Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego lived in Babylon during the captivity of the Jews by King Nebuchadnezzar. In the second year of his reign, the King had terrifying dreams and suffered from insomnia. He summoned the magicians, sorcerers and enchanters and demanded that they not only tell him what he had dreamt, but also the interpretation. The magicians were bewildered and told the King that what he was asking them to do was impossible. They requested of the King to tell them his dream so that they could give the interpretation (Daniel 2:1-7).
The King was adamant that he would not share his dream. He had a reward for anyone who could reveal his dream and the interpretation. If none of the magicians or wise men could do what he had asked, the decree was that they would all be killed. This included Daniel and his friends who ranked as wise men within the kingdom. Daniel asked what had caused the King such fury. When he learnt of the King’s request, he asked the King for time to give him an answer about his dream and the interpretation (Daniel 2:8-16).
Daniel and his friends prayed to God for mercy and prayed for revelation of the mystery concerning the King’s dream. “Then the mystery was revealed to Daniel in a vision of the night. Then Daniel blessed the God of heaven” (Daniel 2:19). Daniel sought an audience with the King and shared the dream and the interpretation. The result was that Daniel was promoted and he also requested the promotion of his friends.
Daniel used the experience to witness to the King about who God is. Daniel told the King that the wise men, astrologers and sorcerers could not reveal the King’s dream. Daniel explained to the King that it was his God in heaven who revealed mysteries.
“he reveals deep and hidden things; he knows what is in the darkness, and the light dwells with him” (Daniel 2:22).
A.P.-Y.
Devotional Inspirations 