Daniel Interpretation of the King’s Dreams

Who was Involved? o Enchanters o Magicians o Sorcerers o Chaldeans

Daniel 2:8-9 o “Truly, I know you are trying to gain time, because you see that the thing has departed from me. Therefore if you do not tell me the dream, I will know that you have agreed beforehand to give my dream a false and corrupt interpretation. So before any more time passes, tell me my dream, then I will know that you can tell me its interpretation.”

THE DREAM: o Fine Gold: head o Silver: Hands, chest, arms o Copper: stomach, thighs o Iron: legs o Clay/Iron: feet o Stone from the mountain ground the feet to loose powder o Ground up the rest of the image o Stone became a mountain and filled the earth

THE INTERPRETATION: o Fine Gold: head o Silver: Hands, chest, arms o Copper: stomach, thighs o Iron: legs o Clay/Iron: feet

WHAT CAN WE LEARN? SOOOOOOO…

1. When there is a crisis, it is the best opportunity for those loved by God to receive blessings oWhat the King dreamed was planned by God. Therefore, the people who did not know God could not tell what the King’s dream was so they couldn’t interpret it. Because they could not interpret the dream, they were almost killed. oBecause the King ordered all the wise men of Babylon to be killed, all the wise men were very afraid. Actually, when most people encounter problems or crisis, their first reaction is to be afraid.

2. Daniel’s FIRST and INITIAL reaction… oBecause Daniel knew God’s plan, in the midst of the crisis, the first thing that he did was to pray to God together with his friends who knew God. WE SHOULD DO THE SAME!

3. Daniel proclaimed the glory of God RIGHT AWAY oWhen Daniel interpreted the dream for the King, he did not raise himself or boast about his ability. But Daniel first testified to the King about the Lord, God that he serves, PROOVING that there are no other gods in this world but only the Lord, God could explain the dream that he had. o Daniel 2:27-28

4. He turned to God in thanksgiving INSTANTLY o Daniel 2:19-23 o 19 Then the secret was revealed to Daniel in a night vision. So Daniel blessed the God of heaven. 20 Daniel answered and said: “ Blessed be the name of God forever and ever, For wisdom and might are His. 21 And He changes the times and the seasons; He removes kings and raises up kings; He gives wisdom to the wise And knowledge to those who have understanding. 22 He reveals deep and secret things; He knows what is in the darkness, And light dwells with Him. 23 “ I thank You and praise You, O God of my fathers; You have given me wisdom and might, And have now made known to me what we asked of You, For You have made known to us the king’s demand.”

The DREAM VISUALIZED INTERPRETATION

TO KNOW o Never deny your faith, never be ashamed, because remember “But whoever disowns me before others, I will disown before my Father in heaven.” (Matthew 10:33)

TO FEEL o “But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;” (1 Peter 2:9)

TO PRACTICE 1.I don't need to know the future, as it is in God's hands. 2.What our Christian Orthodox belief about magic, astrology When people try to praise me about something good I did, at once I Glorify God in front of them.

VERSE OF THE LESSON o Daniel 2:24 Therefore Daniel went to Arioch, whom the king had appointed to destroy the wise men of Babylon. He went and said thus to him: “Do not destroy the wise men of Babylon; take me before the king, and I will tell the king the interpretation.