THE KING OF KINGS

We trust today’s message encouraged and guided you in your journey of following Jesus. These notes are meant to help you remember and reflect on the message, help you go deeper into study on the subject, or be used for a sermon group discussion.

Sermon Title: THE KING OF KINGS

Scripture References: DANIEL 2:1-49

We learned two weeks ago that political issues are actually moral issues the Bible addresses. We learned political issues in our society are signs and groans from the injustices brought on by sin plaguing our world. We know the primary way to get relief is to be transformed through the gospel of Jesus and to bring God back into our government to render true righteousness and justice again.

Last week, we learned that government was instituted by God to represent and render his justice on earth (Romans 13). Elected officials are meant to be servants of God who render His justice and righteousness on earth. We’ve gotten away from this Biblical truth. If our country looked to God for salvation and transformation and our elected officials were truly aligned with God, we would see a blessed, thriving, and safer society (Psalm 33:12).

This week I want to remind us that no matter what happens this week and no matter the condition of our society or government, the King of Kings, Jesus Christ, is still on the throne! I feel a holy burden today to remind us of the supremacy, sovereignty, and salvation of God in our hearts and minds for election day and after. Let’s start by turning to Daniel 2…

Notes:

Context: 

God’s people ignored the prophetic warnings of Jeremiah and continued in their idol worship and disobedience to God. The consequence of their sin was God sending King Nebuchadnezzar to besiege Jerusalem and exile the people from their land. Through this exile, God intended His people to reflect on their sinful ways and humbly repent. Even in this judgment, God continued to preserve and protect His people. God never turned His back on the covenant He made with the Israelites.  Among those taken captive were four wise men whom God would elevate and use for His purposes, Daniel, Shadrach, Meschach, and Abednego.

V. 1-13 The dream and impossible request

• The king had a recurring dream that troubled him so he asked his magicians or wise men to do the impossible, and reveal what he dreamed without being told the dream. Additionally, the king wants the interpretation or meaning of the dream. They ask multiple times to hear the dream so they can interpret it but the king refuses. The king orders all the wise men to be killed, including Daniel and his friends who were not present at this first exchange.

V. 14-23 Daniel seeks God to know what’s in secret

• Daniel handles this scary moment with wisdom. You can tell God’s hand is on Daniel because the king gave him time to seek God since he was not there before. Together, they went to God in prayer and asked for His mercy. 

• God revealed the secret dream and Daniel praises God with beautiful worship that reveals the supremacy of God.

V. 24-45 Daniel interprets the dream

• V. 27-28 Daniel replied, “There are no wise men, enchanters, magicians, or fortune-tellers who can reveal the king’s secret. 28 But there is a God in heaven who reveals secrets, and he has shown King Nebuchadnezzar what will happen in the future. 

• Daniel gives all credit to God.

• V. 29-30 Nebuchadnezzar’s dream covered the prophetic panorama of Gentile history from his time till the forthcoming subjugation of Gentile powers to Israel’s Messiah. This time period is called “the times of the Gentiles” (Luke 21:24). This dream was given to Nebuchadnezzar, the first of many Gentile rulers who would exert power by divine appointment during the times of the Gentiles. God was not revealing spiritual truth to Nebuchadnezzar but facts concerning the political dominion that Gentiles would exercise. Pentecost, J. D. (1985). Daniel. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 1, p. 1334). Victor Books.

• Daniel’s interpretation makes it clear that the image revealed the course of Gentile kingdoms who would rule over the land of Palestine and the people of Israel. By divine appointment, King Nebuchadnezzar was helping fulfill what God had planned for man, revealing God’s supremacy and sovereignty over all kings and powers. 

• Head of gold was Nebuchadnezzar, of the Babylonian Empire

• The chest and arms of silver represented the Medes and Persians who defeated the Babylonians in 539 B.C.

• The belly and thighs of bronze represented the Grecian Empire between 334-330 B.C. by Alexandar the Great

• The legs of iron and clay represent the Roman Empire which defeated the Greeks in 63 B.C.Though the Roman Empire was divided into two legs and culminated in a mixture of iron and clay, it was one empire. This empire was characterized by its strength, as iron is stronger than bronze, silver, and gold. The Roman Empire was stronger than any of the previous empires. It crushed all the empires that had preceded it. Rome in its cruel conquest swallowed up the lands and peoples that had been parts of the three previous empires and assimilated those lands and peoples into itself.  Pentecost, J. D. (1985). Daniel. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 1, p. 1335). Victor Books.

