The Problem Solving God

Daniel 2:1-49

INTRODUCTION: Life is full of problems, but problems are not our greatest problem. Rather, it is the way in which we seek to find solutions to our problems. Instead of appealing to a holy God, we appeal to our limited understanding and carnal reasoning. Our failure to seek the Lord produces manifold new problems. When we do come up with solutions, they are tainted and inadequate at best. It is high time for us to return to the idea of seeking the face of God and trusting Him for the solutions to our dilemmas.

I. THE PROBLEM PRESENTED (Daniel 2:1-13)

A. The King’s Troubling (Daniel 2:1-3)

1. His dreams troubled his spirit, breaking his sleep (Daniel 2:1).
2. He called for the wise men to shew him his dream (Daniel 2:2-3).

B. The Wise Men’s Limitations (Daniel 2:4)

1. Their requirement – “tell thy servants the dream”
2. Their promise – “we will shew the interpretation”

C. The King’s Threats (Daniel 2:5-6)

1. His requirement – “make known unto me the dream, with the interpretation thereof”
2. His promise – “ye shall be cut in pieces, and your houses shall be made a dunghill”

D. The Reminder of Limitations (Daniel 2:7-11)

1. The limitations of the wise men (Daniel 2:7, 9)
2. The limitations of the king (Daniel 2:8)
3. The limitations of all men (Daniel 2:10-11)

E. The King’s Rage (Daniel 2:12-13)

1. His anger (Daniel 2:12)
2. His decree (Daniel 2:12-13)
a. He commanded to destroy all the wise men of Babylon (Daniel 2:12).
b. They sought Daniel and his fellows to be slain (Daniel 2:13).

II. THE SOLUTION SOUGHT (Daniel 2:14-19)

A. The Wisdom in Daniel’s Concern (Daniel 2:14-16)

1. He answered with counsel and wisdom (Daniel 2:14).
2. He feared the haste of the decision (Daniel 2:15).
3. He went to the king with a promised solution (Daniel 2:16).

B. The Involvement of Companions (Daniel 2:17)

C. The Seeking of God (Daniel 2:18-19)

1. Desiring the mercies of the God of heaven (Daniel 2:18)
2. The revelation of the secret (Daniel 2:19)

III. THE GLORY GIVEN (Daniel 2:19-49)

A. The Private Praise (Daniel 2:19-23)

1. Daniel blessed the God of heaven (Daniel 2:19-20).
2. Daniel gave God the credit for revealing the secret (Daniel 2:20-22).
3. Daniel thanked God for the revelation (Daniel 2:23).

B. The Public Praise (Daniel 2:24-49)

1. The question of Daniel’s ability (Daniel 2:26)
2. The proper perspective offered by Daniel (Daniel 2:27-30)
3. The telling of the dream and interpretation (Daniel 2:31-45)
4. The attempted praise of God by the heathen (Daniel 2:46-47)
5. The promotion of Daniel and his companions (Daniel 2:48-49)

CONCLUSION: Who are you trusting to solve your problems? Are you robbing God of opportunities to show Himself strong to you and those around you? Are you taking matters in your own hands, or trusting God with the answers and performance of those answers?