Hello everyone. 🙂
I am grateful to be sharing another blog post in this series on Bible prophecy. Bible prophecy is extremely relevant to us today. The week after next week, I will be sharing a prophecy that gives a bird’s eye view of the history and future of our world. Today’s blog post discusses the amazing story which precedes this prophecy. My prayer is that we would all be both sobered and encouraged as we learn about God’s past and future workings with humanity.
Many years ago, the ancient Babylonians came to Israel and captured many Israelites: bringing them to Babylon as captives. Among these captives, they selected “Children in whom was no blemish, but well favoured, and skilful in all wisdom, and cunning in knowledge, and understanding science, and such as had ability in them to stand in the king’s palace, and whom they might teach the learning and the tongue of the Chaldeans.” Daniel 1:4 (KJV)
Among this particular group of captives was a young man named Daniel and his three friends Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah. Daniel was a God-fearing young man who had a strong love for God and sterling integrity. He was also tactful, diplomatic, and courteous (Daniel 1:4-9). God gave Daniel some incredible experiences; one of which we will talk about today.
King Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon, had a strange dream one night. He soon forgot the dream, but he remembered that it had been troubling, and he desperately wanted to know what it meant. So, he called “the magicians, and the astrologers, and the sorcerers, and the Chaldeans” to interpret his dream for him. Daniel 2:2 (KJV).
The king was upset when these men told him that they would interpret the dream if he would first share it with them. He said, “…The thing is gone from me: if ye will not make known unto me the dream, with the interpretation thereof, ye shall be cut in pieces, and your houses shall be made a dunghill.
But if ye shew the dream, and the interpretation thereof, ye shall receive of me gifts and rewards and great honour: therefore shew me the dream, and the interpretation thereof.” Daniel 2:5-6 (KJV)
The poor men were still unable to tell the king what his dream had been.
“They answered again and said, Let the king tell his servants the dream, and we will shew the interpretation of it.” Daniel 2:7 (KJV)
The king’s anger was rising. He said “…I know of certainty that ye would gain the time, because ye see the thing is gone from me.
But if ye will not make known unto me the dream, there is but one decree for you: for ye have prepared lying and corrupt words to speak before me, till the time be changed: therefore tell me the dream, and I shall know that ye can shew me the interpretation thereof.” Daniel 2:8-9 (KJV)
When the men once again shared that they could only share the interpretation of the king’s dream once he had shared the dream with them, and furthermore, that they believed that no one besides “the gods, whose dwelling is not with flesh” (Daniel 2:11 KJV) could tell him what he had dreamed, the king became furious. He made a command that all of the wise men in Babylon be killed.
When Daniel heard about this decree, he tactfully made the request to be given time, and that after this time was over, he would share the interpretation of the dream with the king. This request was granted. Daniel 2:14-16 KJV
Daniel then spent time in earnest prayer along with his Godly friends, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah (Daniel 2:17-18). God answered their prayers, and God told Daniel what King Nebuchadnezzar had dreamed. Amazing! God is all-knowing, all-powerful, infinitely wise, and loving!
“Then was the secret revealed unto Daniel in a night vision. Then Daniel blessed the God of heaven.
Daniel answered and said, Blessed be the name of God for ever and ever: for wisdom and might are his:
And he changeth the times and the seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up kings: he giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding:
He revealeth the deep and secret things: he knoweth what is in the darkness, and the light dwelleth with him.“I thank thee, and praise thee, O thou God of my fathers, who hast given me wisdom and might, and hast made known unto me now what we desired of thee: for thou hast now made known unto us the king’s matter.
Therefore Daniel went in unto Arioch, whom the king had ordained to destroy the wise men of Babylon: he went and said thus unto him; Destroy not the wise men of Babylon: bring me in before the king, and I will shew unto the king the interpretation.” Daniel 2:19-24 (KJV).
Would you like to know what happened next? Would you like to know what the king’s dream was and what it meant? Well, if you do, you will have to check out my next blog post in this series, which will be published sometime during the week after next week. 🙂
Blessings and courage to all. 🙂
Learn and Grow 4ever 