• Nebuchadnezzar had seen a rock hit and smash the image (2:34). The statue was destroyed by the rock, not by human hands. In Scripture, a rock often refers to Jesus Christ, Israel’s Messiah (e.g., Ps. 118:22; Isa. 8:14; 28:16; 1 Peter 2:6–8). God, who had enthroned Nebuchadnezzar and would transfer authority from Babylon to Medo-Persia, then to Greece, and ultimately to Rome, will one day invest political power in a King who will rule over the earth, subduing it to His authority, thus culminating God’s original destiny for man (Gen. 1:27). 

• In Nebuchadnezzar’s dream the smiting rock became a mountain that filled the whole earth (Dan. 2:35). In Scripture a mountain is often a symbol for a kingdom. So Daniel explained that the four empires which would rule over the land and the people of Israel would not be destroyed by human means, but rather by the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ, the striking Stone. When He comes He will establish the messianic kingdom promised to Israel through David (2 Sam. 7:16). At His return He will subjugate all … kingdoms to Himself, thus bringing them to an end (cf. Rev. 11:15; 19:11–20). Then He will rule forever in the Millennium and in the eternal state.  Pentecost, J. D. (1985). Daniel. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 1, p. 1336). Victor Books.

• Scripture calls God our rock and salvation. Hebrews says there’ll be a great shaking in the end and all those who are unshakable will remain. How are we unshakable? We stand on the rock, Jesus Christ.

V. 46-49 King Neb acknowledges God is overall

• V. 47 Truly, your God is the greatest of gods, the Lord over kings.

Four Reminders about God this Election Season:

1. God is above all

a. Isaiah 40:12-31 NLT

2. God is sovereign over all

a. God governs over all things and what He wills or allows will take place. 

b. Proverbs 21:1 NLT: The king’s heart is like a stream of water directed by the LORD; he guides it wherever he pleases. ESV: The king’s heart is a stream of water in the hand of the LORD; he turns it wherever he will.

i. Proverbs 21:1 While Yahweh and the king are the two administrators of justice, there can be no doubt about who is the dominant power. Yahweh is over every king. This verse does not teach that everything the king does is wise or good, and still less does it teach that the king has no need of counselors. Rather, it asserts that the king is simply another of Yahweh’s tools for dispensing justice as he sees fit. Garrett, D. A. (1993). Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of songs (Vol. 14, p. 179). Broadman & Holman Publishers.

c. If needed, God can stir (Ezra 1:1 King Cyrus)  the heart of a king or leader to change course and accomplish His will. 

3. God is salvation for all (who trust and follow Him)

a. Psalm 33:6-22 NLT

b. Psalm 146 NLT

c. God protects, provides, and preserves the Godly, those who fear and love Him.

i. God protected His people in a hostile and pagan kingdom by elevating Daniel and his three friends.

ii. In this story, God’s help even extended to the pagan wise men. In other words, the righteousness and justice of God brought mercy and deliverance to both. God’s righteous and just rule is what we need today. Why? So they too would believe in and serve the one true God and glorify God. Daniel and his friends were the salt and light in this dark place. 

iii. Romans 8:28 And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.

4. God’s will now

a. God has worked in Biblical history to fulfill His will and He accomplished bringing us the savior of the world who died for our sins and rose again to give us victory over sin and death. So this crystallizes what His will is now… His will is for the lost to be found before His next fulfilled promise, the imminent return of Jesus Christ to the church in these last days. 

b. 2 Peter 3:1-15 NLT

Psalm 46:10 “Be still, and know that I am God! I will be honored by every nation. I will be honored throughout the world.”

Discussion:

• What did God use in this sermon to speak to your heart or situation?

• What part of the scripture stuck out to you and why?

• Would you consider yourself “unshakable”? If not, what areas are you struggling to remain strong on your faith?

• In what ways have you seen God’s protection in your life and the lives around you?

• What else stuck out to you from today’s message?

The most important decision you will ever make!

If you’re ready to trust in Jesus for salvation and eternal life we encourage you to process this decision with a strong believer and when you’re ready say a simple prayer like this from your heart: Dear God, I acknowledge and admit I have sinned. I see my need for Jesus Christ. I believe in Jesus as my Lord and Savior. I believe I am forgiven and cleansed of my sin by His death. I also believe I have eternal life because of His resurrection from the dead. I repent, I turn away from my old ways and I choose to live my life to worship you and follow Jesus, Amen!

We would love to know if you decided to accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior. Let us know here.

Pray Together

We hope you found this AFTER THE SERMON discussion helpful for your walk with Jesus. We pray you can find ways to apply it this week!