King Nebuchadnezzar II was a powerful, irrational and highly emotional king. The book of Daniel chapter 2 records his frustration over a troublesome dream he had. He doesn’t remember his dream and is determined to know what it means. His fortunetellers, magicians, and enchanters are brought in for this task. Their responses recorded in verses 10 and 11 indicate the enormity of the task. (10 The Chaldeans answered the king and said, “There is not a man on earth who could declare the matter for the king, inasmuch as no great king or ruler has ever asked anything like this of any magician, conjurer or Chaldean. 11 Moreover, the thing which the king demands is difficult, and there is no one else who could declare it to the king except gods, whose dwelling place is not with mortal flesh.” -Daniel 2:10-11 NASB)
King Nebuchadnezzar, however, was not one to take ‘impossible’ as an answer. He decreed that all the wise men of Babylon be executed.
Daniel hears of this and requests for time from the king. That’s a bold step – to approach an angry irrational king.
But Daniel has a plan. He knew the skills and gifts God had blessed him with (Daniel 1:17) but he also knew his gift was dependent on God. Daniel asks his friends to pray to the God of heaven for mercy in solving this mystery…(Daniel 2:18)
Daniel was aware that he needed the prayers of his friends who were faithful followers of Yahweh. He knew he couldn’t do this on his own and he was not meant to do this on his own.
So what are you asking God for? Are you relying on your skills or talents or gifts? Are your gifts dependent on God? And do you have friends alongside you to represent your request before God ? You don’t need to and are not expected to live life by yourself.
The next morning Daniel appears before the king to narrate the king’s forgotten dream and its interpretation. Even before he begins he gives God the glory (remember even the Chaldeans declared that this task was unheard of and not something mortals could do…only the Gods whose dwelling place is not with mortal flesh‘).
Daniel answered before the king and said, “As for the mystery about which the king has inquired, neither wise men, conjurers, magicians nor diviners are able to declare it to the king. 28 However, there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries, and He has made known to King Nebuchadnezzar what will take place in the latter days. This was your dream and the visions in your mind while on your bed. Daniel 2:27-28 (NASB)
Daniel honestly relays the dream and its interpretation even though it was not ‘good news’ for king Nebuchadnezzar.
God once again uses his people to show them and the ‘other’ nations that He is God.
47 The king answered Daniel and said, “Surely your God is a God of gods and a Lord of kings and a revealer of mysteries since you have been able to reveal this mystery.” Daniel 2:47 (NASB)
What a mighty God we serve!
Daniel is honored. He remembers his friends who stood with him in prayer. They too are given greater responsibilities in king Nebuchadnezzar’s kingdom. It is a privilege to pray for another.
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