Daniel (Greek) 2:44-49: a reflection

44“In the days of those kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which will never be destroyed, nor will its sovereignty be left to another people; but it will break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it will stand forever. 45Because you saw that a stone was cut out of the mountain without hands, and that it broke in pieces the iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver, and the gold. The great God has made known to the king what will happen hereafter. The dream is certain, and its interpretation sure.” 46Then King Nebuchadnezzar fell on his face, worshiped Daniel, and commanded that they should offer an offering and sweet odors to him. 47The king answered to Daniel, and said, “Of a truth your God is the God of gods, and the Lord of kings, and a revealer of secrets, since you have been able to reveal this secret.” 48Then the king made Daniel great, and gave him many great gifts, and made him rule over the whole province of Babylon, and to be chief governor over all the wise men of Babylon. 49Daniel requested of the king, and he appointed Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego over the affairs of the province of Babylon; but Daniel was in the king’s gate.

As Daniel interprets the king's dream of a great statue toppled by a stone, he reveals a truth about the kingdoms of the world and the kingdom of God. The great kingdoms of the earth, however impressive, would rise and fall, be broken and pass away; but in the days of those kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which will never be destroyed, and it will stand forever. Every earthly kingdom, however great, is temporary, destined to crumble; but the kingdom God sets up will never be destroyed, never pass to another, never end. It will outlast all the kingdoms of the world, standing forever when they have long since fallen. The kingdoms of the earth rise and fall; the kingdom of God alone endures forever. God's kingdom is the one that will never be destroyed, the one that stands when all others have passed away.

Notice the contrast Daniel draws: the passing kingdoms of the earth, and the everlasting kingdom of God. The statue in the dream, made of gold, silver, bronze, iron, and clay, represented the great kingdoms of the world, each impressive in its day; but the stone cut without hands broke them all in pieces, and grew to fill the earth. This stone was the kingdom of God, which will never be destroyed and will stand forever. However impressive and enduring the kingdoms of the world seem, they are all temporary, destined to fall; only the kingdom of God is indestructible and everlasting. This is worth holding onto, for we can be dazzled by the power and permanence the world's kingdoms seem to have, and forget that they too will pass; but God's kingdom alone endures. The earthly powers that seem so permanent will fall; the kingdom of God will stand forever. To belong to that kingdom is to belong to what cannot be destroyed. The everlasting kingdom is God's.

That is worth resting in, for the kingdom of God will never be destroyed but stands forever, when all earthly kingdoms have passed away. We can be impressed by the seeming permanence of earthly powers and kingdoms, and invest our hope in them, forgetting that they too will crumble; but Daniel reveals that only the kingdom of God is indestructible and everlasting. The kingdoms of the world rise and fall; God's kingdom alone endures forever. To belong to it is to belong to what cannot be destroyed. Do not invest your hope in earthly kingdoms that will pass; the kingdom of God alone endures forever, as Daniel revealed. Rest your hope in the kingdom of God, which will never be destroyed but stands forever, unlike the kingdoms of the earth that rise and fall, as Daniel revealed that the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed and will stand forever; for the great powers of the world, however permanent they seem, are temporary and will crumble, but God's kingdom is indestructible and everlasting, and to belong to it is to belong to what will stand when all else has passed away.

Lord, as Daniel interprets the king's dream of a great statue toppled by a stone, he reveals a truth about the kingdoms of the world and your kingdom. The great kingdoms of the earth, however impressive, would rise and fall, be broken and pass away; but in the days of those kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which will never be destroyed, and it will stand forever. Every earthly kingdom, however great, is temporary, destined to crumble; but the kingdom you set up will never be destroyed, never pass to another, never end. It will outlast all the kingdoms of the world. Show me the contrast Daniel draws: the passing kingdoms of the earth, and your everlasting kingdom. The statue in the dream represented the great kingdoms of the world, each impressive in its day; but the stone cut without hands broke them all in pieces, and grew to fill the earth. This stone was your kingdom, which will never be destroyed. However impressive the kingdoms of the world seem, they are all temporary; only your kingdom is indestructible and everlasting. I can be dazzled by the power the world's kingdoms seem to have, and forget that they too will pass; but your kingdom alone endures. Let me rest in that, for your kingdom will never be destroyed but stands forever. I can be impressed by the seeming permanence of earthly powers, and invest my hope in them; but only your kingdom is everlasting. To belong to it is to belong to what cannot be destroyed. Keep me from investing my hope in earthly kingdoms that will pass; help me rest my hope in your kingdom, Lord, which will never be destroyed but stands forever, as Daniel revealed.