Context, Purpose and Structure
Context
Having been told that God gave Daniel the ability to understand dreams and visions (1:17), and that their ability surpassed the Babylonians (1:20), we now see God’s purpose in this as Daniel interprets king Nebuchadnezzar’s dream. Daniel’s success reveals God’s supreme sovereignty, which will be explored in more detail and be met with differing responses throughout the book.
Purpose
We are to know and make known that despite appearances to the contrary, ultimate power and wisdom belong to God. We do this, in the midst of exile as we praise and trust the rule of his kingdom as he graciously reveals it to the world.
Structure
2:1-16 A contest of wisdom – Babylonian impotence
2:17-23 God is Sovereign – Daniel’s response
2:24-45 God Reveals – His Kingdom is ultimate
2:46-49 God is Sovereign – Nebuchadnezzar’s response
Notes on the Text
2:1-16: This section sets up the story, introducing the issue, problem and tension. The king has a dream he does not understand and demands his astrologers tell him both the dream and the meaning. This is a true test of their ability. Nebuchadnezzar is constantly referred to as the king, yet ironically he lacks the power and wisdom to interpret his dream or find those who do. The key issue is rightly highlighted in 2:10-11: “there is no one on earth who can do what the king asks” and “no one can reveal it to the king except the gods, and they do not live among humans.” Who really has power and wisdom? As Daniel asks for time to consult God, it builds anticipation for seeing whether God’s wisdom is superior. Some commentators note that this resembles ancient “court contest” tales. This could well be the intent, with the attention particularly on Babylon’s impotence. This is both surprising (they are the world super power), yet embarrassingly obvious when we realise no human being can read minds.
2:17-23: Daniel does not hesitate to turn to prayer as a first resort. When God mercifully answers, we see that Daniel praises God as one who deposes and raises kings (2:21). This is the key section in the chapter. There is a stark contrast between the powerless wisdom of Babylon and God who is the source of wisdom and power (2:20). God is in control in the face of secular rule. Not only so, but here is the appropriate response – overflowing praise and glory to God. Not only for his power, but also because he makes it known. This is repeated: “he gives wisdom…” “he reveals…”, “you have given me wisdom and power…”, “you have made known.” This is both a glorious thing for God and his people. In the rest of the chapter we see more explicitly God’s power, wisdom, revelation and his giving of power to his people.
2:24-45: The reason for this whole scenario is so that Nebuchadnezzar would know what God is doing in history (2:30). It is stated again that it is not Daniel but God who is revealing the interpretation (2:28; 2:45; 2:47). God has given Nebuchadnezzar all the power he has (2:37), but ultimately, it is God’s kingdom that will last forever (2:44). God being referred to as “the revealer of mysteries” speaks to both his ability and kindness. God has not chosen an arbitrary test of power. God chooses to reveal his plans, even to those who are not his own. Not only does God want to be known as the God of heaven, but he desires it to be public knowledge that he plans to set up an everlasting kingdom. Here, the details of the kingdoms are not in view. (These may be picked up following chapter 7 which mirrors this chapter.) What God reveals here is that there will be successive kingdoms, as each destroys the next, yet God’s kingdom will bring all others to an end and belong to his people, and will not be given to another (as Babylon was, 5:28). Some see Christ as the stone not cut from human hands, based on Luke 20:18, and its teaching those who fall on the cornerstone will be broken to pieces. However, we don’t need to press the point from this passage. The parallel with chapter 7 – where the Son of Man is the focus of power for God’s victorious kingdom – is enough to establish that Jesus is bringing about this divine historical work.
2:46-49: On first reading, Nebuchadnezzar’s response seems good. He recognises that the God of Daniel is the God of gods and king of kings, a revealer of mysteries (2:47). However, compared with Daniel’s response, there are significant elements that are absent. Where Daniel praises God, Nebuchadnezzar merely states the facts and the worship is directed to Daniel. Where Daniel thanks God for graciously giving him wisdom, Nebuchadnezzar makes arrangements to ’employ’ this power and wisdom. Where Daniel acknowledges that God deposes kings, Nebuchadnezzar seeks to secure his own kingdom, raising up Daniel to high office to support his own position. For an ancient king, knowing what the gods were up to was a great benefit, and Nebuchadnezzar sees that keeping the God of the Jews on side will be beneficial. He wants God to be in service to him, rather than the other way around. If any ambiguity remains here as to the state of the king’s heart, it is soon dispelled in 3:1. This is part of a long and patient process on God’s part that leads to a genuine conversion and confession in 4:37. Despite Nebuchadnezzar seemingly blessing Daniel’s situation, we can see it is God’s hand at work – God has indeed given Daniel wisdom and power (2:23), he is chief minister over all Babylon. Similarly with Daniel bringing his friends into this privileged position, we see a foreshadowing of kingdom power being given into the hands of God’s holy people (7:27).
Implications
God exposes the impotence of secular rule with devastating ease: who can reveal the mysteries of the future except God? Not only does God know the future, he graciously chooses to reveal it and not only that – he reveals that he is in sovereign control of all history for the establishment of his own kingdom. Like the original readers, we are to see the idea of the world being able to better God, subsume him, or even use him as utterly laughable. History worked out exactly as God revealed it would, and during the Roman empire God established his kingdom by Jesus, the Son of Man of chapter 7 (eg. Luke 22:69). Chapter 7 also indicates that the rise and fall of empires before God’s ultimate rule will be the pattern of life before the second coming of the Son of Man: we still await the ultimate consummation of the kingdom. Because of the first coming of Christ however, we have even more certainty of God’s plans than original readers. This is something to greatly rejoice in. Incredibly, we know the future: empires will replace one another yet people will become Christians as God establishes his kingdom. In what daily situations might we need to remember God’s wonderful power, wisdom and rule?
