| | But
Nebuchadnezzar did not trust them. He explained that if they could
reveal his dream then he would believe they could interpret his dream.
The Chaldeans tried to escape. In the past they had pretended to be
something they were not. Now they were trapped and Nebuchadnezzar
responded in anger and ordered them to be killed.
| | Because
of this the king became indignant and very furious, and gave
orders to destroy all the wise men of Babylon. So the decree
went forth that the wise men should be slain; and they looked
for Daniel and his friends to kill them. (NASB) Dan. 2:12-13 |
He
was not only disappointed with them - he had lost faith in his wise
men. So why keep them?
Compassionate
Prophet. Apparently, Daniel and his friends were not
allowed to come before the king, since this was their first year in
the king’s personal service (Dan. 1:19). This would have been
their internship year. When Daniel the prophet learned what had happened
and of the order to kill the wise men which included himself and his
friends, he had compassion not just for the lives of his friends but
for the unbelieving wise men too! Daniel felt compassion for men who
were involved in the occult and pagan worship. What a lesson for us!
God calls us to love even those who disagree with us religiously.
Daniel did! Daniel responded by asking to speak to the king.
| | Then
Daniel replied with discretion and discernment to Arioch, the
captain of the king’s bodyguard, who had gone forth to
slay the wise men of Babylon; he answered and said to Arioch,
the king’s commander, “For what reason is the decree
from the king so urgent?” Then Arioch informed Daniel about
the matter. So Daniel went in and requested of the king that
he would give him time, in order that he might declare the interpretation
to the king. (NASB) Dan. 2:14-16 |
The
Lord granted Daniel favor with the king and he was given time to discover
the dream and to interpret it. So Daniel left and returned to his
friends and they asked God for help.
| | Then
Daniel went to his house and informed his friends, Hananiah,
Mishael and Azariah, about the matter, in order that they might
request compassion from the God of heaven concerning this mystery,
so that Daniel and his friends might not be destroyed with the
rest of the wise men of Babylon. Then the mystery was revealed
to Daniel in a night vision. Then Daniel blessed the God of
heaven; Daniel answered and said, “Let the name of God
be blessed forever and ever, For wisdom and power belong to
Him. And it is He who changes the times and the epochs; He removes
kings and establishes kings; He gives wisdom to wise men, And
knowledge to men of understanding. It is He who reveals the
profound and hidden things; He knows what is in the darkness,
And the light dwells with Him. To Thee, O God of my fathers,
I give thanks and praise, For Thou hast given me wisdom and
power; Even now Thou hast made known to me what we requested
of Thee, For Thou hast made known to us the king’s matter.”
(NASB) Dan. 2:17-23 |
God
was merciful and revealed the dream and its interpretation to Daniel.
How did Daniel respond? Daniel understood that he did not do it. He
understood that God did not need to reveal the dream nor its interpretation.
Daniel was thankful! It is great lesson for us. How often do we take
pride in what God has done through us? Daniel did not! He gave the
credit to God in his prayer.
I
Am Important. Daniel was now ready to go to the king, but
he must go through Arioch.
| | Therefore,
Daniel went in to Arioch, whom the king had appointed to destroy
the wise men of Babylon; he went and spoke to him as follows:
“Do not destroy the wise men of Babylon! Take me into the
king’s presence, and I will declare the interpretation
to the king.” Then Arioch hurriedly brought Daniel into
the king’s presence and spoke to him as follows: “I
have found a man among the exiles from Judah who can make the
interpretation known to the king!” (NASB) Dan. 2:24-25 |
| |
