signed the document and injunction.”

6:10-13 Godly people remain faithful to GOD and HIS commandments regardless of the price they may pay for doing so!

(10) “When Daniel knew that the document had been signed, he went to his house where he had windows in his upper chamber open toward Jerusalem. He got down on his knees three times a day and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as he had done previously.

(11) Then these men came by agreement and found Daniel making petition and plea before his God. (12) Then they came near and said before the king, concerning the injunction, “O king! Did you not sign an injunction, that anyone who makes petition to any god or man within thirty days except to you, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions?” The king answered and said, “The thing stands fast, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be revoked.”

(13) Then they answered and said before the king, “Daniel, who is one of the exiles from Judah, pays no attention to you, O king, or the injunction you have signed, but makes his petition three times a day.”

6:14-18 Many, if not most, political leaders will do whatever it takes to placate the crowds even when they know it is wrong!

(14) “Then the king, when he heard these words, was much distressed and set his mind to deliver Daniel. And he labored till the sun went down to rescue him.

(15) Then these men came by agreement to the king and said to the king, “Know, O king, that it is a law of the Medes and Persians that no injunction or ordinance that the king establishes can be changed.”

(16) Then the king commanded, and Daniel was brought and cast into the den of lions. The king declared to Daniel, “May your God, whom you serve continually, deliver you!” (17) And a stone was brought and laid on the mouth of the den, and the king sealed it with his own signet and with the signet of his lords, that nothing might be changed concerning Daniel. (18) Then the king went to his palace and spent the night fasting; no diversions were brought to him, and sleep fled from him.

6:19-24 When GOD works in the life of HIS people, even godless political leaders recognize and respond to it!

(19) “Then, at break of day, the king arose and went in haste to the den of lions. (20) As he came near to the den where Daniel was, he cried out in a tone of anguish. The king declared to Daniel,           “O Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to deliver you from the lions?”

(21) Then Daniel said to the king, “O king, live forever! (22) My God sent his angel and shut the lions’ mouths, and they have not harmed me, because I was found blameless before him; and also before you, O king, I have done no harm.”

*Theological Note: The One True Living GOD of the universe is sovereign over all things, including wild animals!

(23) “Then the king was exceedingly glad and commanded that Daniel be taken up out of the den. So, Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no kind of harm was found on him, because he had trusted in his God.

(24) And the king commanded, and those men who had maliciously accused Daniel were brought and cast into the den of lions⁠—they, their children, and their wives. And before they reached the bottom of the den, the lions overpowered them and broke all their bones in pieces.”

6:25 – 28 Most ungodly people, including the most well-educated and powerful, hold to some form of religious superstition and are always eager to please whatever “god” or “gods” in which they believe!

(25) “Then King Darius wrote to all the peoples, nations, and languages that dwell in all the earth: “Peace be multiplied to you. (26) I make a decree, that in all my royal dominion people are to tremble and fear before the God of Daniel,

for he is the living God, enduring forever; his kingdom shall never be destroyed, and his dominion shall be to the end. (27) He delivers and rescues; he works signs and wonders in heaven and on earth, he who has saved Daniel from the power of the lions.”

(28) So this Daniel prospered during the reign of Darius and the reign of Cyrus the Persian.”

Amen!

INTRODUCTION:

1. Between the last verse of Chapter 4 and the first verse of Chapter 5, twenty-three years have elapsed. Over those years, following the death of Nebuchadnezzar in 562 BC, five different Kings ruled over the Kingdom of Babylon:

– Evil (or Amel) Merodach was a son of Nebuchadnezzar who ruled from 562 to 560 BC. Little beyond his name is known about him or his reign.

– Neriglissar was a son-in-law of King Nebuchadnezzar. He killed Evil Merodach in 560 BC and ruled to 556 BC.

– Labashi-Marduk was the son of Neriglissar who only ruled for four months before being killed by Belshazzar, the son of the next King, Nabonidus.

– Nabonidus was not related to Nebuchadnezzar. He ruled as co-regent with his son Belshazzar until they were killed during the conquest of Babylon by King Darius of the Medes in 539 BC.

