Daniel 2:1-6 And in the second year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar Nebuchadnezzar dreamed dreams, wherewith his spirit was troubled, and his sleep brake from him. 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. 4 Then spake the Chaldeans to the king in Syriac, O king, live for ever: tell thy servants the dream, and we will shew the interpretation. 5 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 honor: therefore shew me the dream, and the interpretation thereof.

When an unbeliever looks at you, O Christian, what does he or she see? If your outward actions do not reflect your profession of faith then the first person who will recognize it will be the unbeliever. This Coronavirus Pandemic has done more to test and prove the faith of professing Christians. Many who profess Christ as Savior are inordinately afraid. The Bible tells us:

2 Timothy 1:7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

If you are overly fearful during this time then

• (a) perhaps you are not a Child of God. God does not give us a spirit of fear. Now, I’m not saying you’re not a child of God, but I do believe you need to examine yourselves, as the Scripture commands:

2 Corinthians 13:5 Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?

If you are a Christian indeed, and fear is overwhelming you, then

• (b) perhaps you need to spend more time in the Christian disciplines of prayer, Bible study, and service. You must spend time with God if you are going to grow in your faith. Turn off the television, especially the mainstream media news, and turn to God. The Scripture repeatedly says:

Habakkuk 2:4 …. the just shall live by his faith.

Romans 1:17 …. The just shall live by faith.

Hebrews 10:38 … Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.

A great truth we see throughout the Book of Daniel is that there is a difference between the fakes, the fearful, and the faithful. Being faithful means spending quality time with the God Who saved you. When you spend time in the Christian disciplines then rather than be fearful, you will be faithful. You will be like the Psalmist who wrote:

Psalm 16:5-9  The Lord is the portion of mine inheritance and of my cup: thou maintainest my lot. 6 The lines are fallen unto me in pleasant places; yea, I have a goodly heritage. 7 I will bless the Lord, who hath given me counsel: my reins also instruct me in the night seasons. 8 I have set the Lord always before me: because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved. 9 Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth: my flesh also shall rest in hope.

Cast your worries and fears upon God, dear Christian, for God cares for you (1 Peter 5:6-7). As Lucy A. Bennett wrote in the poem Trust Him:

Trust Him when dark doubts assail thee,
Trust Him when thy strength is small,
Trust Him when to simply trust Him
Seems the hardest thing of all.
Trust Him, He is ever faithful,
Trust Him, for his will is best,
Trust Him, for the heart of Jesus
Is the only place of rest.
Trust Him through cloud or sunshine
All thy cares upon Him cast
Till the storms of life are over,
And the trusting days are past.

The Unbeliever Has Nowhere To Turn In Times of Trial

The Christian has a wonderful Benefit that the unbeliever does not have. The King of Babylon Nebuchadnezzar is a believer in false gods and goddesses. Though he will later become a believer because of Daniel’s testimony, at this time in his life he is still chasing after shadows. The unbeliever has no solid foundation to appeal to in times of trial. When bad things happen the unbeliever discovers how terrible it is to live a life bereft of Jesus Christ. Let’s read:

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.

People think that money or beauty or power or fame or some other humanist god will hide them from trials. Some people – like the King of Babylon – think they will not be tried because of their position in life. Some unbelievers never learn. The Governor of New York, Andrew Cuomo, recently held a press conference and stated:

“The number (of Covid-19 cases) is down because we brought the number down. God did not do that. Faith did not do that. Destiny did not do that. A lot of pain and suffering did that. That’s how it works. It’s math. And if you don’t continue to do that, you’re going to see that number go back up. And that will be a tragedy if that number goes back up.”

Sadly, unbelievers often fails to recognize the mercy and kindness of God. New York suffered terribly during this Pandemic. It could have been worst. The Bible says:

Proverbs 16:9 – A man’s heart deviseth his way: but the LORD directeth his steps.

No one is God but the God of Scripture. This God – the Creator of Heaven and earth – has made all things for Himself (Proverbs 16:4). This wonderful and loving Lord has all things in His hand. In His hands are the souls of every living thing, and the breath of all mankind (Job 12:10). I could continue with this all day long! The Bible says:

Psalms 22:28 – For the kingdom [is] the LORD’S: and he [is] the governor among the nations.

Psalms 115:3 – But our God [is] in the heavens: he hath done whatsoever he hath pleased.

King Nebuchadnezzar is just like Governor Cuomo at this point in his life. He is in the second year of his reign and thinks that his position protects him from trials. Then God speaks to the King in a dream. The dream troubled his spirit. His spirit was troubled. So what does he do? He calls his trusted advisers.

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.

God sometimes speaks to unbelievers in their dreams. In Genesis 41 Pharaoh had dreams that disturbed him. Now Nebuchadnezzar is having dreams, disturbing dreams, and they are effecting his health.

