|
Daniel 2:1-13
"In the second year of his reign, Nebuchadnezzar had dreams; his mind was troubled and he could not sleep. So 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, he said to them, 'I have had a dream that troubles me and I want to know what it means.'
Then the astrologers answered the king in Aramaic,
'O king, live forever! Tell your servants the dream, and we will interpret it.'
The 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. But 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.'
Once more they replied, 'Let the king tell his servants the dream, and we will interpret it.'
Then the king answered, 'I am certain that you are trying to gain time, because you realize that this is what I have firmly decided: If you do not tell me the dream, there is just 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.'
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. 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.'
This made the king so angry and furious that he ordered the execution of all the wise men of Babylon. So 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."
NIV
Facing unrealistic demands
1. The requirements of facing unrealistic demands
a. Requires wisdom and tact
Daniel 2:14-16
"When 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. He asked the king's officer, 'Why did the king issue such a harsh decree?' Arioch then explained the matter to Daniel. At this, Daniel went in to the king and asked for time, so that he might interpret the dream for him." NIV
b. Requires like-minded friends
Daniel 2:17
"Then Daniel returned to his house and explained the matter to his friends Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah." NIV
Galatians 6:2
"Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ." NIV
c. Requires Prayer
Daniel 2:18
"He urged them to plead" NIV
Matthew 18:19-20
"Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by My Father in heaven. For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them." NIV
d. Requires mercy
Daniel 2:18-19
"He 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. During the night the mystery was revealed to Daniel in a vision." NIV
2. The results of facing unrealistic demands
Daniel 2:19-23
"During the night the mystery was revealed to Daniel in a vision. Then Daniel praised the God of heaven and said:
'Praise be to the name of God forever and ever;
wisdom and power are His.
He changes times and seasons;
He sets up kings and deposes them.
He gives wisdom to the wise
and knowledge to the discerning.
He reveals deep and hidden things;
He knows what lies in darkness,
and light dwells with Him.
I thank and praise you, O God of my fathers:
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." NIV
a. Results in praise
b. Results in confidence
Daniel 2:24
"Then 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.'" NIV
c. Results in humility
Daniel 2:25-27
"Arioch 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.'
The king asked Daniel (also called Belteshazzar), 'Are you able to tell me what I saw in my dream and interpret it?'
Daniel replied, 'No wise man, enchanter, magician or diviner can explain to the king the mystery he has asked about," NIV
Daniel 2:30
"As for me, this mystery has been revealed to me, not because I have greater wisdom than other living men, but so that you, O king, may know the interpretation and that you may understand what went through your mind." NIV
d. Results in evangelism
Daniel 2:27-29
"Daniel replied, 'No wise man, enchanter, magician or diviner can explain to the king the mystery he has asked about, 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:
'As you were lying there, O king, your mind turned to things to come, and the revealer of mysteries showed you what is going to happen.'" NIV
| 
