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Reading & Devotional Guide: Daniel 2

Passion City Church

September, 15, 2024

Click here to listen to this week’s episode of Further In, in which members of the Passion City Church DC team discuss the passage of scripture we’re studying and consider how to apply the truths of God’s word to our lives.

This week’s reading: Daniel 2, Psalm 118, Isaiah 8:11-22, Mark 1:15

Before you begin to read Chapter 2…

Remember Chapter 1.

We learned how Daniel and his friends, teenagers chosen for their talents and nobility, were educated in Babylon but resolved not to defile themselves with the king’s food. Despite this, they proved healthier than everyone else and found favor in the eyes of the LORD and King Nebuchadnezzar.

– Read Daniel 2:1-30–

What happened?

Chapter 2 opens with a powerful King Nebuchadnezzar who is powerless over his sleep. He was deeply troubled by disturbing dreams and sought interpretation from the Chaldeans. According to the Babylonians, dreams were important messages from the gods, and the Chaldeans sought to explain them through the specific study of astrology. Their inability to recount and decipher his dreams angered King Nebuchadnezzar. He wanted the real truth, and they could not deliver it. So he ordered the execution of all the Babylonian wise men, which included Daniel and the boys.

Amidst the impending death penalty, young Daniel responded with prudence and prayer. He sought an appointment to interpret the dream for the King, and after went home to pray with his friends to their LORD– the God of Heaven. Daniel then received the dream and its interpretation from the LORD. He praised Him for his authority over the physical world and the political world.

With humility, Daniel approached the King to interpret his dream. In doing so, he acknowledged that neither he nor any wise man could have revealed the dream, but “there is a God in heaven” who did. This moment underscores the book’s theme: Daniel’s God is supreme over all man-made gods and actively involved in revealing truth.

What to remember?

King Nebuchadnezzar troubled by dreams (2:1-11). Troubled by disturbing dreams, he sought to understand their divine message.

King Nebuchadnezzar ordered an execution (2:12-13). Infuriated by the Chaldeans’ failure to interpret his dreams, Nebuchadnezzar ordered the execution of all the Babylonian wise men, including Daniel.

Daniel sought a solution & prayed with his friends (2:14-18). Facing execution, Daniel sought a solution through prayer with his friends.

The LORD revealed & Daniel praised (2:19-23). The LORD revealed the dream and its interpretation to Daniel, who in turn praised the LORD for His sovereignty over all realms.

Daniel approached King Nebuchadnezzar with humility & truth (2:24-30). He approached the king with humility—crediting the interpretation to the LORD, not himself—and with honesty— this interpretation was the truth.

Meditation

Daniel prays with his friends.

With their lives on the line, Daniel goes home to Hananiah, Mishael, and Azaraiah to “seek mercy from the God of heavens” (2:18). Unlike the Chaldeans who went to their astrology books to interpret dreams, Daniel went to his LORD with his friends. He was convinced that ultimate truth comes from the LORD and he has a direct line to Him through prayer.

Truth is found in the LORD and we can seek Him through prayer. What adversity do you find yourself facing today? Have you considered seeking the LORD in prayer with your friends?

Daniel has a personal relationship with the LORD.

Re-read Daniel’s prayer in 2:20-23. Notice how the prayer begins general and ends personal. The God who changes the seasons and kingdoms is the same God who Daniel has a personal relationship with. Notice the pronouns in 2:23, “I give thanks”… “you have given me wisdom”… “you have made known to me wisdom and might.”

The God who rules all also wants a relationship with you. Does the way you relate to God feel like a personal relationship?

Prayer

Father,

I praise You for being the ultimate source of truth and wisdom, in the times of Daniel and today.

As I face trouble and uncertainty, help me to seek Your guidance through prayer, knowing that You are both sovereign over all things and deeply personal in my life.

Thank you for Jesus, your Word spoken to me.

