DANIEL SIMPLIFIED
CHAPTER 2.14
Gleanings
from the Book of Daniel:
A
Weekly Verse-by-Verse Bible Study Series
DANIEL
Chapter
Two
The Dream of Nebuchadnezzar
(The Rise and Fall of Empires)
Introduction
In the last study, there was gloom and
doom ahead for the wise men of Babylon. Daniel and his three friends were at
the precipice of Nebuchadnezzar’s proclamation to have all magicians,
astrologers, sorcerers, and Chaldeans of his court to be slain. The reason for
this harsh sentence was the fact that they were not able to reveal the dream of
Nebuchadnezzar and its interpretation.
Included among this group for the death
sentence were Daniel, and his three companions. They were not part of the group
called before the king because they had recently finished their three-year
training period. But, they were considered part of the core group of wise men.
Now, the situation had become intense and heightened…
1. The Dream of Nebuchadnezzar (2:1)
2. The Demands of Nebuchadnezzar (2:2-11)
3. The Decree of Nebuchadnezzar (2:12-13)
4. The
Decision of Daniel
(2:14-23)
(Verse 14)
Then Daniel answered with counsel and wisdom to
Arioch the captain of the king's guard, which was gone forth to slay the
wise men of Babylon.
(Verse 15)
He answered and said to Arioch the king's
captain, Why is the
decree so hasty from
the king? Then Arioch made the thing known to Daniel.
Daniel received news
of the king's decree to slay all the wise men in Babylon from Arioch, the
captain of the king's guard. He knew nothing of what transpired in the king’s
court regarding the dialogue between the king and wise men. But also notice,
the captain of the guards sought out Daniel, not one of his guards.
Arioch
Arioch was the captain
or commander (literally, chief of the king’s executioners) of Nebuchadnezzar’s
guard. His name is translated, as a lion-like slayer (Strong’s, H746). Recall, Potiphar
also had the same title as Arioch (cf. Genesis 37:36; 39:1). Thus, Babylon and
Egypt maintained similar officials.
Daniel answered with counsel and wisdom to
Arioch
It also appears Daniel
had some affinity with Arioch from the tone of their conversation. Notice the
diplomacy of Daniel in his approach to Arioch as he was being arrested.
Scripture records, Daniel used counsel and wisdom when he questioned the decree
of Nebuchadnezzar.
Counsel means prudence (Strong, H5843), and wisdom is
defined as judgment or discretion (Strong, H2942). Both are gifts of the Holy Spirit as listed in Isaiah:
Isaiah 11:2 - And the Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the Spirit of wisdom
and understanding, the Spirit of
counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the
LORD.
Accordingly,
God had previously endowed Daniel with wise counsel (cf. 1:17).
Why is the
decree so hasty from
the king?
Even
though Daniel’s life was at stake, he questioned the validity of such a hasty
(harsh or severe) decree from the king. In effect, Daniel was faithfully and courageously
trusting God for a solution.
Then Arioch made the thing known to Daniel.
Afterward,
Arioch disclosed to Daniel all that occurred amongst the king and the advisors
of his court. The thing signifies the
matter, i.e., the dream and its interpretation. And, he likewise detailed the
two provisions of the king’s edict, retribution, or execution.
(Verse 16)
Then Daniel went in, and desired of the king
that he would give him time, and that he would shew the king the
interpretation.
Despite his anger, Nebuchadnezzar was
determined to know the substance and interpretation of his dream. Undoubtedly,
Arioch arranged for Daniel to have an audience with the king, and petition him
directly. Then, Daniel, having no prior knowledge of the dream, entered the
king’s palace.
Notice Daniel’s boldness: Knowing God
gave him the ability to reveal dreams and visions (1:17), and having faith that God
would provide a solution, Daniel appealed to Nebuchadnezzar for more time.
Ironically, time was the very thing the king denied the wise men (v. 8).
But Daniel assuredly told the king he
would disclose not only the content of the dream but also its interpretation.
Not even Joseph was able to reconstruct a dream itself.
Somehow, Nebuchadnezzar was impressed
by Daniel’s determination, possibly remembering Daniel and his companions fared
better nourished after their ten-day vegetarian diet (1:15). Nevertheless, the king granted Daniel his
request for extra time.
(Verse 17)
Then Daniel went to his house, and made the
thing known to Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, his companions:
(Verse 18)
That they would desire mercies of the God of Heaven[s]
concerning this secret; that Daniel and his fellows should not perish with the
rest of the wise men of
Babylon.