This real presence of the kingdom now, yet delay in the Son of Man’s glorious vindication is seen in Luke 17:20-25. It’s not yet something clearly observed. As we experience our own exile, we may reflect: like Daniel, we too have been given this wisdom of God’s sovereignty for those that will listen; do we recognise the delay as a time for others to relinquish their own sovereignty and praise the true king? Nebuchadnezzar is not quite right in saying “the gods do not live among humans.” As believers we have the Spirit of God who abides among his people. Whilst Daniel’s situation is specific to him and a particular phase of salvation history, we should perhaps also reflect on how God may use his indwelling with his people to benefit our society in our day and age. As we seek to live under ungodly rule, like Daniel, God’s people declare God’s rule, when they actively trust in it – without hesitation despite their circumstances. Would people around us deduce God’s rule and the certainty of his kingdom from observing our lives? We may not be in the life or death situation of Daniel, but we too are to live by dependence on the ruling God of history until our exile is over – “when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?” (Luke 18:8).
Daniel 2 in the Academy
In this chapter, we see God working in the early career of Daniel and his friends. Of course, this is for specific purposes that relate to the salvation history of God’s people – in preserving them through the exile in order that the promised king may be born to Israel, and in providing a clear theology of how to understand his kingdom in relation to the kingdoms of the earth. As God speaks to us through Daniel, we are able to draw some implications for how God’s people are to live in light of these truths. There are two key areas we can consider: firstly, the revelation of God’s rule and the defeat of worldly kingdoms; secondly in the presence of this truth and wisdom among God’s people that may benefit society more broadly. In Daniel 2 we see a vital overlap of these two categories: the rule of God is not just a theological category, but belongs in the civic and social arena.
In the face of worldly power and influence, Nebuchadnezzer needed to know the reality of the world in relation to the kingdom of God. We might not receive visions like Daniel but because we have God’s written word and his final revelation in the person of Christ, we have insight about who rules this world and where it is heading that others in the academy lack. We too may find ourselves in an environment where those in senior positions need to know this reality: for example, in powerful universities that may crush individuals that are part of the system for the sake of spreading the name and reputation of that university. If not in our immediate environment, such contexts may also be found more broadly within academia, such as conferences that celebrate academic theories that exercise a destructive influence on society or social gatherings with academics who are at the top of their field. In such cases we may be surrounded or outnumbered by those who act as if reality revolves around them and who seek to subdue their field to their own rule.
Yet the truth from Daniel 2 is that God has set up a kingdom over these establishments that will never be destroyed. As with all believers, we may need to ask whether we are willing to tell those in positions above us if necessary what the truth is about reality even if it might offend them. We might think it will result in us being demoted or cut off from job offers or funding, but it may also work out for the good as in Daniel’s case, and result in others (at least at some level) acknowledging the truth about God.
With Daniel’s bold and faithful presence in the kingdom, Nebuchadnezzar begins to recognise God’s presence in his people. This leads the king to elevate Daniel because he sees that God’s wisdom is worthwhile for civic and social good. Of course, Nebuchadnezzer primarily thinks of the gain for his own kingdom, but it remains true nonetheless that the presence of God’s people will be beneficial in all areas of civil life, included the higher strata of society. Whilst we cannot expect the Lord to use us in the same way as Daniel is used, we might ask whether we expect God’s wisdom found in us to be beneficial in our sphere of life – for our field of study and the academic world more broadly.
Discussion questions
Interpretation questions
- How does v27 help us understand the dynamic between the believer, worldly authorities and God himself?
- God could have revealed his kingdom plan to his people alone and brought them through exile without the success of Daniel in a high position. But how would you describe God’s actual intentions in chapter 2?
- How does v46-49 direct our conclusions?
Application questions
- God, in his sovereignty, has placed the witness to his kingdom at the beginning and forefront of Daniel’s career. Indeed, his success is predicated on it. Is there a danger within academia to leave behind your witness to God’s revelation or to leave it in the background? It may be tempting to conclude that for young academics at the beginning of their career, witness to God is inappropriate and that the best course would be to build a reputation and gain seniority before being bold. What would your response be to this? What might be Daniel’s response?
- Daniel achieves a high position in the world whilst declaring God’s kingdom as supreme – it can be done! What are the opportunities and challenges of speaking honestly with those who influence your career and academic standing?
- If God wants those in power to know the rule of his kingdom, do you share the same desire? Why or why not?
- Where has God’s wisdom been shown to be beneficial in your particular field of study?
- Who or what are the kingdoms/powers/kings that oppose themselves to God’s rule in academia? How could you pray for them?
Matt Peckham is the Pastor at Bradley Stoke Evangelical church in North Bristol. After working as an Art Director in London’s advertising industry for 10 years, he re-trained at Oak Hill Theological College, which included an MA thesis on aesthetics and epistemology. He has previously written on apologetics for the FIEC Primer magazine and contributes to the work of The Foundations Trust, Cambridge.