Daniel Explains The Dream
April 5, 2020
Commentary
Having received knowledge of the dream from God Daniel goes to Arioch, the commander of the king’s guard and informed him that he was ready to interpret the king’s dream (v. 24). Arioch brought him into Nebuchadnezzar’s presence claiming credit for having found an interpretation for the king’s dream (v. 25). The king asked Daniel to interpret his dream (v. 26). Daniel replied that not even the smartest person in all the world can do what you are demanding, but the God who rules from heaven revealed your dream while you were sleeping (vv. 27-29). In fact Daniel made it plain that he was only able to do this because there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries (v. 28). How different was the attitude of Daniel! He claimed nothing for himself but instead gave all the glory to God (v. 30).
In brief words Daniel sketched first the king’s dream (vv. 31-35). In his vision Nebuchadnezzar had seen a great majestic image of a man standing upright. It was composed of four different metals: (1) the head was made of gold; (2) the breast and arms of silver; (3) the belly and thighs of bronze; (4) and the legs of iron, with clay mixed in at its feet. These metals not only decreased in value from top to bottom, but also diminished in splendor and glory. This image was said to be both excellent and terrible. Representing a world power, it is excellent to those who profit by it, but terrible to those, (and they are many) who suffer oppression at its hand.
As Nebuchadnezzar viewed this image in amazement, suddenly and without warning a “stone cut out without hands” smote and completely destroyed it. The stone then became a great mountain filling the whole earth.
Application
It is easy to be tempted like Arioch, to take credit myself for something the Lord did through someone else? I need to give the Lord credit for everything, because without Him I would not have the mind or strength to do anything.
Daniel 2:24– 35 (NET)
24 Then Daniel went in to see Arioch (whom the king had appointed to destroy the wise men of Babylon). He came and said to him, “Don’t destroy the wise men of Babylon! Escort me to the king, and I will disclose the interpretation to him.”
25 So Arioch quickly ushered Daniel into the king’s presence, saying to him, “I have found a man from the captives of Judah who can make known the interpretation to the king.” 26 The king then asked Daniel (whose name was also Belteshazzar), “Are you able to make known to me the dream that I saw, as well as its interpretation?” 27 Daniel replied to the king, “The mystery that the king is asking about is such that no wise men, astrologers, magicians, or diviners can possibly disclose it to the king. 28 However, there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries, and he has made known to King Nebuchadnezzar what will happen in the times to come. The dream and the visions you had while lying on your bed are as follows:
29 “As for you, O king, while you were in your bed your thoughts turned to future things. The revealer of mysteries has made known to you what will take place. 30 As for me, this mystery was revealed to me not because I possess more wisdom than any other living person, but so that the king may understand the interpretation and comprehend the thoughts of your mind.
31 “You, O king, were watching as a great statue—one of impressive size and extraordinary brightness—was standing before you. Its appearance caused alarm. 32 As for that statue, its head was of fine gold, its chest and arms were of silver, its belly and thighs were of bronze. 33 Its legs were of iron; its feet were partly of iron and partly of clay. 34 You were watching as a stone was cut out, but not by human hands. It struck the statue on its iron and clay feet, breaking them in pieces. 35 Then the iron, clay, bronze, silver, and gold were broken in pieces without distinction and became like chaff from the summer threshing floors that the wind carries away. Not a trace of them could be found. But the stone that struck the statue became a large mountain that filled the entire earth.
Illustration: Getting God’s Best Gifts
I used to think that God’s gifts were on shelves one above the other, and the taller we grew in Christian character the easier we could reach them. I now find that God’s gifts are on shelves one beneath the other. It is not the question of growing taller, but of stooping down, to get His best gifts. (F.B. Meyer, Alliance Witness).