After receiving an allowance of time,
and with the lives of him and his three friends on the line, Daniel (God is my
judge) returned home and made the matter known to Hananiah (The Lord is
gracious), Mishael (Who is what God is), and Azariah (The Lord has helped).
Prayer Meeting
Immediately after, Daniel, with his
three companions, went not to reference dream books, but to the Lord in prayer.
In their prayer meeting, they petitioned the Lord for two things:
1. For the Lord to have mercy on them by
revealing the secret
2. For the Lord to have mercy so they do not
perish with the rest
Take it to the Lord in Prayer
During the Exilic Period, the Israelite
captives had a more earnest approach to God regarding prayer. It was not
limited to any particular time or place. They prayed for literally anything and always faced Jerusalem.
In the Old Testament
Daniel gives insight into his prayer
life:
Daniel
6:10 - Now when Daniel knew that the
writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward
Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks
before his God, as he did aforetime.
The Psalms of David serve as patterns
for different types of prayer. Notice the relativeness of this instance:
Psalm
64:1 - Hear my voice, O God, in my prayer: preserve my life from fear of the
enemy.
Solomon also once wrote:
Proverbs
15:29 - The LORD is far from the wicked: but He heareth the
prayer of the righteous.
In the New Testament
Jesus taught:
Matthew
18: 20 - For where two or three
are gathered together in My name, there am I in the midst of them.
Concerning prayer, Paul Taught:
Philippians 4:6 - Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with
thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
And, James taught:
James 5:16b - The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth
much.
Hence, when, where, why, and how to
pray are all elements of a God-centered prayer life.
Advancing the
narrative…
That they would desire mercies of the God of Heaven[s]
concerning this secret
As Daniel and his
friends prayed together, the first thing they asked for was mercy from the God of Heaven[s]. Here, three items need further clarification,
(1) mercies, (2) the God of Heaven, and (3) secret.
1. Mercies
The Aramaic word for
mercies is rᵉchêm (Strong’s, H7359). It is a singular noun
denoting compassion. Based on Daniel’s prayer, it meant not by his might, but
by the Lord’s - That God would meet all their needs.
2. The God of Heaven
Another title for God
is The God of Heaven, a favourite
expression in three major books of the Captivity i.e., Ezra, Nehemiah, and
Daniel. Interestingly, it is used by Daniel four other times in this chapter
(Vv. 18, 19, 28, 37, 44). God is herein referenced as the Creator of the
atmospheric and astrological heavens, and earth. The first usage of the aforementioned
personal name for God was by Abraham requesting an oath from Eliezer, the
eldest servant of his house:
Genesis 24:3 - And I (Abraham) will make thee
(Eliezer) swear by the LORD, the God of Heaven, and
the God of the earth, that thou shalt not take a wife unto my son of the
daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I dwell.
Noteworthily, the word
for Heaven(s) is shâmayin (שָׁמַיִן, Strong’s H8065) in Aramaic which corresponds to
the Hebrew word shâmayim (שָׁמַיִם, Strong’s H8064), found in the
first verse of the Bible:
Genesis 1:2 – In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.
Memorably, after His glory
departed from the Holy of Holies of the Tabernacle, Ezekiel envisions and
records God going into Heaven. From that point, He was addressed as the God of
Heaven (cf. the account in Ezekiel (9:3a; 10:4, 18-19; 11:23). In particular:
Jonah 1:9 - And he (Jonah) said unto them,
I am an Hebrew; and I
fear the LORD, the God of Heaven, which hath made the sea and the dry land.
3. Secret
Secret is defined as a mystery [זרָ (râz), Strong’s
H7328)], indicating a revelation whose meaning is hidden. Secret (râz) appears
seven times, exclusively in the book of Daniel.
And, its usage indicates a revelation whose meaning is hidden until
interpreted by Daniel.
Continuing, the prayer team prayed…
That Daniel and his fellows should not perish
with the rest of the wise men of
Babylon
United in prayer, Daniel
and his three associates asked for mercy from the God of Heaven, that they
would not perish under the death decree of Nebuchadnezzar if Daniel revealed
the dream and its interpretation. Observe how important it was for Daniel to
seek community prayer to God first with his involved friends before he hastily
attempted to solve the mystery on his own.
Follow how God answers prayer exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think,
according to the power that worketh within (cf. Ephesians 3:20) in the next study.
QUESTIONS:
1. Who were the actors in this study?
2. What was the punishment for Babylon’s
wise men?
3. Why did Daniel receive an audience with
the king?
4. What action did Daniel take after he
met with the king?
5. Why was Daniel given extra time to
reveal the king’s dream?
6. How was the prayer life of the captives
different?
7. Why was the term the God of Heaven applied?
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