Daniel Interprets Nebuchadnezzar's Dream

Daniel 2
The great God hath made known to the king what shall come to pass hereafter: and the dream is certain, and the interpretation thereof sure. Daniel 2:45

King Nebuchadnezzar had a dream that troubled him. He called for some of his wise men to explain what the dream meant. (See Daniel 2:13.) The problem was that the king could not remember his dream. He ordered them to tell him both the dream and its meaning, threatening to kill them if they couldn't. When these men answered that no one could tell the king his dream, Nebuchadnezzar commanded that all the wise men in Babylon be killed. (See Daniel 2:56, Daniel 2:1012.)

Daniel, one of the captives the Babylonians had taken from Jerusalem, was among those who were to be slain. When he learned about the danger, he told the king's captain he would interpret the dream if the king would give him time. Daniel asked his friends Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego to pray with him. They asked Heavenly Father to show Daniel the dream, and the Lord revealed the dream to Daniel in a vision. (See Daniel 2:1323; see also Daniel 1:7.)

Daniel went to the king's captain and told him he could interpret the dream (see Daniel 2:24). The captain rushed Daniel to King Nebuchadnezzar. After saying that God had shown him the dream, Daniel described the image the king had seen. The image's head was made of gold, his breast and arms of silver, his belly and thighs of brass, his legs of iron, and his feet of part iron and part clay. Daniel said that a great stone struck the image's feet and broke them. Then the stone grew and filled the whole earth. (See Daniel 2:2835.)

Interpreting the dream, Daniel told the king, "Thou art this head of gold" (Daniel 2:38). Then he said an inferior kingdom, represented by the silver, would arise after Nebuchadnezzar's. A third kingdom would then rule the world, followed by a fourth. This last kingdom would be divided, like the feet of iron and clay: part strong and part weak. During the reign of these kings, God would set up a kingdom that would destroy all other kingdoms and stand forever. (See Daniel 2:3645.)

When Daniel was finished, King Nebuchadnezzar fell down before him and said, "Of a truth ... your God is a God of gods, and a Lord of kings, and a revealer of secrets" (Daniel 2:47; see also Daniel 2:46).

The king made Daniel a ruler in Babylon, gave him many gifts, and made him the chief over all the wise men. At Daniel's request, the king also made Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego rulers. (See Daniel 2:4849.)

Summary

King Nebuchadnezzar had an important dream that he could not remember. He commanded some of his wise men to describe the dream and explain it. When they said this could not be done, Nebuchadnezzar ordered that all the wise men of Babylon be killed. Daniel was one of those who would be killed. He and his friends asked the Lord for mercy, and the Lord showed Daniel the dream and its meaning. Daniel then described the dream to King Nebuchadnezzar and explained what it meant. The king was pleased, and as a reward he made Daniel and his friends rulers in Babylon.

Artist, Grant Romney Clawson

© 2002 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved. Printed in the USA

MY Word: In the summary it seems as if Daniel and friends were unaware of the King's request until the death sentence was imposed...NOW they are motivated! How difficult, bad, uncomfortable do you have to become to make changes?!

ASSIGNMENT: List some things you feel like you would like to change. Perhaps focus more on the type of person you would like to become and what kind of efforts you need to make to become that person. (Do you see the difference in what those two lists would look like?) Now read Alma 32:13-16 (pg. 289 in the Book of Mormon) and Doctrine and Covenants 58:26.

Remember, Daniel asked for time....it takes time and effort (prayer and scripture study is the best effort!) to bring about change. Give yourself a year then look back and be amazed! You might just save your life!