GOD’S REIGN IN CRISIS – Daniel 2: 1-23 Visions, Dreams and Prophesies are means of communication between the Spirit World and the Material World. Visions, Dreams and Prophesies can reveal present and future realities (Gen 37:41). Nebuchadnezzar was disturbed when he had a number of dreams (2:1-2), including the one in particular that troubled him (2:3). So he summoned his certified Spiritual experts – The Magicians, Astrologers, Sorcerers, and then distinguished priestly called “Chaldeans” in the original text (2:2) and asked them to explain his dream. The Chaldeans were expecting things to be easy: “Tell your servants the dream, and we will interpret it” (2:4). But the King would have none of it. He wanted them to tell him his dream and its interpretation. They would die if they failed, but would be handsomely rewarded if successful (2:5-6). Question: Was King Nebuchadnezzar deliberately withholding the dream in order to test the claims of his “wise men”, or he had actually and truly forgotten the dream? He may not have been able to recall all the details, but it seems that he could remember enough of it to be able to tell if they lied to him (2:9). The Counsellors were dumbfounded, and the King was horrified by their failure. He demanded an answer on the spot, reminding them of his threat to kill them and destroy their houses (2:5, 8-9). Still they refused to take the risk of guessing wrong. In desperation they declared: “There is not a man on earth who can do what the King asks!” . . . No one can reveal it to the King except the gods, and they do not live among men (2:10-11). Their answer fitted with that the belief there are things which the gods know but humans do not. Nevertheless, the King angrily rejected it because these men were supposed to be representatives of the gods and have been trained to reveal secret things. Furious, he ordered the summary execution of all the “wise Men of Babylon (2:12). Now Daniel and his companions had not been among those summoned to the King, but his edict applied to them as well. The executors sent to kill the wise men went to find Daniel and his friends. Daniel 2: 13-17. Say: 13 So the decree was issued to put the wise men to death, and men were sent to look for Daniel and his friends to put them to death. 14 When Arioch, the commander of the king’s guard, had gone out to put to death the wise men of Babylon, Daniel spoke to him with wisdom and tact. 15 He asked the king’s officer, “Why did the king issue such a harsh decree?” Arioch then explained the matter to Daniel. 16 At this, Daniel went in to the king and asked for time, so that he might interpret the dream for him. 17 Then Daniel returned to his house and explained the matter to his friends Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah. Kindly note that the text does not say how much time Daniel was given, but it cannot have been very long time given the King’s desperation and anger. While it is possible that Daniel’s request was granted partly because the King’s anger had subsided, it cannot be denied that God’s hand was upon Daniel him. Proverbs 16: 7 says: “When Jehovah takes pleasure in the ways of man, HE causes even his enemies themselves to be at peace with him”. Daniel Immediately engaged his colleagues in fervent prayer. Proverbs 25:2 says: “The glory of God is the keeping of a matter secret and the glory of kings is the searching through a matter” Knowing this, and trusting in God’s invitation as per Jeremiah 33:3 which say “Call unto Me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know”, Daniel and his friends turned to Prayer. Their prayers were addressed to God (2:19-19). The Prayers were DIRECT, SPECIFIC AND DESPARATE. They knew that failure to get an answer meant death. It has been said that God does not just answer prayers; rather He answers desperate Prayers made in accordance with His will.
Posted on: Thu, 13 Mar 2014 06:06:59 +0000