Daniel
2:46-49 (ESV)
[46] Then King Nebuchadnezzar fell upon his face and paid
homage to Daniel, and commanded that an offering and incense be offered up to
him. [47] 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.” [48] 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. [49] 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.
There are three observations we need to consider in the above
text.
First, we need to consider Nebuchadnezzar’s response when
Daniel revealed the vision and interpreted it. The king “fell upon his face and
paid homage to Daniel, and commanded that an offering and incense be offered up
to him” (Dan 2:46). He is certainly treating Daniel as royalty, but we might
say that he is treating Daniel as deity. There is apparently no record of how
Daniel responded to this. It doesn’t appear that he rejected the honor. Whatever
the king’s intention, Daniel appears to accept it quietly. In chapter 5, when
he interprets the handwriting on the wall, Daniel will tell the king, “Let your
gifts be for yourself, and give your rewards to another” (Dan 5:17).
Nevertheless, here in chapter 2 Daniel accepts the honor. We must be careful
that we do not take a narrative passage like this, or like chapter 5, and
assume that it is the equivalent of a clear instruction on how to always respond
in certain situations.
Second, what we do need to recognize is that Daniel’s actions
influenced a pagan court for God. We must be careful not to assume that if we
stand for God we will always succeed. That is observation three, which will be
considered in the next paragraph. Neither should we assume that because
Nebuchadnezzar called Daniel’s God, “God of gods and Lord of kings” (Dan 2:47)
that he is necessarily saved. Words are just words, and they are often
ambiguous. This, or course, could mean that from that point on Nebuchadnezzar
chose to serve God. On the other hand it could simply be a momentary expression
of being overwhelmed by Daniel’s revelation. Either way, we do recognize that
Daniel’s presence and actions pointed a pagan king toward the Almighty. My
prayer is always that in my presence people would sense God. May that be true
of all of us as believers.
Third, the king’s present favor does not necessitate future
favor for Daniel. If you are familiar with the book of Daniel then you will
recognize that Daniel’s friends will be thrown in a fiery furnace, and Daniel
will be thrown in a Lion’s den. Obedience and faithfulness to God does not
always result in success. Victory is one thing. Success is another. In the very
next chapter Daniel’s friends will be faced with the fiery furnace. They will
respond, “Our God . . . will deliver us . . . but if not . . . we will not
serve your gods” (Dan 3:17-18). They were victorious even before they were delivered
from the furnace. We must not assume that obedience will always result in
success. Hebrews 11 reminds of those who were faithful, but not successful.
Some were tortured, refusing to accept release, so that they might
rise again to a better life. [36] Others suffered mocking and flogging, and
even chains and imprisonment. [37] They were stoned, they were sawn in two,
they were killed with the sword. They went about in skins of sheep and goats,
destitute, afflicted, mistreated— [38] of whom the world was not worthy—
wandering about in deserts and mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.
We do not know what future God has for us. What we do know
is that he calls us to faithfully represent him no matter what. Is my presence
an expression of Christ whether I succeed or fail? When people see me, do they
see Jesus?
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