My
Bible First!
Year B
Q 2 #19
A King’s Nightmare
SUNDAY
I t wasn’t long after Daniel and his
friends were chosen to be among the
wise men of Babylon that something
scary happened. One day, Arioch, the
captain of the king’s guard, came to
tell them that the king had ordered
all the wise men to be killed, and that
he had come to get them,
along with all the others.
What had happened?
The captain told them
that King Nebuchadnez-
zar had dreamed a terrify-
ing dream. But he couldn’t
remember the dream nor
why it had made him so
frightened. He just knew
that it was an awful dream
and that it must be very
important. Not one of the
men who were supposed to
be so wise had been able to
help him, and now he was
so angry he had ordered
that all the wise men be
killed.
Here is what had hap-
pened: When the king
woke up and couldn’t
remember his dream, he
thought he knew just what
to do. Daniel 2:1-3.
The wise men, of course, asked
the king to tell them the dream.
Verse 4.
But the king had already said that
he wanted them to tell him what he
had dreamed. They were supposed to
be able to do magic things like that,
and he told them so. If they didn’t tell
The Children’s Daily
Bible Study Guide
him what he had dreamed, they were to help us, because He knows what
going to be in big trouble. Verse 5. we are thinking. Do you think Satan
But if they would tell him the wants us to do that?
dream and its meaning, he would
give them rich rewards. Verse 6.
Satan probably would have told
MONDAY
those heathen men the dream if he
could have. But he couldn’t. Do you K ing Nebuchadnezzar was talking
to some of his wise men, and they
know why? Satan can’t know what were afraid. They knew they couldn’t
do what the king was asking.
Daniel 2:7, 8.
The king was sure that
the men were lying. Maybe
he thought they were plan-
ning to just make up a mean-
ing of his dream, and he told
them that he wasn’t going to
let them fool him. Verse 9.
Now the wise men knew
they were in trouble. Once
more they tried to tell the
king that it was impossible
to tell him what the dream
meant unless he told them
what he had dreamed. They
said that none of their gods
were powerful enough to
help them do what he was
asking. Verses 10, 11.
That was true, wasn’t it?
Their idols were worthless.
But now the king was cer-
tain that they were lying. In
we are thinking. Satan himself didn’t a rage, he ordered that all the wise
know what the king had dreamed. men be killed—not just those with
Think: Even though Satan can’t tell whom he was talking. That’s why
for sure what we are thinking, do Arioch had come to get Daniel and
you think he can tell by the way we his three friends, who had not been
act whether we are listening to him with the other wise men when they
or to God? Even when we can’t kneel talked with the king. Verses 12, 13.
down and pray, we can always talk Think: How would you have felt if
to God in our minds and ask Him you had been listening as the cap-
tain told Daniel and his friends
about the problem? Would you have
been scared? What would you have
done?
TUESDAY
I t looked as if Daniel and his friends
might be killed together with all
the wise men. But did they panic? All
the other wise men and their families
must have been terrified.
But Daniel and his friends
belonged to a God they could trust.
So Daniel, with much risk to him-
self, went to King Nebuchadnezzar to
ask for time so he could tell the king
his dream and its meaning. Daniel
2:16.
Perhaps the king remembered that
this fine young man standing in front
of him was one of those four super-
bright students he had questioned.
Perhaps he wondered if his God was
really stronger than gods of the other
wise men. So he decided to wait and
see.
Daniel hurried back to his friends
to tell them that the king had given
them more time. And they all knew
that there was only one way that their
lives could be saved. How thankful
they must have been that they had
chosen to trust our great, powerful
God. They knew that He could help
them if it was in His plan for them.
Verses 17, 18.
The Bible doesn’t tell us how long
they prayed, but we can be sure that
they prayed earnestly for help. They
knew that only God was able to tell
both the dream and what it meant.
Think: How had Daniel and his
friends already shown that they were
choosing to be loyal to God? Had God
already blessed them for their choice?
How? Do the things we do and say
show whether we are choosing to be
like God and obey His Ten Com-
mandments?
WEDNESDAY The first thing Daniel did was to
D aniel and his three friends didn’t
have long to live unless God
helped them. And they were trusting
tell the king that the gods of the other
wise men really couldn’t tell him his
dream, but that there was a God who
God to do what He knew was best. could. Verses 27, 28.
God had already given Daniel a Then, Daniel reminded the king
special gift for understanding impor- that before going to sleep the night he
tant things about the future in dreams had the dream, he had been thinking
and visions. Daniel 1:17. about what would happen to his king-
What happened that night after dom after he died. King Nebuchadne-
Daniel and his friends had prayed for zzar was proud of great Babylon. He
help? Daniel 2:19. wanted it to last forever. Verse 29.
Daniel’s prayer to thank God is Maybe the king nodded his head as
beautiful. It shows that Daniel knew he listened. That was just what he had
where all true wisdom comes from, been thinking. Now, what about the
and that no one should ever be proud dream? We’ll find out tomorrow.
of being wise. They should only be Think: Satan can’t always tell what
very thankful. Verses 20-23. we are thinking, but does God always
Now the time had come for all the know?
wise men to be killed, unless Daniel’s
God could do something that the
gods of the other wise men couldn’t
THURSDAY
do. Their gods hadn’t been able
to tell either the king’s dream or
what it meant. Would Daniel’s
B efore telling the king his dream
and what it meant, Daniel
God be more powerful? Would
He be able to do both? M emory V erse
Yes. God had told Daniel both “Surely the Lord
the dream and its meaning. And
now Daniel told Arioch that he God does nothing,
was ready to tell the king. Verse unless He reveals
24.
Arioch must have been excited His secret to
as he quickly took Daniel to the His servants the
king. Verse 25.
Now the king was excited. prophets.”
Would Daniel really be able to Amos 3:7
help him? Verse 26.
reminded him that God knew his Each part of that amazing image, one, strong kingdom like the
thoughts and had sent him a dream starting at the head, represented others had been.
that would tell what would happen the kingdoms that would be in Then Daniel explained
in the future—all the way from right our world from the time of that the stone that smashed
then until Jesus comes back. God Babylon until Jesus comes back the image to dust repre-
was letting the king know about the the second time. sented God’s kingdom that
only true God, and He wanted him King Nebuchadnezzar must will begin when Jesus
to think about the choices he was have smiled when Daniel comes. It won’t be
making. Daniel 2:29, 30. told him that he was like the other
Then Daniel told the king his that head of gold. But kingdoms. It
dream. As Daniel talked, maybe the then, as Daniel went will be perfect,
king leaned forward, almost hold- on, the king knew and it will last
ing his breath. What was the dream? that the powerful, forever. Verses
Verses 31-35. wonderful king- 44, 45.
How exciting! The dream all came dom of Babylon The king was
back to the king. Everything Daniel wasn’t going to last learning that the God
said was exactly what he had seen, forever. And neither were of heaven was the only
and now he remembered every bit of any of the other kingdoms. true God. What did
it. Of course, he was eager to know Verses 37-43. he say about that after
what it meant. The chest and arms of Daniel finished tell-
But before telling the meaning, silver represented Medo- ing the dream and its
Daniel again reminded the king that it
Persia. The belly and meaning? Verses 46,
is the God of heaven who gives power thighs of bronze repre- 47.
to kings. He had made Nebuchadnez- sented Greece. And the Now that Daniel
zar the head of the most important legs of iron represented had told the dream
kingdom in the world at that time. the Roman Empire. and its meaning, the
Verses 37, 38. After the Roman king didn’t kill the
Think: That dream and its mean- Empire, there would be wise men who hadn’t
ing is very important for us to know several different nations. been able to tell the
about, too. And we need to under- They are represented by dream. And he made
stand even more about it than the the feet of iron and clay. Daniel and his three
king did. Isn’t that exciting? That means that some of friends important offi-
them would be strong like cers in his kingdom.
FRIDAY iron, and some would be
weak like clay. No one
Verses 48, 49.
Think: We are living in

