Our 21st Century global community is full of many impressive empires: Apple™; Google™; Facebook™; Coca-Cola™; McDonalds™; Hollywood™. So much of what these empires do as they conquer the world is very impressive. When Christians compare their humble little gatherings™ with the impressiveness of the world, it’s easy to feel intimidated. In Daniel’s time, the Kingdom of God looked pretty unimpressive: exile in Babylon. Chapter 2 gives a much bigger picture of kingdoms that will come and go.
The scene kicks off with Nebuchadnezzar, the most powerful man in the world, troubled after having some nightmares (v1). So he gathers together all of the magicians, tarot card readers, witch doctors and psychics; he wants answers (v2-3). But he doesn’t make it easy for the dream team, he won’t even tell them what the dream was, yet expects an interpretation (v5-6, 8-9)!
The dream team plead with him to at least share the dream (v4, 7). He doesn’t. The astrologers answered the king, “There is not a man on earth who can do what the king asks! No king, however great and mighty, has ever asked such a thing of any magician or enchanter or astrologer. What the king asks is too difficult. No one can reveal it to the king except the gods, and they do not live among men.” (Dan 2:10-11 NIV)
Nebby D’s request was impossible. And so the dream team are about to be chopped into pieces and have their homes demolished. But then Daniel steps in on the scene. He is sneaky in getting more time to come up with an answer for Nebby D. But Dan isn’t the hero. He simply has faith in the God who can do the impossible. His faith leads him and his friends to pray (17-18). The God of Israel reveals to Dan the mystery (v19, 28); then check out the killer praise & worship song he writes in response v20-23!
You can read all about the contents of the dream in Dan 2:29-35. Then try and draw a picture of what you read. (Maybe you could do it now?) Basically there is this massive, dazzling statue that gets smashed to bits as a rock strikes against it. The statue represents 4 different kingdoms. Beginning with Nebby D’s kingdom which will be conquered by a 2nd kingdom, which will be conquered by a 3rd kingdom, which will be conquered by a 4th kingdom.
Then comes the key verse: “In the time of those kings, the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed, nor will it be left to another people. It will crush all those kingdoms and bring them to an end, but it will itself endure forever.” (Dan 2:44 NIV) In the end, as impressive as each of the earthly kingdoms may appear, God is going to set up a kingdom that will last for ever. That kingdom is the Kingdom of Jesus.
The Kingdom of Jesus will NEVER BE DESTROYED. If you are a member of the Kingdom of Jesus, you are on the winning team! When you feel unimpressive, or when people call you a loser, you’re on the winning team!! Remember that God is in control. Trust him. Know your team.