Daniel Chapter 2 Nabu's Dreams
In Chapter two we see a interesting peak in event.
Our Dear king Nabu had a dream. He was troubled by it. Therefore, He call upon all his wise men to intepret the dream for him.
However, when the wise men came, he not only impose a heavy penalty...well...getting cut into pieces and having your home destroyed sounds heavy to me. hahaz. He also want them to intepret his dreams without him telling them.
An impossible task . Even the wise men knew that only God to do what was requested of them.
King Nabu was angry...unreasonable guy.....and ordered to carry out his penalty. Hmmmm......Wait.....His penalty extents to all Wise Men in Babylonian. That means that even those who did not have a chance to intepret Nabu's dreams will face the penalty. Now...Nabu is seriously unreasonable.
Our Hero Daniel was some how dragged into it. Have you all ever wondered why bad things happen to those people who do good or people who seeks God? Why God did not bless them? Daniel must have felt....that...just when he was about to settle down, another problem sprout out.
However, in verse 14 we see that Daniel responded with WISDOM and TACT. Imagine someone were to barge into your room just to arrest you.You have no ideas why. How will you react? Will you ....
1) React in Anger and Violence? Fight? Shouts? Threats?
2)Break down in Despair?
3)Try to boot lick?
or will you like Daniel , trust that God is in control and react in Wisdom and Tact.
Which means that you have to be calm and thinking Clearly. This brings me to think about the YFC Camp I had recently. There was this Group of people that pretented to be Christians Haters.
While we were watching movie, they broke in and attack us ....got us blind folded and tied up...as well as interrogated and torture for our faith....needless to say...not everybody reacted well....think about how you will react if a crisis strike you? Will you be still and know that God is God?
In verse 16- 17 we see Daniel instead of giving up, tries to intepret the dream for King Nabu.He also asked his friends to help him plead for mercy to God. We see here that Daniel knows very well that only God can save him....also he turned to his friends and asked them to interceds for him.
In times of trials, remember that only God can help you...and no matter how bad the situation is, God is in control and he knows what's best for you. Also seek out your fellow brothers and sisters in Christ to pray for you.
I did a comparison of verse 18 and 24, Daniel could have just intepret the dream and save his friends and himself. However , he take the extra effort to save the other Wise men. Note that those very people could have been the kings's advisors on attacking Israel. Have you done the extra effort to help , bless aid those among you including your enemies? Have you share with them the Gospel? Have you ensured that you take the extra step to bring them to Christ? Or have you leave them to die in Eternal Fire?
Did another comparison...This time on how different are the replies of the Wise Men and Daniel.
Wise Men:
10 The astrologers answered the king, "There is not a man 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 men."
Daniel:
27 Daniel replied, "No wise man, enchanter, magician or diviner can explain to the king the mystery he has asked about, 28 but there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries. He has shown King Nebuchadnezzar what will happen in days to come. Your dream and the visions that passed through your mind as you lay on your bed are these:
Both knew that it is impossible for Man to intepret the Dream. Both agreed that only God can do it.
The difference is Daniel had a connection with God while the Wise men had none?We as Christains should have this connection with God that whenever we face trouble, we can call upon him. Do you have such a connection , can you call upon God and have reassurance that He will do his Good Work?Are you certain that God has a plan for you even in difficult times? Or are you like the wise men...filled with knowlegde...You memorise books of the bible....Verses ....you can give 10 year series model answers to all problems...but you are not really sure that God is there and you are unable to place your problems in God's hands ...trusting that he will be able to save you.
verses 20 - 23 and 30
Showed Daniel prasing God and also Daniel giving God the credit.
How many times do we give thanks and praise to God?
By the way I don't think that exclaiming "Thank You God" then go on doing your own things as prasing and giving God Credit.Hahaz...
Nabu's dream? Guess what is it? It's a prophecy of Christ Kingdom...Wow..that way far. A kingdom not carved out by Man and will last forever.It will be a rock. Solid rock
What if I tell you....That the whole of YOUR eternity....Whether in Hell away from God or Heaven with God, relies on your brief and short life on Earth, What are you going to do with your life on earth? Devote this short time to gain real life for ever? Or Are you going to give up your real life in eternity for a short enjoyment on earth? Seriously if you think life in on earth, you are seriously wrong...you should by now know that something is wrong with this wrong.
We ended with a happy ending ith Daniel being promoted.
Not all endings are happy.....I will tell about that ...after Chapter 6....also I will share a story of Jim Eillot..a missionary...Ya...good story to look at his life and think....is God at work?