Week 7: The Stone Shall Stand
Week 7 | Daniel 2:36-45
Day 1 Part 1 Central Passage Father, open my eyes to see the truth in Your Word that I may know and love you more deeply.
“This was the dream. Now we will tell the king its interpretation. 37 You, O king, the king of kings, to whom the God of heaven has given the kingdom, the power, and the might, and the glory, 38 and into whose hand he has given, wherever they dwell, the children of man, the beasts of the field, and the birds of the heavens, making you rule over them all—you are the head of gold. 39 Another kingdom inferior to you shall arise after you, and yet a third kingdom of bronze, which shall rule over all the earth. 40 And there shall be a fourth kingdom, strong as iron, because iron breaks to pieces and shatters all things. And like iron that crushes, it shall break and crush all these. 41 And as you saw the feet and toes, partly of potter's clay and partly of iron, it shall be a divided kingdom, but some of the firmness of iron shall be in it, just as you saw iron mixed with the soft clay. 42 And as the toes of the feet were partly iron and partly clay, so the kingdom shall be partly strong and partly brittle. 43 As you saw the iron mixed with soft clay, so they will mix with one another in marriage, but they will not hold together, just as iron does not mix with clay. — Daniel 2:36-43
OBSERVE MOSTLY FIGURATIVE DETAILS
Ask and answer simple w-questions: when? where? who? what? how?
1. The Interpretation of the King & Kingdom of Babylon
What title does Daniel use to address Nebuchadnezzar? (v37)
When the God of heaven gave the King the Kingdom, what else did He give? (v37)
What has the God of heaven put into the King’s hands? (v38)
How much of the earth is given to the King? (v38)
What metal and what body part symbolizes the King and Kingdom of Babylon? (v38)
How many verses describe this Kingdom?
2. The Interpretation of the Second Kingdom
How does Daniel describe this Kingdom? (v39a)
How many verses describe this Kingdom?
3. The Interpretation of the Third Kingdom
What metal symbolizes this Kingdom? (v39b)
How does Daniel describe this Kingdom? (v39b)
How many verses describe this Kingdom?
4. The Interpretation of the Fourth Kingdom
Why is iron the metal of this Kingdom (v40a)
What can iron do? (40a)
How else shall this kingdom be like iron? What will it do? (40b)
What could “all things and “all these” refer back to? (vs37, 39)
The feet and toes being partly potter’s clay and partly iron reveals what about the Kingdom? (41-42)
Iron mixed with soft clay is compared to a “mix” of what? (v43)
Why will this mix not hold together?
How many times are “toes” mentioned?
How many verses describe this Kingdom?
OBSERVE DICTION
Ask: Which words/phrases might provide clues to the author’s message? What do they literally mean?
Ex. king of kings > the most superior ruler, but this is delegated authority (2:37-38)
Ex. shatters > subdues (chashal) used as a participle, so the action is ongoing, as in blow after blow of a hammer.
Ex. potter’s clay > referring to pottery (hăsap)
Ex. soft clay > referring to the wet clay used to make the pottery (tînā )
Ex. marriage > by the seed of men, posterity
INTERPRET
Ask: Why did the author choose to include these details, use these words, & make any figurative comparisons?
Review – In Lesson 6, we made these observations regarding the statue: Overall, the statue is great, enormous, exceedingly brilliant, and frightening. The statue represents four kingdoms: The First Kingdom is the gold head, the top position. The Second Kingdom is silver chest and arms. The Third Kingdom is bronze torso and thighs. The Fourth Kingdom is represented by legs of pure iron and feet that are a mix of iron and pottery. From gold to iron the Kingdoms decrease in value. They also decrease in density, which makes the statue top heavy and weak on its feet, especially given the pottery mix. But the metals do increase from head to feet in strength; iron is the strongest.
1. Keep in mind God “troubled” the King with this dream. The King had to rely on a royal son of Judah for its sure interpretation. The intended audience of the dream is the King. Review everything about Nebuchadnezzar and the Babylonian Empire from the Observation Box and both the Review and Historical Background above.
Why is Nebuchadnezzar called the “king of kings”? Why is this king & kingdom symbolized with a gold head?
Authors write with purpose; God authored this dream. What is God’s purpose in writing to the king of kings?
2. In Daniel 2, the details of the Second and Third Kingdom share one verse.
So even though we only have one verse for two kingdoms, what is God communicating to Nebuchadnezzar?
The duration of the Medes-Persian (later referred to as Persian Empire) is longer and the geographical territory wider than the Babylonian Empire, yet Daniel stated that the kingdom following Babylon would be “inferior.” To see that inferiority, review the government details for Babylon and Medes-Persia. In what way is Babylon superior?
3. Pull together everything about Rome, the Fourth Kingdom, from the Observation Box and both the Review and Historical Background above. What are some conclusions you can infer about this kingdom through which iron runs?
