What does the passage tell us about the kingdom of God?
Daniel 2:4-7:28 shows three pairs of theological themes in mirror parallelism. God dominates over history (chaps. 2 and 7): In Daniel 2, the great and awesome statute in Nebuchadnezzar’s dream represents four Gentile superpowers in history (2:31-33, 36-43). In the dream was a “stone”, which represents God’s everlasting kingdom that “will crush and put an end to these kingdoms” (2:34-35, 44-45). In Daniel 7, the four monstrous beasts in Daniel’s vision represent four Gentile superpowers in history (7:1-8). But the high point in the vision is the “everlasting dominion” given to “a Son of Man” whom all peoples and nations will “serve” (vv.13-14).
God delivers from harm (chaps. 3 and 6): The faithful people of God refused to compromise their faith, even if it means to be burned in a furnace (3:13-15, 19-23) or devoured by lions (6:6-10, 16-17). But God delivered them miraculously (3:24-25; 6:21-22). God dethrones the haughty (chaps. 4 and 5): Nebuchadnezzar arrogantly boasted: “Is this not Babylon the great, which I myself built…by the might of my power and for the glory of my majesty?” (4:30). But God who “humbles those who walk in pride” (4:37) humbled Nebuchadnezzar by dethroning him (4:31-33). Belshazzar “exalted yourself against the Lord of heaven” by using the “gold vessels” taken from God’s temple as drinking vessels in his “great feast” (5:1-14, 22-23). But God humbled him by ending his empire (5:30-31).
The theological structure of Daniel 2:4-7:28 begins and ends with God dominating over history. It means that overarching and undergirding everything is God dominating over history from the beginning to the end. What security we have!
What does it mean for me to live in the kingdom of God?
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What is one key thing that God said to me this week in light of what has happened?
What is one thing I need to do in light of what God is saying?
Commit in prayer.
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