Daniel 2: Keeping your perspective…

While we do not learn from Daniel chapter 2 whether any of the king’s wise men were executed, we do know that the Commander of the king’s guard was on his way to carry out the king’s orders. This is when Daniel finally learned of the predicament that they all were in and he did an amazing and a courageous thing. Most of us, faced with this kind of a situation, would have deserved the indictment that the king served on his top advisors. He accused them of trying to “buy time”.

Most of us would undoubtedly try to talk our way out of the situation or otherwise try to convince the king that we were not really a part of his problem Daniel was different. Daniel, with all of his God-given wisdom and with great tact (see 2:14), immediately asked about the source of the king’s anger. Arioch explained the situation to him and here is where Daniel’s reaction is so remarkable. He went directly to the king. The king had ordered his death, in anger, and he daringly went directly to the one man who had the authority, and apparently the inclination, to order and carry out his execution.

The king must have already had a taste of Daniel’s wisdom and tact because he actually listened to Daniel’s appeal. He gave him additional time to interpret the dream. Some would say that the king was just being fair, or that his curiosity had got the best of him. Considering that our source is the Scripture, the Word of God, we might reasonably conclude that there is more involved in the king’s forbearance. Perhaps he was merely curious to see and hear what the God of the Jews would have to say. After all, they were his prisoners and so, he may have thought, was their God.

Having had his life extended by a few hours, Daniel might have begun planning a means to escape. He might have worked on a scheme with his friends or even with his pagan peers. He might have gone to Arioch, since he obviously had a great deal of trust in him, and pleaded for his life. However, he did none of these things. One thing we need to remember about Daniel is that he was unlike any of his peers and very unlike the people of our culture today. He was fiercely loyal and consummately faithful to his God.

What Daniel did do was to hold a prayer meeting with his friends. He briefly told them the nature of the problem and asked them to go to God and ask Him for wisdom and insight equal to this task. This is particularly poignant when we consider that his pagan peers had already declared this assignment to be outside the capability of any man and beyond the interest of “the gods”.

In verse 19, Daniel has the mystery revealed to him by God in a vision, during the night. His reaction to this miracle is also amazing when compared to what we might do or expect others to do. The next several verses reveal that Daniel’s reaction was to praise God, to give Him thanks! Of all of the things he might have done at this point, he stops to thank God for what He has done. There is no earthly reason to be certain, at this point, that the king won’t make good on his threat to kill him and his friends, even if he does interpret the dream. But he takes time to thank God for answering his prayer.

Thought: At the very least, Daniel’s faithfulness to and confidence in his God in the face of grave danger bought some additional time for the other wise men. At best, his actions and the faithfulness of his God saved their lives. Like Daniel, we should never waver in our commitment to the One who has done so much for us. Even when our self-confidence disintegrates or disappears, our God-confidence should remain strong. He is always faithful. (If He were not always faithful, He could not be God.)

As we face the challenges that God has designed for us this week, let’s have great confidence that He will never do us harm that will not ultimately improve us. He will never lead us down a path that He is not familiar with, and He will accompany us. He will not ask us to do anything that He is not prepared to assist us with and for which he is not prepared to supply all that we need. Sometimes the best word for faithfulness is endurance. Finally, in the light of all the rest, don’t forget to give thanks to Him, regardless of the circumstances. He deserves it!

By His grace, there is more to come….