– Belshazzar was the son and co-regent with Nabonidus but had married into the family of Nebuchadnezzar as he is called “his son” (5:22). He was killed (apparently the same night as his father) during the conquest of Babylon by King Darius of the Medes.

2. While GOD had allowed the Babylonians to conquer Israel, in 605 BC, HE ultimately judged them for their cruelty by giving them over to the Kings of the Medo-Persian Empire in 5:39 BC.

3. “The final straw” appears to have been Belshazzar’s desecration of the holy utensils from the Temple.

4. While GOD does not always pay godless people for their sins immediately, there is always a “Payday Someday!” © R. G. Lee

EXPOSITION:

5:1 – 4 Desecration of holy things seems harmless until GOD has had enough!

(1) “King Belshazzar made a great feast for a thousand of his lords and drank wine in front of the thousand. (2) Belshazzar, when he tasted the wine, commanded that the vessels of gold and of silver that Nebuchadnezzar his father had taken out of the temple in Jerusalem be brought, that the king and his lords, his wives, and his concubines might drink from them. (3) Then they brought in the golden vessels that had been taken out of the temple, the house of God in Jerusalem, and the king and his lords, his wives, and his concubines drank from them. (4) They drank wine and praised the gods of gold and silver, bronze, iron, wood, and stone.”

5:5 – 6 Because HE is a merciful GOD, HIS judgment is often slow, but it is also sure!

(5) “Immediately the fingers of a human hand appeared and wrote on the plaster of the wall of the king’s palace, opposite the lampstand. And the king saw the hand as it wrote. (6) Then the king’s color changed, and his thoughts alarmed him; his limbs gave way, and his knees knocked together.”

5:7 – 9 Unbelievers do not understand what GOD is doing because they cannot understand what GOD is doing!

(7) “The king called loudly to bring in the enchanters, the Chaldeans, and the astrologers. The king declared to the wise men of Babylon, “Whoever reads this writing, and shows me its interpretation, shall be clothed with purple and have a chain of gold around his neck and shall be the third ruler in the kingdom.”

(8) Then all the king’s wise men came in, but they could not read the writing or make known to the king the interpretation. (9) Then King Belshazzar was greatly alarmed, and his color changed, and his lords were perplexed.”

5:10 – 16 When unbelievers seek realize that they cannot understand what GOD is doing, they will sometimes seek answers from HIS people!

(10) “The queen, because of the words of the king and his lords, came into the banqueting hall, and the queen declared, “O king, live forever! Let not your thoughts alarm you or your color change. (11) There is a man in your kingdom in whom is the spirit of the holy gods. In the days of your father, light and understanding and wisdom like the wisdom of the gods were found in him, and King Nebuchadnezzar, your father⁠—your father the king⁠—made him chief of the magicians, enchanters, Chaldeans, and astrologers, (12) because an excellent spirit, knowledge, and understanding to interpret dreams, explain riddles, and solve problems were found in this Daniel, whom the king named Belteshazzar. Now let Daniel be called, and he will show the interpretation.”

(13) Then Daniel was brought in before the king. The king answered and said to Daniel, “You are that Daniel, one of the exiles of Judah, whom the king my father brought from Judah. (14) I have heard of you that the spirit of the gods is in you, and that light and understanding and excellent wisdom are found in you. (15) Now the wise men, the enchanters, have been brought in before me to read this writing and make known to me its interpretation, but they could not show the interpretation of the matter. (16) But I have heard that you can give interpretations and solve problems. Now if you can read the writing and make known to me its interpretation, you shall be clothed with purple and have a chain of gold around your neck and shall be the third ruler in the kingdom.”

5:17 – 28 When unbelievers ask GOD’s people to tell them what GOD has said and what HE is doing, the most important thing we can do is tell them the truth!

