God is Set Apart

In the spirit of soccer camp, I thought I'd use an illustration that was used on Tuesday related

! to our passage for the day. We find ourselves in Daniel chapter 2. I would encourage you even now to open up to Daniel chapter 2.

Daniel 2 · chapter mention Daniel 2 · chapter mention

It's on page 737. And if Daniel's dream is illustrated by this box, the contents of the dream are also kind of representative of what we find in our story today.

But I need two volunteers. Two volunteers. All right, two right in the back, right behind Mr. Hill. Okay, come on up.

Yeah, you too. Come on up. Come on up. Great.

Okay, so this is Nebuchadnezzar's dream. Come on up here with me. All right, good. All of you are also volunteers.

You are the wise men, okay? The wise men who Nebuchadnezzar has called into his palace.

He's asking for an interpretation to his dream. And so those of you who are wise, and I know this is a room full of very wise people,

what is in the box? That's what I'm going to ask you in just a moment, okay?

What is in the box? All right?

But then, why don't you come over here for just a second, okay?

All right. Why don't you take a look and see what is in the box? Don't say. Don't say what's in the box yet, okay?

And then, for you, I'm going to tell you what's in the box.

All right. Okay, good. So, all of my wise sages here, the wise men that I've called, what?

What is in the box?

What's that?

Rubber duck. Good, good thought. No, no.

Somebody in the first service said donuts, and they had dreamed about donuts last night.

I think that's probably a good dream, too, but not what's in the box, okay?

Of these two, who do you suppose is going to be able to tell me what is in here?

The person who looked inside the box, what did you see in the box?

A picture of a statue with a head of gold, a chest and arms of silver, a metal part of bronze, and the legs and feet were made of metal and clay.

You are amazing. Good job.

Very descriptive of what she saw in the box was a bag, but of course, that is incomplete.

It's just part of the picture, but I told you what was in the bag.

What is in the bag?

A Bible is in the bag.

The Word of God had come to Nebuchadnezzar, and God's Word is on display through this dream,

but especially through Daniel, who reveals that Word to Nebuchadnezzar.

Thank you for your help. Good job. You can be seated.

Thank you.

This morning, we're learning about the distinctiveness of God,

and maybe it would have been better to title this not just God is distinct or God is set apart,

but that God is a God who reveals His message, His Word to His people.

We have a God who sets Himself apart as one who desires for His creation to know His revealed Word.

And so here are these captives, eight or 900 miles away from home,

and they're in a different place, and this pagan king who doesn't even acknowledge God,

who thinks that His gods have conquered the God of Israel,

and yet God Himself, the God of heaven, revealing His Word to Nebuchadnezzar.

And this morning, we're going to see what that Word is,

and then next week, we're going to come to understand what that Word means,

as Daniel will interpret that.

But especially, I want us, as we're looking at this passage today,

to recognize the amazing privilege of the revealed Word of God,

that God has instrumentally revealed Himself to His creation.

Not just so they know who He is, but so they can respond to what they know and come to worship.

That ultimately is what God is after.

God is after worship.

The Father seeks such to worship Him.

That's what Jesus told the woman at the well.

That's what God's objective is in giving His Word,

to welcome us into worship, into love of Him.

Of course, we see the revealed messages of God,

even as we look at creation.

We call that general revelation.

That God has revealed Himself in what we see,

in what we observe, in what we experience.

Even just on Friday, John mentioned the thunderstorm.

And as the thunder was thundering,

I was inside the house and just thought to myself,

I just love thunderstorms.

There's something about the thunder and the lightning

that reminds me of the power of God.

And of course, I'm sure if I were to ask you,

what really stands out to you about God's creation,

you would talk about the special things like the stars or the trees,

or some of you who have ever lived near the ocean.

You enjoy the mountains and just the benefits of what God has given to us

through general revelation of calling attention to Himself.

We see so much about God in creation.

Matter of fact, Romans chapter 1 talks about the fact that all of the divine attributes

Romans 1 · chapter mention

are clearly seen in what we observe in creation.

