Series: The Book Of Daniel — Integrity

Message Outline

Series Message 2:
I’m Dreaming of a Kingdom
Text: Daniel 2: 1-49

Themes:
This series will be another amazing encounter with God's Word! May we be transformed as we fully enter into the profound and relevant themes and truths presented through the life and book of Daniel:

1. God's sovereignty over world events and kingdoms will thrill us.
2. God's reliability, even when appearances seem otherwise, will amaze us.
3. Powerful stories of real faith under pressure will encourage us.
4. Detailed prophecies already fulfilled will reveal a great God who loves us.
5. Daniel's trust of God and confidence with men is a model of integrity that will inspire us.

Today's Outline

Introduction: Brief recap of our series and background for today's text.

1. Troubling dreams - the King loses composure (v:1-13)

• an ambitious King ponders problems far away and wonders if his world will hold together
• probably a repeating dream, one that deprives him of peace and sleep
• perhaps convinced that something or someone exists beyond himself, he seeks truth
• he sets the bar very high for his court astrologers - and burns with anger when they can't deliver
• deep down, he distrusts the game of sorcery and seeks something more substantive

2. Daniel trusts God in a major way (v. 14-23)

• he commits to the King before he has the answer
• he enlists his community of friends in prayer
• he gets what he asked God for! (See Matthew 7:7)
• then he responds with a tremendous poem of praise - what a song!

3. The dream and its interpretation (v. 24-45)

• Arioch takes credit for something he did not do, but Daniel again acts with integrity
• Verse 28: but there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries.

The prophetic unfolding of world history revealed in the great statue (details will be revealed in Chapter 7)

• Head of gold Nebuchadnezzar-Babylon (626  -   539 BC)
• Arms and chest of silver Medo-Persian Empire  (539  -   331 BC)
• Belly & Thighs of Bronze Greek Empire (331  -    63   BC)
• Legs of iron, feet of clay* Roman Empire (63 BC - 476 AD)
• Rock Kingdom of God  (30-33  AD)
   
  * Some commentators believe there is yet-to-be fulfilled prophecy in the ten toes (See the "ten horns" of Revelation chapters 13 and 17)
   

Verse 45: "The great God has shown the king what will take place in the future. The dream is true and the interpretation is trustworthy."

4. The King rewards Daniel (v. 46-49)

A powerful King bows before an exiled believer as the God of History helps him begin to believe

Daniel makes provision for his friends - he is part of a team 

Study Questions for group discussion:
 
1. Look up Genesis 41:1-43. What similarities do you see with Daniel chapter 2? What differences? Have you experienced dreams and been able to discern their meaning?

2. Have you ever had a totally unreasonable boss like Nebuchadnezzar? What did you do to manage this boss effectively? How could Daniel's example guide you?

3. What does the Bible say about divining and astrology as practiced in Nebuchadnezzar's court? Look up Isaiah 47:13-14a and Deuteronomy 18:14. Many Christians routinely look at horoscopes and even get their palms read - what would you say about this if asked by a friend?

4. According to 2:16, Daniel lays everything on the line in trusting God for the dream and the interpretation before it is given to him. Have you ever trusted God about some important matter the way Daniel did there? How did you seek God? How did that compare to Daniel? Did you have friends involved?

5. Have you ever experienced God talking to you like he did to Daniel? Please share an example. What do you believe about God speaking to his people today? You may want to look up Romans 8:16, James 1:5, Matthew 7:7, and 1 Corinthians 14:1-3.

6. When you experience success, do you give credit to those around you? How does this usually happen?

Personal Application and Notes:

Resources for further study:

Although likely written about an Egyptian King, "Ozymandias" by Percy Bysshe Shelley struck me this week as a wonderful reflection on the statue from our dream today.... and all our collective thrashing about for "lasting significance", which is found only in Christ!

I met a traveller from an antique land
Who said: "Two vast and trunkless legs of stone
Stand in the desert. Near them on the sand,
Half sunk, a shattered visage lies, whose frown
And wrinkled lip and sneer of cold command
Tell that its sculptor well those passions read
Which yet survive, stamped on these lifeless things,
The hand that mocked them and the heart that fed.
And on the pedestal these words appear:
`My name is Ozymandias, King of Kings:
Look on my works, ye mighty, and despair!'
Nothing beside remains. Round the decay
Of that colossal wreck, boundless and bare,
The lone and level sands stretch far away.
                                         --Percy Bysshe Shelly