Daniel 2:17-30

17 Then Daniel went to his house and made the matter known to Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, his companions, 18 and told them to seek mercy from the God of heaven concerning this mystery, so that Daniel and his companions might not be destroyed with the rest of the wise men of Babylon. 19 Then the mystery was revealed to Daniel in a vision of the night. Then Daniel blessed the God of heaven. 20 Daniel answered and said:

  “Blessed be the name of God forever and ever,
    to whom belong wisdom and might.
21   He changes times and seasons;
    he removes kings and sets up kings;
  he gives wisdom to the wise
    and knowledge to those who have understanding;
22   he reveals deep and hidden things;
    he knows what is in the darkness,
    and the light dwells with him.
23   To you, O God of my fathers,
    I give thanks and praise,
  for you have given me wisdom and might,
    and have now made known to me what we asked of you,
    for you have made known to us the king’s matter.”

24 Therefore Daniel went in to Arioch, whom the king had appointed to destroy the wise men of Babylon. He went and said thus to him: “Do not destroy the wise men of Babylon; bring me in before the king, and I will show the king the interpretation.”

25 Then Arioch brought in Daniel before the king in haste and said thus to him: “I have found among the exiles from Judah a man who will make known to the king the interpretation.” 26 The king declared to Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, “Are you able to make known to me the dream that I have seen and its interpretation?” 27 Daniel answered the king and said, “No wise men, enchanters, magicians, or astrologers can show to the king the mystery that the king has asked, 28 but there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries, and he has made known to King Nebuchadnezzar what will be in the latter days. Your dream and the visions of your head as you lay in bed are these: 29 To you, O king, as you lay in bed came thoughts of what would be after this, and he who reveals mysteries made known to you what is to be. 30 But as for me, this mystery has been revealed to me, not because of any wisdom that I have more than all the living, but in order that the interpretation may be made known to the king, and that you may know the thoughts of your mind.

(ESV)

STOP! Think a little 🤔 What is God saying to you?

  • What is the writer saying?
  • How do I apply this to my life?

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Daniel went to his friends, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, and asked them to pray for God’s mercy in this situation. The only way they were going to escape death was if God provided them with the content and interpretation of the king’s dream, something no one could obtain for themselves. They trusted in God to intervene. God revealed the mystery to Daniel in a vision during the night. Daniel’s responded appropriately with a prayer of praise.

Daniel’s prayer acknowledged God as the eternal One who deserves praise forever. God is the source of both wisdom and power. He exhibits his power by controlling the seasons and by establishing and removing kings. Nebuchadnezzar was king because God determined to use him for His will. God is the One who gives wisdom to those who are wise and knowledge to those who have understanding. He reveals what is in the darkness. Things are clear to God even though we are surrounded by darkness. God is able to reveal the future. Daniel thanked God for giving him the king’s dream and its interpretation.

With the answer in hand, Daniel went to Arioch who had been charged with killing the wise men of Babylon and asked him to stay their execution because he was able to give the king the interpretation he desired. Arioch took Daniel to the king and presented him as one he’d found to give the king his interpretation. Arioch was clearly aiming to get some of the praise and recognition for Daniel’s revelation. The king gave Daniel the same condition. Was he able to supply both the contents of the dream and its interpretation? Daniel echoed what the wise man had said, no mere man would be able to satisfy the king’s request. But Daniel pointed to the God of heaven as the revealer of mysteries who had chosen to disclose to Nebuchadnezzar some of what the future held. Daniel admitted that none of what he would reveal was because he was any wiser than anyone else but because God had chosen to use him to help the king understand the thoughts God had given him.

When you find yourself facing an impossible situation, it is God who is able to give you both the wisdom to know what to do and the power to act. When those in authority over you seem unreasonable, remember that God in His sovereignty has established them and God can move them. Are you prepared to submit to God’s will and trust in His mercy? When He brings you through, will you remember to praise Him for the outcome?


Major Stories of the Bible Reading Plan

Joseph and His Brothers Part Two: Genesis 44-45