Studies in Daniel – God’s Plans
Categories: Sermon Outlines, Textual Sermon Outlines Tags: Sermons on DanielDate written: August 4th, 2007
Scripture ref: Daniel 2:1-12
SUBJECT: Passage Study
TITLE: Studies in Daniel – God’s Plans
PROPOSITION: In this lesson we’ll look at the second chapter of the book of Daniel and note 1) A Troubling Situation 2) A Timely Solution, 3) The Task of Showing, 4) A Terrific Significance 5) A Trumpeted Statement.
OBJECTIVE: That we understand God’s plans will be accomplished in His time.
INTRODUCTION:
1. Read: Daniel 2:1-12
2. About the Text:
1) A few months ago we looked at Daniel 1.
2) We noticed the purposes of God in that chapter and noticed…
a. Divine Change
b. Divine Constancy
c. Divine Counsel
3) In this lesson we move on to Daniel chapter 2.
a. We are introduced to Daniel as a prophet in this chapter.
b. He is in Babylon in service to King Nebuchadnezzar.
c. This was the second year of his reign.
d. He is still a young man here.
4) We’re familiar with this story.
5) Let’s study it and see what we can learn.
3. Ref. to S, T, P, O, and A.
DISCUSSION: In second chapter of Daniel we find…
I. A Troubling Situation
1. The Story
1) The King had a dream.
2) He called for all of his wise men to come.
3) They tell him to tell them the dream and they will interpret it.
4) But the king can’t remember the dream
5) He tells the wise men to tell it to him.
6) They cannot and claim there is no one who can.
7) He orders their deaths for their failure.
8) Daniel and his friends were included in this order.
2. The Impossible
1) Here is a seemingly impossible situation.
2) The King is demanding the impossible or these would be put do death.
3) It’s not fair, right, or just.
4) How many times do we face situations that seem to us to be impossible?
5) To whom do we turn? Men or God?
6) With men we will never find the answers.
7) Jeremiah 10:23 “O LORD, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps.”
8) Proverbs 20:24 “Man’s goings are of the LORD; how can a man then understand his own way?”
9) Psalm 118:8 “It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man.”
10)Nebuchadnezzar did not find his answers in men.
3. Here are God’s plans concealed.
II. A Timely Solution
1. Daniel’s Reaction
1) When Daniel heard that he was to be put to death, he wanted to know why.
2) He asked the king for some time and he would show the king the interpretation.
3) So Daniel goes back and speaks to his friends.
4) He entreated them to ask mercies of God so that they would not be killed.
5) So God reveals the dream to Daniel
6) Daniel thanks and blesses God.
7) Read Daniel 2:20-23.
2. The Possible
1) When men failed, Daniel turned to God.
2) With God all things are possible.
3) Luke 18:27 “The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.”
4) Paul said, “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me” (Philippians 4:13).
5) Daniel recognized this truth.
6) He said, “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” (Daniel 2:21).
7) Daniel found his answers in God.
3. Here are God’s plans developing.
III. The Task of Showing
1. Daniel comes before the King.
1) He tells the captain of the king’s guard not to kill the wise men because he would show the king the dream and interpretation.
2) The captain brings Daniel before the king.
3) Daniel first declares how the wise men could not tell the king the dream.
4) Daniel then declares who is truly responsible for such things, God.
5) He tells the king that his dream was about the future.
2. The dream declared.
1) Daniel then tells the king the dream.
2) He saw a great image.
3) The head was made of gold.
4) The chest and arms of silver.
5) The legs were made of brass.
6) The feet were made of iron mixed with clay.
7) Then a stone cut without hands came and destroyed the image to dust.
8) This stone then became a mountain and filled the whole earth.
3. We learn several things.
1) Daniel gave credit where credit is due; he glorified God.
a. Paul said in Romans 11:33-36 “O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out! For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor? Or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again? For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.”
b. Ephesians 3:20-21 states, “Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.”
2) God knows the hearts of men.
a. David said to Solomon in 1 Chronicles 28:9 “…for the LORD searcheth all hearts, and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts….”
b. Proverbs 15:11 “Hell and destruction are before the LORD: how much more then the hearts of the children of men?”
c. Amos 4:3 “For, lo, he that formeth the mountains, and createth the wind, and declareth unto man what is his thought, that maketh the morning darkness, and treadeth upon the high places of the earth, The LORD, The God of hosts, is his name.”
3) God knows the futures of men.
a. Isaiah 42:8-9 “8 I am the LORD: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images. Behold, the former things are come to pass, and new things do I declare: before they spring forth I tell you of them.”
b. He is the one who “calleth those things which be not as though they were” (Romans 4:17).
4. Here are God’s plans exposed.
IV. A Terrific Significance
1. Daniel explains the meaning of the king’s dream.
1) The king of Babylon, Nebuchadnezzar, is the head of gold.
2) The chest and arms of silver is the kingdom that would arise inferior to Nebuchadnezzar.
3) The legs of brass is yet a third kingdom to rule over the whole earth.
4) The fourth kingdom would be as strong as iron, but weak in that it would be divided.
5) And in the days of these kings of the fourth kingdom, God would set up His kingdom.
6) And God’s kingdom would never be destroyed, but consume all the other kingdoms and stand forever.
2. What do we make of this interpretation?
1) The head of gold is the king of Babylon and thus we find the Babylonian empire.
2) The empire that came afterward was the Medo-Persian empire which we find in the latter part of the book of Daniel
3) The legs of brass that ruled over the whole world was the Greek Empire under Alexander the Great.
4) Finally, the feet of iron and clay was the Roman empire.
5) We find that it was in the days of the Roman empire that God set up his kingdom.
6) This kingdom, however, was not carnal in nature, but spiritual.
a. John 18:36 ” Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence.”
b. Hebrews 12:28 “Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear:”
c. Luke 17:20-21 “And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation: Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.”
3. Here are God’s plans revealed.
V. A Trumpeted Statement
1. The King’s Response
1) When the king heard Daniel’s words he honored him highly.
2) The text says that he worshiped Daniel and offered oblations and incense to him.
3) But the king also knew that Daniel was not the one responsible for the revelation.
4) Verse 47 says, “The king answered unto Daniel, and said, Of a truth it is, that your God is a God of gods, and a Lord of kings, and a revealer of secrets, seeing thou couldest reveal this secret.”
5) The king then made Daniel a great man and ruler over the province of Babylon.
6) Daniel then promoted his friends to positions of leadership as well.
2. Great blessing occurred when Daniel trusted in God.
1) God takes care of His people, even when they are in strange lands.
2) We recall the story of Joseph as well by way of comparison.
3) Psalm 34:15 “The eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry.”
4) Psalm 34:17 “The righteous cry, and the LORD heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles.”
5) Isaiah 65:24 “And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear.”
3. Here are God’s plans glorified.
CONCLUSION:
1. In this lesson we’ll look at the second chapter of the book of Daniel and note 1) A Troubling Situation 2) A Timely Solution, 3) The Task of Showing, 4) A Terrific Significance 5) A Trumpeted Statement.
1) A Troubling Situation – God’s Plans Concealed
2) A Timely Solution – God’s Plans Developing
3) The Task of Showing – God’s Plans Exposed
4) A Terrific Significance – God’s Plans Revealed
5) A Trumpeted Statement – God’s Plans Glorified
2. Invitation