His majesty, His wisdom, His power,

even His eternality,

that He is a God who is so infinite,

so magnificent,

so magnificent,

so large.

It's beyond our comprehension

in His ability to show compassion

in the order of things that He has made

and how He takes care of His creation.

It demonstrates a God who is overall.

But we know that general revelation by itself is insufficient.

While it is clear,

and those who see God in creation

know there is an all-powerful, almighty deity,

but they don't know who that deity is

or how to respond to that deity.

So God has also given to us special revelation.

His revealed Word, His prophets,

His Word, the Word of God itself,

and then coming to us through His own Son, Jesus,

who was the Word of God made flesh.

In this way, God is distinct.

God is set apart.

God is separate.

Entirely different from all other things in creation,

all other powers,

all other authorities,

all other beings.

God is distinct in that He demonstrates

His interest in revealing Himself to His creation.

We'll observe this quality of God

in our passage today,

especially from Daniel 2, verse 11.

Daniel 2:11

Look there just for a moment.

This is where I'm drawing out our point

that God is distinct,

and we're going to apply this to the passage at large.

It says this.

These are the wise men who are responding to the king.

It said,

This thing that the king asked is difficult,

and no one can show it to the king

except the gods,

whose dwelling is not with flesh.

And now drop down to verse 19.

Then this mystery was revealed to Daniel.

In a vision of the night,

then Daniel blessed the God of heaven.

Daniel's God as separate,

as distinct,

as set apart from all other gods,

all other powers,

all other authorities,

because God reveals His Word to His people.

He does that to draw us in

to worship of Himself,

and that's what God is beginning to work

in Nebuchadnezzar's heart.

So, beginning in verse 1,

we're going to see that God is set apart

in giving revelation.

God is set apart in giving revelation.

This is part of the nature of who God is

in revealing Himself to His creation.

He sets Himself apart this way.

Notice in verse 1.

In the second year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar,

Nebuchadnezzar had a dream.

His spirit was troubled,

and his sleep left him.

God is speaking to Nebuchadnezzar in a dream.

We're going to just talk about this for a little bit.

But before we get there,

notice the response of Nebuchadnezzar.

He's troubled.

His sleep leaves him.

God speaks to Nebuchadnezzar

in a way that is recognizable.

He gets his attention.

He is seeking to draw the attention to Nebuchadnezzar

that this revelation

is not coming from within Nebuchadnezzar.

It's coming from without.

And so, Nebuchadnezzar takes it seriously.

He recognizes this is coming

from outside of himself.

This opening phrase,

in the second year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar,

it's my conviction

that this is actually

a part of the flow of this narrative.

And it would find itself within Daniel chapter 1.

Daniel 1 · chapter mention

So this three-year training process

that is taking place there in Babylon

where Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego,

and Daniel are all part of this training process.

And so, chapter 1 kind of deals

with the start and completion of that process.

But inserted in that, I believe,

is this story of Daniel chapter 2

Daniel 2 · chapter mention

where Daniel is able to interpret

the dream of the king.

Which helps us understand

in Daniel chapter 1 verse 17

Daniel 1:17

how Daniel knew that he had this ability.

As for these youths,

God gave them learning and skill

and all literature and wisdom.

And Daniel had understanding

and all visions and dreams.

How did he know that?

Well, he knew that because of Daniel chapter 2.

Daniel 2 · chapter mention

And I think it also helps to explain

why Daniel wasn't a part

of this assembly of counselors

that come before the king

here in our narrative this morning.

God had given Nebuchadnezzar a dream.

He had revealed a message to him.

And as a result,

Nebuchadnezzar is troubled.

His mind is,

his spirit is struck.

The root word that is here

means to strike as with a hammer

on an anvil.

Or to strike a bell.

There was this pounding

that was taking place.

It was recognizable.

It got his attention.

It created alarm in his heart.

He knew something significant

was taking place.

Perhaps even refers to the rapid heartbeat

that was taking place

while he was dreaming.

Have you ever woken up

in the middle of the night

after a very hard dream?

This cold sweat that you have

and their heart is racing?

That's the kind of response

that Nebuchadnezzar is having

to this dream.

