Next up is Chapter 2 of Daniel. Here, King Nebuchadnezzar had dreams. His mind was troubled and he could not sleep. Anyone been there?
Now in the second year of Nebuchadnezzar’s reign, Nebuchadnezzar had dreams; and his spirit was so troubled that his sleep left him. Then the king gave the command to call the magicians, the astrologers, the sorcerers, and the Chaldeans to tell the king his dreams. So they came and stood before the king.
(Daniel 2:1-2 NKJV)
He summoned the magicians, enchanters, sorcerers and astrologers to tell them the dream. They went back and forth, for the king was getting angry and felt they were all stalling. They finally replied in verse 11 that what the king was asking was too difficult.
He decreed to kill all the wise, for they couldn’t provide relief through an interpretation of his dream. Thankfully, Daniel heard about what was going on and went back to his friends. He urged them to plead for mercy from the God of heaven concerning this mystery. During the night, the mystery was revealed to Daniel in a vision. Then Daniel praised the God of heaven and said:
Blessed be the name of God forever and ever, For wisdom and might are His. And He changes the times and the seasons; He removes kings and raises up kings; He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding. He reveals deep and secret things; He knows what is in the darkness, And light dwells with Him. I thank You and praise You, O God of my fathers; You have given me wisdom and might, And have now made known to me what we asked of You, For You have made known to us the king’s demand.
(Daniel 2:20-23)
Daniel had a posture of praise! He knew to honor the King for revealed truth to thee. This is something I referenced with Noah as well. His first act off the Ark was a burnt offering, and it mentions it was a soothing aroma.
Back to the story…Daniel went to the king.
The king answered and said to Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, “Are you able to make known to me the dream which I have seen, and its interpretation?” Daniel answered in the presence of the king, and said, “The secret which the king has demanded, the wise men, the astrologers, the magicians, and the soothsayers cannot declare to the king. But there is a God in heaven who reveals secrets, and He has made known to King Nebuchadnezzar what will be in the latter days. Your dream, and the visions of your head upon your bed, were these:
(Daniel 2:26-28)
He gave glory to the One who gave him the intel! What an honorable move!
He then goes on to reveal all that was yet to come.
And in the days of these kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed; and the kingdom shall not be left to other people; it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever. Inasmuch as you saw that the stone was cut out of the mountain without hands, and that it broke in pieces the iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver, and the gold—the great God has made known to the king what will come to pass after this. The dream is certain, and its interpretation is sure.” Then King Nebuchadnezzar fell on his face, prostrate before Daniel, and commanded that they should present an offering and incense to him. The king answered Daniel, and said, “Truly your God is the God of gods, the Lord of kings, and a revealer of secrets, since you could reveal this secret.” Then the king promoted Daniel and gave him many great gifts; and he made him ruler over the whole province of Babylon, and chief administrator over all the wise men of Babylon. Also Daniel petitioned the king, and he set Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego over the affairs of the province of Babylon; but Daniel sat in the gate of the king.
(Daniel 2:44-49)
As, I’m going through this chapter, there was a whole page about character and Daniel. It’s too good not to share.
How can this relate to me and you?
Daniel and his friends had chosen a higher way of living, and it seems in this case a higher level of clarity to reveal encrypted dreams. I don’t think that is something for yesteryear. I believe it’s a gifting for the right here and the right now! Discipline of heart, body and mind all seem to matter to increase the empowered presence of the Lord. To carry the glory of the Father’s presence and to sustain a higher measure of anointing, certain vices can’t remain. Daniel understood this and thankfully he had three friends to do things with.
This humble position promoted him. And he was able to promote his friends too. That was a good day, and it was all because they prayed/pleaded for mercy on behalf of the king unto the King of Kings. We too can go to the King of Kings to plead for mercy and hope. He will reveal hard things through dreams, or an impression, or a friend.
The final sentence cannot be ignored: “Daniel sat in the gate of the king.” A gate is a door. Concordance says: “gate mouth (Aramaic) corresponding to sha'ar; a door; by implication, a palace -- gate mouth.” Nothing was getting by Daniel, for he was the king’s trusted advisor until authority was challenged.
Stay tuned for the next week’s highlights on another story of Daniel.
Until next time,
Stay Tender
Connect to the Mender
Be a Sender