DANIEL PROCLAIMS GOD TO THE KING

Daniel 2:1-49

Key Verse 2: 37

“You, O king, are the king of kings. The God of heaven has given you dominion and power and might and glory”

* NEBUCHADNEZZAR HAS A DREAM (1-30)

1. Read verses 1-13. How did Nebuchadnezzar's dreams affect him? What did he demand of the wise men? How did their response confirm his suspicions? What did the king order?

2. Read verses 13-18. How did the king's angry decree affect Daniel and his friends? What did Daniel and his friends do? (Compare Mk 14:37-41; Mk 11:24; Mt 7:7,8) What does this event reveal about Daniel?

3. Read verse 19. How did God answer their united prayer? Read verse 20-23. What was the first thing Daniel did? What did he confess about Gods sovereignty, wisdom, and ways of working?

4. Read verses 24-30. What did Daniel teach the king about God? What did he say about himself? (Compare Gen 41:16) What can we learn from him?

* THE INTERPRETATION OF THE DREAM (31-49)

5. Read verse 31-35. Describe the king's dream. Read verses 36-45. What did the king's dream mean? What does the dream show about the kingdoms of the world and human history? (See 5:31; 8:20,21)

6. Reread verses 34-35, 44-45. What does the rock represent? (See 1Pe 2:6,7; Isa 28:16; Ps 118:22) Why did it strike the statue in the feet? How is God's kingdom different than the kingdoms of the world? (Jn 18:36) What hope do these verses plant in God's people?

7. Read verses 46-49. How did the king respond to Daniel's trustworthy interpretation? How did God honor those who had honored him?