Daniel 2:31-38 - You are that head of gold

2:31-35

The dream had involved a great statue, “awesome in appearance”. First we get a description of the statue, this will be followed by an interpretation. The quality of metal goes down as one descends from the head to the feet. The head is made of pure gold, its chest and arms of silver, its belly and thighs of bronze, its legs of iron, and the feet of iron and clay. But then there was a rock that was cut out, separate from the statue. This rock struck the feet of the statue and smashed them. So the whole of the statue was completely destroyed, leaving no trace. But the rock became a huge mountain and filled the whole earth.

2:36-38

Daniel begins the interpretation by telling the king that he has been given dominion and power and might and glory, and all this comes from God. It was given to him by God. Nebuchadnezzar is the head of gold, and he has been made ruler over all, over all mankind and the beasts of the field. Now a point that I make every now and then. Maybe it is a bee in my bonnet, but I think it is worth noting. When it says “all mankind and the beasts” it does not literally mean “all mankind”. They were unaware of most of mankind! It means he had great power in the region. So “when it says all it means all” is sometimes true and sometimes it isn’t! Everything has to be interpreted in its context. Sometimes a “literal” interpretation does nothing other than demonstrate that the interpreter is illiterate!