Rachel Workman: I have no comments today.
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John Burnett:
2 In
the second year of his reign, Nebuchadnezzar had dreams; his mind was
troubled and he could not sleep. 2 So the king summoned the
magicians, enchanters, sorcerers and astrologers[a] to tell him what he had
dreamed. When they came in and stood before the king, 3 he said to them, “I have had a dream
that troubles me and I want to know what it means.[b]”
4 Then
the astrologers answered the king,[c] “May the king live
forever! Tell your servants the dream, and we will interpret it.”
5 The
king replied to the astrologers, “This is what I have firmly decided: If you do
not tell me what my dream was and interpret it, I will have you cut into
pieces and your houses turned into piles of rubble. 6 But if you tell me the dream and
explain it, you will receive from me gifts and rewards and great honor. So
tell me the dream and interpret it for me.”
7 Once
more they replied, “Let the king tell his servants the dream, and we will
interpret it.” The astrologers are no different than they are today and
they were going on the 50/50 chance that they would get it right with their
vague interpretations.
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Allen Michaels: 2 In
the second year of his reign, Nebuchadnezzar had dreams; his mind was troubled
and he could not sleep. 2 So the king summoned the magicians,
enchanters, sorcerers and astrologers to tell him what he had
dreamed. When they came in and stood before the king, 3 he said
to them, “I have had a dream that troubles me and I want to know what it
means.” Nebuchadnezzar
couldn't know for certain that the wise men gave a correct interpretation
of the dream. But he could test their ability to tell what he dreamed.
4 Then the
astrologers answered the king, “May the king live forever! Tell your servants
the dream, and we will interpret it.”
5 The king replied
to the astrologers, “This is what I have firmly decided: If you do not tell me
what my dream was and interpret it, I will have you cut into pieces and your
houses turned into piles of rubble. 6 But if you tell me the
dream and explain it, you will receive from me gifts and rewards and great honor.
So tell me the dream and interpret it for me.” Dreams
were considered to be messages from the gods, and the wise men were expected to
interpret them. This time, however, Nebuchadnezzar demanded to be told what his
dream was about also. God sent a series of dreams to Nebuchadnezzar with
prophetic messages that could be revealed and understood only by a true servant
of God. This particular servant would be Daniel.
Several
other people from different time periods who received dreams from God included
Jacob (Genesis 28:10-15), Joseph (Genesis 37:5-11), Pharaoh’s cupbearer and his
baker (Genesis 40), Pharaoh (Genesis 41), Solomon (1 Kings 3:5-15), and Joseph
(Matthew 1:20-24)
7 Once more they
replied, “Let the king tell his servants the dream, and we will interpret it.”
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Krista Cook: Then
the king answered, “I am certain that you are trying to gain time, because you
realize that this is what I have firmly decided: 9 If you do
not tell me the dream, there is only one penalty for you. You have conspired to
tell me misleading and wicked things, hoping the situation will change. So
then, tell me the dream, and I will know that you can interpret it for me.”
Tomorrow’s reading for Daniel 2:8-16
10 The
astrologers answered the king, “There is no one on earth who can do what the
king asks! No king, however great and mighty, has ever asked such a thing of
any magician or enchanter or astrologer. 11 What the king asks
is too difficult. No one can reveal it to the king except the gods, and they do
not live among humans.”
12 This
made the king so angry and furious that he ordered the execution of all the
wise men of Babylon. 13 So the decree was issued to put the
wise men to death, and men were sent to look for Daniel and his friends to put
them to death.
14 When
Arioch, the commander of the king’s guard, had gone out to put to death the
wise men of Babylon, Daniel spoke to him with wisdom and tact.
-
this really stands out among all the other verses. No one saw a way
out, but Daniel CHOSE to speak with wisdom and tact. Isn't that the
kind of talk that will get more accomplished? You can catch more bees
with honey!___________________________________________________________________________________15 He asked the king’s officer, “Why did the king issue such a harsh decree?” Arioch then explained the matter to Daniel. 16 At this, Daniel went in to the king and asked for time, so that he might interpret the dream for him.
Tomorrow’s reading for Daniel 2:8-16
8 Then
the king answered, “I am certain that you are trying to gain time, because you
realize that this is what I have firmly decided: 9 If you do
not tell me the dream, there is only one penalty for you. You have conspired to
tell me misleading and wicked things, hoping the situation will change. So
then, tell me the dream, and I will know that you can interpret it for me.”
10 The
astrologers answered the king, “There is no one on earth who can do what the
king asks! No king, however great and mighty, has ever asked such a thing of
any magician or enchanter or astrologer. 11 What the king asks
is too difficult. No one can reveal it to the king except the gods, and they do
not live among humans.”
12 This
made the king so angry and furious that he ordered the execution of all the
wise men of Babylon. 13 So the decree was issued to put the
wise men to death, and men were sent to look for Daniel and his friends to put
them to death.
14 When
Arioch, the commander of the king’s guard, had gone out to put to death the
wise men of Babylon, Daniel spoke to him with wisdom and tact. 15 He
asked the king’s officer, “Why did the king issue such a harsh decree?” Arioch
then explained the matter to Daniel. 16 At this, Daniel went in
to the king and asked for time, so that he might interpret the dream for him.
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