Download the Print PDF:
Today we continue in Daniel 2. Remember we divided the chapter as follows:
- The Challenge and Failure of the Wise Men, vs 1-13.
- Daniel’s Plea, vs 14-16.
- Daniel’s Prayer, vs 17-18.
- Daniel’s Praise, vs 19-23.
- Daniel’s Testimony, vs 24-30.
- The Dream, vs 31-35.
- The Interpretation, vs 36-45.
- Daniel’s Rewards, vs 46-49.
Last week we covered the first three sections of the chapter and today we will address Daniel’s praise and testimony. In verses 5-13 Daniel and his friends are suddenly faced with a humanely impossible test. Neb had asked his wise men to tell him a dream he had and to also interpret it. And unfortunately, if no one could be found to do so, Neb would execute them all. In verse 16 Daniel approaches the king and asks for time to figure it out and in verses 17 and 18, Paul asks his friends to plead for mercy before God to know, understand, and interpret the dream, and therefore, not be executed. We see in verse 19 God answers Daniel’s and his friend’s prayer.
Daniels Praise, vs 19-23.
During the night the mystery was revealed to Daniel in a vision. Then Daniel praised the God of heaven 20 and said: “Praise be to the name of God for ever and ever; wisdom and power are his.
21 He changes times and seasons; he deposes kings and raises up others. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning. 22 He reveals deep and hidden things; he knows what lies in darkness, and light dwells with him. 23 I thank and praise you, God of my ancestors: You have given me wisdom and power, you have made known to me what we asked of you, you have made known to us the dream of the king.”
Vs 19a: During the night the mystery was revealed to Daniel in a vision.
In verse 19 we see God answer their prayers; for the mystery of the dream and its interpretation is given to Daniel in the night in a vision. Note a vision is something that is given when you are awake, not asleep. The vision Daniel received is at night, which means he is not sleeping. We have no idea what he was doing, but my bet is he was praying and seeking the Lord with all his might.
Vs 19b: Then Daniel praised the God of heaven,
Daniel now gives a brief but dense praise of thanksgiving to God for revealing the mystery to him. As we read this section it is important to remember Daniel is somewhere between 18-20 years old. His spiritual maturity is remarkable. He was taken from his country, most likely separated from his family, placed in an educational system committed to erasing and redefining his spiritual heritage, and now is being groomed to serve the king. He makes a choice not to defile himself in 1:8 and remains faithful to God regardless of his circumstance. Now he and his friends are in an existential crisis. But God answers their prayer and Daniel praises God for answering them. Note Daniel uses the same phrase for God as in verse 18, the God of heaven.
There are four major things revealed about God in this short praise. Note the following:
- God is eternal, wise, and powerful, verse 20.
- God is Sovereign, vs 21.
- God is a God of revelation, vs 22.
- God uses men for his purposes, vs 23.
Vs 20: and said: “Praise be to the name of God for ever and ever; wisdom and power are his.
Daniel starts his prayer of praise with a declaration that God is worthy of our praise for ever and ever. He is the everlasting God, the eternal one! As Ps 90:2 states before the mountains were or you brought forth the whole world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God.
Then Daniel acknowledges God’s wisdom. The word wisdom implies knowledge and application. God is the ultimate source of knowledge and how that knowledge is to be applied. God knows all things. The theological word for this is omniscience. 1 Sam 2:3 says for the Lord is a God who knows. God was the source of Neb’s dream and Daniel praises God for knowing all things.
Then Daniel praises God for his power. This contrasts with Neb’s power who at the time was the most powerful man on earth. We will see in chapter 5, the decree of Darius had to be written down while Neb’s rule was autocratic: at the whim of his will, he could demand anything to happen. Daniel knows that God is more powerful than Neb or of all the Babylonian empire. So, the God of Heaven is eternal, all knowing, and all powerful.
Vs 21: He changes times and seasons; he deposes kings and raises up others. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning.
In this verse Daniel praises God for His sovereignty. God controls the world and its affairs. Daniel notes three things: God is sovereign over the natural world for He changes the times and the seasons. The word times means a year while seasons are just that. Therefore, God changes the years and the seasons within them. He deposes kings and raises up others;God is sovereign over the government of men. God is the one who raises up and brings down rulers and nations for his purposes. Job 12:23 states, He makes nations great and destroys them, he enlarges nations and disperses them. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning. God is sovereign over the salvation of men. Daniel and his friends were condemned to die, yet God rescued them with supernatural revelation. He gave Daniel wisdom and knowledge that provided his salvation. Just as today we are given the knowledge and wisdom of the scriptures that leads to our salvation and a righteous life.
Vs 22: He reveals deep and hidden things; he knows what lies in darkness, and light dwells with him.