Amen

–Read Daniel 2:31-49–

What was the dream? (2:31-44)

Nebuchadnezzar’s dream featured a giant statue, described as “mighty and of exceeding brightness,” with a head of gold, a chest of silver, a torso of bronze, legs of iron, and feet partly of iron and partly of clay. A stone, not made by human hands, struck that statue and shattered it into pieces that were carried away like “chaff of the summer threshing floors.” The metaphor referred to a complete dissolution. A once mighty statue was soon blown away and insignificant. The stone that struck the statue then grew into a mountain that filled the entire earth.

What did the dream mean? (2:36-45)

After recounting the dream, Daniel provided its interpretation, which also served as a prophecy of future events.

The different parts of the statue represented successive kingdoms: the golden head symbolized Nebuchadnezzar and Babylon. The LORD had given him his power and glory, but it had an expiration date. The chest of silver represented the Medo-Persian Empire, which, though larger, was morally inferior. The bronze torso stood for the Greek Empire, led by Alexander the Great, which dominated the known world. The iron legs symbolized the Roman Empire, known for its strength and brutality, which “breaks,” “shatters,” and “crushes.” The feet and toes of mixed iron and clay are debated as representing either a continuation of the Roman Empire or future divided kingdoms.

The key element of the dream is the stone “cut from a mountain by no human hand,” which destroys the statue and fills the whole earth. This stone is God’s kingdom, which will ultimately replace all earthly empires and endure forever. Hence, the prophets spoke of a stumbling block (Isaiah 8) and Jesus referred to himself as that stone (Luke 20). The vision points directly to Jesus Christ, who showed up and proclaimed, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel” (Mark 1:15). This everlasting kingdom that Nebuchadnezzar was dreaming about was inaugurated at Jesus’ first coming, and will one day be consummated at His second coming.

What happened after? (2:46-49)

After the interpretation, King Nebuchadnezzar praised the LORD, recognizing Him as the supreme God above all other gods. Nebuchadnezzar also honored Daniel, promoting him to a high position. Daniel, in turn, secured promotions for his friends (as a good friend does!).

Meditation

The kingdoms of earth will pass.

Through Nebuchadnezzar’s dream, the LORD was saying two things. First, all kings and kingdoms are a derivative of the LORD’s sovereign power. Second, all kings and kingdoms will crumble. Babylon fell. Persia fell. Greece fell. Rome fell. Just as the LORD said they would.

Be it a 21st century nation or a personal kingdom constructed on instagram, our worldly kingdoms will pass. Survey your own life. Have you placed too much value in a passing kingdom?

The Kingdom of God will stand forever.

Re-read 2:44, “the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that shall never be destroyed, nor shall the kingdom be left to another people. It shall break in pieces all these kingdoms and bring them to an end, and it shall stand forever.” Jesus has brought us a kingdom that will never end, and that will one day crush all other kingdoms.

What would it look like for you to prioritize the kingdom of God today?

Prayer

Gracious God,

Thank You for the reminder from Nebuchadnezzar’s dream that Your kingdom is eternal and unshakeable, surpassing all earthly powers.

Help me to recognize and value Your kingdom above all worldly things.

Guide me in aligning my life with Your truth—the truth.

May I seek Your kingdom first and trust that You reign forever.

Amen

Scripture References

Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream

1In the second year of his reign, Nebuchadnezzar had dreams; his mind was troubled and he could not sleep. 2So 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, 3he said to them, “I have had a dream that troubles me and I want to know what it means.”

4Then the astrologers answered the king, “May the king live forever! Tell your servants the dream, and we will interpret it.”

5The 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. 6But 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.”

7Once more they replied, “Let the king tell his servants the dream, and we will interpret it.”

8Then the king answered, “I am certain that you are trying to gain time, because you realize that this is what I have firmly decided: 9If 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.”

10The 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. 11What the king asks is too difficult. No one can reveal it to the king except the gods, and they do not live among humans.”

12This made the king so angry and furious that he ordered the execution of all the wise men of Babylon. 13So 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.

14When 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. 15He asked the king’s officer, “Why did the king issue such a harsh decree?” Arioch then explained the matter to Daniel. 16At this, Daniel went in to the king and asked for time, so that he might interpret the dream for him.