We also find that his sleep left him.

His sleep was done.

We would call this a nightmare.

His heart is racing.

He's scared.

Any of you kids

who've ever had a bad dream,

maybe what you would tend to do,

what I did when I was a kid,

I would get up

and I would run to mom and dad's room

and ask to lay in the bed with them.

Ever?

I won't ask you to raise your hands.

You know what I'm talking about.

This is what's going on

for Nebuchadnezzar.

And what's interesting

is it says not only

did he have a dream,

but he had dreams,

which means it was likely

this recurring event

that would happen

night after night after night

and it continued to torment him.

He recognized that God was at work.

Of course, dreams in the ancient world

were considered significant.

They were considered indicators

of what was yet to happen.

And Nebuchadnezzar knew

that this was no ordinary dream.

It arrested his attention.

And in fact,

God was speaking to Nebuchadnezzar.

God was doing here

what he did repeatedly

throughout the Old and New Testament

when prophets were not present.

We find 21 times

throughout the Old Testament

that God speaks to

various individuals

through dreams.

So that in Genesis chapter 20

Genesis 20 · chapter mention

to King Abimelech.

Abimelech, if you remember,

took Abraham's wife Sarah

to be his wife,

to be a concubine.

And God shows up

to King Abimelech

in the night

and says,

you are a dead man

because the woman

whom you have taken,

for she is a man's wife.

And Abimelech's like,

what?

God speaks to Abimelech

in a dream.

Of course,

God speaks to Jacob

who is running

to Laban's house.

And God reveals

to Jacob

through angels

ascending and descending

on this ladder,

this confirmation

of the covenant promises

that he had made

to Abraham

and also to Jacob's father Isaac

and now were extended

to him

and to his children.

God, of course,

would give dreams

to Joseph.

Joseph,

who would have a dream

of the sheaves

that were bowing down to him

and also a dream

of the sun

and the moon

and 11 stars

that were all bowing down

to Joseph.

God would speak

to his people

through dreams.

It was meant

to get their attention.

It was meant

to be this vivid picture,

this message,

this revelation

of God

to his people

to give them

this repeated understanding,

this stressing

the significance

of what was about

to happen.

God is speaking

to Nebuchadnezzar

as well,

revealing the future

to Nebuchadnezzar,

warning him,

helping him

to take notice.

Not only does he have

this dream,

but this dream

is not enough.

While it is revelation,

Nebuchadnezzar understands

that it's significant,

it's come from God

and he doesn't leave it there.

He wants to know

the interpretation

and that's where

we turn next.

Nebuchadnezzar,

he seeks an interpretation.

He's kind of moving

our way through

this narrative,

helping to draw attention

to the transitions

that are taking place.

Nebuchadnezzar recognizes

that this dream

is important.

He wants to know

what it means,

so he sends

for an interpretation.

It says in verse 2,

then the king commanded

the magicians,

the enchanters,

the sorcerers,

and the Chaldeans

to be summoned

to tell the king

his dreams.

So they came in

and stood before the king

and the king said to them,

I had a dream

and my spirit is troubled

to know the dream.

Then the Chaldeans

said to the king

in Aramaic,

O king,

live forever.

Tell your servant

the dream

and we will show

the interpretation.

Of course,

Nebuchadnezzar

wants to know

what this dream means.

So he sends

for the experts

in the kingdom

so that he might know

what this dream means.

There are four distinct groups

that are present.

Magicians,

enchanters,

sorcerers,

and Chaldeans.

Magicians would be those

who meticulously

chronicled

the configuration

or the constellation

of the stars,

the movement

of the heavens

as it were.

And as significant events

would take place,

they would capture

those and chronicle

those events

so that any time

that event would reoccur,

they could have a way

to interpret

the current events

that were taking place

before them.

Enchanters were also

astrologers

or conjurers.

These were those

who used magic spells

and incantations

were believed

to be able to communicate

with the other world,

the spirit world.

sorcerers

were those

who were thought

to speak to the gods.

They used omens

and studied them

to understand the future.

