I Thank Thee O Thou God Of My Fathers, Who Hast Given Me Wisdom And Might, And Hast Made Known Unto Me Now What We Desired Of Thee - Part 2548

"Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said we ought to obey God rather than men." (Acts 5:29)

As we learned in the last post, Daniel serves as an exemplary example of withstanding decrees and orders that do not align with our allegiance to our Lord God and Saviour Jesus the Christ. Of course, Daniel is not the only one in the scriptures to do so, but notably, his example of "purposing in his heart" and allowing the Lord God to pave the way for others to see his witness does provide us with particular insights into how to disobey worldly authorities - without jeopardizing our Christ-like testimony to others. 

As background -- in the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim (king of Judah) came Nebuchadnezzar (king of Babylon) unto Jerusalem and besieged it. And the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, with part of the vessels of the house of God, which he carried into the land of Shinar to the house of his small-g god. The king also brought the vessels into the treasure hose of his god. And the king spake unto Ashpenz the then master of his eunuchs, that he should bring certain of the children of Israel, and of the king's seed, and of the princes -- children in whom was no blemish, but well favoured and skilful in all knowledge and understanding science, and had ability in them to stand in the king's palace. The purpose? So that these children "might teach the learning and the tongue of the Chaldeans." (Daniel 1:1-4; II Samuel 14:25; Daniel 5:11) 

Daniel has just taken a stand against eating king's meat and drinking the wine. Indeed, Daniel purposed in his heart to not defile himself. Thus, Daniel requests of the prince of eunuchs that he might not defile himself -- and consequently, God had brought Daniel into favour and tender love with the prince of eunuchs. The prince of eunuchs (Melzar) was somewhat concerned about Daniel endangering his own head (in terms of the king), if Daniel and his companions  Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego (aka under their Babylonian names -- Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah) deteriorated as a consequence of not partaking in the king's feasts. Daniel asks the prince to prove thy servants for a period of ten days and let them give us to pulse to eat, and water to drink. (Daniel 1:8-12)

The other point worth noting is that Daniel did find a resolution that Melzar (the prince of the eunuchs) was able to accommodate. As a consequence of Daniel's faithfulness, God gave all four (Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah) knowledge and skill in learning and wisdom, and Daniel specifically, understanding in all visions and dreams. So much so, that the king concluded that in all matters of wisdom and understanding, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers that were in all his realm. (Daniel 1:1-21) 

Moving to the second chapter of Daniel, we know that the Chaldean Empire (also called the Babylonian Empire - after the capital city Babylon) was ascending to power under king Nebuchadnezzar. The Babylonian army had invaded Judah and many Jews, which included the children of prominent families were taken to Babylon as prisoners. (Daniel 1:1-16)

From a scholarly perspective, we know as well that Nebuchadnezzar's dream and visions of prophecies of great empires has captured the attention of many over the years, particularly in relation to the end times described in the book of Revelation. Herein, in the second year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar, the king becomes troubled, and his sleep brake from him over a dream he had had. The king commands the magicians, the sorcerers and the Chaldeans to show and interpret his dream. But the king could not remember the dream so he offers them a choice.

"The thing is gone from me: if ye will not make known unto me the dream, with the interpretation thereof, ye shall be cut in pieces, and your houses shall be made a dunghill. But if ye shew the dream, and the interpretation thereof, ye shall receive of me gifts and rewards and great honour; therefore shew me the dream and the interpretation thereof." (Daniel 2:1-6) 

But these did not know the content of the king's dream and therefore could not offer the king an interpretation. As we know, this did not please Nebuchadnezzar. Indeed, the king said, "... but if ye will not make known unto me the dream [there is but] one decree for you; for ye have prepared lying and corrupting worlds to speak before me, till the time be changed; therefore, tell me the dream, and I shall know that ye can shew me the interpretation thereof." Of course, the Chaldeans told the king there is not a man upon earth that can show the king's matter: therefore, there is no king, lord, nor ruler, that asked such thing [of] any magician or astrologer or Chaldean." (Daniel 2:10) Perhaps, these spoke too soon.

Acknowledging that this was a rare thing, and that there is none other capable of showing it to the king -- except the gods whose dwelling is not with flesh -- the conclusions made by the Chaldeans and wise men of Babylon did not make the king happy. (Daniel 2:6-12) So the king decrees that these wise men be slain. Since Daniel and his fellows were considered a part of these wise men of Babylon, the king's decree included slaying Daniel and his three friends. 

This could have been the end of the story. Nebuchadnezzar could have continued to be disturbed by his dreams -- his spirit troubled by what he saw. But it was not the end. Daniel (with counsel and wisdom) spoke to the captain of the king's guard Arioch and stood int he gap. Daniel asked, "Why is the decree so hasty from the king?" Then Arioch made the things known to Daniel. So Daniel desires to see the king, asking for some time, and that he would show the king the interpretation. 

