Questions for thought:
1. Why was Nebuchadnezzar able to take over Jerusalem?
2. What comfort can we today take from Daniel 2:21?
3. Who should always be praised when a Christian does well?
Daniel began his writings with an account of when Jehoiakim was in his third year of ruling in Judah and Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, came and besieged Jerusalem. Note a very important point in verse 2 of chapter 1. Nebuchadnezzar did not take over Jerusalem because he was such a great warrior although according to history, he really was pretty good. But he was able to take Jerusalem because the Lord gave it to him. Recall how God had continued to warn the people through His prophets of what was coming if they did not return to Him. Not only did He give Nebuchadnezzar Judah but He also allowed him to take of the vessels found in the temple and transfer them to his treasure house.
Beginning in verse 3 we get our account of how Daniel ended up in Babylon. King Nebuchadnezzar wanted some of the seed or children of the Judean king to be servants in his palace. They needed to be children without blemish, having wisdom, knowledge, and an understanding of science. They needed to be such that could “stand in the king’s palace.” They were going to be taught the Chaldean language. Among those chosen were Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. Their names were changed to more reflect Babylonian culture. Daniel became Belteshazzar, Hananiah became Shadrach, Mishael became Meshach, and Azariah became Abednego.
The chosen young men were to be fed from the king’s meat and wine for three years and then they would appear before the king to see if they were suitable to serve the king. These four young men chose not to eat of the king’s dainties so Daniel requested they be given vegetables to eat and water to drink. Their caretaker agreed on a trial basis and after ten days, when he checked them out, they appeared better looking than all the other children which ate of the king’s meat. They were allowed to continue eating as they chose. During their trial period, God gave them knowledge and skills. He gave Daniel a special talent in understanding visions and dreams, according to verse 17. When the young men were brought to the king, he found them to be ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers that were in his land. None of the others measured up to them. So, they became servants of the king.
Beginning in chapter 2, we get to see Daniel’s special talent in interpreting dreams. King Nebuchadnezzar had dreamed a dream and he had called his astrologers, magicians, and sorcerers to come and not only interpret the dream but first to tell him what he had dreamed. That was impossible without God’s intervention. They could not tell him his dream so the king ordered all the wise men to be slain. Since Daniel and his friends were considered wise men, they too were to die. Daniel asked for some time and promised he would show the king what he dreamed and the interpretation. His request was granted and Daniel and his friends sought mercy from God and during the night Daniel was given a vision from God in which he received the dream and its interpretation.
Before looking at the dream, let’s pay special attention to chapter 2 verse 21. Speaking of God, Daniel said, “And He changes the times and the seasons: He removes kings, and sets up kings: He gives wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding.” In verse 23 Daniel acknowledged it was only though God he was able to understand the king’s dream. But here in verse 21, who does Daniel say sets up and removes kings? What did we read in chapter 1 verse 2? God is in control, so we do not need to worry when things look really bad; God is still in control. That alone should give us much comfort.
So, Daniel went to the king and told him his dream and the interpretation. Again, in verse 28 Daniel gave credit to God. (How often today do you hear people take credit for great things they seem to have done on their own? Why were they able to do them? Should we not always give God credit when we are so blessed?) Daniel told the king his dream was concerned with the later days. Beginning in chapter 2 verse 31 Daniel revealed the dream. The king had dreamed of a great image with a head of fine gold, breast and arms of silver, belly and thighs of brass, legs of iron, and feet of part iron and part clay. A stone was cut out without hands and it smote the feet and broke them to pieces. Then the rest of the image was broken and became like chaff and was carried away. But the stone became a great mountain and filled the whole earth. Can you imagine such a dream? Wonder how amazed the king was? Of course, he wanted the interpretation. Beginning in verse 37 Daniel explained to the king the meaning.
First, Daniel again made it clear his God was in control. In verses 37-38, he told the king the God of heaven had given him a kingdom and power and strength and glory and had made him ruler over the land. Thus, the king himself, was the head of gold that he had seen in the vision. After him three other kingdoms would arise and each would be inferior to him. But then in the days of the fourth kingdom, the God of heaven would set up a kingdom that would never be destroyed. This kingdom from God would crush all the other kingdoms and it would stand forever.
The king was so happy someone was able to tell him the dream and the meaning that he made Daniel a great man in the kingdom and a ruler over the whole province of Babylon. Daniel remembered his three friends and asked the king to set Shadrach, Meshack, and Abednego over the affairs of the province of Babylon and the king agreed.
At this point everything is looking pretty good for Daniel and the three young men. Next time, we will see how their faith is tested beginning in chapter 3.
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