What Daniel Teaches Us About Dreams
The book of Daniel teaches us a lot about dreams in the night.
Daniel lived in an intimate relationship with God and it was because of this God used him in the life of one of the most powerful kings during that time. God poured out his special favor upon Daniel and his friends’ and granted them more knowledge than everyone else. “Whenever the king consulted them on anything, on books or on life, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters in his kingdom put together.” Daniel 1:19-20
Scripture reveals why God granted them special favor.
They were devoted to God’s laws. Daniel 1
They did not defile themselves and fasted. (Daniel 1:8)
Through their commitment to God, God prepared them to hear his voice clearly. “God gave these four young men an unusual aptitude for understanding every aspect of literature and wisdom. And God gave Daniel the special ability to interpret the meanings of visions and dreams.” Daniel 1:17
“Whenever the king consulted them in any matter requiring wisdom and balanced judgment, he found them ten times more capable than any of the magicians and enchanters in his entire kingdom.” Daniel 1:20
Who dreams?
God speaks to believers and unbelievers through dreams
“One night during the second year of his reign, Nebuchadnezzar [unbeliever] had such disturbing dreams that he couldn’t sleep.” Daniel 2:1
The king’s dream was symbolic and needed some explanation. It was a picture in the night similar to how Jesus told parables. Each symbol needed to be replaced with something the king would understand.
It is the Holy Spirit who gives the interpretation
God gives the wisdom to know someone’s dream and/or interpret their dream. Only a man of God could interpret the king’s dream. “‘The astrologers replied to the king, “No one on earth can tell the king his dream! And no king, however great and powerful, has ever asked such a thing of any magician, enchanter, or astrologer! The king’s demand is impossible. No one except the gods can tell you your dream, and they do not live here among people.” Daniel 2:9-12 [Included magicians, enchanters, and sorcerers trying to interpret the dream (verse 2).]
Steps you can take when receiving a dream or interpreting a dream for someone else
Trust God: Daniel heard the king had a dream he did not understand. Daniel went confidently to the king because he trusted the Lord.
“Daniel handled the situation with wisdom and discretion.” Daniel 2:14
Nothing is impossible with God. Luke 1:37
The king told Daniel to tell him what his dream was and to interpret it. Daniel 2:26
Daniel paused before answering.
He asked the king for time to pray and seek his God for the meaning. “Daniel went at once to see the king and requested more time to tell the king what the dream meant.” Daniel 2:16
Daniel went to God in prayer for the answer. “He urged them to ask the God of heaven to show them his mercy by telling them the secret,...” Daniel 2:18
God was faithful and revealed the secret. Daniel 2:19
Praise God. Daniel praised God for revealing the secret meaning of the dream.
“Then Daniel praised the God of heaven...He reveals deep and mysterious things and knows what lies hidden in darkness...You have told me what we asked of you and revealed to us what the king demanded.” Daniel 2:19-23
The Dreamer
When the dreamer knows God has spoken to them in a dream, they have a responsibility to seek the Lord’s voice for insight and understanding. We should heed the Lord’s voice no less at night as we would during the day. In fact, if God can’t get your attention during the day, you might ask yourself, “what am I ignoring that he is speaking to me when I can’t interrupt him?”
Seek the Lord for wisdom before you go to others. Listen to the voice of the Lord. John 8:47; I Corinthians 2:13; James 1:5
Do not seek the advice of sinners, including astrologers, psychics, mediums, etc. Psalm 37:30 Nebuchadnezzar continued to fret because he could not find a man of God to give him the true meaning of his dream.
Praise God and give him glory for speaking to you personally. Daniel 2:46-49
Daniel’s process when interpreting the dream
Was devoted to God’s Word and prayer.
Gave God credit.
Daniel replied, “But there is a God in heaven who reveals secrets...” Daniel 2:28
He explained to the king what kind of dream it was and the purpose. He had a prophetic dream and that God was using this dream to reveal future events.
The interpretation also explained why God spoke to him in a parable in the night. God wanted Nebuchadnezzar to understand what the condition of his heart was. “And it is not because I am wiser than anyone else that I know the secret of your dream, but because God wants you to understand what was in your heart.” Daniel 1:30
Daniel knew God had ordained this time to interpret the meaning of the dream to the king. “There is a time to be silent and a time to speak.” Ecclesiastes 3:7
“Now I will tell you your dream and the visions you saw as you lay on your bed.” Daniel 2:28
Dreams can be very specific. Take note of the particulars in the dream the Lord reveals. The king’s dream included:
Body positioning, body parts, emotions, behaviors, objects, metals, colors, sizes, actions, and scenery. Also, what was oddly missing (human hands, verse 33). Daniel 2:31-35
The Interpretation (Daniel 2:36-45)
Leave the dream in God’s hands and with the dreamer after you’ve given the interpretation. (See Dreamer’s Obedience below.)
Be a Daniel and praise the Lord for the insight and revelation the Lord has revealed to you. “The king said to Daniel, “Truly, your God is the greatest of gods, the Lord over kings, a revealer of mysteries, for you have been able to reveal this secret.” Daniel 2:47
Dreamer’s Obedience: When to be obedient to God’s voice is not for us to choose. If God speaks day or night, do not ignore him. Read Daniel chapters 3 and 4.
Nebuchadnezzar’s first dream is fulfilled. He sinned and built the bronze statue for everyone in the kingdom to bow down to and worship. Daniel 3:1-5
When you receive the interpretation, be prepared to be obedient to the Lord’s voice. “Obedience is better than sacrifice.” I Samuel 15:22
Nebuchadnezzar received a second, prophetic dream. This was a warning from God of future events, but God put in a caveat for his well-being. If he were to repent, he could prevent the dream from being fulfilled. Unfortunately, he chose to be disobedient. Daniel 4
One way we can tune our ears in to hear the voice of God and to walk in obedience is through our praise. Dreamers, praise for speaking to you through a dream. Interpreters, praise him for revealing the secret to the dream. Give God all the glory for being the revealer of his secrets and for making things known that were once in the dark. Daniel replied, “But there is a God in heaven who reveals secrets...” Daniel 2:28
“When we tell you these things, we do not use words that come from human wisdom. Instead, we speak words given to us by the Spirit, using the Spirit’s words to explain spiritual truths. But people who aren’t spiritual can’t receive these truths from God’s Spirit. It all sounds foolish to them and they can’t understand it, for only those who are spiritual can understand what the Spirit means. Those who are spiritual can evaluate all things, but they themselves cannot be evaluated by others. For, “Who can know the Lord’s thoughts? Who knows enough to teach him?” But we understand these things, for we have the mind of Christ.”