God is the God of revelation. He reveals deep and hidden things. Knowledge is known in only three ways: rationally (you create it in your mind: mathematics is a good example), experience (through your five senses), or through some external revelation. God reveals what He wants known. In Daniel’s case it is a dream and its interpretation. God is aware of everything that exists. As Job 12:22 states, He reveals the deep things of darkness and brings the utter darkness into light. Deep and hidden things, means things that are unsearchable, unknowable, and secrets to us, like dreams, how the earth was made, God’s plan of salvation, etc. It is an extensive list of things we do not know. The phrase light dwells with him, means God is light and light shines and exposes everything it reaches. What Daniel is saying is that God is light and his light shines into every nook and cranny of the universe, hence he knows everything and will reveal it only according to his purpose and desire.
Vs 23: I thank and praise you, God of my ancestors: You have given me wisdom and power, you have made known to me what we asked of you, you have made known to us the dream of the king.”
In verse 23 Daniel praises God for answering his prayers and the prayers of his three companions.
Daniel’s Testimony, vs 24-30.
Then Daniel went to Arioch, whom the king had appointed to execute the wise men of Babylon, and said to him, “Do not execute the wise men of Babylon. Take me to the king, and I will interpret his dream for him.” 25 Arioch took Daniel to the king at once and said, “I have found a man among the exiles from Judah who can tell the king what his dream means.” 26 The king asked Daniel (also called Belteshazzar), “Are you able to tell me what I saw in my dream and interpret it?” 27 Daniel replied, “No wise man, enchanter, magician or diviner can explain to the king the mystery he has asked about, 28 but there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries. He has shown King Nebuchadnezzar what will happen in days to come. Your dream and the visions that passed through your mind as you were lying in bed are these: 29 “As Your Majesty was lying there, your mind turned to things to come, and the revealer of mysteries showed you what is going to happen. 30 As for me, this mystery has been revealed to me, not because I have greater wisdom than anyone else alive, but so that Your Majesty may know the interpretation and that you may understand what went through your mind.
We now reach the section in the chapter where Daniel is now in possession of the knowledge of Nebs dream and its interpretation.
Vs 24: Then Daniel went to Arioch, whom the king had appointed to execute the wise men of Babylon, and said to him, “Do not execute the wise men of Babylon. Take me to the king, and I will interpret his dream for him.”
Upon having the dream and its meaning revealed to him, Daniel seeks out Arioch and asks that he (Daniel) be taken to the king to interpret the dream.
Vs 25: 25 Arioch took Daniel to the king at once and said, “I have found a man among the exiles from Judah who can tell the king what his dream means.
In verse 25, Arioch takes Daniel to the king at once. It is immediate. And Arioch tells the king he has found a man from the exiles who can interpret the dream. Note however, it is Daniel who finds Arioch and not Arioch who finds Daniel. Man apart from God can find nothing of God. It is always God finding us first.
Vs 26: The king asked Daniel (also called Belteshazzar), “Are you able to tell me what I saw in my dream and interpret it?
The king now asks Daniel if he can tell him the dream and interpret it.
Vs 27, 28: Daniel replied, “No wise man, enchanter, magician or diviner can explain to the king the mystery he has asked about, 28 but there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries. He has shown King Nebuchadnezzar what will happen in days to come. Your dream and the visions that passed through your mind as you were lying in bed are these:
Note first that Daniel does not take credit for the dream or its interpretation. He clearly notes that no one can discern another’s dreams much less an interpretation of it. Daniel deflects the credit to God. This is a great test of any Christian leader. God starts to do a work through them and where does the credit go? Does God get bigger or does the leader get bigger? Note Daniel says it is God who is the one to be praised here—not me. The phrase in days to come is also translated as latter days. This phrase is noted 13x in the OT. It is always a reference to future events. So, the dream will be about what will happen. It is clearly prophetic.
Vs 29: As Your Majesty was lying there, your mind turned to things to come, and the revealer of mysteries showed you what is going to happen.
Daniel now sets the stage for the interpretation. As your Majesty was lying there, your mind turned to things to come. Daniel notes Neb was lying in bed thinking of the future. What is going to happen? What will the future bring? Note again, Daniel states clearly it is not he (Daniel) that will reveal what is to happen, it is the revealer of mysteries, God himself, who will reveal these things to Neb.
Vs 30: As for me, this mystery has been revealed to me, not because I have greater wisdom than anyone else alive, but so that Your Majesty may know the interpretation and that you may understand what went through your mind.
Again, note Daniel gives credit to God. Daniel says (paraphrase) this mystery has not been revealed to me because I am special or have some unique ability. It is a gift from God for your benefit Neb.
