Daniel 2: Kingdom Vision   Ps 44; Dan 2:1-49; 1 Cor 15:20-28; Mark 1:14-15

Introduction     https://youtu.be/9TLhce1TYRU

Looking at Daniel 1, we saw how Daniel and his friends were part of a successful peaceful protest movement against the attempts of the Babylonian system to indoctrinate them into its ungodliness.  Chapter 2 opens up how Daniel excelled in heavenly wisdom beyond anything accessible to ordinary human understanding so that he was empowered, to continue serving the Lord, and the king, at the centre of worldly power[1].

Part 1: Revelation and destruction vv.1-13

The first scene shows us, in a way typical of tyrants, that Nebuchadnezzar was powerful on the outside but weak on the inside. He has a dream that robs him of sleep, troubling his spirit so deeply that he demands to know its interpretation[2]. Calling in “the magicians, the enchanters, the sorcerers, and the Chaldeans” he threatens them, and their families, with dismemberment and destruction[3] if they cannot make known both the dream and its interpretation. Their fear and astonishment is natural, for as “spiritual”[4] people they already understand, “There is not a man on earth who can meet the king’s demand, for no great and powerful king has asked such a thing of any magician or enchanter or Chaldean. 11 The thing that the king asks is difficult, and no one can show it to the king except the gods, whose dwelling is not with flesh.” (2:10-11). Language like this turns our minds immediately to the miracle of the Incarnation, when “the Word became flesh and dwelt among us” (John 1:14 cf. Rom 8:3; 1 Tim 3:16; Heb 2:14-15). That frustrations, tensions and furies are generated in even the most powerful of human beings testifies to the truth of scripture, that “the wicked are like the tossing sea; for it cannot be quiet, and its waters toss up mire and dirt. 21 “There is no peace,” says my God, “for the wicked.”” (Isa 57:20-21)[5]. When we have God-sized expectations of the world[6], our disappointments are gifts sent from the one true ruler of heaven and earth (Matt 11:25+) to humble us.

It is because an edict went out from the enraged king seeking “Daniel and his companions, to kill them” that they will be able demonstrate that the Lord alone is God, and so receive promotion. This episode fulfils the psalmist’s prediction, “Surely the wrath of man shall praise you” (Ps 76:10). Nothing ever changes in the strange (to us) workings of divine wisdom. As someone remarked recently, without the holocaust, Israel might not exist today. All of which is based on the lowly death, and exaltation of Christ, in crucifixion and resurrection.

Part 2: Secrets Revealed vv. 14-30

The next section of the chapter is punctuated by the word “secret/mystery”[7]. This passage is an important background to the New Testament, where the mystery is the gospel of Christ hidden for ages and generations in God[8] but now made known to God’s people. Since “the Lord God does nothing without revealing his secret to his servants the prophets.” (Amos 3:7), we should have no difficulty in accepting that in contrast to the “wise men” of Babylon panicked, but the prophet Daniel receives from “the God of heaven” (Dan 2:18) “deep and hidden things” (2:22) for the progress of his own kingdom[9]. As a prophet Daniel is shown both the dream and its interpretation.

God does not reveal his secrets casually or haphazardly[10]. Daniel and his companions were wise is asking the king for time to seek “mercy” from the Lord (v.18); and when the revelation comes Daniel immediately busts into a song of praise (20-23) exalting the glorious almighty abilities of the one true God. Such a rhythm of prayer, praise and gratitude builds character and manifest integrity in God’s people. We see these attributes in all who stood before the lords of the earth to give testimony to God’s truth without fear or favour: Moses, Elijah, Isaiah, Jeremiah, John the Baptist, Jesus, Peter, John, Paul come to mind. Strengthening through revelation for testimony comes in response to “earnest prayer” (Acts 12:5).  It is the sort of prayer which we see from Jesus in Gethsemane (Mark 14:32-42; Heb 5:7-8)[11]. This sort of prevailing prayer always bears much fruit (John 11:42), and Daniel’s godliness consistently points away from his own devotion to the glory of the Lord (27, 28, 30)[12].

Part 3: An Eternal Kingdom vv. 31-47

The vivid image of the king’s dream (cf. power point slide chosen by Barbara) is one of the most famous in the Old Testament. The figure which Nebuchadnezzar saw is described as “a great image…mighty…of exceeding brightness…and its appearance was frightening.” (31). The interpretation revealed to Daniel is that the head of gold, the chest and arms of silver, the belly and thighs of bronze, the legs of iron and the feet of clay and iron, represent four powerful kingdoms. These are usually interpreted in succession as the world empires of Babylon, Persia, Greece, and Rome[13]. All these empires are temporary, but the fifth kingdom that arises to destroy all worldy rule is the extended focus of the meaning of the dream. “It shall break in pieces all these kingdoms and bring them to an end, and it shall stand forever, 45 just as you saw that a stone was cut from a mountain by no human hand, and that it broke in pieces the iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver, and the gold.” (2:44-45). The impact on the king is immediate, he “fell upon his face and paid homage to Daniel” (2:46) recognising that only a “God of gods and Lord of kings” (2:47) can reveal profound ultimate mysteries of world destiny. The worldy ruler of Babylon was however not converted, he commands that “an offering and incense” be made to Daniel as if he is divine (2:46), and the rest of the book shows him to be as tyrannical and arrogant as ever[14].

