Daniel 2:20-23 [Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream and Daniel’s Praise]

[Things to Meditate On]

1. In the second year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon, he dreamed dreams, and his spirit was troubled because he desired to know the dream. So he called for the magicians, the astrologers, and the sorcerers in order to have the dream interpreted. However, the king did not even tell them what dream he had dreamed. Instead, he commanded them to show him both the dream that he had dreamed and its interpretation. He then said that if they did not show him the dream and the interpretation, they would receive severe punishment, but if they did show the dream and the interpretation, they would receive great rewards (Daniel 2). The following is the conversation between King Nebuchadnezzar and the Chaldean wise men.

Daniel 2:8-13 "8The king answered and said, I know of certainty that ye would gain the time, because ye see the thing is gone from me. 9But if ye will not make known unto me the dream, there is but one decree for you: for ye have prepared lying and corrupt words to speak before me, till the time be changed: therefore tell me the dream, and I shall know that ye can shew me the interpretation thereof. 10The Chaldeans answered before the king, and said, There is not a man upon the earth that can shew the king's matter: therefore there is no king, lord, nor ruler, that asked such things at any magician, or astrologer, or Chaldean. 11And it is a rare thing that the king requireth, and there is none other that can shew it before the king, except the gods, whose dwelling is not with flesh. 12For this cause the king was angry and very furious, and commanded to destroy all the wise men of Babylon. 13And the decree went forth that the wise men should be slain; and they sought Daniel and his fellows to be slain."

As these words show, the Chaldean wise men ultimately answered King Nebuchadnezzar by saying, "There is not a man upon the earth that can show this."

2. In fact, what King Nebuchadnezzar demanded was indeed something that, as the Chaldean wise men said, no one in this world could show. But God is different. Because God knows all the thoughts and hearts of man (1 Chronicles 28:9), even things that no one in this world can know are fully known to God. Therefore, God made known to Daniel both the dream that King Nebuchadnezzar had dreamed and its interpretation. The words in Daniel 2:20-22 above are Daniel’s praise to God, who had done this amazing thing for him.

As Daniel praised, wisdom and might are not in man, but in God (Colossians 2:2-3, Job 42:1-2). And God is able to change the times and the seasons (Ecclesiastes 3:1-12), and according to His own will, He can set up whomever He desires to set up, and remove whomever He desires to remove (Daniel 4:32). Therefore, no one can say that he stands before God by himself, nor can anyone exalt himself (1 Corinthians 10:12, Matthew 23:12). God also gives wisdom and knowledge to those who fear Him (Proverbs 9:9-10, Micah 6:9), and because light dwells with God, He reveals deep and secret things and knows all that is in the darkness (Matthew 10:26-27, Romans 2:16).

[Decision and Application]

Thus, by His great wisdom and might, God made known to Daniel the dream that King Nebuchadnezzar had dreamed and its interpretation. And when Daniel came to know it, he exalted, that is, praised, the name of God (verse 23). It is very important for us to understand this relationship. This is because God always works before us for the sake of His own name (Ezekiel 36:21-23). In order to understand this, we only need to remember that God is the One who has existed from the beginning, and that we were created afterward, at a certain point, for the glory of God. In other words, we are beings created for the glory of God. Therefore, although God revealed the secret to Daniel, we can know that this was not primarily for Daniel himself, but so that through Daniel, the name of God would be exalted and praised. Because Daniel understood this well, he naturally praised the name of God. Likewise, we also, according to the purpose for which we were created, ought to praise the name of God in all things.

Isaiah 43:7, 21 "7Even every one that is called by my name: for I have created him for my glory, I have formed him; yea, I have made him. 21This people have I formed for myself; they shall shew forth my praise."

Therefore, if we also have a heart that desires to exalt the name of God, as Daniel did, then the God who helped Daniel in the past will help us today in the same way (Hebrews 13:8). This is because, just as in the past, even today God works for the sake of His name.

Ezekiel 36:21-23 "21But I had pity for mine holy name, which the house of Israel had profaned among the heathen, whither they went. 22Therefore say unto the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord GOD; I do not this for your sakes, O house of Israel, but for mine holy name's sake, which ye have profaned among the heathen, whither ye went. 23And I will sanctify my great name, which was profaned among the heathen, which ye have profaned in the midst of them; and the heathen shall know that I am the LORD, saith the Lord GOD, when I shall be sanctified in you before their eyes."

Acts 4:9-10 "9If we this day be examined of the good deed done to the impotent man, by what means he is made whole; 10Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole."

Through these words, we can now know that whatever we do, we must live in all things "in the name of Jesus" (Colossians 3:17, 1 Corinthians 10:31). This is because, although our appearance, constitution, and way of life may all be different, the purpose for which we exist on this earth is the same for all of us. As mentioned earlier, we all exist on this earth for the glory of Jesus and for the name of Jesus (1 Corinthians 12:8-27). Therefore, if the purpose of our lives becomes praising the name of Jesus, which is the name of God (John 5:43), then the God who was with Daniel in the past will also be with us today by His great wisdom and might. Truly, the wisdom and might of God are with those who live "for the name of Jesus"!

Hebrews 13:14-15 "14For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come. 15By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name."

1 Peter 4:12-14 "12Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: 13But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. 14If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you."

Amen.