I hope that during this Coronavirus Pandemic you have learned to look UPWARD. Faith looks upward. Faithlessness looks horizontally. I believe that as we have come through this Pandemic that God is trying our hearts (Proverbs 17:3). Where is your faith? Is it fake? The King called on

• Magicians. Not like an “abracadabra” magician, these men were “scholars” who claimed to be able to look into the future using scientific methods.
• Astrologers. These men created horoscopes that were suppose to tell your future.
• Sorcerers. These men allegedly spoke to the underworld and cast spells.
• Chaldeans. These were the priests of the false gods of Babylon – the televangelists, the Benny Hinns of their day.

God spoke to Nebuchadnezzar in a dream … but these so called helpers did not know the God of Scripture. It amazes me that when people have problems they go to people just as filled with problems as they are. These helpers told the King:

Daniel 2:4 ….. O king, live for ever: tell thy servants the dream, and we will shew the interpretation.

These helpers didn’t want to anger the King. Nebuchadnezzar roasted two kings – Zedekiah and Ahab – in a fire (Jeremiah 29:22-23). He was brutal, demanding, tyrannical – and like a scorpion he was not to be toyed with. These men said:

Tell us your dream, O King, and we will tell you the interpretation

The King was having none of that. He told them:

Daniel 2:5-6 … 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 honor: therefore shew me the dream, and the interpretation thereof.

“The thing is gone from me”. This is another way of saying “You heard my command. What I have commanded, I expect”. Nebuchadnezzar was not about to back down. “If you don’t tell me what I dreamed and what it means will have you cut in pieces and turn your homes into cesspools and sewers. But if you do as I ask you will receive from me gifts, rewards, and fame”. These counselors were in a quandary, so they ask again:

Daniel 2:7 …. Let the king tell his servants the dream, and we will shew the interpretation of it.

This was going nowhere in a hurry. I think that the King realized these people were clueless as to how to fix his problem. He was not about to be fooled. So he said:

Daniel 2:9 But if ye will not make known unto me the dream, there is but one decree for you: for you 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.

The King’s Counselors protested – and they spoke the truth. They said:

Daniel 2:10 … 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.

No man can do what the King is asking – no man who is not in communion with God. The Counselors said “only the gods can help you – but they don’t come around here!”. A false god cannot give the interpretation of a dream instilled by the True God of the Bible. The idols of the unbeliever are silver and gold, created by the hands of men. These idols cannot tell you anything (Psalms 135:15-18) – they have nothing to offer.

The King is enraged. His trusted advisers. had no answers, so the King responded like a six year old. He had a tantrum.

Daniel 2:12-13 For this cause the KING WAS ANGRY AND VERY FURIOUS, and commanded to destroy all the wise men of Babylon. 13 And the decree went forth that the wise men should be slain; and they sought Daniel and his fellows to be slain.

An angry ruler is just as bad as an angry peasant. Anger does nothing but cloud our judgment. Since these men couldn’t answer Nebuchadnezzar then his solution was simple:

Kill them all!

The Bible says:

Ecclesiastes 7:9 Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry: for anger resteth in the bosom of fools.

Nebuchadnezzar had a solution that was much better than killing everyone. We were told in Chapter 1 of this book that

Daniel 1:19-20 …The king communed with them; and among them all was found none like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah: therefore stood they before the king. 20 And in all matters of wisdom and understanding, that the king inquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers that were in all his realm.

Daniel had previously helped Nebuchadnezzar, but now the King ignores them and orders the death of all wise men. Why? Because of anger. Another King by the name of Solomon wrote:

Proverbs 25:28 He that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down, and without walls.

The King is being driven by fear and the faithlessness of his closest advisers. He needs to find the counsel of a person of Faith.

In Times of Trial The Mature Believer Is Fully Equipped

Daniel 2:13-16 And the decree went forth that the wise men should be slain; and they sought Daniel and his fellows to be slain. 14 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. 16 Then Daniel went in, and desired of the king that he would give him time, and that he would shew the king the interpretation.

The King is driven by FEAR and ANGER. The King’s Counselors are driven by FAITHLESSNESS. But when Daniel is approached by the King’s Guard he does not panic. His eyes are firmly focused on God His Savior.

Daniel Did Not Fear, For His Confidence Was In God.

The Executioner comes to the door with a bloody ax, ready to lop off Daniel’s head. Daniel did not fear. Daniel looked up! Where are you looking, dear Christian? Are you looking around at those who have no faith in God? How foolish! Look up. The Psalmist declared:

Psalms 118:6-14 The LORD is on my side; I will not fear: what can man do unto me? 7 The LORD taketh my part with them that help me: therefore shall I see my desire upon them that hate me. 8 It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man. 9 It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in princes. 10 All nations compassed me about: but in the name of the LORD will I destroy them. 11 They compassed me about; yea, they compassed me about: but in the name of the LORD I will destroy them. 12 They compassed me about like bees; they are quenched as the fire of thorns: for in the name of the LORD I will destroy them. 13 Thou hast thrust sore at me that I might fall: but the LORD helped me. 14 The LORD is my strength and song, and is become my salvation.