They used astrology

and even used techniques

like using a sheep's liver

to decide

what was going to happen

in the current situation.

These Chaldeans

are also astrologers.

These are the ones

who were priests

or astrologers

or magicians

or soothsayers.

These are the ones

who were called in

who were expected

to be able

to communicate

with the spirit world

and bring an answer.

There's one thing

that's common

to all these groups.

Their

association

with the spirit world,

with the supernatural.

We tend to dismiss

the supernatural

as being either irrelevant

or bogus

or unimportant.

But the scripture

would teach otherwise.

Ephesians chapter 6

Ephesians 6:12

verse 12

says this,

We do not wrestle

against flesh and blood

but against rulers,

against authorities,

against the cosmic powers

over this present darkness,

against the spiritual forces

of evil

in the heavenly places.

There is a battle,

a struggle

that is taking place

and it is not

a physical one.

It is a spiritual one.

It is not a one

that you can see.

It's a one

that's invisible to you.

The real struggle,

the real conflict,

the real battle

that is happening

in this world

is a battle

that's taking place

in the invisible realm.

And God

has entrusted

spiritual forces

with real

spiritual power.

Make no mistake.

So then in Ephesians

Ephesians 2:1

chapter 2

verses 1 and 2

we find

you were dead

in your trespasses

and sins

in which you walked,

once walked,

following the course

of this world,

following the prince

of the power

of the air,

the spirit

that is now at work

in the sons

of disobedience.

There is delegated

power

that God

has given

to Satan

and also

to his demonic

forces.

That power

is real power.

power.

So that

even Moses,

you remember the story,

you've watched the movie,

the power

that Moses

wields in Egypt

is a mimicked

power

that is also

reflected

in the wise men

of Pharaoh's court.

So that in Exodus

Exodus 6:10

chapter 6

verses 10 and 11,

excuse me,

7,

10 and 11,

it says this,

So Moses and Aaron

went to Pharaoh

and did just

what the Lord

commanded

and Aaron

cast down

his staff

before Pharaoh

and his servants

and it became

a serpent.

Then Pharaoh

summoned the wise men

and the sorcerers

and they,

the magicians

of Egypt,

also did the same

by their

secret arts.

It's real

power.

It's delegated

power.

Power that God

has delegated

to

spiritual

forces

to carry out

the plans

that they have

in this world.

Then Moses

turns the water

of the Nile

into blood

and we find that

in Exodus

Exodus 7:20

chapter 7

verse 20.

Moses and Aaron

did what the Lord

commanded

in the sight

of Pharaoh

and in the sight

of his servants.

He lifted up

his staff

and struck

the water

in the Nile

and all the water

in the Nile

turned to blood.

Then in verse 22,

but the magicians

of Egypt

did the same

by their

secret arts.

This is sobering.

Miracle

after miracle

that

Moses

performs,

it is

emulated

and mimicked

by

these wise men.

So that

even bringing

the plague of frogs

that we find

in Exodus

Exodus 8 · chapter mention

chapter 8.

So Aaron

stretched out

his hand

over the waters

of Egypt

and the frogs

came up

and covered

the land of Egypt,

but the magicians

did the same

by their secret arts

and made frogs

come up

on the land

of Egypt.

Miracle

after miracle,

power

after power

was reflected

in these wise men

until the third

plague of gnats

in Exodus

Exodus 8:17–19

chapter 8

verses 17

to 19.

Aaron stretched

out his hand

with his staff

and struck

the dust

of the earth

and there

were gnats

on man and beast.

All the dust

of the earth

became gnats

in all the land

of Egypt.

The magicians

tried by their

secret arts

to produce gnats

but they could not

so there were gnats

on man and beast

and the magicians

said to Pharaoh,

this is the finger

of God.

But Pharaoh's heart

was hardened

and he would not

listen as the Lord

had said.

While they do

have power,

there are limits,

there are boundaries,

there are constraints

to the power

that they have

but they do

have power,

make no mistake,

so that by the time

we get to the end times

in Revelation chapter 13

Revelation 13 · chapter mention

we also find

this power

of the false prophet

who is working

in concert

with the Antichrist.