(17) “Then Daniel answered and said before the king, “Let your gifts be for yourself, and give your rewards to another. Nevertheless, I will read the writing to the king and make known to him the interpretation. (18) O king, the Most High God gave Nebuchadnezzar your father kingship and greatness and glory and majesty. (19) And because of the greatness that he gave him, all peoples, nations, and languages trembled and feared before him. Whom he would, he killed, and whom he would, he kept alive; whom he would, he raised up, and whom he would, he humbled. (20) But when his heart was lifted up and his spirit was hardened so that he dealt proudly, he was brought down from his kingly throne, and his glory was taken from him. (21) He was driven from among the children of mankind, and his mind was made like that of a beast, and his dwelling was with the wild donkeys. He was fed grass like an ox, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven, until he knew that the Most High God rules the kingdom of mankind and sets over it whom he will. (22) And you his son, Belshazzar, have not humbled your heart, though you knew all this, (23) but you have lifted up yourself against the Lord of heaven. And the vessels of his house have been brought in before you, and you and your lords, your wives, and your concubines have drunk wine from them. And you have praised the gods of silver and gold, of bronze, iron, wood, and stone, which do not see or hear or know, but the God in whose hand is your breath, and whose are all your ways, you have not honored. (24) “Then from his presence the hand was sent, and this writing was inscribed. (25) And this is the writing that was inscribed: Mene, Mene, Tekel, and Parsin.   

(26) This is the interpretation of the matter: Mene, God has numbered the days of your kingdom and brought it to an end;    (27) Tekel, you have been weighed in the balances and found wanting; (28) Peres, your kingdom is divided and given to the Medes and Persians.”

5:29 – 31 GOD neither forgives nor forgets the sins of unrepentant sinners!

(29) “Then Belshazzar gave the command, and Daniel was clothed with purple, a chain of gold was put around his neck, and a proclamation was made about him, that he should be the third ruler in the kingdom. (30)  That very night Belshazzar the Chaldean king was killed. (31) And Darius the Mede received the kingdom, being about sixty-two years old.”

Amen.

INTRODUCTION:

1.This Chapter presents the personal salvation testimony of King Nebuchadnezzar himself!

2. It is important to remember the language structure of The Book of Daniel:

1:1 – 2:4a is written in Hebrew, the language of the Jews.

2:4b – 7:28 is written in Aramaic, the language of the Babylonians.

8:1 – 12:13, the Last verse in the Book, is written in Hebrew. 

NOTE: Aramaic was commonly used by the Jews in JESUS’ day, and many Aramaic words are still included in translations of The New Testament:

“Abba”: Father (Mark 14:36; Romans 8:15; Galatians 4:6).

“Boanerges”: Sons of Thunder (Mark 3:17).

“Corban”: An offering to God (Mark 7:11).

“Ephphatha”: Be opened (Mark 7:34).

“Golgotha”: Place of a skull (Matthew 27:33; Mark 15:22).

“Hosanna”: Save us, we pray (Mark 11:9).

“Maranatha”: Our Lord, come! (1 Corinthians 16:22).

“Raca”: Fool, empty one (Matthew 5:22).

“Talitha cumi”: Little girl, arise (Mark 5:41).

“Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani”: My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? (Matthew 27:46; Mark 15:34).

3. While (according to his personal testimony here) Nebuchadnezzar came to know and worship the One True and Living GOD, those who became King after his death in 562 BC did not!

*Evil-Merodach, Neriglissar, Labashi-Marduk, Nabonidus, and Belshazzar.

EXPOSITION:

4:1 – 3 Like every new Christian convert, King Nebuchadnezzar starts his testimony by praising GOD!

(1) “King Nebuchadnezzar to all peoples, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth: Peace be multiplied to you! (2) It has seemed good to me to show the signs and wonders that the Most High God has done for me. (3) How great are his signs, how mighty his wonders! His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and his dominion endures from generation to generation.”

4:4 – 6 Again, GOD worked in the King’s life through a dream!

(4) “I, Nebuchadnezzar, was at ease in my house and prospering in my palace. (5) I saw a dream that made me afraid. As I lay in bed the fancies and the visions of my head alarmed me. (6) So I made a decree that all the wise men of Babylon should be brought before me, that they might make known to me the interpretation of the dream.”

