Post on 18-Dec-2014
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The Pieces Fall into Place
Daniel 2:17-30
The Pieces Fall into Place
In this passage, the pieces “fall into place” for Daniel as
God gives him supernatural knowledge concerning
Nebuchadnezzar‟s dream.
The Pieces Fall into Place
“Then Daniel went to his house and made the matter
known to Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, his
companions, 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. Then the mystery was
revealed to Daniel in a vision of the night. Then Daniel
blessed the God of heaven. Daniel answered and said:
The Pieces Fall into Place
“„Blessed be the name of God forever and ever, to whom
belong wisdom and might. 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; he reveals deep and hidden things; he
knows what is in the darkness, and the light dwells with
him. 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.‟
The Pieces Fall into Place
“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.‟
The Pieces Fall into Place
“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.‟ 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?‟
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, but there is a
God in heaven who reveals mysteries, and he has made
known to King Nebuchadnezzar what will be in the latter
The Pieces Fall into Place
“days. Your dream and the visions of your head as you
lay in bed are these: 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. 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, ESV).
The Pieces Fall into Place
Daniel is a wonderful example of faith in this passage.
The Pieces Fall into Place
Daniel is a wonderful example of faith in this passage.
• Daniel requested that he might be allowed to interpret the
dream before God revealed the dream to him.
The Pieces Fall into Place
Daniel is a wonderful example of faith in this passage.
• Daniel requested that he might be allowed to interpret the
dream before God revealed the dream to him.
• We know what the outcome is going to be, but does
Daniel have any idea?
The Pieces Fall into Place
Daniel is a wonderful example of faith in this passage.
• Daniel requested that he might be allowed to interpret the
dream before God revealed the dream to him.
• We know what the outcome is going to be, but does
Daniel have any idea? We were previously told: “Daniel had understanding in all visions
and dreams” (1:17, ESV).
The Pieces Fall into Place
Daniel is a wonderful example of faith in this passage.
• Daniel requested that he might be allowed to interpret the
dream before God revealed the dream to him.
• We know what the outcome is going to be, but does
Daniel have any idea? We were previously told: “Daniel had understanding in all visions
and dreams” (1:17, ESV).
But, when did Daniel know that he “had understanding in all
visions and dreams”?
The Pieces Fall into Place
However we reckon the time of Nebuchadnezzar‟s reign
(Dan 1 & Jer 25), using both Jewish & Babylonian time
methods, it‟s possible that this narrative took place
before Daniel was tested by Nebuchadnezzar.
The Pieces Fall into Place
However we reckon the time of Nebuchadnezzar‟s reign
(Dan 1 & Jer 25), using both Jewish & Babylonian time
methods, it‟s possible that this narrative took place
before Daniel was tested by Nebuchadnezzar.
Interestingly, none of the visions in the second part of
the Book (chpts 7-12) take place during
Nebuchadnezzar‟s reign.
The Pieces Fall into Place
However we reckon the time of Nebuchadnezzar‟s reign
(Dan 1 & Jer 25), using both Jewish & Babylonian time
methods, it‟s possible that this narrative took place
before Daniel was tested by Nebuchadnezzar.
Interestingly, none of the visions in the second part of
the Book (chpts 7-12) take place during
Nebuchadnezzar‟s reign.
Thus, there is a great deal of faith on Daniel‟s part in this
narrative.
The Pieces Fall into Place
That faith & dependence comes into play when Daniel
asked Hananiah, Mishael, & Azariah to pray for him.
The Pieces Fall into Place
That faith & dependence comes into play when Daniel
asked Hananiah, Mishael, & Azariah to pray for him.
• Why pray to ask God to do something I already know I can
do?
The Pieces Fall into Place
That faith & dependence comes into play when Daniel
asked Hananiah, Mishael, & Azariah to pray for him.
• Why pray to ask God to do something I already know I can
do?
• Daniel doesn‟t know the dream & he asks his companions
to pray that God give him understanding into the dream.
The Pieces Fall into Place
There are important lessons
for us here.
The Pieces Fall into Place
We must have faith & dependence on God.
