Notes and Questions for February 8, 2009

Notes and Questions for February 8, 2009

Last week the plea of Daniel in prayer was met with answer to the prayer through a vision in his dream. In verses 20-23 Daniel exclaimed praise for the one and only true God.

This week we will review verse 24 through 35 of Chapter 2. This is a significant passage in our study of Daniel. The reciting of the dream along with the interpretation is significant prophecy. Note that God is the one that details what this means. Note his use of Neb, not a believer, to show His glory and faithfulness. Notice last, that He is speaking to us now, not just then.

Please read the section - Daniel 2:24-35

What is going on here?
What are the 3 main points (if you were to have to tell someone a summary) of this section?

Read verses 24-25

Who went to who in these verses?

Did Daniel only save those who were his friends? Who did he request that would be spared?

Did Arioch take any credit for Daniel's ability or finding the man?

Observe how Arioch, who had been appointed to execute the wise men (v 24), claimed a measure of credit for himself in having discovered Daniel. After having been assured by Daniel that he had the answer, Arioch hurried to tell Neb: "I have found a man... who can tell the king what his dream means" (v25). Arioch may not have known that Daniel had already asked the king for a stay of execution, unless v 16 merely implies a request with Neb through a secretary - or else Arioch may simply have forgotten this. At any rate, his attempt to enhance his standing through Daniel's success shows his complete confidence in Daniels ability to recall the details of the dream.

Read verses 26-30

When specifically do you acknowledge God? Do we give Him all of the credit or is some of out ours? Why?

What specific ways have you acknowledge what God has done for you? What has God done for you?

Do you believe God guides thoughts and situations for His glory? Why or why not? Discuss this with your spouse.

As Neb half-incredulously asked Daniel whether he could actually describe the dream (v 26), Daniel used to the full his opportunity to witness to Yahweh's unique power to reveal what the false gods of the pagan seers could not tell them - the substance and meaning of the dream (verses 27-30). As he spoke of their inability to unravel the mystery (v 27), Daniel implied the worthlessness of their theology - indeed, of polytheism in general. That He alone, as Yahweh's spokesman, had the answer points unmistakeably to the reality of the God of the Hebrews (v 28). "But there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries," in contrast to all the imaginary gods of the heathen who are helpless to reveal anything. "He has shown KingNeb what will happen in the days to come" (beaharit yomayya, lit. "in the end of days", a phrase generally pointing to the times of the Messiah, when human history will be brought to its close (see notes at the end of this week's questions for a more in depth look at verse 28). Then, having explained his ability to do what none of the others could do - all because of his wonderful God - Daniel told Neb what he had seen in his dream.
In verse 29 Daniel reminded the king of the train of thought that had preceded his dream: "As you were lying there, O king, your mind turned to things to come." So he implied that Yahweh had graciously taken note of the king's statesmanlike concern and had granted him a full answer to his inquiry (v 30). Again Daniel disclaimed any personal ability in transmitting this revelation but openly and publicly gave God all the glory.

Read verses 31 to 35 -

What would be your reaction to someone that could tell you something like this (if you were the king)?

Do these specific items mean anything to you? Go verse by verse and interpret these things for face value:

31 - Colossal image - what does this mean - why is it important?
32 - Head
33 - metals and body parts
34 - Stone and crushing
35 - Blown away

Why was it important that the dream be accurately reconstructed? (Go deeper than the fact that Daniel would have been put to death)

Daniel next disclosed the main theme of the dream - the colossal image (v 31) composed of four different metals; the head of gold (v 32), the breast and arms of silver, the belly and thighs of bronze, and the legs of iron (v 33), with their oddly constructed feet of iron mingled with clay. This composite statue was then reduced to powder by a huge stone (v 34), and the powder was blown away by the wind (v 35). Where the image had stood, the rock grew to the size of a huge mountain that filled the whole scene. To his astonishment, Neb recognized the accuracy of every detail of Daniel's description. He must have been leaning forward to hear the explanation from what he now knew to be a spokesman from God.

Next week we will dive into the interpretation and prophecy revealed through the king to us all. Should be fun!

Andrew

In depth notes on verse 28 -from Frank E Gaebelein in the Expositor's Commentary

The expression beaharit yomayya, "in the days to come") first appears in Gen 49:1, where Jacob foretold the lot of Twelve Tribes after their conquest of Canaan some four centuries later. In Duet 4:30 it refers to the period of Israel's return to God after adversity, in 31:29 of the period of Israel's future rebellion. In Isa 2:2 it points forward to the establishment of the millennial kingdom, in Ezek 38:16 to the eschatological war of Gog against restored Israel. Here it seems to refer to all the coming events subsequent to the lifetime of Neb and including the final establishment of the fifth kingdom (the Millennial Age). The other occurrence in Dan 10:14 seems to include both the "Proto Tribulation" under Antiochus Epiphanes in the second century b.c. and the antitypical Great Tribulation under the Beast in the last days. So far as the NT usage is concerned, Peter in his Pentecost sermon in Acts 2:17 referred Joel 2:28-32 to the "last days" (en tais schatais hermerais) and evidently included the whole post crucifixion period, from the establishment of the NT church to the second coming of Christ. In Heb 1:2, the phrase ep schatou ton hemer on touton, ("in these last days") occurs with evident reference to the church age, but without any specific terminous ad quem.