Scripture Reading: Daniel 2:31-35.
Memory Verse: “‘You watched while a stone was cut out without hands, which struck the image on its feet of iron and clay, and broke them in pieces. Then the iron, the clay, the bronze, the silver, and the gold were crushed together, and became like chaff from the summer threshing floors; the wind carried them away so that no trace of them was found. And the stone that struck the image became a great mountain and filled the whole earth.’” (Daniel 2:34-35)
INTRODUCTION:
According to the standards of her day, Babylon was a strong military power, and under Nebuchadnezzar had subdued the civilized (known) portion of the earth. Following the years of conquest came comparative peace, enabling Nebuchadnezzar to make vast internal improvements in the city of Babylon, such as the “hanging gardens” and means of protecting the city. He was proud of his accomplishments, and as time passed, he began to wonder what would become of his great domain after his death. God provided the answer. Further to engage the attention of the king, the image was composed of metals, not of stone. Then God caused him to forget the details of the dream; but he was vaguely conscious of his dream in which he saw something that troubled him. In his confused state of mind, he demanded the wise men to tell him the details of the dream. When they failed, he decreed that they be slain.
God had a three-fold purpose in all of this. He wanted to show the king his kingdom’s fate and what would follow it; to show that the fortune telling wise men of Babylon could not foretell the future; and to exalt his faithful servants, revealing “what shall be in the latter days.” Daniel and his three friends were trained at the expense of the king in all the wisdom of Babylon, to assist the king in the administration of the government. The order to slay all the wise men included Daniel and his companions. Hearing of the decree, Daniel asked for time to consider the matter, and time was granted. Consequently, Daniel and his companions met for prayer, praying earnestly for wisdom to give the king that answer he demanded. This answer was revealed to Daniel who sought an interview with the king.
LESSON QUESTIONS:
- What was the purpose of Nebuchadnezzar’s dream? Daniel 2:28-29.
- On whom did the king first call for help? Daniel 2:2. What lesson is in this for us today?
- Who finally was called to reveal the dream and its meaning? Daniel 2:25-26. What qualified Daniel as the one to make known the dream and its interpretation? Daniel 2:17-23.
- What did Nebuchadnezzar see in his dream? Daniel 2:31-35. Relate from memory the description of the image.
- What kingdoms did the “head of gold” and “breast and arms of silver” represent? Daniel 2:38-39. Give approximate dates of these kingdoms.
- What kingdoms were symbolized by “belly and thighs of brass” and “legs of iron and feet part of iron and part of clay?” Daniel 2:39-43. Give approximate dates of these kingdoms.
- What did the stone represent and what did it do? Daniel 2:34-35, 44-45.
- Discuss the symbolism of the Roman Empire: “its legs of iron, its feet partly of iron and partly of clay” (Daniel 2:33). What is to happen “in the days of these kings” — the very end of this divided kingdom? Daniel 2:44; Revelation 11:15.
- How extensive is Jehovah God’s kingdom to be? Where will it be? How long will it last? Daniel 2:35, 44.
- From your knowledge of Daniel 2, point out the futility of man’s ambition to establish another earthly, man-made, world government or kingdom.