Interestingly, Daniel then returns to his house, and made the thing known to Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah (renamed Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego by the prince of the eunochs) - his companions; that they would desire mercies of the God of heaven concerning this secret; that Daniel and his fellows should not perish with the rest of the wise [men] of Babylon. In agreement, all four beseeched God for his help and deliverance from what may have seemed to them imminent death. (Daniel 2:17-19) 

What happens? The secret is revealed to Daniel in a night vision. How does Daniel respond? First, Daniel blesses the Name of God forever and ever; for wisdom and might is His. (Daniel 2:13-20) Second, Daniel appears before the king, telling him that there is a God in heaven who reveals secrets, and it is that God in heaven that has revealed to Daniel not only the dream but its interpretation also. 

Still, most notable? Daniel gives thanks and praises Thee, O Thou God of my fathers -- for the wisdom and understanding that he received.

"Blessed be the name of God for ever and ever: for wisdom and might are His; and He changes the times and the seasons: He removes kings, and sets up kings: He gives wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding: He reveals the deep and secret things: He knows what is in the darkness,
and the light dwells with Him. I thank Thee, and praise Thee, O thou God of my fathers, who hast given me wisdom and might, and hast made known unto me now what we desired of  Thee: for Thou hast now made known unto us the king’s matter." (Daniel 2:20-23)

Kind of reminds me of Philemon 1:6 on the new testament side -- that the communication of our faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in us in Christ Jesus. As we are witnessing, Daniel did not hold back in testifying of the goodness and mercies of the Lord. But I digress.

It is also important to understand that when Daniel went to Arioch asking him not to destroy the wise men, Daniel was standing in the gap for their lives. Arioch brings Daniel to the king, saying, "I have found a man of the captives of the Judah, that will make known unto the king the interpretation." (Daniel 2:25; Daniel 1:6; Daniel 6:13) The king answered and said to Daniel [whose Babylonian name was Belteshazzar), "Art thou able to make known unto me the dream which I have seen, and the interpretation thereof?" Daniel answered in the presence of the king:

"The secret which the king hath demanded cannot the wise [men], the astrologers, the magicians, the soothsayers, shew unto the king; but there is a God in heaven that reveals secrets, and makes known to the king Nebuchadnezzar what shall be in the latter days. Thy dream and the visions of thy head upon thy bed are these; As for thee, O king, thy thoughts came [into thy mind] upon thy bed, what should come to pass hereafter; and he that reveals secrets makes known to thee what shall come to pass. But as for me, this secret is not revealed to me for any wisdom that I have more than any living, but for [their] sakes that shall make known the interpretation to the king, and that thou might know the thoughts of thy heart. Thou O king, saw and behold a great image. This great image, whose brightness was excellent, stood before thee, and the form was terrible." (Daniel 2:28-30) 

Daniel goes on to describe a great image (whose brightness was excellent; the form thereof terrible) standing before him. He breaks the image down into parts -- the head made of fine gold, the breast and arms of fine silver, his belly and his thighs of brass, his legs of iron and his feet part of iron and part of clay. (Daniel 2:31-33) Then comes the part wherein a stone was cut without hands, which smote the image upon his feet [that were of iron and clay] and brake them to pieces, and blown away like chaff. (Daniel 1:34) This stone then becomes a huge mountain that fills the whole earth. (Daniel 2:35) 

The stone which is Jesus the Christ who will crush the worldly systems and set up His kingdom for those faithful who believe in Him. At the end the king says to Daniel, "Of a truth it is, that your God is a God of gods, and a Lord of kings, and a revealer of secrets, seeing thou couldst reveal this secret." (Daniel 2:47) 

As he promised, the king makes Daniel a great man, giving him many gifts, and making him a ruler over the whole province of Babylon, and chief of the governors over all the wise men of Babylon. Did Daniel forget the other three fellows? Not a chance. Daniel requests of the king that he set Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego over the affairs of the province of Babylon, and Daniel sat in the gate of the king. (Daniel 2:47-49)

Interestingly, in chapters one and two, the only one of the four to retain his original name throughout (without changing -- depending on the circumstance) is Daniel. In Daniel 1:6-7, we see the prince of the eunuchs give the four (including Daniel) new names. In Daniel 1:11, Daniel uses the original names of his three companions to Melzar in his request. It was the same in Daniel 1:19 when the king communed with the four. In Daniel 2:17, Daniel is making the decree known to his three companions, again using their original names as children of Israel. But by Daniel 2:49, Daniel is requesting that the king set Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego over the affairs of the province of Babylon. 

In chapter three, king Nebuchadnezzar acknowledges the God of heaven, saying, "Therefore I make a decree, That every people, nation, and language, which speak any thing amiss against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, shall be cut in pieces, and their houses shall be made a dunghill: because there is no other God that can deliver after this sort." (Daniel 3:29) 

Where is Daniel in this upcoming decree? We will find out next time. But for now, continue to meditate on these scriptural insights so that we can stand too when the time comes, rejoice in the God of heaven who willingly dwelt among us so that we might have life, and be glad that this is the day that the Lord hath made for us -- and that we were created for such times as these. More to come!

In the interim, stand in the offering plate.