Devotions

All These Kingdoms

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The book of Daniel begins as the king of Babylon besieges Jerusalem and it says that “the Lord gave Jehoiakim the king of Judah into his hand”. This doesn’t give us the history to understand that this is God’s judgement on Jehoiakim who had done evil and also on the people, the nation. Daniel finds himself carried away as a result of others actions. He had no control over his destiny but he did have control of who he was. Daniel set his mind to follow God and he finds favor. But even more, Daniel seeks the well being of his companions and even those who are his captors. Daniel trusts God for the wisdom and insight that he needs not only for his own life but to stand before the king. And God, through Daniel, shows Nebuchadnezzar “all these kingdoms” of the world, and the final everlasting kingdom.

The Lord Gave Jehoiakim the King of Judah

Daniel 1:1–7
There was history here before Daniel, in

2 Chronicles 36:4–5 (LEB) And the king of Egypt made Eliakim his brother king over Judah and Jerusalem, and he changed his name to Jehoiakim. But Neco took Jehoahaz his brother and brought him to Egypt. 5 Jehoiakim was twenty-five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem. And he did evil in the eyes of Yahweh his God.

And the Lord had sent the prophet in Jeremiah 26 to tell them what was coming. Now in Daniel 1:1-2 Jerusalem is taken by Nebuchadnezzar as are “the utensils of the temple of God” and apparently the king “2 Ch 36:6, 7, states that Nebuchadnezzar had intended “to carry Jehoiakim to Babylon,” and that he “carried off the vessels of the house of the Lord” thither. But Jehoiakim died at Jerusalem, before the conqueror’s intention as to him was carried into effect (Je 22:18, 19; 36:30), and his dead body, as was foretold, was dragged out of the gates by the Chaldean besiegers, and left unburied”1

Children from “royal families and from the lords” were also taken in Daniel 1:3-7, “to be educated for three years. And at the end of their training, they were to be stationed before the king”. And among these children were Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. Each of them were given names and expected to live their lives in service to the king of Babylon. Nothing is said about their families, but it was clear that there was no going back for them. 

Daniel Set His Mind

Daniel 1:8–21
Daniel may have been sixteen and finds himself in a completely new environment under the authority of the king of Babylon. All of his needs are taken care of, in fact they are given the kings food which would have been the best they had to offer. Yet, in Daniel 1:8 “Daniel resolved that he would not defile himself”. Daniel already understood who God is and the value of serving God. He was bold enough to ask, not only for himself, but also for those taken captive with him. In Daniel 1:9 “God gave Daniel favor” and his request, in Daniel 1:12 “please test your servants” was granted. And in Daniel 1:15 “at the end of ten days their appearances appeared better and they were healthier of body”. In Daniel 1:17 “God gave them knowledge and insight” so when they came before the king in Daniel 1:20 “he found them ten times better than all … that were in his entire kingdom”.

Tell The King His Dream

Daniel 2:1–12
Here in Daniel 2:1 we see the king is troubled. And it makes sense that “Each year in the early part of his reign Nebuchadrezzar’s expeditionary force went to the extremities of the empire to ensure that subjugated lands paid their taxes. In 604 Ashkelon had put up stiff resistance and had had to be reduced to rubble; in 603 an extra large army, siege towers and heavy equipment are mentioned, and Babylonian troops were in the field for several months. Such a show of prestige hid a fear of inadequacy: his spirit was troubled.2

Then in Daniel 2:2 “the king said to call …” all the wisest and best. As the king presents is concern about this dream, the all respond, in Daniel 2:4 “tell the dream … and we will reveal the explanation”. But the king has dealt with these people before and he knows how they twist words so in Daniel 2:6 he says “If you tell me the dream … you will receive gifts … and great honor from me”. And there response is not any surprise, in Daniel 2:10-11 the answer “There is not a man on earth that is able … except the gods”. The king knew that these he depended on for answers, didn’t have any answers and, in Daniel 2:12 “he became very enraged, and said that all the wise men of Babylon are to be destroyed”.

