THE SOURCE OF WISDOM
When and by what was Nebuchadnezzar troubled?
Daniel 2:1 And in the second year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar Nebuchadnezzar dreamed dreams, wherewith his spirit was troubled, and his sleep brake from him.
What did the king command?
Daniel 2:2 Then the king commanded to call the magicians, and the astrologers, and the sorcerers, and the Chaldeans, for to shew the king his dreams. So they came and stood before the king.
What did he desire them to do?
Daniel 2:2 Then the king commanded to call the magicians, and the astrologers, and the sorcerers, and the Chaldeans, for to shew the king his dreams. So they came and stood before the king. 3 And the king said unto them, I have dreamed a dream, and my spirit was troubled to know the dream.
How did they reply?
Daniel 2:4 Then spake the Chaldeans to the king in Syriack, O king, live for ever: tell thy servants the dream, and we will shew the interpretation.
What was the king’s answer?
Daniel 2:5-6 The king answered and said to the Chaldeans, The thing is gone from me: if ye will not make known unto me the dream, with the interpretation thereof, ye shall be cut in pieces, and your houses shall be made a dunghill. 6 But if ye shew the dream, and the interpretation thereof, ye shall receive of me gifts and rewards and great honour: therefore shew me the dream, and the interpretation thereof.
How did they respond to this?
Daniel 2:7 They answered again and said, Let the king tell his servants the dream, and we will shew the interpretation of it.
How did the king regard their course?
Daniel 2:8-9 The king answered and said, I know of certainty that ye would gain the time, because ye see the thing is gone from me. 9 But if ye will not make known unto me the dream, there is but one decree for you: for ye have prepared lying and corrupt words to speak before me, till the time be changed: therefore tell me the dream, and I shall know that ye can shew me the interpretation thereof.
What did the professed wise men say of the king’s requirements?
Daniel 2:10-11 The Chaldeans answered before the king, and said, There is not a man upon the earth that can shew the king's matter: therefore there is no king, lord, nor ruler, that asked such things at any magician, or astrologer, or Chaldean. 11 And it is a rare thing that the king requireth, and there is none other that can shew it before the king, except the gods, whose dwelling is not with flesh.
THE Chaldeans tried to make it appear that the king’s request was not reasonable; but, as they pretended to communicate with the “gods whose dwellin is not with flesh,” the king’s request was very proper.
How did this reply affect the king?
Daniel 2:12 For this cause the king was angry and very furious, and commanded to destroy all the wise men of Babylon.
What decree did he issue? And who were counted among these wise men?
Daniel 2:13 And the decree went forth that the wise men should be slain; and they sought Daniel and his fellows to be slain.
What was Daniel’s plea concerning the king’s decree?
Daniel 2:14-15 Then Daniel answered with counsel and wisdom to Arioch the captain of the king's guard, which was gone forth to slay the wise men of Babylon: 15 He answered and said to Arioch the king's captain, Why is the decree so hasty from the king? Then Arioch made the thing known to Daniel.
The king did not suspect Daniel of trying “to gain the time,” as he suspected the wise men, for Daniel promised to show the king the interpretation of his dream; he only wanted time to seek his God for a knowledge of the secret, while the wise men confessed that they could not interpret the dream unless the king would first tell them what it was.
What course did Daniel pursue?
Daniel 2:17-18 Then Daniel went to his house, and made the thing known to Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, his companions: 18 That they would desire mercies of the God of heaven concerning this secret; that Daniel and his fellows should not perish with the rest of the wise men of Babylon.
DANIEL called the brethren together to seek Him who is the Source of all wisdom, believing that the Lord would reveal the matter to him. His faith was so strong that he promised to show the king the interpretation of his dream. If all would seek the wisdom which is from above as did Daniel, they would have the knowledge of God. James 1:5.
James 1:5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.
How was the secret revealed to Daniel?
Daniel 2:19 Then was the secret revealed unto Daniel in a night vision. Then Daniel blessed the God of heaven.
With what words did he praise the Lord for His mercy?
Daniel 2:20 Daniel answered and said, Blessed be the name of God for ever and ever: for wisdom and might are his: 21 And he changeth the times and the seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up kings: he giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding: 22 He revealeth the deep and secret things: he knoweth what is in the darkness, and the light dwelleth with him. 23 I thank thee, and praise thee, O thou God of my fathers, who hast given me wisdom and might, and hast made known unto me now what we desired of thee: for thou hast now made known unto us the king's matter.
When Daniel was brought before the king, what did he say
of the wise men and astrologers?
Daniel 2:27 Daniel answered in the presence of the king, and said, The secret which the king hath demanded cannot the wise men, the astrologers, the magicians, the soothsayers, shew unto the king;
Who did he say could reveal the secret?
Daniel 2:28 But there is a God in heaven that revealeth secrets, and maketh known to the king Nebuchadnezzar what shall be in the latter days. Thy dream, and the visions of thy head upon thy bed, are these;
What did the Lord make known to Nebuchadnezzar by his dream?
Daniel 2:29 As for thee, O king, thy thoughts came into thy mind upon thy bed, what should come to pass hereafter: and he that revealeth secrets maketh known to thee what shall come to pass.
Why was the dream revealed to Daniel?
Daniel 2:30 But as for me, this secret is not revealed to me for any wisdom that I have more than any living, but for their sakes that shall make known the interpretation to the king, and that thou mightest know the thoughts of thy heart.
In making known to Nebuchadnezzar what shall be in the latter days, or hereafter, as it is expressed in verse 45, he gave in a brief but comprehensive history of the world from his own time till the kingdoms of this world would be overthrown by the kingdom of God. There are two important lessons that we may learn from this scripture. One is that the Lord sometimes reveals His truth to those not directly connected with His people and work, and the other is that He delights to honor His faithful servants before the great men of earth, and also deliver them from danger and death if His name can be honored thereby.
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