Daniel 2 Dare to Trust Gods Wisdom
Theological Proposition/Focus: God's wisdom is higher than man's wisdom.
Homiletical Proposition/Application: God has laid out a master plan and a wise person will trust in that plan rather than man’s wisdom.
Introduction:
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Preview: Today we will see that there is a supernatural reality that has a real and present impact on each of us and since the supernatural is real God's people have an incredible toolbox at their disposal chief of which is wisdom that comes from the sovereign God.
Text: Daniel 2.
Setting the Stage:
We have started working through the book of Daniel and I will admit that there are going to be some real challenging passages to preach from. Today's passage is one of those passages. Not because it is theologically challenging but rather because I think it is challenging to take some of these passages and come up with meaningful practical applications. Nevertheless, I believe that all of the Bible is applicable today and this passage is no different.
We left off after Daniel 1 with Daniel and his three friends in Babylon serving as royal advisors. Daniel and his three friends had taken a stand for God and God rewarded that stand. Now, as we begin chapter 2 we find ourselves wondering, "How are these four followers of God going to impact one of the greatest empires the world has known?" This is the setting in which we find ourselves today.
Daniel chapter 2 is a long chapter and many of you have read it before so today what we will do is take one section at a time and read it together.
In the second year of his reign, Nebuchadnezzar had dreams; his mind was troubled and he could not sleep. 2 So the king summoned the magicians, enchanters, sorcerers and astrologers to tell him what he had dreamed. When they came in and stood before the king, 3 he said to them, “I have had a dream that troubles me and I want to know what it means.”
4 Then the astrologers answered the king, “May the king live forever! Tell your servants the dream, and we will interpret it.”
5 The king replied to the astrologers, “This is what I have firmly decided: If you do not tell me what my dream was and interpret it, I will have you cut into pieces and your houses turned into piles of rubble. 6 But if you tell me the dream and explain it, you will receive from me gifts and rewards and great honor. So tell me the dream and interpret it for me.”
7 Once more they replied, “Let the king tell his servants the dream, and we will interpret it.”
8 Then the king answered, “I am certain that you are trying to gain time, because you realize that this is what I have firmly decided: 9 If you do not tell me the dream, there is only one penalty for you. You have conspired to tell me misleading and wicked things, hoping the situation will change. So then, tell me the dream, and I will know that you can interpret it for me.”
10 The astrologers answered the king, “There is no one on earth who can do what the king asks! No king, however great and mighty, has ever asked such a thing of any magician or enchanter or astrologer. 11 What the king asks is too difficult. No one can reveal it to the king except the gods, and they do not live among humans.”
12 This made the king so angry and furious that he ordered the execution of all the wise men of Babylon. 13 So the decree was issued to put the wise men to death, and men were sent to look for Daniel and his friends to put them to death.
14 When Arioch, the commander of the king’s guard, had gone out to put to death the wise men of Babylon, Daniel spoke to him with wisdom and tact. 15 He asked the king’s officer, “Why did the king issue such a harsh decree?” Arioch then explained the matter to Daniel. 16 At this, Daniel went in to the king and asked for time, so that he might interpret the dream for him.
Body
There is a supernatural reality that has a real and present impact on each of us.
So, here is the situation, the balance we must strike. Not everything that happens in your life is the direct result of some supernatural event. We have the complete Word of God and so normative life is not for God to communicate via dreams, visions, or special revelation beyond Scripture. We have everything we need in God's Word. However, there is a supernatural world and we must acknowledge that world.
Nebuchadnezzar was in an interesting position he had dreams that troubled his mind. We don't know all the details but Nebuchadnezzar came to believe that these dreams had some deeper meaning. Since there is a supernatural reality we need to understand that
It is natural to look for meaning beyond the natural (1-3).
Please understand what I am saying. I am not saying that every dream, every feeling, or anything like that is a message from the supernatural, what I am saying is that it is natural for us to wonder if there is some connection to the supernatural. This also means we need to be careful.
Some happily take advantage of our natural tendency to look beyond the natural (4-9).
Within the ranks of the Babylonian royal court there were a number of astrologers, sorcerers enchanters and magicians who sought to take advantage of the supernatural. The text makes it clear that these were charlatans. These individuals did not possess special knowledge instead they were seeking to take advantage.
Unscrupulous attempts to take advantage of the supernatural, at times, paint God's people in a bad light (10-13).
In the case of Nebuchadnezzar, he saw right through the lies and so he demanded much more than what these charlatans could deliver. When they failed to deliver the king became rightfully angry. Here is something that I want us all to understand, Christians, churches, those who follow God sometimes have an uphill battle because there are so many who have abused a claim to God.
This is exactly the situation that Daniel and his friends found themselves dealing with. So what are we to do when we find oursleves fighting an uphill battle of this nature?
Look at what Daniel did. Daniel asked for time. Why would Daniel ask for time? Because sometimes what the one who follows God needs most is time for prayer, time to draw on God's wisdom, and time to exercise godly tact.
Therefore, God's people must draw on wisdom and tact (14-16).
Image: Sometimes I must remind myself to slow down.
At this point most of you know me pretty well and know that I am an action-oriented person. I like to get things done and I like to move fast. However, there are times when we need to slow down. There are times when I need to slow down. Often, in my life this comes by reminding myself to take a minute and pray before pressing send. It is amazing how much God teaches me in those short moments of prayer!
