Daniel 2 Commentary
Nebuchadnezzar has a dream. His magicians are right; no wise man can interpret it. Even Daniel’s knows it. Verse 27. But there is a God in Heaven who reveals mysteries!
It is the ‘but’ and the inclusion of God in Daniel’s response to the King that makes the difference. Babylon’s wisdom cannot excel all by itself against the will of God. Tested, weighed, and found wanting! Babylon’s magicians are stuck; so is Daniel and his friends. But Daniel knows there is a God in Heaven!
Daniel explains the purpose the LORD reveals the mystery to Daniel. The LORD wants the king to know. It has nothing to do with Daniel’s profile! Verse 30.
The LORD has spoken about kingdoms and establishments in what Isaiah, Jeremiah, or Ezekiel calls judgments. We remember Ezekiel’s famous prophecy against Tyre and the reference to Tyre’s “seal of perfection”. Ezekiel 28. Or Isaiah’s equally famous prophecy against Babylon; “how you have fallen from heaven morning star, son of the dawn”. Isaiah 14.
The LORD presents the same message but packaged differently.
Human establishments never last; they come to an end. The LORD brings them to a conclusion. Daniel then speaks about another kingdom that the LORD will establish. It will endure forever. It is yet another reference to the times of Immanuel – the One with the government on His shoulders. Isaiah 9.
The Servant of the LORD has preached as clearly as he possibly could but has Nebuchadnezzar gotten the message? We doubt. Probably because of the dream in which Nebuchadnezzar is the head of gold, the king now proceeds to erect an image of gold in his honor but that is for chapter 3, tomorrow.
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