Daniel answered 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. . .” Daniel 2: 20-22, NKJV.
Gracious God, how reassuring it is for us to know that You never lose control of Your universe, Your children, nor our circumstances. Blessed be Your name forever and ever! We praise You in the name which is above every name, the name of Jesus the Christ. Amen.
Recounting the history of Daniel and his friends during their captivity in Babylon is always a blessing for me. That sounds like an oxymoron doesn’t it? Captivity – Blessing? In that case, the Christian life is a constant oxymoron! The apostle Paul puts it this way: “For when I am weak then I am strong.” Perhaps the day our Scripture was written had begun like every other day for Daniel and his friends: Morning worship, breakfast, appear before Melzar (the steward who had been placed over Daniel and his friends) to be given their tasks for the day.
But before long it was obvious that this was not going to be a day like every other day. Problems were brewing that could have cost Daniel and his friends their life. The king had a dream that he could not remember. Because there were “wise men” in his kingdom he would demand of them something that he knew was impossible: that they not only interpret the dream, but that they tell him what he had dreamt! Listen to the response of the poor “wise men”:
“‘The Chaldeans answered the king, and said, “There is not a man on earth who can tell the king’s matter; therefore no king, lord, or ruler has ever asked such things of any magician, astrologer, or Chaldean. It is a difficult thing that the king requests, and there is no other who can tell it to the king except the gods, whose dwelling is not with flesh”'” (10, 11). If only in this response, they demonstrated great wisdom. You are asking us to tell you what only God knows.
Accusing them of purposely stalling, the king emits a death decree against all the wise men in the kingdom. What the king did not know was that numbered among these wise men were four of God’s children! The apple of God’s eye! Young men who had chosen to “put their trust in the Lord” (premise of yesterday’s devotional)! As such, they could not be “touched” without God’s permission. Their lives were in the hollow of God’s hand! Hallelujah! Apparently the slaughter that had already begun (13) came to an abrupt end at the dwelling place of Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah (the Hebrew names of the young men)! Perhaps the executors could not see them, but, “The angel of the LORD [had set up camp] all around those who fear Him, and [was about to deliver] them” (Psalm 34: 7)! Praise God!
I wonder if we realize how many lives have been spared, on different occasions, because God still has a people in this world. I wonder if we can appreciate the fact that the “Judge of all the earth [does] right” (Genesis 19: 25c)? Are we fully convinced that God has never lost control? Not during any of the catastrophes, or crises that our world has suffered. Not during our own trials that shake the very foundation of our faith. Not when everything seems hopeless and we cry out, “God are You there?” “If You are, what are You doing?” Do we realize that God has not handed over His scepter to another, nor ever will? Do we believe that “greater is He that is in [us] than he that is in the world” (1 John 4: 4)? Have we rested our faith in the fact that He is the Great “I Am” – that whatever our need He can handle it? He is all of this, and does all of this, and then some! I know. I have proven Him and He has never failed me, and I know He never will!
That day, Nebuchadnezzar would become aware of the One and Only God who can reveal every secret because nothing is hid from His eyes! He would come to realize that there was One so much greater than he! That Supreme Sovereign would show this earthly king what part he had been chosen to play in God’s great plan! And when his time in history was ended, God Himself would take him down and put up another! Farther along he would also learn that no one can change God’s plans. His making the entire statue of gold would not add years to his reign! The Medes and Persians were chosen by God to succeed him and they would, “in the fullness of [God’s] time” (Galatians 4:4)!
God is always in control!
This was the king’s reaction after he had been given a glimpse of Daniel’s God, “Then King Nebuchadnezzar fell on his face . . . 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” (Daniel 2:46a, 47). This was only the beginning of revelations. He would see much more of God’s sovereignty
And one day “at the name of Jesus, every knee [shall] bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue [shall] confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Philippians 2: 10, 11). I want to be there on that day to give Him, from a heart full to overflowing, my praise, and pour out my gratitude before my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. What about you?