Several lessons can be learnt from Nebuchadnezzar’s dream of the great image and Daniel’s interpretation of it which was written in last week’s outreach bulletin.
1. God takes care of His people.
Daniel was given the interpretation of Nebuchadnezzar’s dream such that he could tell Nebuchadnezzar what his dream was and also what it meant. This helped Daniel to escape death. As Daniel put it plainly to Nebuchadnezzar, the interpretation was given by God and not from himself (Daniel 2:29-30). Indeed, God takes care of His people. We are reminded of God’s covenant with Abraham whereby God promised him that his descendants would be plentiful. There would be a remnant who were faithful and would be saved. Daniel and his three friends were saved.
2. Go to God when we are in difficulty or trouble.
Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah made known their request to God and desired the “mercies of the God of heaven concerning this secret” (Daniel 2:18). They also pleaded with God to help them so that they would not perish with the rest of the wise men of Babylon. As such, God revealed the secret of Nebuchadnezzar’s dream to Daniel in a night vision. We can be confident and sure that God will help us if we ask according to His will.
3. God’s eternal wisdom
The dream that Nebuchadnezzar had showed that God had in His wisdom, things planned out before the foundations of the world. The church (the fifth kingdom), is not an afterthought as some claim (Ephesians 1-2). It is also not an earthly kingdom but a spiritual kingdom which will last forever. God knows everything because He is the great and almighty one. The foreknowledge of God not only can be seen in Nebuchadnezzar’s dream but also from the beginning to the end of the Bible. This is one of the attributes of God and how wonderful it is for us to serve an all-knowing God. It is sad when there are people who turn to idols and false gods made with hands, placed in temples or shrines. They take comfort and seek help from these false gods or idols. We know that all they do will be in vain because Jehovah God is the only one true God.
4. God’s word is true and God is faithful
Nebuchadnezzar’s dream was recorded in Daniel 2. We have also seen the interpretation of the dream in several other chapters in the book of Daniel as mentioned earlier. Whatever God says will surely come to pass. Jesus said that what He spoke were words of God the Father (John 14:10). He also said that heaven and earth will pass away but His words will never pass away (Matthew 24:35). As such, we know that God is faithful in all things. We can be sure and confident of the rewards promised in the Bible for the faithful. We can also be sure and confident of the punishment promised for those who do not know God and who do not obey the gospel (2 Thessalonians 1:8). Such assurance is of great comfort to Christians as we know that whatever we do for the Lord will not be in vain.
The fulfilled prophecies of Nebuchadnezzar’s dream also indicate that the Bible is truly the inspired word of God. There have been many attempts by people to discredit the Bible and to say that there are contradictions. There is much historical and archaeological evidence to prove that what the Bible says is true. Knowing this, Christians have an additional assurance that the Bible is the sole authority that we will rely on.
5. Give the glory to God
We can learn from Daniel in his response to what God provided him with regards to Nebuchadnezzar’s dream. Daniel gave God the glory with much thanksgiving. It is essential for us to remember God for His blessings upon us and to give Him the glory. We are able to live on a daily basis because God is the One who sustains us. There are things we are able to do because God is the One who gives us strength. As Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 3:6-7, he and Apollos laboured but God gave the increase. Neither he nor Apollos were anything but labourers together with God and it is God who will give the increase. It is necessary that we do not get puffed up in our successes but give praise and thanks to God for all. It is God who is making it possible for us. As such, a Christian must not forget God whether in good times or in troubled times.
6. God can use anyone to accomplish His will
He made use of Nebuchadnezzar to purge Judah of evil. He used Daniel to reach out to Nebuchadnezzar and Belshazzar. He used Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego to show that He was the one true God. Likewise, God can use us to accomplish His will. As Christians, we should strive to be obedient and profitable servants of the Lord and allow ourselves to be used by God for His purpose and will. There is so much that one can accomplish for the Lord.
Conclusion
Nebuchadnezzar’s dream of the great image offered a great revelation into the kingdoms that would follow after his empire. We also have the church being prophesied which will be a spiritual kingdom that will last forever. God made use of Nebuchadnezzar to accomplish His will and there are indeed many lessons we can glean from Daniel and his interpretation of Nebuchadnezzar’s dream.