God's People under the Wrong Rule

Scripture: Daniel 2:1-13

C.I.: God Purpose for Us in Difficult Times

Last week we began a new series, “God's People….” – We were introduced to 4 teenage boys who are slaves in Babylon.
The theme of the Book of Daniel, is, “God Rules over Nations and Individuals”! - Today we will see how true this is!!!

•  God's Sovereignty in Time & Space (Daniel 2)

•  “I had a dream and my spirit is anxious to understand the dream ,” (vs. 14-35)

•  #1 God has a purpose for us – to seek Him in difficult times , (vs. 14-28)

a. The Chaldeans were right – ( v. 10 ), “There is not a man on earth who could declare the matter for the king.”
1) God knows what we don't, ( Deut. 29:29; I Cor. 2:11 ), “The secret things…,” “For who among men knows…”

2) They went on to say – “There is no one who could declare it to the king - except the gods whose dwelling is not with
mortal flesh,” ( v. 11 ). – These Chaldeans were at a dead end – with no place to turn!

3) We today have someone we can go to – ( Jn. 1:1, 14 ), “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us!”

4) While others may trust in tea leaves, horoscopes or chicken entrails – God wants us to turn to Him!

b. #2 God has a purpose for us - to turn to Him in prayer
( v. 16-18 ), “Daniel went in an requested of the king that he would give him time – that he might declare the interpretation to the
king. - Daniel went to his house & informed his friends, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, that they might request
compassion from the God of heaven – concerning this matter.”

1) God's people are still called to be a community for prayer:
a) Matt. 6:9 , “ OUR Father….” – Notice God calls us to be praying with/for each other.
b) Heb. 4:15-16 , “For we do not have a great high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses….”
c) Matt. 21:13 , “Jesus said to them, ‘It is written, “My house shall be called a house of prayer.”'”
d) Jms. 5:16 , “…pray for one another….”
e) Acts 12:12 , “Peter went to the house of the mother of John… where many were gathered & were praying.”

2) No wonder ( v. 19 ), says, “Then the mystery was revealed to Daniel.”

c. #3 God has a purpose for us – to reveal His truth to others .
1) ( v. 28 ), “There is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries, and He has made known to king Nebuchadnezzar what will take
place in the latter days.”

a) “Mystery” = something unknown unless God reveals it. (World's greatest detectives couldn't solve it!)

b) Eph. 3:3 , “That by revelation there was made known to me the mystery , - as I wrote before in brief.”

2. The King's dream (vs. 29-35)

a. The statue and the stone.

1) ( v. 31 ), “You O king, were looking & behold, there was a single great statue; that statue, was large & of
extraordinary splendor, was standing in front of you, and it's appearance was awesome.”

•  ( vs. 32-33 ), “The head of the statue was made of fine gold,- its breast and arms of silver – its belly and its thighs of bronze, - its legs of iron & its feet partly of iron partly of clay.”

•  ( vs. 34-35 ), “You continued looking until a stone was cut without hands, and it struck the statue on its feet of iron and clay, and crushed them. – … the stone that struck the statue became a great mountain and filled the whole earth!”

4) Whatever is represented by the statue – that which the stone represents is far greater!

•  “…What Would Take Place in the Future,” (vs. 36-45)

•  ( v. 36 ), “This was the dream; now we shall tell the interpretation before the king.”

a. The various portions of the statue represent different kingdoms of men…

•  1 st kingdom = Babylon, ( v. 38 ), “You are the head of gold.”

•  2 nd kingdom = Medo-Persian Empire, ( v. 39a ), “After you there will arise another kingdom inferior to you.”

a) We know this refers to Medes & Persians for 2 reasons: First, history shows it.

b) Second, ( 5:30-31 ), “That same night Belshazzar the Chaldean king was slain. – So Darius the Mede received
the kingdom.”

3) 3 rd kingdom = Greek Empire, ( v. 39b ), “…then another 3 rd kingdom of bronze, which will rule over all the earth

a) Again we know this refers to the Greeks for 2 reasons: First, history demonstrates it.

b) Second, ( 8:20-21 ), “The ram which you saw with the 2 horns represents the kings of Media & Persia. - The
shaggy goat represents the kingdom of Greece.” – Which defeated the kingdom of the Medes-Persians.

4) 4 th kingdom = Roman Empire, ( v. 40 ), “Then there will be a 4 th kingdom as strong as iron.”

•  #4 God has a purpose for us - in His future !

•  ( v. 44 ), “And in the days of those kings [during the 4 th kingdom – Rome] the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which will never be destroyed … but it will itself endure forever.” - God's kingdom would be established while Rome ruled.

1) This promise is:
a) remembered in the genealogies, ( Matt. 1:1 ), “The book of the genealogies of J.S., the son of David….” -
( II Sam. 7:12-13 ), “When your days are complete…I will raise up your descendant after you …and I will
establish the throne of His kingdom forever.”
b) ratified by Gabriel, ( Lk. 1:31-33 ), “… you shall call His name Jesus … and His kingdom will have no end,”
c) reported by John – ( Matt. 3:2 ), “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand”
d) revealed by our Lord, ( Matt. 16:18-19 ), “…I will build My church and the gates…and I will give you the keys
of the Kingdom.”
e) recognized in the days of the apostles – the days of the 4 th kingdom, ( Col. 1:13 ), “God has transferred us
out of the domain of darkness, - and into the kingdom of His beloved Son.” – ( Rev. 1:9 ), I John, your fellow….”

3. #5 God has a purpose for them/us – to see ourselves from His perspective … (Post Elections)

a. For it is not kings of men – but Jesus who rules, ( Matt. 28:18 ), “All authority has been given to Me in heaven….”

1) ( I Cor. 6:2 ), “Do you not know that the saints will judge the world?”

2) ( I Cor. 15:57 ), “But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
3) ( I Jn. 5:4 ), “This is the victory that has overcome the world – our faith!”
4) ( Rev. 3:21 ), “The one who overcomes shall sit down with Me on My throne, as I overcame and sat down w/My Father….”

•  Outcome: God Blesses Those Who Allow Him to Rule in Their Lives, (vs. 46-49)

1. We are a source of blessing for non-believers.

a. ( v. 47 ), “The king said, ‘Surely your God is a God of gods and a Lord of kings and a revealer of mysteries, since you have been
able to reveal this mystery.” – God used Daniel to reveal His truth to Nebuchadnezzar – and he was blessed by it.

2. We are blessed by God

a. ( v. 48 ), “Then the king promoted Daniel and gave him many great gifts, and he made him ruler over the whole province of Babylon
and chief prefect over all the wise men of Babylon.” – The gifts of the king are nothing – compared to gifts from God!!!

•  ( Eph. 1:3 ), “Blessed be the God & Father of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, who has blessed us….”

3. We are a source of blessing for believers

a. ( v. 49 ), “And Daniel made request of the king, and he appointed S., M., A., over the administration of the province of Babylon.” –

CONCLUSIONS: “God's Purpose for Us”

1. To Seek Him in Difficult Times
2. To Turn to Him in Prayer
3. To Reveal His Truth to Others } FOR MEMBERS
4. To Know We have a Purpose in His Future
5. To See Ourselves from His Perspective

For Guests - Quote Matt. 28:18-19