We find this,

then I saw another beast,

that's the false prophet

rising out of the earth.

It had two horns

like a lamb

and it spoke

like a dragon.

It exerts all the authority

of the first beast

in its presence

and makes the earth

and its inhabitants

worship the first beast

whose mortal wound

was healed.

It performs great signs

even making fire

come down from heaven

to earth

in front of the people

and by the sign

that it allowed

to work

in the presence

of the beast,

it deceives those

who dwell on earth

telling them

to make an image

for the beast

that was wounded

by the sword

and yet lived.

Make no mistake,

the spiritual forces

of darkness

have power.

They're not to be trifled with.

And here,

Nebuchadnezzar calls in

this spiritual group

of individuals

to work that power

that he has seen

no doubt in the past,

he has recognized,

he knows

that this is not pretend.

Nebuchadnezzar

is not interested

in parlor tricks,

he's not gullible,

these guys

are the real deal

and they're not

to be messed with.

So Nebuchadnezzar

calls them in

to interpret the dream,

he knows

that they have

some connection

with the spirit world

and he knows

that his dream

has come

from the other side.

But we find

in verses 4 to 11

that his counselors

admit their limitation.

In this case,

God is preserving

his word,

he is preserving

the integrity

of the message

that he has given

to Nebuchadnezzar

and he binds

or restricts

these counselors

from being able

to know the message

that God has given

to Nebuchadnezzar.

Notice verse 4.

Then the Chaldeans

said to the king

in Aramaic,

O king,

live forever.

Tell your servants

the dream

and we will show

the interpretation.

The king answered

and said to the Chaldeans,

the word for me

is firm.

If you do not

make known to me

the dream

and its interpretation,

you shall be torn

limb from limb

and your houses

shall be laid

in ruins.

But if you show

the dream

and its interpretation,

you shall receive

from me gifts

and rewards

and great honor.

Therefore,

show me the dream

and its interpretation.

They answered

a second time

and said,

let the king

tell his servants

the dream

and we will show

the interpretation.

The king answered

and said,

I know with certainty

that you are trying

to gain time.

If you do not

make the dream

known to me,

there is but one

sentence for you.

You have agreed

to speak lying

and corrupt words

before me

till the times

change.

Therefore,

tell me the dream

and I shall know

that you can show me

its interpretation.

The Chaldeans

answered the king

and said,

there is not a man

on earth

who can meet

the king's demand

for no great

and powerful king

has asked

such a thing

of any magician

or enchanter

or Chaldean.

The thing

that the king

asks is difficult

and no one

can show it

to the king

except the gods

whose dwelling

is not

with the flesh.

Right at the outset

we see in verse 4

this progression

of interaction

that's taking place

between the king

and these counselors.

First,

it begins in verse 4

with great respect.

Notice,

O king,

live forever.

Recognizing his position,

seeking prosperity

and the continuance

of his reign

but then it all

ends in complete

defiance.

Verse 10,

there is not a man

on earth

who can meet

the king's demand

for no great

and powerful king

has asked such a thing

of any magician

or enchanter

or Chaldean.

You're insane.

This is ridiculous.

Your request

is impossible.

You are out

of your mind.

What in the world

are you thinking,

king?

What a turn.

What a change

has happened.

So why is the king

so resolute?

Well,

the king is resolute

because the king

understands

that in that era

these wise men

and astrologers

did have some skill

in interpreting dreams.

There were manuals

that had explained

the various dream symbols.

Samples of those

in Akkadian dream manuals

have been discovered.

So all the wise men

needed were to know

what the symbols were,

how those symbols

interacted with one another.

They could look up

in their index,

in their manual,

and they could provide

some approximation

of the dream

and its interpretation.

But Nebuchadnezzar

was not interested

in an approximation.

Nebuchadnezzar understood

this message

was from God

and he wanted

the real interpretation.

And if they couldn't do it,

the consequences

were severe.

I'm going to tear you

limb from limb.

I'm going to burn

down your houses

and turn it into ruins.

Why would Nebuchadnezzar

be so willing

to dispose

of all of his wise men?