Prayer – Praise God for His absolute reign over all peoples, places and times. Whatever is troubling you about this generation’s peoples and places give to Him and pray for this world’s leaders to rule justly.
OBSERVE MOSTLY FIGURATIVE DETAILS
Ask and answer simple w-questions: when? where? who? what? how?
1. The Interpretation of the Fifth & Final Kingdom
If the other kingdoms were literal kingdoms, is it logical that this kingdom shall be literal as well?
What two qualifiers describe the kingdom the God of heaven will set up? (v44a)
Will this kingdom also be a Gentile kingdom as were the previous four? How do you know?
In the days of what kings of the 4th Kingdom does God set up this type of kingdom? (vs 42-44a)
What shall this fifth kingdom bring to an end? (v44)
How long shall this fifth kingdom exist then? (v44b)
What type of person ruled the iron, bronze, the clay, the silver, and the gold kingdoms?
What type of Person cut a stone from a mountain and destroyed these kingdoms?
In what order are the “pieces” now listed? (v45)
2. God gave Neb the dream content in his present; therefore, Neb trust what God is telling him about the future.
What type of God made this known? To whom did this God make it known?
What type of king never asked for a dream to be told before the interpretation? (Dan 2:10)
What man could make known to the king the dream and the interpretation? (Dan 2:10-11)
What qualifies both the dream and its interpretation?
Why can the King be sure the dream is certain and its interpretation sure?
OBSERVE DICTION
Ask: Which words/phrases might provide clues to the author’s message? What do they literally mean?
Ex. forever > In Aramaic alam, “perpetuity, ”corresponding to the Hebrew olam, which can refer to either an indefinite future or to a specific duration of an age.
How to Read Your Bible – God shapes His Word through ideas but also through images because He created us to respond to Truth with our minds and our hearts. Some of His images are universal in meaning. For example, light is understood among the world to be a symbol of truth & glory. But some of God’s images are particular to His Word.
Here is an example: With its scarcity of water, wine in Israel was literally a life necessity. Therefore, it is a fitting image for the idea of covenant. Under the Mosaic Covenant, Wine is poured out or withheld as His people yield in love to their Creator and Provider or do not. Therefore, wine is an image of joy and wrath. Under the New Covenant, we see the development of this image pattern extended: Jesus changed water into wine to celebrate the joy of a man and woman covenanting to be one, and Jesus offered the wine saying, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood.” Judas sat with his hand on the table as Jesus extended the wine, but he did not yield his heart.
If you understood what I just wrote, it is because you understand the image of wine and the idea of redemption as a life necessity with both your heart and mind. You understand this familial tongue because the Bible uses the same images again and again. These recurrent patterns teach and re-teach, but they do so progressively for the purpose of pointing to the Messiah.
INTERPRET
Ask: Why did the author choose to include these details, use these words, & make any figurative comparisons?
1. We are going to practice tracing the image of a stone through the Bible for its literal and symbolic meaning in different contexts. We will start with the Old Testament use and then move to the New Testament use.
Record how you literally perceive a large rock, one cut from a mountain.
Now we will carry this literal over to its symbolic use to determine its message. Read the verses below to see how the Bible used the image of a stone to either point prophetically to the Messiah (Old T) or reflect on how Jesus fulfilled these prophesies (New T) If you have time, read the verses surrounding these to see the greater context.
Mark key words (-) or (+) that help you connect the stone in these verses to the stone that will be hurled at the iron-clay feet of the statue in Daniel 2 (-) and the stone that will grow into a mountain (+). Take some notes. Jump to the next page to the blue “Review” box if you want some extra help.
OLD TESTAMENT - Prophecies about the Stone
Yet his bow remained unmoved; his arms were made agile by the hands of the Mighty One of Jacob (from there is the Shepherd, the Stone of Israel). Genesis 49:24 On his death bed, Jacob prophesied this about Joseph
The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone. Psalm 118:22
And he will become a sanctuary and a stone of offense and a rock of stumbling to both houses of Israel, a trap and a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem. Isaiah 8:14
therefore thus says the Lord God, “Behold, I am the one who has laid as a foundation in Zion, a stone, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone, of a sure foundation: ‘Whoever believes will not be in haste.’ Isaiah 28:16
For behold, on the stone that I have set before Joshua, on a single stone with seven eyes, I will engrave its inscription, declares the Lord of hosts, and I will remove the iniquity of this land in a single day. Zechariah 3:9
NEW TESTAMENT - Prophesies Applied to Christ
This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone. Acts 4:11
and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank from the spiritual Rock that followed them, and the Rock was Christ. 1 Corinthians 10:4; cf. Exodus 17:6; Numbers 20:7-11
and “A stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense.” They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do. 1 Peter 2:8
NEW TESTAMENT - Implications Extended to His Church
As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, 5 you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 1 Peter 2:4-5
built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, 21 in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. Ephesians 2:20-21
Review – Perhaps in the days when ten Gentile kings rule the entire world, God will set up the fifth kingdom. Its origin will be a stone cut by divine hand. This stone shall decisively strike the Statue of Gentile Kingdoms at its iron-clay feet. It will crumble iron-bronze-clay-silver-gold all together and the wind will blow every piece of the statue away like worthless chaff. A stone is about an inanimate as you can get. But this stone will grow into a mountain kingdom and fill the whole earth with the knowledge and glory of God.
