Series: Resilience  
Message: Trust  
Preacher: Japhet De Oliveira

Refresh: Open with prayer. Read or listen to Psalm 6.
 
Read: Daniel 2 - As you read in the NLT translation, note 1-3 insights/questions that arise.
 

Reflect: Exploring Daniel 7 & 8 alongside chapter 2 will create even more insights that just build your trust in the way God operates. It will also help you understand why the traditional interpretation is still valid. Below are a few views on the applications of the gold, silver, bronze and iron.

	Gold	Silver	Bronze	Iron
Traditional	Babylon	Medo-Persia	Greece-Macedonia	Rome
Modern	Babylon	Media	Persia	Greece
Individual	Nebuchadnezzar	Belshazzar	Darius	Cyrus

 

In the Ancient Near East (ANE), dreams were seen as a powerful method of communication. An Old Babylon Omen Text in the Berlin Museum said that “If a man cannot remember the dream he saw (it means): his (personal) god is angry with him.” There is enough room in the story (2:9) to suggest that Nebuchadnezzar had not forgotten the whole dream, but could be in part that he was just overwhelmed by what this might mean. Was he the head? Was this about his sons and future royal descendants or other empires? Who or what is this stone? Daniel records that he called everyone and anyone who had in the past appeared to give him insights into the “gods,” voice for his life. All except Daniel. His rash response starts to confirm the picture of Nebuchadnezzar that he existed and led like kings in those days did - quickly  and harshly. Which occurs in other stories like (Daniel 6:8 and Esther 1:19; 3:12-14; 8:8-14).
 
Recalibrate:

1. When you think of the future and wonder, who do you process your thoughts with?
2. No matter how secure you feel you are, do you trust that whatever happens ahead, God is with you? What does that look like practically?
3. Draw a picture of the statue; what would the “head” look like - mean, happy or?

 
Respond: Pray for hope in the future to remain strong.
 
Research: Google - “The Old-Babylonian Omen Texts.” What were the strengths and weaknesses of each metal? Explore why you think Daniel was not part of the original group invited to explain the dream?