Change your perspective • Apr 21, 2024 • Eric Stillman

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Change your perspective • Apr 21, 2024 • Eric Stillman
This morning, I am in the third week of a new sermon series through the Old Testament book of
Daniel that will take us up until the summer. I’ve entitled the series “Faithfulness in exile,” a title
that may at first glance seem to be about something that happened a long time ago in a kingdom
far, far away, but I believe you will find is very relevant to your life today. Last week we looked
at chapter 1 and how Daniel and the other Israelites are taken into exile in Babylon, where King
Nebuchadnezzar attempts to reprogram them out of their faithfulness to their God and into loayl
Babylonian servants. The chapter ends with this in verse 17: To these four young men God gave
knowledge and understanding of all kinds of literature and learning. And Daniel could
understand visions and dreams of all kinds. As we’re about to find out, that is a gift that is going
to come in very useful. Let’s read Daniel 2:
Daniel 2:1–49 - 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.”
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. 6But 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.”
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.