Ok. This next passage comes at a time when the king had troubling dreams. His wise counsellors could not comfort him and he was so troubled that he ordered the death of all the wise men in Babylon.
That alone is telling. Maybe we have all gotten to a place of frustration where we have said, 'There are no answers to my dilemma. All of you people who say you know something can take a hike.'
The thing is... God had a man in Babylon.
"And Daniel went in and requested the king to appoint him a time, that he might show the interpretation to the king. 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. Then the mystery was revealed to Daniel in a vision of the night. Then Daniel blessed the God of heaven. Daniel answered and said:
'Blessed be the name of God forever and ever, to whom belong wisdom and might. He changes times and seasons; he removes kings and sets up kings; he gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding; he reveals deep and hidden things; he knows what is in the darkness, and the light dwells with him. To you, O God of my fathers, I give thanks and praise, for you have given me wisdom and might, and have now made known to me what we asked of you, for you have made known to us the king's matter.' " - Daniel 2:16-23 ESV
God raise up people and He puts them down. That says so much to me. Is every leader or person 'raised up' by God? No, Some get raised up by birth, influence or ability but God does raise people up and God does put people down.
Daniel was wise and compassionate. He asked for prayer. Prayer is a mechanism God seems to use. We pray and God restores order. The fall brought entropy into our lives. Things tend to move into a state of disorder but life is complex and ordered.
This is what happened after Daniel spoke to the king.
"Then King Nebuchadnezzar fell upon his face and paid homage to Daniel, and commanded that an offering and incense be offered up to him. The king answered and said to Daniel, 'Truly, your God is God of gods and Lord of kings, and a revealer of mysteries, for you have been able to reveal this mystery.' Then the king gave Daniel high honors and many great gifts, and made him ruler over the whole province of Babylon and chief prefect over all the wise men of Babylon. Daniel made a request of the king, and he appointed Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego over the affairs of the province of Babylon. But Daniel remained at the king's court." - Daniel 2:46-49 ESV
God used Daniel to comfort this king who could be comforted no other way. The king's confusion was turned to joy and satisfaction.
Jesus is my Daniel. Daniel was a 'type' of Christ. Jesus can comfort a person that no one else can reach. Answers sometimes are not the answer. God raises up a person to reveal Jesus and the confusion that seemed to have no remedy is replaced by the joy of eternal perspective.
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