¹ “Now in the second year of Nebuchadnezzar’s reign, Nebuchadnezzar had dreams; and his spirit was so troubled that his sleep left him. ² Then the king gave the command to call the magicians, the astrologers, the sorcerers, and the Chaldeans to tell the king his dreams. So they came and stood before the king. ³ And the king said to them, ‘I have had a dream, and my spirit is anxious to know the dream.’”

Chapters two through seven deal with the “times of the Gentiles” referenced by Christ (Luke 21:24).  Chapters two and seven give the most comprehensive picture of prophecy dealing with the Gentile nations anywhere in Scripture.  The time frame stretches from 600 BC to when Christ returns Second Coming (not the Rapture). 

2:1

Now in the second year of Nebuchadnezzar’s reign, Nebuchadnezzar had dreams; and his spirit was so troubled that his sleep left him.

Nebuchadnezzar was the head of the first great world empire.  He conquered the Assyrian empire and then the Syrian.  He defeated the Egyptians.  He was co-monarch with Nabopolassar, his father, for about two years.  The “second year” of his reign would be about four years after he carried Daniel into captivity. 

In the second year of Nebuchadnezzar’s reign, he struggled with a recurring, troubling dream about his empire.  Where was it going, and where would it end? 

2:2

Then the king gave the command to call the magicians, the astrologers, the sorcerers, and the Chaldeans to tell the king his dreams. So they came and stood before the king.

Nebuchadnezzar summoned the philosophers and religious leaders of his realm. “Magicians” professed to divine the future using many means; they were the sacred writers.  The “astrologers” were the priestly caste that studied the heavens to determine the future.  “Sorcerers” cast spells by witchcraft or incantations.  The “Chaldeans” (also a priestly caste) here are soothsayers who teach Chaldean culture and not native Chaldeans. 

2:3

And the king said to them, “I have had a dream, and my spirit is anxious to know the dream.”

Nebuchadnezzar was in a state of anxiety because he did not know the meaning of the dream about his empire.  This shook him immensely.  He was the most powerful man of his day.  This shows that no matter how high the station or how great the unbeliever, he has no ultimate security in life.  With all his power, conquests, successes, and greatness, none of it gave him peace.  He is worried, insecure, and frightened. 

PRINCIPLE: 

Success will never replace inner peace. 

APPLICATION: 

No matter how successful we are or how much money we make, we will never have inner peace until we come to grips with the Prince of Peace.  Success is not the ultimate reality of life.  However, having a fellowship with God and rest in His provisions gives us that inner peace.  We get that peace through fellowship with the Lord from the Word of God.