Daniel 2: Leader's Guide

Study 2: Revealer of Dreams

(Daniel 2: 1-30, 45b-49)

[Note: there is quite a bit of reading this week, you may want to think of a more creative way of reading the text]

Objectives:

Ø  To challenge and encourage members to realise that their coming to this campus is not by chance or even their own choice, but because God has a purpose for them to be His ambassadors on campus.

Ø  To stop, pray and give thanks to God amidst the thrill or difficulty of settling into a new trimester.

Ice breaker: Discuss movies, music, computer games or books that have made an influence on your life.

(10 mins)

Peter Jackson talks about recurring nightmares when he directs. He talks about his dreams for others whom he works with and the end of the world. All these are found in in Daniel 2. Nebuchadnezzar had a worse dream, a dream that was both troubling and true.

1.     Have you ever had a dream that was so real it almost seemed true? How did you feel when you woke up?

(5 mins)

Read Daniel 2: 1-13

Tip 2 
Research: Dangers of using online resources
There are biblical sites that chose not to reveal affiliations. Some may have material that is well-written, sounds well-researched but chooses to study mainly controversial passages of the bible. How would you determine if there is a hidden agenda in the way the information is conveyed? Goggle and scan many sites to get a general overview of all the different interpretations of a particular passage from as many different perspectives as possible to ascertain where the points of controversy are.

Why have we not dealt with the dream itself?
The interpretation of the imagery of this dream is not obvious--biblical scholars are in dialogue over its references. "The dream is eschatological ie it has to do with the latter days or in other words, with the Messianic age." Taken from New Bible Commentary published by IVP. This commentary explores the various views and leaves the interpretation open. Although doing research into the meaning of the dreams is interesting perhaps it is hard to apply these passages to our lives on campus. If students in your group have strong opinions about how these passages should be interpreted, you could say what is generally agreed on, is that verse 34, "The stone cut out by no human hand represents the Messiah and the growth of the Messianic kingdom, which kingdom is described as being eternal and of divine origin (v44) and thus standing in contrast with the human and temporal empires of the colossus." Refocus the study on applicable lessons for life on campus and carry on. 

2.     Why did Nebuchadnezzar demand to know the content of his dream as well as the interpretation? (v8-9)

(5 mins)

An interesting insight about dreams:

In Daniel’s time, dreams were considered to be messages from the gods, and the wise men were expected to interpret them. Usually the wise men could give some sort of interpretation as long as they knew what the dream was about. This time, however, Nebuchadnezzar demanded to be told the dream also. God sent a series of dreams to Nebuchadnezzar with prophetic messages that could be revealed and understood only by a servant of God.[1]

Read Daniel 2: 14-23

3.    Imagine that you were in Daniel’s situation. How would you and you friends respond if you faced certain death unless you could interpret a dream you knew nothing about? How do you think he must have felt at that time?

4.    What did Daniel do when he was told about the king’s decision? What does it tell you about his relationship with his friends?(vv 14-18)

Read Daniel 2: 24-30, 45b-49

5.      What strikes you about Daniel's prayer? (vv. 19-23)

6.    What can we learn about Daniel’s character? (vv. 24-30)

At the end of the story, God works through Daniel to reveal mysteries and save others. But God's name is glorified.

The challenge:

The fact that God gave Nebuchadnezzar the dream(s) showed that God was already at work in his life. It took a person like Daniel to point the king to the Giver of the dreams. Likewise, God is already at work in the lives of unbelievers around us. What does it take for us to be like Daniel to them?

[Challenge to non-Christians in CG: Would you like to find out more about this God we’ve been learning about?]

Closing activity:

Although it is still relatively early in the year, do try and list some items that you can thank God for together.

[You may try this thanksgiving prayer/exercise to finish your time together]

Ask each person to think of one thing from the week that they are thankful for. Next choose a Bible verse from the list on the next page.

Go around the group and share with everyone what you are thankful for and why. Then read the verse that you have selected. Close with a short prayer of thanksgiving.

“Give thanks to the LORD and proclaim his greatness. Let the whole world know what he has done. Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever.”

1 Chronicles 16:8, 34

“Riches and honour come from you alone, for you rule over everything. Power and might are in your hand, and it is at your discretion that people are made great and given strength. O our God, we thank you and praise your glorious name!”

1 Chronicles 29:12 – 13

“I will thank the LORD because he is just; I will sing praise to the name of the LORD Most High”

Psalm 7:17

“I will thank you, LORD, with all my heart; I will tell of all the marvellous things you have done. I will be filled with joy because of you. I will sing praises to your name, O Most High.”

Psalm 9:1,2

“He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy. I burst out in songs of thanksgiving.”

Psalm 28:7

“Enter his gates with thanksgiving; go into his courts with praise. Give thanks to him and bless his name.”

Psalm 100:4

“Praise the LORD! Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever.”

Psalm 106:1

“You are my God, and I will praise you! You are my God, and I will exalt you! Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever.”

Psalm 118: 28, 29

“Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.”

Philippians 4:6

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[1] Taken and adapted from The Life Application Bible (NASB), 1991: Additional notes to Daniel 2: 1-11.