Paragraph # 1 Study # 1
September 18, 2022
Broadlands, Louisiana
(Download Audio)
Thesis: Daniel's record indicates that Nebuchadnezzar was being confronted by Yahweh because of his pride.
Introduction: In our studies in chapter one, there is one main point: God is to be
trusted because His words will prove to be true. As we begin to look into chapter two, we are confronted with some "troublesome" details that are deliberately in place because God is seeking out those who
trust Him.
- I. The Timing Of The Dream.
- A. Ancient Timing issues are often complex.
- 1. Jeremiah 25:1 says that he began speaking to Judah in the fourth year of Jehoiakim, and that this same year was the first year of Nebuchadnezzar, King of Babylon. Daniel 1:1 says that it was in the third year of Jehoiakim that Nebuchadnezzar came to Jerusalem and that Yahweh gave Jehoiakim into Nebuchadnezzar's hand -- with the focus upon Nebuchadnezzar's robbing of the temple and taking its contents into the treasury of his god.
- 2. The record of chapter one includes a three-year period of preparation and the exaltation of the captives from Judah, and this would put the "dream" issue after that exaltation as Daniel et. al. are in grave danger as their exaltation has made them a part of those to be killed.
- 3. These timing issues are secondary issues; but they do have significant meaning.
- a. The "point" is that which arises out of both 1:2 and 1:17 in the light of the issue in chapter two: the troublesome dream of Nebuchadnezzar.
- 1) The nation of Israel had experienced at least one "significant" parallel issue during the time of Eli's judgeship in 1 Samuel 4-5 when the Philistines captured the ark of God.
- 2) The history of Abraham's lies to the kings about Sarai also reveals the fact that God holds men accountable for their impositions of evil against God's people.
- 3) The issue of this context is that Nebuchadnezzar had exalted his "god" over Yahweh.
- b. It is a fact that Daniel's brief record of the events does not include specific details that allow us to harmonize the records of the timing.
- 1) It is not impossible that the phrase "had dreams" indicates that there were multiple repetitions of "the" dream so that, as the repetitions continued, the king finally became alarmed.
- 2) At some point, apparently after Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah had been elevated to their tasks, the king's alarm became so great that the events Daniel does record took place.
- 3) This rests upon the statement in 1:17 and gives it significance for Daniel's record.
- c. It is because of the contents of chapter three that these early facts are introduced into the record.
- 1) Daniel has an overall point to his record that governs his choices of details to bring to his readers' attention.
- a) This "overall point" is more clearly seen as Daniel's record continues, but, suffice it to say at this point, that a part of that "overall point" is God's contention with the proud, and His help to the "humble": James 4:6 as a reference to texts like Psalm 138:6 and Proverbs 3:34.
- b) This is a part of the reason for Daniel's shift from Hebrew to the language of the Babylonians in 2:4.
- 2) Underneath the inclusion of the details is this overall point: "Context is King".
- B. It is not a "fault" that the various records give details that often cause "scholars" heartburn.
- 1. It is a fact of "specific revelation" that God is to be trusted: that is what the first chapter is all about.
- 2. Those who learn that truth do not go around trying to find "contradictions" in the Bible.
- a. The various historical records were not given by God to be examined by men in order to prove that those records are erroneous.
- b. But the ambiguities do have a purpose in that God gives the wicked enough rope to hang themselves.
