Welcome to worship! This morning we take on one of the great questions of human history. What is truth and how do we access it? One source of truth is our own experience. We even say, “I know by my own experience that such and such is true”. I call this truth with a small “t” because it’s limited to our own experience and perception which is sometimes a little warped! If you don’t believe that, just listen to children explain the world! Paul said, “When I was a child, I thought as a child, but when I became an adult, I gave up childish ways.”
A second source of truth, with a “small t” is human inspiration or understanding. We have a problem we can’t solve and we mull it over and over until sometimes suddenly the ‘aha’ comes and we see a truth we couldn’t see before.
Both of these small “t” sources of truth are easily twisted by our sinful human nature. We believe that things we agree with are true, and we dismiss things we don’t agree as false. That’s pretty subjective. No wonder people say that truth is relative. Truth with a small “t” is relative if we leave God out of the picture.
But the Bible tells us that there is a source of absolute and ultimate Truth with a capital “T”. It comes through Revelation. It’s not magic, nor is it limited to just a chosen few. It’s available to anyone willing to receive it. It comes through God’s Word, the Bible, and Jesus, the Word made flesh. Let’s read these words from 2 Peter 1:19-21
“Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet's own interpretation. For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.” 2 Pet 1:20-21
“For the Word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” Hebrew 4:12
This is Truth with a capital T. But how about that truth with a small “t” - that subjective truth that comes to us through our own experience or insight? What’s the Bible say about that?
“The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?” Jer 17:9
“For a time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.” 2 Tim 4:3-4
With that in mind, let’s look at the second chapter of Daniel. Not long after the events of Daniel chapter 1, Nebuchadnezzar has a nightmare. As frightening as it is, what’s more terrifying is that he can’t remember the details when he wakes up.
Dreams are interesting things. They help us work through problems. They reveal hidden fears. God can use them to communicate with us. But dreams can also be used by lying spirits to trick, deceive or intimidate us. How can we sort al this out? Nebby’s about to find out!
King Nebby calls in his dream team of magicians, enchanters, sorcerers and astrologers. Don’t get me wrong, but today we might call these our psychiatrists, psychologists, spiritual advisors, even friends. These are human resources that respond with human wisdom. They have their place, but they also have their limitations as King Neb is about to learn!
Nebby demands that his dream team interpret the dream. “No problemo, O Great One! Tell us the dream.” But Nebby insists the wise men not only interpret the dream but tell him what he dreamed! I love their response! Vs 10 “There is not a man on earth who can do what the king asks…no one can reveal it the king except the gods, and they do not live among men.” Is that true?
Does human wisdom/insight have its limitations? Absolutely! In fact, we will never come to grips with the truth about ourselves or God until we come to the end of ourselves.
When King came face to face with the powerlessness of human wisdom, he decides to put all his wise men to death as frauds. Point: being religious has no power to save, but God does!
When Daniel hears of the kings’ edict he goes to the commander of the guard – what does that tell you about Daniel? He stands up and gets involved! Daniel has a resource the other wise men don’t have and he’s willing to use it for others. God has called us to be witnesses to the Truth he has revealed. And if we refuse, who will?
Daniel goes to the king! Big risk! He asks for time to interpret the dream and the king grants it. Talk about bold and fearless! Remember he’s probably still a teenager! Then he goes back to the dorm and gathers his friends, and they begin to pray. Good place to start when you have a problem you can’t solve! That night, the LORD reveals the dream and its interpretation.
Next morning, Daniel goes to Arioch, “Don’t kill the wise men, but take me to the king. I will reveal the dream and its interpretation.” Talk about grace and truth for the salvation of the world, here it is!
When Daniel stands before the king he tells him. Vs 27 “No wise man, enchanter, magician, or diviner can explain to the king the mystery he has asked about. But there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries…” That means Truth! Daniel doesn’t point to himself, he doesn’t point to human wisdom, or his own spiritual gift, he points to the Lord! That’s the meaning of evangelism.
Look at verse 30! “As for me, this mystery has been revealed to me, not because I have greater wisdom than other living men, but so that you, O king, may know the interpretation and that you may understand what went through your mind.” Daniel 2:30
God is revealing truth to help Nebby become a better king! Are you open to God revealing his truth to you to help you be a better parent, kid, husband, wife, witness?
Nebby’s dream was vision of the future and 4 great kingdoms that would rule the earth. Daniel said, “In your dream, you saw a great statue, the head was of gold, the body of silver, belly of bronze, legs of iron. The head of gold is your kingdom...”
History verifies that the body of silver was the coming Medo/Persian empire we will see in chapter 6. The belly and thighs of bronze is the Greek empire. The legs of iron are the Romans. Scholars disagree about the feet of clay and iron. Some say it represents the Roman world at the time of Christ, others say a represents a ten nation confederation still to come, when Jesus returns. Maybe it means both.
What matters is the final vision in the dream. A huge stone, not cut by human hands, struck the statue and shattered it into pieces that were blown away by the wind. Then this Rock became a mountain that filled the whole earth!
For those of us who read the Bible from a traditional view there is no doubt this rock is Jesus. All Scripture points to him. Let’s jump to verse 44 “In the time of those kings, the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed, nor will it be left to another people. This kingdom will crush all those kingdoms and bring them to an end, but will itself endure forever! This is the meaning of the vision of the rock cut out of a mountain, but not by human hands.” Daniel 2:44
Nebuchadnezzar could have killed Daniel in an attempt to prevent the Kingdom of the Rock from coming. Many have tried to do that. Many today are still trying to prevent the coming of God’s kingdom. And in terms of human wisdom, they might seem powerful and effective.
But frail twisted human truth will never replace the real Truth revealed in God’s Word and in Jesus. Human wisdom is foolishness before God. My righteousness is filthy rags before his holiness. I am lost in sin, unable to save myself, but he has made a way through the wonder of the cross to rescue me from my depravity and the judgment that waits me. That is our only hope. Everyone of these human kingdoms failed and turned to dust, but the kingdom of Jesus the Rock continues to grow and fill the world. Look how Nebuchadnezzar responds!
“The king said to Daniel, “Surely your God is the God of gods and the Lord of kings and a revealer of mysteries for you were able to reveal this mystery.” Daniel 2:47
So what about you this morning? What truth are you building on? Truth, with a small “t” based your own limited experience and insight or Truth capital T based on the revelation of Jesus and his Word? The great mysteries of life cannot be discovered from within ourselves.
Troubling questions like: “What is the purpose of my life? Why is there so much suffering in the world? Why do people do such horrible things? How deep does my own depravity really run? Am I headed for heaven or hell? Can my deepest sins truly be forgiven? Is it possible to really know what is right and wrong in God’s eyes?
Only God can reveal the answer to these questions and he has in his Word and in his son. When we come into his light two things happen. First, we learn how sinful we really are.
Second, God reveals who Jesus really is. Make it your aim to get into his Word this year. Make it your aim to spend time with Jesus and ask him to give you his wisdom in every situation and circumstance. Trust in the LORD with all your heart, don’t rely on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight! Prov 3:4-5
AMEN