The Pieces Fall into Place
We must have faith & dependence on God.
• “By faith Noah, being warned by God concerning events
as yet unseen, in reverent fear constructed an ark for the
saving of his household. By this he condemned the world
and became an heir of the righteousness that comes by
faith” (Heb 11:7, ESV).
The Pieces Fall into Place
We must have faith & dependence on God.
• Heb 11:7.
• “By faith Sarah herself received power to conceive, even
when she was past the age, since she considered him
faithful who had promised. Therefore from one man, and
him as good as dead, were born descendants as many as
the stars of heaven and as many as the innumerable
grains of sand by the seashore” (Heb 11:11-12, ESV).
The Pieces Fall into Place
We must have faith & dependence on God.
• Heb 11:7.
• Heb 11:11-12.
In these texts, Noah & Sarah trusted God.
The Pieces Fall into Place
We must have faith & dependence on God.
• Heb 11:7.
• Heb 11:11-12.
In these texts, Noah & Sarah trusted God.
• Noah knew it had never rained on earth—let alone ever
flooded—but if God said it would happen, Noah knew it
would happen.
The Pieces Fall into Place
We must have faith & dependence on God.
• Heb 11:7.
• Heb 11:11-12.
In these texts, Noah & Sarah trusted God.
• Noah knew it had never rained on earth—let alone ever
flooded—but if God said it would happen, Noah knew it
would happen.
• Sarah knew that she & Abraham were well-beyond child-
bearing years, but if God said it was going to happen, it
would happen.
The Pieces Fall into Place
How much are we going to
depend on God?
The Pieces Fall into Place
We also learn about the great power of prayer.
The Pieces Fall into Place
We also learn about the great power of prayer.
• Daniel asked Hananiah, Mishael, & Azariah “to seek
mercy from the God of heaven concerning this mystery.”
The Pieces Fall into Place
We also learn about the great power of prayer.
• Daniel asked Hananiah, Mishael, & Azariah “to seek
mercy from the God of heaven concerning this mystery.”
• Then: “The mystery was revealed to Daniel in a vision of
the night.”
The Pieces Fall into Place
We also learn about the great power of prayer.
• Daniel asked Hananiah, Mishael, & Azariah “to seek
mercy from the God of heaven concerning this mystery.”
• Then: “The mystery was revealed to Daniel in a vision of
the night.”
What if Daniel & his companions had not sought “mercy
from the God of heaven concerning this mystery”?
The Pieces Fall into Place
We also learn about the great power of prayer.
• Daniel asked Hananiah, Mishael, & Azariah “to seek
mercy from the God of heaven concerning this mystery.”
• Then: “The mystery was revealed to Daniel in a vision of
the night.”
What if Daniel & his companions had not sought “mercy
from the God of heaven concerning this mystery”?
• Surely, God would have found a way to reveal it to
Nebuchadnezzar—that was his purpose.
The Pieces Fall into Place
We also learn about the great power of prayer.
• Daniel asked Hananiah, Mishael, & Azariah “to seek
mercy from the God of heaven concerning this mystery.”
• Then: “The mystery was revealed to Daniel in a vision of
the night.”
What if Daniel & his companions had not sought “mercy
from the God of heaven concerning this mystery”?
• Surely, God would have found a way to reveal it to
Nebuchadnezzar—that was his purpose.
• But, would Daniel have been involved in it?
The Pieces Fall into Place
There is great power in prayer.
The Pieces Fall into Place
There is great power in prayer.
• As Zechariah was ministering in the Temple: “Do not be
afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard, and
your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call
his name John” (Lk 1:13, ESV).
The Pieces Fall into Place
There is great power in prayer.
• As Zechariah was ministering in the Temple: “Do not be
afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard, and
your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call
his name John” (Lk 1:13, ESV).
• “I tell you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you
will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone
who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to
the one who knocks it will be opened” (Lk 11:9-10, ESV).
The Pieces Fall into Place
Do we really believe in the
power of prayer?
The Pieces Fall into Place
Notice that the mystery was revealed to Daniel “in a
vision of the night.”