17Then Daniel returned to his house and explained the matter to his friends Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah. 18He urged them to plead for mercy from the God of heaven concerning this mystery, so that he and his friends might not be executed with the rest of the wise men of Babylon. 19During the night the mystery was revealed to Daniel in a vision. Then Daniel praised the God of heaven 20and said:

“Praise be to the name of God for ever and ever;

wisdom and power are his.

21He changes times and seasons;

he deposes kings and raises up others.

He gives wisdom to the wise

and knowledge to the discerning.

22He reveals deep and hidden things;

he knows what lies in darkness,

and light dwells with him.

23I thank and praise you, God of my ancestors:

You have given me wisdom and power,

you have made known to me what we asked of you,

you have made known to us the dream of the king.”

Daniel Interprets the Dream

24Then Daniel went to Arioch, whom the king had appointed to execute the wise men of Babylon, and said to him, “Do not execute the wise men of Babylon. Take me to the king, and I will interpret his dream for him.”

25Arioch took Daniel to the king at once and said, “I have found a man among the exiles from Judah who can tell the king what his dream means.”

26The king asked Daniel (also called Belteshazzar), “Are you able to tell me what I saw in my dream and interpret it?”

27Daniel replied, “No wise man, enchanter, magician or diviner can explain to the king the mystery he has asked about, 28but 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 were lying in bed are these:

29“As Your Majesty was lying there, your mind turned to things to come, and the revealer of mysteries showed you what is going to happen. 30As for me, this mystery has been revealed to me, not because I have greater wisdom than anyone else alive, but so that Your Majesty may know the interpretation and that you may understand what went through your mind.

31“Your Majesty looked, and there before you stood a large statue—an enormous, dazzling statue, awesome in appearance. 32The head of the statue was made of pure gold, its chest and arms of silver, its belly and thighs of bronze, 33its legs of iron, its feet partly of iron and partly of baked clay. 34While you were watching, a rock was cut out, but not by human hands. It struck the statue on its feet of iron and clay and smashed them. 35Then the iron, the clay, the bronze, the silver and the gold were all broken to pieces and became like chaff on a threshing floor in the summer. The wind swept them away without leaving a trace. But the rock that struck the statue became a huge mountain and filled the whole earth.

36“This was the dream, and now we will interpret it to the king. 37Your Majesty, you are the king of kings. The God of heaven has given you dominion and power and might and glory; 38in your hands he has placed all mankind and the beasts of the field and the birds in the sky. Wherever they live, he has made you ruler over them all. You are that head of gold.

39“After you, another kingdom will arise, inferior to yours. Next, a third kingdom, one of bronze, will rule over the whole earth. 40Finally, there will be a fourth kingdom, strong as iron—for iron breaks and smashes everything—and as iron breaks things to pieces, so it will crush and break all the others. 41Just as you saw that the feet and toes were partly of baked clay and partly of iron, so this will be a divided kingdom; yet it will have some of the strength of iron in it, even as you saw iron mixed with clay. 42As the toes were partly iron and partly clay, so this kingdom will be partly strong and partly brittle. 43And just as you saw the iron mixed with baked clay, so the people will be a mixture and will not remain united, any more than iron mixes with clay.

44“In the time of those kings, the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed, nor will it be left to another people. It will crush all those kingdoms and bring them to an end, but it will itself endure forever. 45This is the meaning of the vision of the rock cut out of a mountain, but not by human hands—a rock that broke the iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver and the gold to pieces.

“The great God has shown the king what will take place in the future. The dream is true and its interpretation is trustworthy.”

46Then King Nebuchadnezzar fell prostrate before Daniel and paid him honor and ordered that an offering and incense be presented to him. 47The king said to Daniel, “Surely your God is the God of gods and the Lord of kings and a revealer of mysteries, for you were able to reveal this mystery.”