Here is how Jesus applied the stone of Daniel 2 to Himself: But he [Jesus] looked directly at them and said, “What then is this that is written: “‘The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone’? Everyone who falls on that stone will be broken to pieces, and when it falls on anyone, it will crush him.” Luke 20:17-18
2. Take into consideration the verses you just read and the use of the Stone in Daniel 2. How is the Stone a consistent symbol throughout the canon of Scripture? Consider who the Stone will crush and with whom He shall stand.
3. We are living stones, rejected by men, but chosen and precious in God’s sight. One way we build upon the cornerstone who is Christ and the foundation of the apostles and prophets is we have conversations just as they did.
Using what we learned today about the Stone, how would you respond (with words and deeds) to Joe and Joelle?
Joe: “My worldview is that the Bible is just an ancient book written by multiple authors. Sure it’s beautifully written, but it has no central message. Only the weak-minded believe its prophecies will be fulfilled.”
Joelle: “I believe the Bible is the inerrant Word of God. I read it every day and I pray. But about church... I was really hurt by the church I attended, so I don’t belong to any church anymore. I can grow on my own.”
Prayer – When Jesus sets up His Kingdom, none shall oppose Him. Enjoy a time of praising God for that coming Day. Pray we as a church would be live in submission to our King today and always so that others may see Him in us.
Day 3 Deeper Daniel Father, open my eyes to see the truth in Your Word that I may know and love you more deeply.
Read Genesis 40:1-23
1. How does God put Joseph into service in an Egyptian prison?
2. How might this “practice” prepare Joseph for future ministry?
3. Why might God allow Joseph to suffer betrayal again?
Prayer – Reflect on a time you suffered betrayal. Reflect on where God is having you wait on Him to move. Bring praise, confession, and petition before Him. Use the space below to write a prayer if you wish. These type of “lay it down” prayers are good to “record.”
Day 4 Deeper Daniel Father, open my eyes to see the truth in Your Word that I may know and love you more deeply.
Read Genesis 41:1-32
1. How does God put Joseph into service in an Egyptian prison?
2. What similarities do you see between Joseph and Daniel’s court story?
3. Where is a place that is confining or uncomfortable for you yet God is using you there? It may not be a literal place.
Prayer – Praise God for where He has you. Pray He would use you as He desires.
Day 5 Deeper Daniel Father, open my eyes to see the truth in Your Word that I may know and love you more deeply.
Below are some processes we can see in Scripture for how God develops a leader that we also see in play in Joseph and Daniel’s lives. Mark the processes you are now seeing God has used to develop you as a leader.
Ø need/hunger for God’s Word and prayer
Ø loss (person, reputation, status, innocence)
Ø training/equipping/books/curriculum/higher education
Ø employment/career
Ø injustice
Ø people who recognize, identify, affirm your gifts/strengths/growth
Ø ministry assignments
Ø leadership position
Ø crisis events James 1:2-4
Ø people who wound us
Ø season of isolation -- illness, burnout, move, loss of community, job or ministry
Ø season of waiting and waiting and waiting
Choose one process from your past where you can connect to Joseph/Daniel/both. Reflect on how God used that process in these biblical examples. Then reflect on how God used that process deeply in your life.
Now choose a process from your present that connects to Joseph/Daniel/both. Reflect on how God used that process in these biblical example. Then consider what God might be doing in your life through this process.
Prayer – Praise the eternal God for what He did & is doing in you and through you. Seek His wisdom and power.
Group Reflection Faithful in Exile
JESUS, KING OF KINGS
Wherever the Holy Spirit inspired Daniel to record Messianic prophecy, we will follow His lead and enjoy time in crowning the King of King with kisses.
Prayer – Gather with your triad or quad. In light of what you learned today about the Stone...
praise the God of heaven, your sanctuary and foundation. Our Father, who is in heaven holy is your name...
share with God that your desire is ultimately to pray according to His will for His kingdom, not yours Your kingdom come; your will be done on earth as it is in heaven...
ask Him to answer the personal prayer request shared last week by the person to your right
ask Him to move mightily in the unbeliever whom the person to your left loves and brought forward to your group.
ask Him to forgive any sins He is revealing to you as you are praying for this personal prayer request and this request for an unbelieving friend. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sinned against us...
Include our Grace Prayer request for the week. This week we are praying for our deacons and young adults.
Close with praises and thanksgiving.
God’s joy & strength to you!