4:7 – 17 GOD is willing to allow people to go through terrible experiences in order to save them!

(7) “Then the magicians, the enchanters, the Chaldeans, and the astrologers came in, and I told them the dream,

but they could not make known to me its interpretation. (8) At last Daniel came in before me⁠—he who was named Belteshazzar after the name of my god, and in whom is the spirit of the holy gods⁠—and I told him the dream, saying, (9) “O Belteshazzar, chief of the magicians, because I know that the spirit of the holy gods is in you and that no mystery is too difficult for you, tell me the visions of my dream that I saw and their interpretation. (10) The visions of my head as I lay in bed were these: I saw, and behold, a tree in the midst of the earth, and its height was great. (11) The tree grew and became strong, and its top reached to heaven, and it was visible to the end of the whole earth. (12) Its leaves were beautiful and its fruit abundant, and in it was food for all. The beasts of the field found shade under it, and the birds of the heavens lived in its branches, and all flesh was fed from it. (13) “I saw in the visions of my head as I lay in bed, and behold, a watcher, a holy one, came down from heaven. (14) He proclaimed aloud and said thus: ‘Chop down the tree and lop off its branches, strip off its leaves and scatter its fruit. Let the beasts flee from under it and the birds from its branches. (15) But leave the stump of its roots in the earth, bound with a band of iron and bronze, amid the tender grass of the field. Let him be wet with the dew of heaven. Let his portion be with the beasts in the grass of the earth. (16) Let his mind be changed from a man’s, and let a beast’s mind be given to him; and let seven periods of time pass over him.

(17) The sentence is by the decree of the watchers, the decision by the word of the holy ones, to the end that the living may know that the Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he will and sets over it the lowliest of men.’ “

4:18 Even though unsaved people themselves do not know GOD, they can discern those people who do know HIM!

(18) “This dream I, King Nebuchadnezzar, saw. And you, O Belteshazzar, tell me the interpretation, because all the wise men of my kingdom are not able to make known to me the interpretation, but you are able, for the spirit of the holy gods is in you.”

4:19 – 27 One of the key factors in Nebuchadnezzar coming to know GOD was that someone who did know GOD was willing to tell the King the truth about his situation!

(19) “Then Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, was dismayed for a while, and his thoughts alarmed him. The king answered and said, “Belteshazzar, let not the dream or the interpretation alarm you.” Belteshazzar answered and said, “My lord, may the dream be for those who hate you and its interpretation for your enemies!  (20) The tree you saw, which grew and became strong, so that its top reached to heaven, and it was visible to the end of the whole earth, (21) whose leaves were beautiful and its fruit abundant, and in which was food for all, under which beasts of the field found shade, and in whose branches the birds of the heavens lived⁠—  (22) it is you, O king, who have grown and become strong. Your greatness has grown and reaches to heaven, and your dominion to the ends of the earth.

(23) And because the king saw a watcher, a holy one, coming down from heaven and saying, ‘Chop down the tree and destroy it, but leave the stump of its roots in the earth, bound with a band of iron and bronze, in the tender grass of the field, and let him be wet with the dew of heaven, and let his portion be with the beasts of the field, till seven periods of time pass over him,’

(24) this is the interpretation, O king: It is a decree of the Most High, which has come upon my lord the king,

(25) that you shall be driven from among men, and your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field. You shall be made to eat grass like an ox, and you shall be wet with the dew of heaven, and seven periods of time shall pass over you, till you know that the Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he will. (26) And as it was commanded to leave the stump of the roots of the tree, your kingdom shall be confirmed for you from the time that you know that Heaven rules. (27) Therefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable to you: break off your sins by practicing righteousness, and your iniquities by showing mercy to the oppressed, that there may perhaps be a lengthening of your prosperity.”

4:28 – 33 GOD can reveal the future because HE knows the future; and HE knows the future because HE decreed the future!

