Biblical Dream Interpretation
One of the most common- and correct -understandings of dream interpretation is that "interpretation belongs to God." Both Joseph and Daniel said this. Both these men of God are credited with the gift of interpreting dreams. It must be pointed out that their statement is greater than this simple application to dreams. It is interpretation which belongs to God. Not just dreams, but visions, prophecies, and messages spoken in tongues must be interpreted by leaning on the Holy Spirit, who leads us into all understanding. In addition to these, parables, and life events (many of which carry messages in scripture and natural history) must also be interpreted by God, and not by our minds, and certainly not by dream dictionaries, things I hate.
The second most common, though not common at all, is the understanding that our Father warns us in dreams. Elihu shares this wisdom with Job near the end of the book of Job, after the not-so-wise, older friends of Job finish speaking from their errant wisdom.
This warning nature of dreams is described in Job 33:14-18
"For God speaketh once, yea twice, [yet man] perceiveth it not. In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falleth upon men, in slumberings upon the bed; Then he openeth the ears of men, and sealeth their instruction, That he may withdraw man [from his] purpose, and hide pride from man. He keepeth back his soul from the pit, and his life from perishing by the sword. (KJV)"These are the words of Elihu, who was blessed by God with wisdom.
Dreams are not limited to service as warnings. We must also note that Joseph interpreted the cup bearer's dream- good news, a return to favor. Joseph also interpreted the bread maker's dream- bad news, death.
Daniel interpreted Nebechudnezzar's dream: bad news followed by forgiveness and a return to power.
Joseph received a dream from God: his brothers would all bow to him. It looked good... and in the end, it was. However, the road to fulfillment was emotionally and physically difficult.
In other cases, we see Elihu's wisdom manifested in biblical events. Joseph, husband of Mary, mother of Jesus, was warned in a dream to leave Judah because Herod planned to kill the child. He later received a dream that Herod died, and he should return to Judaea. En route to Judaea from Egypt, Joseph heard Archeleus, Herod's son, was in power. Notwithstanding his fear, Joseph was warned in another dream and he turned aside to settle in Galilee.