The Pieces Fall into Place
Notice that the mystery was revealed to Daniel “in a
vision of the night.”
This wasn‟t a dream, for the Book of Daniel makes clear
that dreams & visions are different forms of revelation.
The Pieces Fall into Place
Notice that the mystery was revealed to Daniel “in a
vision of the night.”
This wasn‟t a dream, for the Book of Daniel makes clear
that dreams & visions are different forms of revelation.
BUT:
• The vision comes at night, when one would expect to have
a dream.
The Pieces Fall into Place
Notice that the mystery was revealed to Daniel “in a
vision of the night.”
This wasn‟t a dream, for the Book of Daniel makes clear
that dreams & visions are different forms of revelation.
BUT:
• The vision comes at night, when one would expect to have
a dream.
• Pagans considered dreams a lower form of revelation than
a vision.
The Pieces Fall into Place
Thus, there is both a connection to & a distinct
difference from Nebuchadnezzar‟s dream.
The Pieces Fall into Place
Thus, there is both a connection to & a distinct
difference from Nebuchadnezzar‟s dream.
God is showing that he can reveal his will to whom he
wills & interpret it through whom he wills.
The Pieces Fall into Place
Daniel then “blessed the God of heaven.”
The Pieces Fall into Place
Daniel then “blessed the God of heaven.”
• Daniel prayed & then received a positive answer to that
prayer.
The Pieces Fall into Place
Daniel then “blessed the God of heaven.”
• Daniel prayed & then received a positive answer to that
prayer. Then, he thanks God for answering his prayer
positively.
The Pieces Fall into Place
Daniel then “blessed the God of heaven.”
• Daniel prayed & then received a positive answer to that
prayer. Then, he thanks God for answering his prayer
positively.
• Do we too often pray to God & then when he acts forget to
thank him?
The Pieces Fall into Place
In praising God for sending the vision, Daniel expresses
many important concepts in this book.
The Pieces Fall into Place
In praising God for sending the vision, Daniel expresses
many important concepts in this book.
• To God belong wisdom & might.
The Pieces Fall into Place
In praising God for sending the vision, Daniel expresses
many important concepts in this book.
• To God belong wisdom & might. God‟s wisdom & might is displayed through the dreams & visions
he sends to Daniel & kings.
The Pieces Fall into Place
In praising God for sending the vision, Daniel expresses
many important concepts in this book.
• To God belong wisdom & might. God‟s wisdom & might is displayed through the dreams & visions
he sends to Daniel & kings.
God‟s might is seen through sitting kings on the throne & then
bringing them down.
The Pieces Fall into Place
In praising God for sending the vision, Daniel expresses
many important concepts in this book.
• To God belong wisdom & might.
• He changes times & seasons.
The Pieces Fall into Place
In praising God for sending the vision, Daniel expresses
many important concepts in this book.
• To God belong wisdom & might.
• He changes times & seasons—again, we see the concept
of God‟s sovereign rule over all.
The Pieces Fall into Place
In praising God for sending the vision, Daniel expresses
many important concepts in this book.
• To God belong wisdom & might.
• He changes times & seasons.
• He gives wisdom to the wise & reveals deep and hidden
things.
The Pieces Fall into Place
In praising God for sending the vision, Daniel expresses
many important concepts in this book.
• To God belong wisdom & might.
• He changes times & seasons.
• He gives wisdom to the wise & reveals deep and hidden
things—again, we have the concept that God reveals his
will.
The Pieces Fall into Place
In praising God for sending the vision, Daniel expresses
many important concepts in this book.
• To God belong wisdom & might.
• He changes times & seasons.
• He gives wisdom to the wise & reveals deep and hidden
things.
• He is the God of Daniel‟s fathers.
The Pieces Fall into Place
In praising God for sending the vision, Daniel expresses
many important concepts in this book.
• To God belong wisdom & might.
• He changes times & seasons.
• He gives wisdom to the wise & reveals deep and hidden
things.
• He is the God of Daniel‟s fathers. This is an interesting concept in the Book.
The Pieces Fall into Place
In praising God for sending the vision, Daniel expresses
many important concepts in this book.