(28) “All this came upon King Nebuchadnezzar. (29) At the end of twelve months he was walking on the roof of the royal palace of Babylon, (30) and the king answered and said, “Is not this great Babylon, which I have built by my mighty power as a royal residence and for the glory of my majesty?” (31) While the words were still in the king’s mouth, there fell a voice from heaven, “O King Nebuchadnezzar, to you it is spoken: The kingdom has departed from you,

(32) and you shall be driven from among men, and your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field. And you shall be made to eat grass like an ox, and seven periods of time shall pass over you, until you know that the Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he will.” (33) Immediately the word was fulfilled against Nebuchadnezzar.

He was driven from among men and ate grass like an ox, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven till his hair grew as long as eagles’ feathers, and his nails were like birds’ claws.”

4:34 – 35 When we turn away from our sins and believe in JESUS as Savior and LORD, GOD forgives our sins and changes our life…

(34) “At the end of the days I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted my eyes to heaven, and my reason returned to me, and I blessed the Most High, and praised and honored him who lives forever, for his dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom endures from generation to generation; (35) all the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing, and he does according to his will among the host of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth; and none can stay his hand or say to him, “What have you done?”

4:36 When an unbeliever becomes a believer, GOD begins the process of making us “a new creature” by giving us a new mind!

(36) “At the same time my reason returned to me, and for the glory of my kingdom, my majesty and splendor returned to me. My counselors and my lords sought me, and I was established in my kingdom, and still more greatness was added to me.”

4:37 Loving, Worshiping, Praising, and Serving GOD are the result of – and not the cause of – our salvation!

(37) “Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the King of heaven, for all his works are right and his ways are just; and those who walk in pride he is able to humble.”

Amen!

INTRODUCTION:

1. This is one of the best known and least believed passages in The Old Testament!

2. The reason that most people do not believe that this really happened is because they do not believe anything supernatural is possible!

3. Christians believe this passage is true because JESUS said that The Old Testament is true!

Cf. John 17:17 “Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.”

Cf. Matthew 4:4 “But he [JESUS] answered, “It is written, “‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”

4. While Christians believe that the miraculous and supernatural events in The Bible really happened, we also realize that it is the nature of miraculous and supernatural events to be extremely rare!

EXPOSITION:

3:1 – 7 Godless people primarily worship themselves and those who have the power to do so demand that everyone else worship them also!

(1) “King Nebuchadnezzar made an image of gold, whose height was sixty cubits and its breadth six cubits. He set it up on the plain of Dura, in the province of Babylon. (2) Then King Nebuchadnezzar sent to gather the satraps, the prefects, and the governors, the counselors, the treasurers, the justices, the magistrates, and all the officials of the provinces to come to the dedication of the image that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up. (3) Then the satraps, the prefects, and the governors, the counselors, the treasurers, the justices, the magistrates, and all the officials of the provinces gathered for the dedication of the image that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up. And they stood before the image that Nebuchadnezzar had set up. (4) And the herald proclaimed aloud, “You are commanded, O peoples, nations, and languages, (5) that when you hear the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, bagpipe, and every kind of music, you are to fall down and worship the golden image that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up. (6) And whoever does not fall down and worship shall immediately be cast into a burning fiery furnace.” (7) Therefore, as soon as all the peoples heard the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, bagpipe, and every kind of music, all the peoples, nations, and languages fell down and worshiped the golden image that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up.”

3:8 – 11 Godless people who have the means to do so are willing to do whatever they can to force everyone else to worship them!

(8) “Therefore at that time certain Chaldeans came forward and maliciously accused the Jews. (9) They declared to King Nebuchadnezzar, “O king, live forever! (10) You, O king, have made a decree, that every man who hears the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, bagpipe, and every kind of music, shall fall down and worship the golden image. (11) And whoever does not fall down and worship shall be cast into a burning fiery furnace.”

3:12 – 15 Godless people hate those who refuse to worship them and are willing to destroy them!

(12) “There are certain Jews whom you have appointed over the affairs of the province of Babylon: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.