Daniel’s faith was not in himself, but in the God Who loves him and gave His life for him. Do not have self confidence. Have GOD confidence. Self confidence leads us astray.

• When Moses was self confident he killed a slave driver. When Moses was God confident the Red Sea parted.
• When Saul was self confident he killed Christians and destroyed Churches. When Paul was God confident he established Churches and wrote Scripture.
• When King David was self confident he killed Uriah and took his wife in adultery. But when David was God confident, that child killed a giant with a stone and a slingshot.

Daniel asked the King for a little time. What did he do with that time? The Bible says:

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 had a prayer meeting. He got together with other like minded believers, and they sought God’s guidance. Now that makes sense, doesn’t it? God spoke to Nebuchadnezzar, so Daniel and his friends would speak to God. Didn’t Jesus tell us that:

Matthew 18:20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.

When God’s people come together in prayer, God moves. When God’s people look up in faith, God answers. Take the time to pray. Take the time to pray with other believers. God has told us in His Word:

Jeremiah 29:11-14 … For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. 12 Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. 13 And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart. 14 And I will be found of you, saith the Lord…

It is my prayer that – as we have come through this Pandemic – that you have sought the Lord with your whole heart. I pray that the fruit found in the aftermath of Covid-19 will be strong Christian communities, Churches more concerned about serving God and studying His Word than they are about how others “feel”. I am praying – and I pray you do, too – that we will have a revival in America. Daniel prayed.

DANIEL PRAYED, THEN …

Daniel 2:19-23 THEN was the secret revealed unto Daniel in a night vision. Then Daniel blessed the God of heaven. 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.

Daniel found his three believing friends. They all prayed. THEN after they prayed, God spoke to Daniel in a night vision. What did Daniel do next?

Daniel praised God.
Daniel acknowledged the Sovereign power of God.
Daniel thanked God.
Daniel gave God the glory.
THEN Daniel went to see the King.

Daniel 2:27-28 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; 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;

Daniel took no credit to himself, but gave God the glory. God spoke to King Nebuchadnezzar through Daniel. Daniel told the King:

Daniel 2:37-38 … Thou, O king, art a king of kings: for the God of heaven hath given thee a kingdom, power, and strength, and glory. 38 And wheresoever the children of men dwell, the beasts of the field and the fowls of the heaven hath he given into thine hand, and hath made thee ruler over them all. Thou art this head of gold.

As powerful as King Nebuchadnezzar was, his Kingdom would not last forever. In the vision God foretold that all kingdoms of the earth – kingdoms that reigned because God allowed them to reign – would one day cease. There is only one Kingdom that will stand forever. Daniel told Nebuchadnezzar:

Daniel 2:44 … in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever.

The Kingdom of God will never end. There is coming a day when the Governor of New York will no longer govern. There is coming a day when no earthly king will govern. There is coming a day when Jesus Christ shall rule and reign forever. At this time in Biblical history Nebuchadnezzar is “king of kings” (verse 37) – but not forever. There is only one Kingdom that will last forever.

The Kingdom of Jesus Christ.

Others will resist this Kingdom, but I promise you, they shall not prevail.

Revelation 17:14 … These {other kingdoms} shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful.

Jesus will rule and reign. Beloved, the wicked may have their rule now, but there is coming a day when Jesus Christ shall rule everywhere. The Word of God declares:

Revelation 19:15-16 And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. 16 And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, King Of Kings, And Lord Of Lords.

Jesus Christ is building His Kingdom now. One day He shall return and reign over all peoples. Are you ready? Our Jesus is coming again. Nebuchadnezzar saw it. Daniel saw it. John the Revelator saw it. Jesus promised it. Are you ready? Are you? If not, today is the best day to give yourselves over to Jesus. Someone asked Andre Crouch one time “Why are you a Christian?” Andre wrote this song before he went to be with the Lord.

You ask me why, why do you serve the Lord?
Is it just for Heaven’s gain?
Or to walk those mighty streets of gold,
And to hear the angels sing?
Is it just to drink from the fountain,
That never shall run dry.
Or just to live forever, ever, and ever,
In that sweet, sweet bye and bye.
But if heaven never was promised to me,
Neither God’s promise to live eternally.
It’s been worth just having the Lord in my life.
Living in a world of darkness,
You came along and brought me the light.

It is worth knowing Jesus Christ to have this wonderful peace that passes all understanding in my heart. Oh Beloved, call upon the name of Jesus. Receive Him as Lord and Savior. Whosoever calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. What a joy it is to be a member of His Kingdom! May God touch your hearts with His Word and His Spirit. Amen and Amen.