#1200 Daniel 2 Part 2 Chuckle Heads and Real Interpreters

 

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.”

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. Daniel 2: 17-30

Daniel 2: 17-30 God Reveals

Then Daniel went to his house and made the matter known - He didn't go to the wise men, did not consult a crystal ball, but rather to his faithful companions to bring them up to speed on what is going on, what the king has mandated. They have shared life's struggles together, been made eunuch's in a foreign land, stood for truth together, this is Daniel's church, made up of those who honor the true God, who have counted the cost. It is marvelous and quite a blessing to have brothers and sisters like these.

17As iron sharpens iron,

So a man sharpens the countenance of his friend.

18Whoever keeps the fig tree will eat its fruit;

So he who waits on his master will be honored. Proverbs 27: 17-18

Told them to seek mercy from the God of heaven - They did not break out the books on how to interpret dreams, for they had no dream before them, and man's wisdom would have only given them the wrong answer. He is asking his friends to do a thing that is quite underrated in our age, for men put much on their wisdom, even when it goes against the written wisdom of God. He is asking his friends to pray, to seek mercy from heaven, to appeal to the supernatural wisdom of God. 

18Let no one deceive himself. If any of you thinks he is wise in this age, he should become a fool, so that he may become wise. 19For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God’s sight. As it is written: “He catches the wise in their craftiness.” 20And again, “The Lord knows that the thoughts of the wise are futile.”… 1 Corinthians 3: 18-20

…15But the news about Jesus spread all the more, and great crowds came to hear Him and to be healed of their sicknesses. 16Yet He frequently withdrew to the wilderness to pray. Luke 5: 15-16

…20May Your eyes be open toward this temple day and night, toward the place where You said You would put Your Name, so that You may hear the prayer that Your servant prays toward this place. 21Hear the plea of Your servant and of Your people Israel when they pray toward this place. May You hear from heaven, Your dwelling place. May You hear and forgive. 2 Chronicles 6: 20-21

…16Rejoice at all times. 17Pray without ceasing. 18Give thanks in every circumstance, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.… 1 Thessalonians 5: 16-18

Then the mystery was revealed to Daniel in a vision of the night - We saw back in the first chapter that Daniel had been given gifts by God in wisdom, visions and dreams. He did not know the dream, as the king had told no one, yet he knew to go to God, and after he and his friends prayed, then God, Who had given Daniel this gift, also brought him the dream with its interpretation. Many today say, "keep your prayers, I don't need prayer," and I have seen hyper Calvinist that talk themselves out of prayer, saying that God knows what He is going to do anyway, yet God has ordained prayer, and He is certainly sovereign, but He is in the means as well as the end, and He has determined prayer as a means, and preaching, and reading His word, and sharing the gospel. I have also seen a nod to prayer in the evangelical, liberal churches, the larger, modern churches, that would go to the "wise men" of the culture, the psychologist, motivational speakers and celebrities. In some churches I have seen more books written by the likes of Chopra and Dr. Phil. Those are not real churches that put so much weight on earthly, worldly wisdom.

…5and the LORD came down in a pillar of cloud, stood at the entrance to the Tent, and summoned Aaron and Miriam. When both of them had stepped forward, 6He said, “Hear now My words: If there is a prophet among you, I, the LORD, will reveal Myself to him in a vision; I will speak to him in a dream. 7But this is not so with My servant Moses; he is faithful in all My house.…

8I speak with him face to face, clearly and not in riddles; he sees the form of the LORD. Why then were you unafraid to speak against My servant Moses?” 9So the anger of the LORD burned against them, and He departed.… Numbers 12: 5-9

Then Daniel blessed the God of heaven - He praises God. Who is so worthy? Who has created all things, raised up kings and kingdoms, now revealing the thoughts of man?

…18Blessed be the LORD God, the God of Israel, who alone does marvelous deeds. 19And blessed be His glorious name forever; may all the earth be filled with His glory. Amen and amen. 20Thus conclude the prayers of David son of Jesse.… Psalm 72: 18-20

Blessed be the name of God forever - He labels Him as the "God of my fathers", which would be the old Hebrew designation, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Wisdom and might, for there is no one who understands at the level of God, no one His equal in power. Times and seasons and kings reveals God's sovereignty throughout history, to which this book of Daniel opens to the reader a very vast and long view, all the way to the second coming of Christ.