These men, O king, pay no attention to you; they do not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.” (13) Then Nebuchadnezzar in furious rage commanded that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego be brought. So they brought these men before the king. (14) Nebuchadnezzar answered and said to them, “Is it true, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the golden image that I have set up? (15) Now if you are ready when you hear the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, bagpipe, and every kind of music, to fall down and worship the image that I have made, well and good. But if you do not worship, you shall immediately be cast into a burning fiery furnace. And who is the god who will deliver you out of my hands?”

3:16 – 18 Godly people stand up for JESUS whether GOD chooses to deliver them or not!

(16) Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered and said to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. (17) If this be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king. (18) But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.”

3:19 – 23 GOD does not always keep HIS people from severe trials; sometimes HE delivers them through the trials!

(19) Then Nebuchadnezzar was filled with fury, and the expression of his face was changed against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. He ordered the furnace heated seven times more than it was usually heated. (20) And he ordered some of the mighty men of his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, and to cast them into the burning fiery furnace. (21) Then these men were bound in their cloaks, their tunics, their hats, and their other garments, and they were thrown into the burning fiery furnace. (22) Because the king’s order was urgent and the furnace overheated, the flame of the fire killed those men who took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. (23) And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, fell bound into the burning fiery furnace.

3:24 – 27 GOD can deliver HIS people, but GOD does not always deliver HIS people unless it is HIS will to do so!

(24) Then King Nebuchadnezzar was astonished and rose up in haste. He declared to his counselors, “Did we not cast three men bound into the fire?” They answered and said to the king, “True,   O king.” (25) He answered and said, “But I see four men unbound, walking in the midst of the fire, and they are not hurt; and the appearance of the fourth is like a son of the gods.” (26) Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the door of the burning fiery furnace; he declared, “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out, and come here!” Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego came out from the fire.          (27) And the satraps, the prefects, the governors, and the king’s counselors gathered together and saw that the fire had not had any power over the bodies of those men. The hair of their heads was not singed, their cloaks were not harmed, and no smell of fire had come upon them.”

• HE did not deliver Abel
• HE did not deliver Job’s children
• HE did not deliver Jonathan
• HE did not deliver John the Baptist
• HE did not deliver Stephen
• HE did not deliver James
• HE did not deliver Paul
• HE did not deliver HIS ONLY SON JESUS

3:28 – 30 “GOD allows what HE hates to accomplish what HE loves!” Joni Eareckson Tada

(28) “Nebuchadnezzar answered and said, “Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who has sent his angel and delivered his servants, who trusted in him, and set aside the king’s command, and yielded up their bodies rather than serve and worship any god except their own God. (29) Therefore, I make a decree: Any people, nation, or language that speaks anything against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego shall be torn limb from limb, and their houses laid in ruins, for there is no other god who is able to rescue in this way.” (30) Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the province of Babylon.”

Amen!

INTRODUCTION:

1. Daniel is the most detailed and precise of the prophets. In this Book, he interprets two major visions – the Image in Chapter Two and the Four Beasts in Chapter Seven.

2. It is vitally important to understand that THERE IS ONLY ONE FUTURE, so these two visions must be – and are – of the same thing!

3. That “SAME THING” revealed in these two visions is “The Parade of Kingdoms” (human governments) that will dominate the world from the time of Daniel to the end of time.

4. Because of the fact that Daniel’s prophecies have proven to be perfectly accurate, Bible-denying skeptics reject the obvious fact that Daniel lived and wrote 500 years before the birth of JESUS and teach that Daniel must have lived and written around 400 AD at the time of the demise of the Roman Empire.

5. However, JESUS, HIMSELF, clearly believed and taught that Daniel was a real person and prophet who lived and wrote during the Babylonian and Medio-Persian Empires!

Cf. Mark 13:14 “So when you see the ‘abomination of desolation,’ spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing where it ought not” (let the reader understand), “then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains.” (NKJV)

EXPOSITION:

2:1 – 3 Now we see why a sovereign GOD allowed His people to be taken captive into Babylon! “GOD allows what HE hates to accomplish what HE loves” (Joni Tada) What HE loved in this case was giving HIS people an explanation of the future – both short and long term!