A fter telling the king his dream, would ever be able to

Daniel explained its meaning. make them become
the time of the iron and
clay feet, which means
that it’s almost time for
Jesus to come. Does the meaning of
the king’s dream help you want to be
ready every minute for Jesus’ coming?
That will be like the stone that hit the
feet of the image, and it will end all
the wicked kingdoms in this world.

Further Study
Daniel 2; Prophets and Kings,
ch. 40; The Bible Story, vol. 6,
pp. 15-32.
 T S C HE TORY ORNER
Two Johns Change Their Minds
Adapted by Amy Sherrard
I t had rained all night;
but as it began to get
light the next morning,
the weather became cold
again. Then a snowstorm
started that lasted more
than a week. Finally the
snow stopped falling. But
then it started to rain
again. “We must go on
anyway,” Ellen told the
drivers.
“Will we be able to cross?” they asked the people
they met as they drove toward the Mississippi River.
“No.” “You can’t make it.” “Some people have
broken through the ice.” “I’d never try it.” Those were
the kind of answers they got.
At the river, the water on top of the ice was a foot
deep. “Do we go on to Iowa, or back to Illinois?” the
driver asked.
“Go on.” James and Ellen told them. And they
did.
Carefully the horses went down the bank and onto
the ice under the foot-deep water. Everyone in the
sleigh was praying. At every step it seemed that the
horses would surely break through the ice. If that would
happen, they might all drown in the icy water.
People on the other side of the river were watch-
ing; and when at last the horses pulled the sleigh up
onto the river bank, they all crowded around them.
They told of other people whose horses and sleighs
had broken through the ice.
It was Friday, so the tired travelers stayed in a hotel
over Sabbath. By Sunday, the weather had changed
back to freezing. As they rode along in the sleigh, they
warned each other about ears, cheeks, and noses that
were turning white and starting to freeze.
Finally they arrived at Waukon. At first, it seemed
that the believers there were not happy that they had
come. But before long, as James and Ellen spoke at
special meetings with them, their feelings changed.
At one of those meetings, Mary Loughborough
stood up and said, “I was wrong. I have sinned.” And
she asked to be forgiven for wanting John to leave
the work he was doing
for Jesus.
Then John, Mary’s
husband, stood up.
“I’m going to put my
tools away and never
use them again to earn
money. From now on I
will work for God only,”
he promised. The Holy
Spirit was there, and
Jesus gave Ellen some
visions to encourage them. Before James and Ellen
left, the believers in Waukon were once again a happy
family of God’s people.
John Loughborough kept his promise. He went
back with James and Ellen and worked faithfully for
Jesus the rest of his life.
God helped John Andrews get well, and he went
back to work, too. The two Johns were faithful, hard
workers as long as they lived.
Annie Smith and her younger brother, Uriah, were
two more workers for Jesus. Annie was a good writer
and also a poet. She died while she was still young;
but before that, she wrote some beautiful hymns that
we still sing today. (See our church hymnal.)
Uriah was a good worker, too. He wrote several
books that have helped people understand and love
the Bible. Like the two Johns, he also worked for Jesus
as long as he lived.
Did Jesus have many other workers besides James
and Ellen White? Oh, yes. We have met only a few
of them.
By now, Jesus has thousands of helpers. He uses
everyone who loves Him and wants to be a helper. Do
you want to be one of His helpers, too?
(Concluded)
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