“I have had a dream, and my spirit is anxious to know the dream.” (Dan 2:3, NKJV)
In the next two teachings we will examine the general principles applicable to the interpretation and understanding of spiritual dreams and visions.
Firstly: As dreams can easily be stolen by the enemy (Job 20:8), it is important to cultivate the right attitude towards it. As a spiritual person you need to take your dreams seriously (1 Cor 2:14-15). Explicitly ask God to speak to you in this manner. Keep a journal next to your bed for jotting down dreams when you wake up, or if you’re woken up by the Spirit. If you do not write dreams down immediately, the chances are you will not be able to recall them later, regardless of how many times you sleepily memorise it from down under the duvet. We are often robbed of our dreams simply because we are lazy (Prov 19:15; Ecc 10:18) and thus our spiritual house cannot be built.
Secondly: The interpretation of dreams and visions comes from God. Like Daniel (2:17-18) we need to seek God’s counsel when deciphering our dreams, even though we, like him, discuss the dream with friends. Do not go about seeking spiritual consensus of a dream from your spiritual friends. Their opinions may be interesting and of some value, but are more often than not misleading. Rather follow Gideon’s example, who listened to the interpretation of his dream, but then tested this against God’s counsel (Judges 7:13-15). Daniel states this principle accordingly: “He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding. He reveals deep and secret things; He knows what is in the darkness, and light dwells with Him.” (Dan 2:21b-22). God is thus “He who reveals secrets …” (verse 29), and so Daniel can declare, “But as for me, this secret has not been revealed to me because I have more wisdom than anyone living, but for our sakes who make known the interpretation to the king, and that you may know the thoughts of your heart.” This first principle of the spiritual interpretation of dreams is stipulated in verse 45, “The great God has made known to the king what will come to pass after this. The dream is certain, and its interpretation is sure.” In this light, Prov 28:5 should be kept in mind – “those who seek the LORD understand all”.
Thirdly: Dreams are symbolic, and 95% of the time are of a personal nature. When one dreams about other people, it is very rarely that God is saying something about them (a misconception resulting in great deception), but rather that they are representative of certain elements in your life. In this way it is important to ask yourself what a certain individual represents for you personally. In the course of my spiritual walk I have developed a personal dream symbolism. I found out that when I dream of my father, he is generally a representation of God. When I dream of the house in which I grew up, it represents the spiritual house to which I belong, ElijahAfrica. In dreams my son Josua represents my calling. I have serious qualms about a fixed symbolic registrar that people connote to certain items, colours etc. There are instances where the Bible gives certain symbolic values (like blue being the colour of the Holy Spirit), but blue might have a completely different significance for you as individual. Ask God for His interpretation!
- Sela: Apply the principles stipulated above in analysing a dream you have documented.
- Read: 1 Sam 24; Ps 146, Luke 21
- Memorise: 1 Sam 24:16
