1. Nebuchadnezzar had dreams; his mind was troubled … so he summoned the magicians, enchanters, sorcerers and astrologers … The King … decided ‘If you do not tell me what my dream was and interpret it, I will have you cut into pieces and your houses turned into piles of rubble. But if you tell me the dream and explain it, you will receive from me gifts and rewards and great honor …’ (Dan. 2:1,2,5,6)
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2. The king asked Daniel .. ‘Are you able to tell me what I saw in my dream and interpret it?’ Daniel replied ‘No wise man, enchanter, magician or diviner can explain to the king the mystery he has asked about, but there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries. He has shown King Nebuchadnezzar what will happen in days to come (Dan. 2:26-28)
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3. The King … fell prostrate before Daniel and paid him honor … The king said to Daniel, ‘Surely your God is the God of gods and the Lord of kings and a revealer of mysteries … Then the king placed Daniel in a high position and … made him ruler over the entire province of Babylon and placed him in charge of all its wise men … the king appointed Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego administrators over the province of Babylon, while Daniel … remained at the royal court (Dan. 2:46-49)
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4. King Nebuchadnezzar made an image … and … summoned … all … provincial officials to come to the dedication of the image … So they … assembled … Then the herald loudly proclaimed, … ‘O peoples, nations and men of every language: as soon as you hear the sound of … all kinds of music you must fall down and worship the image of gold that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up. Whoever does not fall down and worship will immediately be thrown into a blazing furnace’ (Dan. 3:1-6)
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5. ‘If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand, O king. But even if he does not, … we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up’ (Dan. 3:16-18)
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6. I, Nebuchadnezzar … praised the Most High … His dominion is an eternal dominion; his kingdom endures from generation to generation. All the people of the earth are regarded as nothing. He does as he pleases with the powers of heaven and the peoples of the earth… (Dan. 4:34,35)
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7. Discussion & dialogue
Mention the five power-encounters in the book of Daniel and explain their common goal
If you have had any power-encounters yourself, briefly tell your discussion group about it
Which six of the ten themes do we see in this chapter? How?
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