Trust in Trials

Daniel 2:1-30

Daniel 2:1-11

1 In the second year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar, Nebuchadnezzar had dreams; his spirit was troubled, and his sleep left him.

2 Then the king commanded that the magicians, the enchanters, the sorcerers, and the Chaldeans be summoned to tell the king his dreams. So they came in and stood before the king.

3 And the king said to them, “I had a dream, and my spirit is troubled to know the dream.” 4 Then the Chaldeans said to the king in Aramaic, “O king, live forever! Tell your servants the dream, and we will show the interpretation.”

5 The king answered and said to the Chaldeans, “The word from me is firm: if you do not make known to me the dream and its interpretation, you shall be torn limb from limb, and your houses shall be laid in ruins.

6 But if you show the dream and its interpretation, you shall receive from me gifts and rewards and great honor. Therefore show me the dream and its interpretation.”

7 They answered a second time and said, “Let the king tell his servants the dream, and we will show its interpretation.”

8 The king answered and said, “I know with certainty that you are trying to gain time, because you see that the word from me is firm— 9 if you do not make the dream known to me, there is but one sentence for you.

You have agreed to speak lying and corrupt words before me till the times change. Therefore tell me the dream, and I shall know that you can show me its interpretation.”

10 The Chaldeans answered the king and said, “There is not a man on earth who can meet the king’s demand, for no great and powerful king has asked such a thing of any magician or enchanter or Chaldean.

11 The thing that the king asks is difficult, and no one can show it to the king except the gods, whose dwelling is not with flesh.”

Ridiculous expectations

• “If you don’t tell me what my dream was and what it means, you will be torn limb from limb, and your houses will be turned into heaps of rubble!” (Daniel 2:5b, GW)
• Why would the king insist on something so ridiculous?
• He wanted a divine answer.
• Why would the king insist on something so ridiculous?
• He wanted a divine answer.
• He was afraid of what the dream might mean.
• Why would the king insist on something so ridiculous?
• He wanted a divine answer.
• He was afraid of what the dream might mean.
  • Have you ever found yourself facing an ultimatum that just seems ridiculous?
• Don’t ask, ‘Why?’ Instead ask, ‘What next?’
  

Reasonable Excuse

• “No one on earth can tell the king his dream… No one except the gods can tell you your dream, and they do not live here among people.” (Daniel 2:10-11, GW)
• Their excuse is reasonable!
• “No one on earth can tell the king his dream”
• Their excuse is revealing!
• “No one except the gods can tell you your dream,”
• Request for Extra Time
  • “Daniel went at once to see the king and requested more time to tell the king what the dream meant.” (Daniel 2:12, GW)

Ridiculous expectations

• “He urged them to ask the God of heaven to show them his mercy by telling       them the secret, so they would not be executed along with the other wise men of Babylon.” (Daniel 2:18, GW)
• How do you define ‘TRUST’?
  • “Standing firm in one’s convictions.”
  • “…to trust His word that He alone was God and to commit one’s life to His promises for the present and the future.”
  • “Standing firm in one’s convictions.”
  • “…to trust His word that He alone was God and to commit one’s life to His promises for the present and the future.”
• What was Daniel’s motive?
  • Hebrews 10:19 & 22 says,
  • “19 Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus… 22 let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from                                   an evil conscience…”

How can we pray for you?