(1) “In the second year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar, Nebuchadnezzar had dreams; his spirit was troubled, and his sleep left him. (2) Then the king commanded that the magicians, the enchanters, the sorcerers, and the Chaldeans be summoned to tell the king his dreams. So they came in and stood before the king. (3) And the king said to them, “I had a dream, and my spirit is troubled to know the dream.”

** Theological Note: GOD often used dreams to accomplish HIS will in the lives of HIS people as well as unbelievers!

The words “dream” “dreams” or “dreamer” appear in 147 verses

2:4 – 12 The “blab it and grab it” “name it and claim it” conmen, cultists, kooks, fakers, and liars are eventually found it!  

(4) ‘Then the Chaldeans said to the king in Aramaic, “O king, live forever! Tell your servants the dream, and we will show the interpretation.”(5) The king answered and said to the Chaldeans, “The word from me is firm: if you do not make known to me the dream and its interpretation, you shall be torn limb from limb, and your houses shall be laid in ruins. (6) But if you show the dream and its interpretation, you shall receive from me gifts and rewards and great honor. Therefore, show me the dream and its interpretation.” (7) They answered a second time and said, “Let the king tell his servants the dream, and we will show its interpretation.

(8) The king answered and said, “I know with certainty that you are trying to gain time, because you see that the word from me is firm⁠— (9) if you do not make the dream known to me, there is but one sentence for you. You have agreed to speak lying and corrupt words before me till the times change. Therefore tell me the dream, and I shall know that you can show me its interpretation.” (10) The Chaldeans answered the king and said, “There is not a man on earth who can meet the king’s demand, for no great and powerful king has asked such a thing of any magician or enchanter or Chaldean. (11) The thing that the king asks is difficult, and no one can show it to the king except the gods, whose dwelling is not with flesh.” (12) Because of this the king was angry and very furious, and commanded that all the wise men of Babylon be destroyed.”

2:13 – 23 Biblical Prophets and their Prophecies are true, and they either have, or will, come to pass, but any prophet or prophecy outside of the Bible cannot and should not be believed!

(13) “So the decree went out, and the wise men were about to be killed; and they sought Daniel and his companions, to kill them.” (14) Then Daniel replied with prudence and discretion to Arioch, the captain of the king’s guard, who had gone out to kill the wise men of Babylon. (15) He declared to Arioch, the king’s captain, “Why is the decree of the king so urgent?” Then Arioch made the matter known to Daniel. (16) And Daniel went in and requested the king to appoint him a time, that he might show the interpretation to the king.

(17) Then Daniel went to his house and made the matter known to Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, his companions, (18) and told them to seek mercy from the God of heaven concerning this mystery, so that Daniel and his companions might not be destroyed with the rest of the wise men of Babylon.

(19) Then the mystery was revealed to Daniel in a vision of the night. Then Daniel blessed the God of heaven. (20) Daniel answered and said: “Blessed be the name of God forever and ever, to whom belong wisdom and might. (21) He changes times and seasons; he removes kings and sets up kings; he gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding; (22) he reveals deep and hidden things; he knows what is in the darkness, and the light dwells with him. (23) To you, O God of my fathers, I give thanks and praise, for you have given me wisdom and might, and have now made known to me what we asked of you, for you have made known to us the king’s matter.”

2:24 – 30 Genuine prophecy is not the work of men but of GOD WHO reveals what HE is going to do through men whom HE has chosen!

(24) “Therefore, Daniel went in to Arioch, whom the king had appointed to destroy the wise men of Babylon. He went and said thus to him: “Do not destroy the wise men of Babylon; bring me in before the king, and I will show the king the interpretation.”        (25) Then Arioch brought in Daniel before the king in haste and said thus to him: “I have found among the exiles from Judah a man who will make known to the king the interpretation.” (26) The king declared to Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, “Are you able to make known to me the dream that I have seen and its interpretation?” (27) Daniel answered the king and said, “No wise men, enchanters, magicians, or astrologers can show to the king the mystery that the king has asked, (28) but there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries, and he has made known to King Nebuchadnezzar what will be in the latter days. Your dream and the visions of your head as you lay in bed are these: (29) To you, O king, as you lay in bed came thoughts of what would be after this, and he who reveals mysteries made known to you what is to be.

