Bible Red Thread 10: A New Kingdom (Daniel 2 and 7)

sermon Daniel 2 : Patrice Berger, 2022_12_27, AB Lausanne church

title : Bible Red Thread 10: A New Kingdom (Daniel 2 and 7)

Bible Red Thread 10: A New Kingdom (Daniel 2 and 7)

I have a dream: A dream that implies change in everything was revealed centuries before our era. The world is dominated by the immense Babylonian empire, headed by the great Nebuchadnezzar, sponsor of the famous Hanging Gardens. In the second year of his reign, this almighty monarch is troubled by a dream, to the point of not being able to sleep anymore. He then decided to call all his advisers in the middle of the night: magicians, astrologers, sorcerers and Chaldean priests… however he got nothing. Daniel is part of this eclectic group of young aristocrats who have been forced into golden slavery at the court of Babylon, where they must make their intelligence and knowledge available. The king offers them a challenge: “I had a dream, tell me about it!” The advisors remain stunned by this impossible challenge, the stakes of which could not be clearer: if they manage to meet it, they will receive rewards, great honors and will be covered with gold. But if they fail, they will be torn to pieces, themselves, their families and their homes.

Successful challenge = honor

Challenge lost = horror

A defining worldview: Unlike the other counselors who remain dumbfounded in the face of this challenge, Daniel draws his strength from the solid foundations he has received: a vision of the world centered on God’s plan. Indeed, Daniel grew up in a family of the people of God, a few years after the young King Josiah rediscovered the law of God by cleaning up – literally – in the temple of Jerusalem (2 Kings 22). Shocked by what he reads, the young king demands that this story be taught to the whole kingdom. This is how Daniel’s generation discovers and takes root in the “red thread” of God’s plan! This confidence in what Daniel has learned will make all the difference in managing this crisis he is facing. The other counselors are carried away by distress and fear, everyman for himself, leaving the Jews as their only hope. Daniel reacts differently. He calls his friends, and draws near to God. Because in accordance with the red thread, they believe that God is accessible by grace; thus, they have confidence in his ability to hear, and especially in his power to act, to the point of revealing this unthinkable secret to them.

Through this challenge, God reveals himself

History, support of the rescue plan: God reveals to Daniel the contents of the emperor’s dream. This is an opportunity to point out to the leader of the world at the time, that his power is only a delegation from the King of kings. He also announces to him that the the dream implies that the rest of the story will only be a plagiarism of his work. After him, inevitably less dazzling kingdoms will arise, like the degradation of the materials that make up the statue of his dream, starting from the head and going down to the feet! Although larger and larger in size, these realms will actually be more and more fragile, like the mixture of iron and clay. These kingdoms will maintain themselves through violence, until they crush everything in their path. In front of these kingdoms, a last insignificant kingdom, similar to a small pebble, will arise at the time of the 4th Kingdom. This Kingdom will be the direct fruit of the work of God and will develop without any human effort. It will initially appear innocuous, but it will be solid rock, all in one piece, which over time will become a mountain that will encompass the earth. As the statue disappears, this miraculous and prosperous Kingdom will pulverize all human kingdoms to sit forever. Its King – Jesus will receive all power from God, which he will share with all who trust him and serve him – a people, a territory, under his authority.

Only the Lord is sovereign

A New Kingdom: In a few words, God reveals through the mouth of Daniel that the history of the world is in his hands: it includes God’s rescue plan for mankind. Faced with this revelation, the counselors remained silent, and King Nebuchadnezzar was probably shaken, for he would submit to God a few years later. As for Daniel and his friends, their trust in God was strengthened. God’s kingdom is already in progress, but will only be visible at the end of the history of the world. Only this reality will be eternal, while everything else will be destroyed. Hurry… The King is already arriving to inaugurate His Kingdom!

The Lord is the ruler of a Kingdom

REFLECTION
What God reveals to Nebuchadnezzar and Daniel is extraordinary.
2 questions then arise:
Is this Kingdom mythical or real? Is it possible to be part of it?

Bible Heads: Available in Segond 21 online: Daniel chapter 2, Daniel chapter 7