48Then the king placed Daniel in a high position and lavished many gifts on him. He made him ruler over the entire province of Babylon and placed him in charge of all its wise men. 49Moreover, at Daniel’s request the king appointed Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego administrators over the province of Babylon, while Daniel himself remained at the royal court.

Psalm 118

1Give thanks to the

Lord

, for he is good;

his love endures forever.

2Let Israel say:

“His love endures forever.”

3Let the house of Aaron say:

“His love endures forever.”

4Let those who fear the

Lord

say:

“His love endures forever.”

5When hard pressed, I cried to the

Lord

;

he brought me into a spacious place.

6The

Lord

is with me; I will not be afraid.

What can mere mortals do to me?

7The

Lord

is with me; he is my helper.

I look in triumph on my enemies.

8It is better to take refuge in the

Lord

than to trust in humans.

9It is better to take refuge in the

Lord

than to trust in princes.

10All the nations surrounded me,

but in the name of the

Lord

I cut them down.

11They surrounded me on every side,

but in the name of the

Lord

I cut them down.

12They swarmed around me like bees,

but they were consumed as quickly as burning thorns;

in the name of the

Lord

I cut them down.

13I was pushed back and about to fall,

but the

Lord

helped me.

14The

Lord

is my strength and my defense;

he has become my salvation.

15Shouts of joy and victory

resound in the tents of the righteous:

“The

Lord

’s right hand has done mighty things!

16The

Lord

’s right hand is lifted high;

the

Lord

’s right hand has done mighty things!”

17I will not die but live,

and will proclaim what the

Lord

has done.

18The

Lord

has chastened me severely,

but he has not given me over to death.

19Open for me the gates of the righteous;

I will enter and give thanks to the

Lord

20This is the gate of the

Lord

through which the righteous may enter.

21I will give you thanks, for you answered me;

you have become my salvation.

22The stone the builders rejected

has become the cornerstone;

23the

Lord

has done this,

and it is marvelous in our eyes.

24The

Lord

has done it this very day;

let us rejoice today and be glad.

Lord

, save us!

Lord

, grant us success!

26Blessed is he who comes in the name of the

Lord

From the house of the

Lord

we bless you.

27The

Lord

is God,

and he has made his light shine on us.

With boughs in hand, join in the festal procession

up to the horns of the altar.

28You are my God, and I will praise you;

you are my God, and I will exalt you.

29Give thanks to the

Lord

, for he is good;

his love endures forever.

11This is what the

Lord

says to me with his strong hand upon me, warning me not to follow the way of this people:

12“Do not call conspiracy

everything this people calls a conspiracy;

do not fear what they fear,

and do not dread it.

13The

Lord

Almighty is the one you are to regard as holy,

he is the one you are to fear,

he is the one you are to dread.

14He will be a holy place;

for both Israel and Judah he will be

a stone that causes people to stumble

and a rock that makes them fall.

And for the people of Jerusalem he will be

a trap and a snare.

15Many of them will stumble;

they will fall and be broken,

they will be snared and captured.”

16Bind up this testimony of warning

and seal up God’s instruction among my disciples.

17I will wait for the

Lord

who is hiding his face from the descendants of Jacob.

I will put my trust in him.

18Here am I, and the children the

Lord

has given me. We are signs and symbols in Israel from the

Lord

Almighty, who dwells on Mount Zion.

19When someone tells you to consult mediums and spiritists, who whisper and mutter, should not a people inquire of their God? Why consult the dead on behalf of the living?

20Consult God’s instruction and the testimony of warning. If anyone does not speak according to this word, they have no light of dawn.

21Distressed and hungry, they will roam through the land; when they are famished, they will become enraged and, looking upward, will curse their king and their God.

22Then they will look toward the earth and see only distress and darkness and fearful gloom, and they will be thrust into utter darkness.

“The time has come,”

he said.

“The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!”

Passion City Church

Content created by the team at Passion City Church. Passion City Church is a Jesus Church. A small tribe of His followers connected by our common faith and a deep desire to see our city [and the world] come to know His power and beauty. We are not perfect. But Jesus is. Thankfully, we are a Jesus Church.