DANIEL – Dream of the Statue

Narrator, King, Daniel, 3 friends, 2 advisors, Arioch

Narrator: Daniel and his 3 friends Shadrach. Meshach & Abednego, were captives in Babylon. They had been trained to become advisors to King Nebuchadnezzar and they had topped the class. In fact, they were found to be wiser and more knowledgeable than any of the kings own advisors, so they were chosen to live at the royal court. One day when Daniel and his friends were away….

King Nebuchadnezzar: My advisors! Where are you? Come to me quickly!

Advisor 1: Yes your Majesty. Here we are.

Advisor 2: What can we do Sire?

King Nebuchadnezzar: I’m worried. I had a dream last night. I couldn’t sleep and I want to know what my dream means.

Advisor 1: May your majesty live forever.

Advisor 2: Tell us your dream Sire, and we will explain it to you.

King Nebuchadnezzar: No! You must tell me my dream and then explain it. I’m not sure I trust you. If you are so clever, then tell me the dream first!

Advisor 1: But your majesty – no-one can do that. You must tell us the dream first – then we will explain it.

King Nebuchadnezzar: I’ll tear you limb from limb if you don’t tell me my dream – and I will reward you with many gifts and great honour if you do tell me. Now, what was my dream and what does it mean?

Advisor 2: But no-one can do this Sire. No king has ever made such a demand before. What your majesty asks, only the gods can do – no human can.

King Nebuchadnezzar: Execute them! Execute all my advisors. ALL of them!

Narrator: So the advisors were taken away to prepare for their execution. Meanwhile the king’s bodyguard came to see Daniel.

Arioch: Hello Daniel. Are you ready to die?

Daniel: What is the meaning of all this? Why has the king issued such an order?

Arioch: Well, King Nebuchadnezzar wanted to know the meaning of a dream he had. He also insisted his advisors tell him the dream first – and then the meaning of it.

Daniel: I see.

Arioch: And as that is impossible to do, you will all be executed.

Daniel: I will see what can be done.

Narrator: So Daniel went at once to ask an audience of the king.

King Nebuchadnezzar: Ho, Daniel. What do you want? You have not long to live.

Daniel: Your majesty, please give me time to tell you what the dream means.

King Nebuchadnezzar: Ha! Do you think you are better then the other advisors?

Daniel: I wasn’t here yesterday Sire. I have only just heard about this today. I just ask you to delay the executions one more day.

King Nebuchadnezzar: Very well. I will await your answer in the morning. No longer.

Narrator: Daniel hurried away to find his 3 friends.

Daniel: Pray earnestly to God. Ask for His mercy, and for Him to tell me what the dream was about and what it means, so we may live.

3 Friends: Surely we will. (go and kneel down and pray)

Narrator: That same night Daniel had a vision- he saw what King Nebuchadnezzar had seen. And God gave him the meaning of it as well.

Daniel: My friends, God has revealed to me the dream that the king had. He has given me the dream and its meaning. Praise be to God who knows all things. He has told me what to tell the king. Arioch! Arioch!

Arioch: Yes Daniel?

Daniel: Don’t put the advisors to death. Take me to the king. I can tell him about his dream.

Narrator: So Arioch led Daniel off to see King Nebuchadnezzar.

(Next week we will learn about the Kings dream)

Lesson: Trust in the Lord.
Daniel loved God and he knew God could give him the answers, as God knows everything. So Daniel prayed to God and then waited for God to answer. Even if God had not given Daniel the answer and they were killed, Daniel still would trust God.
God has plans for each one of us, but He can only use that plan if we will trust and obey Him.