Daniel Responded Prudently and Discreetly

Daniel 2:13–23
The decree was issued in Daniel 2:13 “and they searched for Daniel and his companions to be executed”. Daniel responded to “Arioch, the commander of the imperial guard of the king, who had gone out to execute … “. In Daniel 2:14-16 Daniel gets an audience with the king and asks for time. Daniel is not in the “in crowd” because he had not been included in the earlier request by the king. And no one thought to call on Daniel at the kings earlier request so it is amazing that Daniel was able to get an audience and even more amazing that the king gave him time after refusing any more time to his inner circle of advisors. In Daniel 2:16, Daniel had favor.

In Daniel 2:17-18 he gathers his companions and explains, asking them to “seek mercy from God” but not only for themselves, but also for all “the wise men of Babylon”. And in Daniel 2:19 “in a vision of the night the mystery was revealed to Daniel”. So Daniel blesses God in Daniel 2:20-23. 

Take Me Before The King

Daniel 2:24–31
Daniel goes to Arioch and says, in Daniel 2:24 “You must not destroy the wise men of Babylon; take me in before the king and I will give the explanation to the king” and “quickly” he responds in Daniel 2:25. The king asked in vs 26 “are you able” and Daniel demonstrates great wisdom in his response. Daniel might have just said yes, and spared his own life, but Daniel first says, in Daniel 2:27 he first agrees with the kings counselors, “no wise men, … are able” which diffuses the kings anger toward the wise men of Babylon who are under a decree of death.

Daniel then says, in vs. 28 “there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries, and he has made known to King Nebuchadnezzar what it is that will be at the end of days”. Then Daniel does two more things. In vs. 29 he says “As for you king, …” which acknowledges that God is speaking directly to the king the things he needs to know. Then in vs. 30 he says “As for me, it is not because of wisdom …”. Daniel does not take personal credit for what God is doing, he is just the servant of God and the servant of the king “that the explanation may be made known to the king”. 

All These Kingdoms

Daniel 2:32–45
Daniel describes the statue the king saw in his dream and the rock that broke it and the wind that carried it away in Daniel 2:32-36. Then in Daniel 2:37-45 he explains that the statue represents Nebuchadnezzars’ kingdom and the kingdoms that will follow. Daniel explains that this is a prophetic dream showing the future and the end of all things is in Daniel 2:44 “the god of heaven will set up a kingdom that will not be destroyed”. Then closes in Daniel 2:45 saying “the great God has made known to the king what will be … the dream is certain and its explanation trustworthy”.

The God of Gods

Daniel 2:46–49
Nebuchadnezzar didn’t recognize Daniel’s God as the only God or as his God, but in Daniel 2:47 as “the God of gods” because “this God had manifested Himself to him through Daniel as the supreme God, who rules over kings, and reveals hidden things which the gods of the Chaldean wise men were not able to reveal … He did not recognise the God of the Jews as the only, or the alone true God, but only as God of gods … and as such must be honoured along with the gods of his own country.”3

Then the king promoted Daniel in Daniel 2:48 “ruler over the whole province of Babylon and the chief prefect over all the wise men of Babylon”. But Daniel didn’t forget his companions, and they also, in Daniel 2:49 were appointed “over the affairs of the province of Babylon”.

Study Verses

Today’s Reading

  • Daniel 1:1-21
  • Daniel 2:1-49

References

  • 1. Jamieson, R., Fausset, A. R., & Brown, D. (1997). Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (Vol. 1, pp. 621–622). Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.
  • 2. Baldwin, J. G. (1978). Daniel: An Introduction and Commentary (Vol. 23, p. 96). Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.
  • 3. Keil, C. F., & Delitzsch, F. (1996). Commentary on the Old Testament (Vol. 9, p. 562). Peabody, MA: Hendrickson.