BY BRUCE GREEN
RELIGION —
Chapter two of Daniel is part of the historical section of the book (1-6) that features what are often referred to as “court stories.” These stories typically show how Daniel and his friends allow God to work in their lives to solve some dilemma with the result being positive recognition for the Hebrews and the glorification of Yahweh. In the first chapter, it was avoiding the defiling food the Babylonians had for Daniel and his friends. In chapter two, the dilemma has to do with the disturbing dreams King Nebuchadnezzar that have resulted in sleepless nights for him and a sentence of death for others.
These dreams have caused him to seek the help of his spiritual advisors. Specifically, he wants to know the significance of the dream he’s had. But it’s clear that he has something less than complete confidence in the ability of his advisors to truly do this and not gaslight him (see v. 9), so his failsafe it to require that they first tell him what the dream was.
While the advisors seem supremely confident of their ability to come up with an explanation that will be pull the wool over the king’s eyes, they know he’s called their bluff by telling them they must also tell him what his dream was — there’s no wiggle room there and they simply don’t have that ability. No one does! Nebuchadnezzar effectively makes his problem theirs as he tells them if they can’t do this, he will have them and their families put to death. No pressure there. The spiritual advisors fold like the imposters and charlatans they are, and Nebuchadnezzar issues a decree for them and their families to be put to death (v. 13).
When word of this reaches Daniel, he responds much differently than the king or his advisors. He is the only person in the chapter who keeps his composure. He does three things: he asks why the king issued the decree, he asks the king for more time, and he informs his three friends of what’s going on and urges them to pray to God for mercy. The fact that he asks the king for more time (and receives it), suggests that over the course of time he has had the opportunity to make a positive impression on the king. (Daniel 1 takes place in the ascension year of Nebuchadnezzar, which wasn’t counted as part of his reign, so the second year of his reign in v. 1 would be the third year Daniel had been in Babylon).
Sharing this news with his friends and urging them to seek mercy from God doesn’t surprise us but it should inform us. It’s reminiscent of King Hezekiah laying out the threatening letter from the Assyrian king, Sennacherib, in the temple as he prayed to God (2 Kings 19), as well as Peter’s counsel for us to “Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you,” (1 Peter 5:7).
When troubles come — and they will — turn to God!
You can find more of Bruce’s writings at his website: a-taste-of-grace-with-bruce-green.com