The stone cut “by no human hand” is a stone coming from the God of heaven; not only will this stone be of humble character (not gold/silver/bronze or iron, or even a mixture of iron and clay) but it will annihilate all the powers of this age going on to “fill the world” and to “stand forever” (vv. 35, 44). This is a vision of the kingdom of God, and Jesus is the King come in the power of God’s irresistible kingdom (Mark 1:15; Matt 12:28). This does not mean however God’s infinite power effortlessly overwhelms empires, for in the parable of the vineyard, where Jesus identifies himself as the heir, put to death by the wicked tenants, he identifies himself  as “the stone that the builders rejected” (Luke 20:17)[15]. The limitless power of his death-and-resurrection will ultimately be revealed in the reality that, “Everyone who falls on that stone will be broken to pieces, and when it falls on anyone, it will crush him.”” (Luke 20:18). This is a dynamic theme of divine victory in the Gospels (Matt. 21:33-46; Mark 12:1-12) and in the apostolic preaching and teaching (Acts 4:11; 1 Pet 2:7). The Church infallibly grows[16][17], in a climate of rejection by secular powers (Luke 12:11) and through the ministry of “signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God” (Rom 15:19) to the broken and needy (poor, sick, lonely, imprisoned, homeless) who the system of this world leaves behind (cf. Matt 25:31-46).

Over the centuries the Lord has kept raising up men and women who refused to compromise their testimony before tyrants. In the 17^th century Andrew Melville challenged king James, “‘there are two kings and two kingdoms in Scotland.’ …‘There is Christ Jesus, the King of the Church, whose subject James the Sixth is, and of whose kingdom he is not a king, nor a lord, nor a head, but a member.’…you are not the head of the church; you cannot give us that eternal life we seek …and you cannot deprive us of it” [18]

The people of God belong to the Father’s imperishable kingdom, not to the kingdoms of this world destined to perish (Rev 11:15)! Paul confidently testifies, “the appointed time has grown very short. From now on, let those who have wives live as though they had none, 30 and those who mourn as though they were not mourning, and those who rejoice as though they were not rejoicing, and those who buy as though they had no goods, 31 and those who deal with the world as though they had no dealings with it. For the present form of this world is passing away.” (1 Cor 7:29-31). John resonates, “The desires of our flesh and the things our eyes see and want and the pride of this life come from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.” (1 John 2:16-17).

Back to Work vv.48-49

It would be easy to conclude this sermon on the high note of Daniel’s supernatural ability to interpret dreams and wow the king, but the chapter concludes by telling us that Daniel and his friends were placed in charge of the entire administration of the province of Babylon (vv.48-49). Daniel had a full-time job! This must not surprise us, because the wisdom of God that sets and sustains the planets in motion[19], and which sent Jesus into the world, is one wisdom; the wisdom that gave the prophet access to heavenly secrets is in perfect unity with the insights that made him a brilliant bureaucrat. To deny this truth is to practically deny Jesus is Lord of the workplace[20] just as much as he is Lord over the Church![21]

Conclusion

Christians are privileged to believe that Jesus will come again to place all things under his feet (1 Cor 15:25, 27; Eph 1:22; Heb 2:8). Whatever powers there may be in the world, China, America, Russia and so on, will have no choice but to capitulate to the rule of him who is “King of kings and Lord of lords” (1 Tim 6:15; Rev 17:11; 19:16). Following the message of Daniel, I believe it is possible under the help of the Spirit of Jesus to “see” history from the future backwards. Knowing how it will all End inspires us to live lives that stand out in the darkness of a world that is always maddeningly/crazy[22]. Heavenly enlightenment is possible at every level of existence. Possible in an atmosphere of insane violence (choking incident) and trauma that Donna witnessed in her work this week. (By divine grace she was given, as she always is, the sort of divine wisdom to calm things down.[23]) The world desperately needs to see and submit to the pure righteous wisdom of the rule of Jesus in all things (Matt 6:33)! Our gospel message that although there is no hope for the world as it is, the hope of the nations is that all will be transformed in Christ (Isa 42:1; Matt 12:18-20).

A missionary once famously wrote in his journal, “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.” (Jim Elliot). He went on to become a martyr. Ask the Lord what you cannot keep…virtually everything of this creation…It is time dear people of God to wake up [and “Sow righteousness for yourselves, reap the fruit of unfailing love, and break up your unploughed ground; for it is time to seek the Lord, until he comes and showers his righteousness on you.” (Hos 10:12).] Sunday by Sunday we pray, “Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” Today is our day to be inspired by the vision of Daniel so as to pray this prayer with renewed meaning.