J C Ryle says "By the "name of God" we mean all those attributes through which He is revealed to us—His power, wisdom, holiness, justice, mercy and truth. By asking that they may be “hallowed,” we mean that they may be made known and glorified. The glory of God is the first thing that God’s children should desire. It is the object of one of our Lord’s own prayers: “Father, glorify (aorist imperative) Your Name!” (John 12:28). It is the purpose for which the world was created; it is the end for which the saints are called and convened: it is the chief thing we should seek—“that in all things God may be praised (glorified through Jesus Christ)” (1Pe 4:11-note). - Precept Austin

…5Do not lift up your horn against heaven or speak with an outstretched neck.’ ” 6For exaltation comes neither from east nor west, nor out of the desert, 7but it is God who judges; He brings down one and exalts another.… Psalm 75: 5-7

…10Now grant me wisdom and knowledge, so that I may lead this people. For who is able to govern this great people of Yours?” 11God said to Solomon, “Since this was in your heart instead of requesting riches or wealth or glory for yourself or death for your enemies— and since you have not even requested long life but have asked for wisdom and knowledge to govern My people over whom I have made you king— 12therefore wisdom and knowledge have been granted to you. And I will also give you riches and wealth and honor unlike anything given to the kings before you or after you.”… 2 Chronicles 2: 10-12

For You have made known to us the kings matter - Daniel knows there is no way to get through this or to have such knowledge of these most dark and hidden things without God. I think the king was so stressed out and anxious about this dream, to the point that it tells us that he had been losing sleep, I think he would have gladly told someone just to get an ounce of relief. God has withheld it in order to give it, and this also reveals something about the spiritual, the fallen spiritual beings, that they did not have access to the thoughts of the king, except for those that they may give to someone, so that a medium may extract only what is known to the demons. In other words, the devil could not read the kings mind so those that practice the occult had no where to turn for an answer. The devil is fast but not omnipresent or omniscient. His minions may know much about you, your history, and they may even understand the Scriptures better than you, but God knows the heart and God has determined the end, for He is omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent, Holy and just. Praise be to God Who has heard Daniel's prayer and given him the answer.

C H Spurgeon - There is no attribute more comforting to His children than that of God’s Sovereignty. Under the most adverse circumstances, in the most severe trials, they believe that Sovereignty has ordained their afflictions, that Sovereignty overrules them, and that Sovereignty will sanctify them all. There is nothing for which the children ought more earnestly to contend than the doctrine of their Master over all creation—the Kingship of God over all the works of His own hands—the Throne of God and His right to sit upon that Throne. On the other hand, there is no doctrine more hated by worldings, no truth of which they have made such a football, as the great, stupendous, but yet most certain doctrine of the Sovereignty of the infinite Jehovah. Men will allow God to be everywhere except on His throne. They will allow Him to be in His workshop to fashion worlds and make stars. They will allow Him to be in His almonry to dispense His alms and bestow His bounties. They will allow Him to sustain the earth and bear up the pillars thereof, or light the lamps of heaven, or rule the waves of the ever-moving ocean; but when God ascends His throne, His creatures then gnash their teeth. And we proclaim an enthroned God, and His right to do as He wills with His own, to dispose of His creatures as He thinks well, without consulting them in the matter; then it is that we are hissed and execrated, and then it is that men turn a deaf ear to us, for God on His throne is not the God they love. But it is God upon the throne that we love to preach. It is God upon His throne whom we trust. (Divine Sovereignty )

Do not destroy the wise men of Babylon - I think here we see a boy not in his own country, a boy who has had the touch of compassion from God, and it has softened his heart towards his peers. He has a sense of being a missionary, bringing the truth to a godless place, caring for those who will probably not reciprocate. He is not the ungrateful servant.

…13And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.’ 14For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive yours.… Matthew 6: 13-15

…6Therefore My people will know My name; therefore they will know on that day that I am He who speaks. Here I am!” 7How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, “Your God reigns!” 8Listen! Your watchmen lift up their voices, together they shout for joy. For every eye will see when the LORD returns to Zion.… Isaiah 52: 6-8

…14How then can they call on the One in whom they have not believed? And how can they believe in the One of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone to preach? 15And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!” 16But not all of them welcomed the good news. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our message?”… Romans 10: 14-16

I have found - Well, technically you were going to kill him, but he told you to give him time and a meeting with the king, but you are obviously trying to play the "I" game, scoring brownie points.

Daniel answered the king - Now just a refresher, this is not Elvis Presley, this is a man in his prime, a warrior, a genius, impatient, violent, crusher of men's spirits. He gouged out the eyes of Daniel's Jewish king, has beaten Assyria, Judah and chased back Egypt. One word and his henchman, Arioch, would lob off Daniel's head, it would all be over. 

No wise men, enchanters, magicians or astrologers can show the king the mystery that the king has asked - For the record, dear king, none of your best and brightest, your wise politicians, scientists or star gazers could figure this out. It reminds me of our recent show of the minds with Covid 19, and statements made that no deaths would be acceptable.

Governor Cuomo - In New York and on tv this man was praised for handling the Covid crisis like no other. If by handling you mean knowing that the elderly would be the most effected and at risk, which we all knew, and yet the governor of New York forced nursing homes to take in those that they knew were infected rather than to the temporary hospitals he had begged the Fed for, killing a lot of elderly people. He was a hero to libs, who at that time would not look into any charges against him, fast forward to today and now liberals once again, "believe survivors". Don't get me started on his meat head brother.

Fauci - Mask don't work.

Fauci - Everyone needs to wear a mask.

Fauci - Heck, wear two masks.

Also Fauci - What if I meet someone online and want to hook up with them for a one night stand? Well, and I am paraphrasing Dr. Ruth/Fauci, use your discretion. Apparently going to work is dangerous but random hook ups with strangers are not so much, so he had a different answer for pop culture. 

