Here are my Bible study notes from last night. I'm just going to give some of the highlights. BTW, the discussion was great!

2:1-11 Dreams in the ancient world were considered to be messages from the gods. King Nebuchadnezzar had a dream the scared him. He called on his wise men to not only interpret the dream but to tell him what the dream was. Why? The king new these guys were full of crap and only told him what he wanted to hear. But what he needed now was truth, not just someone who would agree with him. If he had told them the dream first they could have ascribed any meaning to it. Again, he needed the truth.

[Application]
I see this a lot in folks who don't care about the truth until they get scared - or something happens. They don't want to talk about spiritual truth, God, Heaven, etc. until say... a love one dies. Then they want to know.

Sometimes God allow scary stuff to come into our lives because He's tried every other way to get your attention.

2:10, 11 Nebuchadnezzar's dream could only be interpreted by a servant of God because it was a message from God.

Daniel was not "special" or "supernatural." It was God who gave him his ability. And Daniel game Him credit for it.

I love it when God gives us things to do that without Him it will surely fail!

==>> God does the impossible!

Note: Nebuchadnezzar didn't need wisdom or knowledge. He needed a word from the Lord.

==>> Lot's of people are practical athiests. They say they believe in God but they don't do anything He says.

2:16-18 Daniel didn't fear the king, he feared God.

Daniel had confidence that God would tell him what he needed to know. That's a good strategy by the way.

==>> Prayer is more effective than panic!

Daniel's faith in God not only saved him, but it saved those around him (ie., the wise men in babylon and his friends).

2:19-23 Daniel could have taken credit for what God had done but he didn't. He gave God credit, glory and honor.

[Application]
Don't take credit for what God has done. And make sure to give him praise for the things he's done!

2:31f The dream....

2:49 Good leaders have good people around them.

Leaders delegate and empower!