Where True Wisdom is Found (pt. 2)

This week we continue in Chapter two in the book of Daniel covering verses 31-49. The themes throughout chapter two are identified as: 1. the sovereignty of God; 2. Pride of Human rulers; and 3. the challenge this tension creates for God’s faithful. In verses 31-35 Daniel shares the dream that was given to him by God through prayer. In Daniels prayer, Daniel was seeking God’s wisdom and knowledge to share the details of the king’s dream with him. Verses 36-45 provide the details of the dream with two different interpretations describing the statute. In verses 46- 49, Daniel and his three friends are given promotions, many gifts and status to serve the king.

Verse 36 begins Daniels interpretation of the dream. Verse 37 says that God has given Nebuchadnezzar a kingdom of power, strength and glory. Verse 38 states that God has given beasts of the field, birds of the heaven and the children of men into your hand to rule, you are the head of gold. Verse 39 says there are three kingdoms that will arise below you inferior to yours, a third kingdom of bronze shall rule over the earth, verse 40 and a fourth kingdom shall be as strong as iron, it breaks in pieces and shatters everything. Verse 41-43, the feet and toes are made of iron and clay which represents a divided kingdom with the iron in the feet continuing to be its strength. The kingdom will possess strength and weakness. In verse 44 the kingdom of God will be established. God’s kingdom will never be destroyed and those kingdoms who come against it will find certain destruction. In Verse 45 a stone is created without hands and the stone was used to destroy all the other kingdoms.

There are two interpretations that are used to describe the dream, the Roman interpretation and the Greek interpretation. Both views are based on the forth kingdom as described by Daniel in verses 40 as being strong as iron that will shatter everything. In the traditional (Roman) view the fourth kingdom is Rome and in the Greek view the fourth kingdom is Greece. Albeit they have conquered many kingdoms in their time, they have refused to follow God and God alone therefore their kingdoms have fallen and do not possess the same control and power they once did as witnessed today.

The Roman view is well accepted by evangelicals This view describes: the head of gold as (Babylon); the chest and arms of silver as (Medo-Persia); the belly of bronze as (Greece); the legs of iron as (Rome); the feet of mixed clay/iron as the (Old/revived empire); God’s kingdom is the Rock (Jesus).

The Greek view is: the head of gold as (Babylon); the chest and arms of silver as (Media ); the belly of bronze as (Persia); the legs of iron as (Greece); the feet of mixed clay/iron as the (Intermarriage); God’s kingdom is the Rock (Jesus).

As we take a closer look at Daniel we see a man that has a very close relationship with God. The king did not find favor in Daniel or the others as we discovered in the verses 1-30. Recall that it was Daniel and his friends that were a part of the group that the king was going to have killed because they could not interpret his dream.

It was God who had favor on Daniel because he and his friends were seeking God through prayer to provide the answers they were searching for. Daniels faith in God is very strong and when we have that same faith, God will bless us similarly. It is through our strong personal relationship with God and our prayers that God answers in the most positive way. God creates teaching moments so we may see His grace, love and His mercy that He is capable of giving to us. God’s word is true and His promises are never broken. His promise to provide and protect us, to never leave us nor forsake us will always hold true. This is evident in every book of the bible. The one constant in life is this, when you are a true believer, God will always provide in ways that we could never imagine. He will always be there to pick us up and carry us when we can no longer walk. He is there to comfort us and provide a path for us to walk with Him for the rest of our days.

My prayer is that God will be my guiding light. That we will always stay focused on Him through every circumstance, every trial and every tribulation that we experience. I pray that the love of God flows in and through each one of us and that we will represent the Lord and Savior, the Creator of the universe as He deserves to be treated. With honor, respect, reverence and true love. In Jesus mighty Name I pray Amen! Amen!