I worked in an operating room and the doctors called it a petri dish if you didn't change out your gloves and your masks all the time. You never wore the same one to multiple cases or throughout a shift.

Current Vice President - She said she wouldn't take the vaccine, but apparently that was just the politics of the time, now everyone needs to have the vaccine even if they have already had Covid. I'm not even anti vaccine myself, but I get why Nebuchadnezzar and others would start having doubts about their wise men or chuckle heads. 

Here is a clip from J Mac on Carl Jung, basically how it would have gone if the wise men of that day could have heard the dream. Ask Fauci, Cuomo brothers, Freud would add some lines about his mom, but here is Jung.

Well, if you were Carl Jung - God forbid - who was a famous psychoanalyst who was forever fiddling around with people’s dreams. Carl Jung has given a shot at this, believe it or not. Carl says “People who have unrealistic ideas or too high an opinion of themselves or who make grandiose plans out of proportion to their real capabilities have dreams of flying or falling.” Have you ever had those dreams? Don’t admit it. You got an ego problem if you have. We’ve all, I think, had those from time to time.

Carl Jung says that anybody who has a grandiose idea of himself fears falling. And so he says, this king no doubt, if this is true, was afraid of the toppling of his empire and so his fear was realized in his dream. Jung goes on, “The dream compensates for the deficiencies of their personalities and at the same time it warns them of the danger of their present course.” End quote. In other words, it’s good that you psyche gives you that dream ‘cause it makes you alert so that that won’t happen so readily.

Now if we take the psychological angle, the dream is simply Nebuchadnezzar seeing himself. He sees himself trying to stand and he’s got a massive huge empire. And at the head he’s all together, man. He’s gold. But the further down the deal you go, the more fragile it becomes and he is very, very delicately standing in balance about to be toppled by some succeeding monarch or rival.

Now that’s the psychological angle. And I’ll promise you, folks, that I’ll give you a guess. I think if the wise men in that day had ever head the dream, that’s probably what they’d have given them. That’s probably their interpretation. That’s – that’s the psychological approach. You’re just seeing the potential of your own collapse. But frankly, folks, the wise men were useless, and Carl Jung is too, when it comes to the Bible, so let’s listen to Daniel. And from the dream received and the dream recalled, we come, thirdly, to the dream revealed, verse 36. And just so you don’t miss it, verse 36 is explicit. - J Mac

But there is a God in heaven - While all the aforementioned can be wrong, can be guessing, will need you to tell them the dream first, yet there is a God Who knows the beginning from the end.  

What will be in the latter days - Wow, and Nebuchadnezzar can't quite appreciate the sweep of history that he is about to hear. It will cover from his time all the way to the end of the 70th week, when Christ comes back and establishes His reign. 

Latter days (also in the ESV, KJV) - Whenever you encounter a specific expression of time pause and ponder using the 5W/H'S questions. This time phrase clearly has eschatological (eschatos = last things) overtones and is synonymous with (and actually sometimes translated) last days (in the Lxx the phrase is "eschaton ton hemeron" = literally "last the days"). Last days is found in the NT and identifies a time period that from Hebrews 1:2 and Acts 2:17 begins with the first coming of Messiah. Isaiah 2:2 (and parallel passage in Micah 4:1-note) identifies events that will be consummated at the second coming of Messiah (Second Coming) coinciding with establishment of Messiah's Millennial Kingdom. - Precept Austin

Not because of any wisdom that I have more than all the living - Daniel is humble, does not use this time to elevate himself, but rather God, where truth and life come from. 

That you may know the thoughts of your mind - Again, I believe that Nebuchadnezzar wasn't just trying his chuckleheads because he had lost faith in them and wanted to test them. He was losing sleep over this, but the test came because he had the power to take their lives, yet this would not give them the answer. You can't beat something out of someone that they don't have. God is going to reveal not only what Nebuchadnezzar is forgetting, but also what it means. He is wondering, pondering like other geniuses in the past, like Solomon in Ecclesiastes, what will come of all of this? After I am gone who will tend my Hanging Gardens, the vast empire that I have made?

Vanity[a] of vanities, says the Preacher,

vanity of vanities! All is vanity.

3 What does man gain by all the toil

at which he toils under the sun?

4 A generation goes, and a generation comes,

but the earth remains forever.

5 The sun rises, and the sun goes down,

and hastens[b] to the place where it rises.

6 The wind blows to the south

and goes around to the north;

around and around goes the wind,

and on its circuits the wind returns.

7 All streams run to the sea,

but the sea is not full;

to the place where the streams flow,

there they flow again.

8 All things are full of weariness;

a man cannot utter it;

the eye is not satisfied with seeing,

nor the ear filled with hearing.

9 What has been is what will be,

and what has been done is what will be done,

and there is nothing new under the sun.

10 Is there a thing of which it is said,

“See, this is new”?

It has been already

in the ages before us.

11 There is no remembrance of former things,[c]

nor will there be any remembrance

of later things[d] yet to be

among those who come after. Ecclesiastes 1: 2-11