Series: Resilience  
Message: Trust  
Preacher: Japhet De Oliveira
 
Refresh: Open with prayer. Read or listen to Psalm 7:1-5.
 
Read: Daniel 2 - Read the Message paraphrase, and note 1-3 insights/questions that arise.
 

Reflect: The Stone:  The Semitic word ‘eben' can be translated either “stone” or “rock,” God’s strength (Deuteronomy 32:18; Psalm 18:2; 31:2,3) and kingdom (Psalm 118:22; Isaiah 28:16; Zechariah 3:9). It also stands for the material used for religious objects, such as the altar (Exodus 20:25), the commandments (Exodus 24:12), and the temple in Jerusalem (1 Kings 6:7). We also use it in reference to Jesus.

​But he looked directly at them and said, “What then is this that is written:​
‘The stone that the builders rejected ​​
has become the cornerstone’?
​Everyone who falls on that stone will be broken to pieces, and when it falls on ​​​anyone, it will crush him.” (Luke 20:17-18 ESV)

This passage in Luke comes primarily from the First Testament. The first two lines are from Psalm 118:22, the third line is based on Isaiah 8:14-15 and the last line from Daniel 2:44b-45a.
 
Recalibrate:

1. The dream of the statue indicates that things will change, eventually the stone will arrive, what will that look like? What clues do you see in the text (2:35,44-45)?
2. When you think of the Kingdom of God, do you think of heaven or planet Earth restored?
3. What would you want to change in the world today?  

 
Respond: Pray for courage to change the world.
 
Research: Compare Isaiah 2:2,4 and Micah 4:1-3 with Daniel 2:35,44-45. The agricultural metaphor that Daniel uses about the stone and its effect is just like the “wind,” would have resonated with Israel as “wind” is often used to denote God. Read the story in Genesis about the Spirit of God hovering over the water. Read Exodus 14:21; 1 Kings 19:11; Psalm 104:3-4; Numbers 27:18; Psalm 139:7. Compare also Isaiah 40:19; 45:2; 41:25 with this story.