(30) But as for me, this mystery has been revealed to me, not because of any wisdom that I have more than all the living, but in order that the interpretation may be made known to the king, and that you may know the thoughts of your mind.”

2:31 – 36 The Parade of Kingdoms!

(31) “You saw, O king, and behold, a great image. This image, mighty and of exceeding brightness, stood before you, and its appearance was frightening. (32) The head of this image was of fine gold, its chest and arms of silver, its middle and thighs of bronze, (33) its legs of iron, its feet partly of iron and partly of clay. (34) As you looked, a stone was cut out by no human hand, and it struck the image on its feet of iron and clay, and broke them in pieces. (35) Then the iron, the clay, the bronze, the silver, and the gold, all together were broken in pieces, and became like the chaff of the summer threshing floors; and the wind carried them away, so that not a trace of them could be found. But the stone that struck the image became a great mountain and filled the whole earth. (36) “This was the dream. Now we will tell the king its interpretation.

2:37 – 43 The Chronology and Characteristics of the Kingdoms!

(37-38) Babylon: 612 to 539 BC.

(37) You, O king, the king of kings, to whom the God of heaven has given the kingdom, the power, and the might, and the glory,             (38) and into whose hand he has given, wherever they dwell, the children of man, the beasts of the field, and the birds of the heavens, making you rule over them all⁠—you are the head of gold.”

(39a) Medo-Persian: 539 to 331 BC

“Another kingdom inferior to you shall arise after you…”

(39b) Greece: 331 to 63 BC

“and yet a third kingdom of bronze, which shall rule over all the earth.”

(40) Rome: 63 BC to 476 AD

“And there shall be a fourth kingdom, strong as iron, because iron breaks to pieces and shatters all things. And like iron that crushes, it shall break and crush all these.”

(41-43) A Revived Roman Empire: November 1, 1993, to the end of the Tribulation.

(41) “And as you saw the feet and toes, partly of potter’s clay and partly of iron, it shall be a divided kingdom, but some of the firmness of iron shall be in it, just as you saw iron mixed with the soft clay. (42) And as the toes of the feet were partly iron and partly clay, so the kingdom shall be partly strong and partly brittle.           (43) As you saw the iron mixed with soft clay, so they will mix with one another in marriage, but they will not hold together, just as iron does not mix with clay.”

** Theological Note:As these Kingdoms progress, they get weaker and of lesser value! Gold, Silver, Bronze, Iron, Iron mixed with clay…”

2:44 – 45 When the parade has passed at the end of the Tribulation, GOD will set up HIS Kingdom on the Earth!”

(44) “And in the days of those kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that shall never be destroyed, nor shall the kingdom be left to another people. It shall break in pieces all these kingdoms and bring them to an end, and it shall stand forever,

(45) just as you saw that a stone was cut from a mountain by no human hand, and that it broke in pieces the iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver, and the gold. A great God has made known to the king what shall be after this. The dream is certain, and its interpretation sure.”

2:46 – 49 Even pagan Kings tremble at the WORD of GOD!

(46) “Then King Nebuchadnezzar fell upon his face and paid homage to Daniel, and commanded that an offering and incense be offered up to him. (47) The king answered and said to Daniel, “Truly, your God is God of gods and Lord of kings, and a revealer of mysteries, for you have been able to reveal this mystery.”      (48) Then the king gave Daniel high honors and many great gifts and made him ruler over the whole province of Babylon and chief prefect over all the wise men of Babylon. (49) Daniel made a request of the king, and he appointed Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego over the affairs of the province of Babylon. But Daniel remained at the king’s court.”

Amen!