Well, I believe

it's because Nebuchadnezzar

understood the seriousness

of the dream that he had.

He recognized

that in some way

his kingdom

or he

was represented

in this image

and when this rock

is cut out of the mountain

and thrown at the statue,

it blows into bits.

Nebuchadnezzar

has some indication

that something significant

is about to happen

and it's not going to be good.

He wants to know

the specifics.

He wants the interpretation

to be clear.

He's not messing around.

He does not want

an approximate answer.

He wants the real answer.

And he's convinced

of the integrity

of this message.

And in this way,

Nebuchadnezzar

perhaps

even here

is preserving

the message

of the word

even more

than most of the captives

that came out of Judah.

Those captives

who had had

the word of God

but did not

align their hearts

to respond

to that word

and that's why

they were in captivity

in the first place

because of their idolatry,

because of the rebellion

against God,

their unwillingness

to hear

and obey

the message

that God had sent

to the prophets.

They treated

the word of God

as common.

But Nebuchadnezzar

recognizes

the significance

of the word

and wants to preserve

the integrity

of that word

and demands

this impossible request

so that he can know

for sure

what God says.

Although

we'll see

that Daniel

is not a part

of this group

and it puts him

at risk,

this is another way

that God

is preserving

the integrity

of his messenger.

Because if Daniel

had been a part

of this group

and we know

that he had risen

through the ranks,

he had established

himself

as being

ten times wiser

than all

of the wise men

of Egypt,

or excuse me,

of Babylon.

If he had been here

and been part

of this group

and been part

of the solution

of interpretation,

God's word

would have been

corrupted

in that

it would have come

from the collective

and not come

from God.

God himself

is preserving

his word as well.

Notice as we turn

to verse 12

and 13,

the king's attempts

to get an answer

are frustrated.

His desire

to understand

the dream

and its interpretation

is frustrated.

Notice,

because of this,

the king was angry

and furious

and commanded

that all the wise men

of Babylon

be destroyed.

So the decree

went out

and the wise men

were about to be killed

and they sought Daniel

and his companions

to kill them.

Nebuchadnezzar

is hot.

We're going to see

this rage

that's going to come out,

this violent rage

of Nebuchadnezzar

is going to come out

time and time again

throughout this narrative.

Probably

not just because

of the fact

that his wise men

let him down

but also because

of the insults

he received.

He feels

a little duped.

He feels

as though

his power

is limited.

He is frustrated

about the fact

that a message

has been given

and he can't

discern

its interpretation.

Perhaps he also

feels weak

invulnerable

a bit embarrassed

a bit challenged

a little foolish.

He wants to remove

this threat

against him

he doesn't know

where that threat

lies.

So he sends

out this urgent

command to destroy

all the wise men

of Babylon.

Babylon.

And it was

carried out

immediately

and thoroughly.

And then a man

named Ariok

comes

and begins

and knocks

on Daniel's door.

Ariok

his name means

lion-like

and I can imagine

that he got

that name

for obvious

reasons.

This was not

a puny

emaciated

kind of person.

He was probably

renamed

because of his

appearance

because of his

job

and because of

the way he

carried out

his orders.

He was

ferocious.

And let me tell you

Ariok didn't get

this job

for nothing

either.

He knew how

to follow orders

he was skilled

in his craft

and I think

it's safe to say

he was not

a man of mercy.

He was cold

he was methodical

and he was

unstoppable.

You could not

come against

this lion-like

man.

He was a

champion

of death.

He wasn't

going to be

reasoned with.

He receives

his orders

and he executes

them without

question.

No life is

spared.

But he shows

up at Daniel's

door

and the

remarkable

happens.

Because God

not only

sets himself

apart

as giving

revelation

but God

sets himself

apart

in providing

a spokesman

providing

a servant.

The general

revelation

that God

had given

to Nebuchadnezzar

was insufficient

was not

enough

and so

God

has set

himself

a servant

a spokesman

to communicate

his word

to Nebuchadnezzar.

He desires

Nebuchadnezzar

knowing

his word.

