“There Is a God in Heaven”

When Daniel responds to Nebuchadnezzar about his dream, he makes it clear where the answers come from: There is a God in Heaven who reveals secrets!

Scripture:

Daniel, chapters 1-2; Revelation, chapter 16

Daniel 2:14-23 (NLT):

When Arioch, the commander of the king’s guard, came to kill them, Daniel handled the situation with wisdom and discretion. He asked Arioch, “Why has the king issued such a harsh decree?” So Arioch told him all that had happened. Daniel went at once to see the king and requested more time to tell the king what the dream meant.

Then Daniel went home and told his friends Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah what had happened. He urged them to ask the God of heaven to show them his mercy by telling them the secret, so they would not be executed along with the other wise men of Babylon. That night the secret was revealed to Daniel in a vision.

Then Daniel praised the God of heaven. He said, “Praise the name of God forever and ever, for he has all wisdom and power. He controls the course of world events; he removes kings and sets up other kings. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the scholars. He reveals deep and mysterious things and knows what lies hidden in darkness, though he is surrounded by light. I thank you and praise you, God of my ancestors, for you have given me wisdom and strength. You have told me what we asked of you and revealed to us what the king demanded.”

Observations:

“No One Except the Gods”

I love reading Daniel’s story! Of course, many of the “chapters” are familiar to us – Daniel in the lions’ den, the three young Hebrews thrown into the fiery furnace, and Daniel interpreting “the writing on the wall.” Depending on how much we’ve read this book, other stories may also stand out. In chapter 1, Daniel and his three friends are among the Hebrew exiles chosen for the king’s service. Daniel asks for permission to eat only vegetables and water, rather than the “unclean” foods of the king’s table. After a “test run,” the king’s servant finds that Daniel and his friends are healthier than the others, so he allows them to continue on their diet. Nebuchadnezzar chooses those four – Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego – for special places in his court.

“And God gave Daniel the special ability to interpret the meanings of visions and dreams” (Daniel 1:17). That becomes important in chapter 2, and our passage for today. Nebuchadnezzar has a dream, and he asks his advisers to interpret it for him. However, he decides that they should not only interpret the dream, but tell him what it was. They were unable to do this, of course: “No one on earth can tell the king his dream!…The king’s demand is impossible. No one except the gods can tell you your dream, and they do not live here among people” (Daniel 2:10-11).

“God Gave Daniel the Special Ability to Interpret Dreams”

That sets the stage for today’s passage. The king is so angry that he orders that all of his advisers be killed. As we see in our passage, Daniel asks the commander what is happening, and then he acts. First, he went at once to see the king and requested more time to tell the king what the dream meant.He knew what the king had ordered, but he went to the king anyway.  Why? Because he trusted God!

Next, although God gave Daniel the special ability to interpret the meanings of visions and dreams (1:17), Daniel didn’t just assume he could do what the king asked. He went to his friends and urged them to ask the God of heaven to show them his mercy by telling them the secret. God gave Daniel the ability to interpret dreams and visions, but Daniel didn’t forget that it was God who revealed those secrets. So Daniel and his friends prayed, and that night the secret was revealed to Daniel in a vision.

The first thing Daniel did after God revealed Nebuchadnezzar’s dream to him was to praise the God of heaven (v 19). The last verses of our passage set forth Daniel’s prayer of praise that God:

• Has all wisdom and power (20)
• Controls the course of world events (21a)
• Gives wisdom and knowledge (21b)
• Reveals deep and mysterious things (22)
• “You have told me what we asked of you” (23)

“There Is a God in Heaven Who Reveals Secrets”

Daniel goes to Nebuchadnezzar to tell him about his dream. The king asks, “Is this true? Can you tell me what my dream was and what it means?” (2:26). Daniel quickly says, “No.” “There are no wise men, enchanters, magicians, or fortune-tellers who can reveal the king’s secret. But there is a God in heaven who reveals secrets, and he has shown King Nebuchadnezzar what will happen in the future” (2:27-28).

Daniel never tries to take credit for what God has done. He gives God the glory for showing him what the dream was, and what it meant. He points Nebuchadnezzar toward God: God…has shown King Nebuchadnezzar what will happen in the future. Even more powerful is Daniel’s statement in verse 30: “And it is not because I am wiser than anyone else that I know the secret of your dream, but because God wants you to understand what was in your heart.”

Application:

It’s important for us to always remember that any gifts, talents, or abilities that we have come from God. As gifted as Daniel was, he never took credit for his abilities – and he always gave glory to God. He was obedient in every way, no matter what the consequences might be. He refused to eat the rich foods of the king’s table. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego refused to bow down to the king’s idol. Daniel prayed to God in spite of the threat of the lions’ den. No matter what people may say, no matter how much they may praise us – or curse us – we need to remember Daniel’s phrase: There is a God in Heaven.

Prayer:

Father, thank you for reminding us of all of the ways that you have blessed us. You give us strength, wisdom, understanding, and direction. You enable us to do every thing that you call us to do. Help us to remember always to give you the glory, for you alone are worthy of our worship. There is a God in heaven who reveals secrets, gives answers, and shows us the way each day. Praise the name of God forever and ever! Amen.