• To God belong wisdom & might.
• He changes times & seasons.
• He gives wisdom to the wise & reveals deep and hidden
things.
• He is the God of Daniel‟s fathers. This is an interesting concept in the Book.
God led Daniel‟s fathers out of Egypt, made them a covenant in
the wilderness, but when the Israelites broke the covenant, God,
true to his word, handed them over to their enemies.
The Pieces Fall into Place
In praising God for sending the vision, Daniel expresses
many important concepts in this book.
• To God belong wisdom & might.
• He changes times & seasons.
• He gives wisdom to the wise & reveals deep and hidden
things.
• He is the God of Daniel‟s fathers. This is an interesting concept in the Book.
God led Daniel‟s fathers out of Egypt, made them a covenant in
the wilderness, but when the Israelites broke the covenant, God,
true to his word, handed them over to their enemies.
But God also promised that when the people repented, they could
go back to Canaan.
The Pieces Fall into Place
Daniel repents of the people‟s sins (Dan 9:1-19).
The Pieces Fall into Place
Daniel repents of the people‟s sins (Dan 9:1-19).
Daniel served in the royal court until the reign of Cyrus
(1:21), the king who allowed the Israelites to leave
Babylon.
The Pieces Fall into Place
Daniel repents of the people‟s sins (Dan 9:1-19).
Daniel served in the royal court until the reign of Cyrus
(1:21), the king who allowed the Israelites to leave
Babylon.
Thus, the Book shows God‟s faithfulness—both positive
& negative—to Daniel‟s fathers.
The Pieces Fall into Place
After thanking God, Daniel asked Arioch to take him
before Nebuchadnezzar.
The Pieces Fall into Place
After thanking God, Daniel asked Arioch to take him
before Nebuchadnezzar.
Arioch told Nebuchadnezzar that they had found one
among the exiles from Judah who could reveal the
dream to the king.
The Pieces Fall into Place
After thanking God, Daniel asked Arioch to take him
before Nebuchadnezzar.
Arioch told Nebuchadnezzar that they had found one
among the exiles from Judah who could reveal the
dream to the king.
• Again, it‟s pointed out, in a Babylonian context, that Daniel
is an exile from Judah.
The Pieces Fall into Place
After thanking God, Daniel asked Arioch to take him
before Nebuchadnezzar.
Arioch told Nebuchadnezzar that they had found one
among the exiles from Judah who could reveal the
dream to the king.
• Again, it‟s pointed out, in a Babylonian context, that Daniel
is an exile from Judah.
• The Babylonians trained in interpreting dreams couldn‟t do
so, but one from Judah—actually his God—can interpret
the dream.
The Pieces Fall into Place
Daniel denies that he was given any special wisdom to
interpret the dream.
The Pieces Fall into Place
Daniel denies that he was given any special wisdom to
interpret the dream.
• On the one hand, that‟s a surprising statement, for Daniel
blessed God because he has given wisdom to the wise.
The Pieces Fall into Place
Daniel denies that he was given any special wisdom to
interpret the dream.
• On the one hand, that‟s a surprising statement, for Daniel
blessed God because he has given wisdom to the wise.
• Daniel‟s point, however, is two-fold.
The Pieces Fall into Place
Daniel denies that he was given any special wisdom to
interpret the dream.
• On the one hand, that‟s a surprising statement, for Daniel
blessed God because he has given wisdom to the wise.
• Daniel‟s point, however, is two-fold: God gave Daniel understanding into the dream so that he could
reveal it to Nebuchadnezzar.
The Pieces Fall into Place
Daniel denies that he was given any special wisdom to
interpret the dream.
• On the one hand, that‟s a surprising statement, for Daniel
blessed God because he has given wisdom to the wise.
• Daniel‟s point, however, is two-fold: God gave Daniel understanding into the dream so that he could
reveal it to Nebuchadnezzar.
That was so that God could accomplish his purposes.
The Pieces Fall into Place
“Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been
heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and
you shall call his name John” (Lk 1:13, ESV).
“I tell you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you
will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For
everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks
finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened” (Lk
11:9-10, ESV).