So notice

verse 14

Daniel

replied

with prudence

and discretion

to Ariok

the captain

of the king's

guard

who had

gone out

to kill

the wise

men of

Babylon

he declared

to Ariok

the king's

captain

why is

this decree

of the king

so urgent?

Then Ariok

made the matter

known to Daniel

and Daniel

went in

and requested

the king

to appoint

him a time

that he might

show the

interpretation

to the king.

Daniel

is not

surprised

at this

opportunity

that God

has placed

in his

lap

to be

a spokesman

for the

message

that God

has given.

Daniel

sees

God

through this

he recognized

that this

is God's

revelation

he recognizes

that he

has been

specially

and uniquely

set aside

for this

very task

Daniel

knows

that God

provides

spokesman

he's seen

that through

the course

of the history

of Israel

and here

he rises

to the occasion

and recognizes

that God

is at work

and God

has chosen

him

to speak

for God

before Nebuchadnezzar

there is a

calmness

in Daniel

I imagine

this commanding

figure

while he's

still young

still commands

this respect

he's not

demanding

he's not

argumentative

but he's

confident

and calm

Daniel

knows

that God

is in

this

he doesn't

need to worry

he doesn't

need to run

he only needs

to follow

God's lead

he only needs

to be available

for the plan

that God

has put

into place

and Daniel

seems genuinely

interested

in the king

Daniel

is interested

in the message

that God

has given

to Nebuchadnezzar

and you get

the sense

in Daniel's

questioning

of Ariok

that Daniel

is genuinely

interested

in the welfare

of the king

himself

and in this

way

God's servants

are also

distinct

we're going to

see this

throughout the

narrative

of Daniel

that God's

servants

care

for people

not just

their friends

that God's

servants

as Jesus

will say

in the

sermon on the

mount

they bless

those who

curse

them

they bless

and curse

not

that's what

Daniel is

doing

Daniel could

have viewed

this as a

golden opportunity

this was his

ticket to

eliminate the

competition

this was his

opportunity

for Nebuchadnezzar

to carry out

his sentence

and destroy

all the other

wise men

of Babylon

but Daniel

cares for them

as well

he cares

about them

even though

they were

mixed up

in this

dark arts

Daniel

replies

with wisdom

and prudence

Daniel is

careful

to respond

to Ariok

in a way

that leads

to the

right response

from Ariok

one commentator

puts it this

way

quote

the word

translated

discretion

is related

to the

Hebrew word

taste

here it

conveys

those

spiritual

instincts

of judgment

discernment

and what

we might

call

a sense

of the

realities

of the

situation

Daniel's

wisdom

was well

developed

this shows

his

spiritual

sense

of taste

end quote

he knew

how to

talk to

Ariok

he had

this

commanding

presence

and was

able to

speak

with him

in a way

that was

convincing

we're not

given the

words that

Daniel said

but perhaps

something along

these lines

Ariok

I can

answer

the

king's

impossible

request

and if

you take

me to

the

king

you'll

get the

credit

for

finding

me

what do

you have

to lose

after all

Ariok

if I'm

wrong

you can

kill me

anyway

so Daniel

stands

before the

king

and what

we find

is fascinating

notice this

phrase

and Daniel

went in

and requested

the king

to appoint

him a

time

again

we see

that God

is working

because remember

the wise

men had

requested a

time

and in

Daniel

Daniel 2:8

chapter 2

verse 8

I know

with certainty

you are just

trying to gain

time

and Nebuchadnezzar

says no

way

but here

with Daniel

Daniel

requests a

time

and Nebuchadnezzar

gives him

time

God is

working

and Daniel's

confidence

in God

is coupled

with faith

he knows

that God

is able

to answer

Nebuchadnezzar's

request

he knows

that God

has given

instrumentally

this dream

and desires

for Nebuchadnezzar

to be led

in understanding

of who God

is

and finally

we find

in verses 17

and 18

Daniel asks

God

for the answer

Daniel knows

where to go

he doesn't go

to the counselors

he goes to God

the dream

has come

from him

notice

then Daniel

went to his house

and made the matter

known to Hananiah

Mishael

and Azariah

his companions

and told them

to seek mercy

from the God

of heaven

concerning this mystery

so that Daniel

and his companions

might not be destroyed

with the rest

of the wise men

of Babylon

Daniel goes home

he tells

his three friends

they bow their hearts

in their heads

before the God

of mercy

and they plead

with God

to reveal

to them

the answer

this word

for mercy

is the word

compassion

the word

for kindness

it's the description

that God

uses of himself

when he shows up

to Moses

in Exodus chapter 34

Exodus 34 · chapter mention

where it says

the Lord

passed before him

and proclaimed

the Lord

the Lord

a God

merciful

and gracious

slow to anger

and abounding

in steadfast love

and faithfulness

this is the God

to whom

Daniel

and his friends

pray

this is the God

they seek

God

delights

in mercy

and Daniel

recognizes

that God

is present

to show mercy

not only

to he

and his friends

but especially

to Nebuchadnezzar

another commentator

says this

I think it's helpful

for us

quote

why this

concentration

on mercies

were they concerned

primarily

for their own skins

were they self

centered

in asking God

to see them

in their plight

and come to their aid

on the contrary

they sought mercy

from God

because they recognized

that they

and perhaps

they only

were his appointed

servants

there in Babylon

they were men

of destiny

who had been placed

in Babylon

for his glory

to make his name known

it was because

their lives

were so intimately

intertwined

with God's glory

that they sought

his mercy

in order

that his glory

might be displayed

in Babylon

in revealing

the dream

and its meaning

Daniel explains

that God

had a purpose

in Nebuchadnezzar's

life

as well

even there

he stresses

that the mystery

had been revealed

quote

for our sakes

that's in

verse 30

end quote

Daniel

recognizes

that he and his

friends are there

in Babylon

as representatives

of the God

of mercy

they are there

to reveal

this dream

to Nebuchadnezzar

to help him

to understand

who God

was

so that Nebuchadnezzar

ultimately

could bow the knee

before that God

and could be rescued

himself

God has also

allowed us

to be agents

of mercy

in how we reveal

the word of God

to those around us

and just like

we find in our story

we are to reveal

God's gospel

God's message

in two different ways

first we reveal

God's message

God's gospel

in the way

that we

behave

Philippians chapter 1

Philippians 1:27

verses 27 and 28

says this

only let your conduct

be worthy

of the gospel

of Christ

so that whether

I come and see you

or in absent

I may hear

of your affairs

that you stand fast

in one spirit

with one mind

striving together

for the faith

of the gospel

and not in any way

terrified by your adversaries

which is to them

a proof of perdition

but to you

of salvation

and that from God

God has called us

as his children

as followers of Christ

to be distinct

from the world

as God is distinct

be holy

for I am holy

and that's what

positioned Daniel

and his friends

for this significant

task

they had resolved

in their hearts

that they would not

defile themselves

with the king's food

they set themselves

apart

they desired to live

in a worthy way

and so God was able

to use them

we're called

to the same thing

we're called

to have worthy lives

and as Paul

will pray

he says

Lord that we would

walk worthy

so that we'd be filled

with the fruits

of righteousness

which are to the praise

and glory of God

we can show

the gospel

through our life

we must show

the gospel

through our life

but that is not enough

not only general revelation

but also special revelation

as we find

in our final verse

in Romans chapter 10

Romans 10:14

verses 14 and 17

it says this

how then shall they

call on him

in whom they have not

believed

how shall they believe

in him

on whom they have not heard

and how shall they hear

without a preacher

and how shall they preach

unless they are sent

as it is written

how beautiful

are the feet of those

who preach the gospel

of peace

who bring glad tidings

of good things

so then faith

comes by hearing

and hearing

by the word

of God

all of us

who are called

to God

through the word

are now given

the privilege

of sharing

that gospel word

to others

so they too

can know

the God

who saves

come to terms

with their own sin

ask for forgiveness

and bow the knee

to Jesus Christ

and enjoy him

as the one

who forgives their sin

and leads them

to life in God

have you done that