Daniel is Promoted
October 14, 2022
Commentary
God’s kingdom will never be destroyed (v. 44). If we are upset by threats of war and the prosperity of evil leaders we need to remember that God and not our world leaders decide the outcome of history. Under God’s protection, God’s kingdom is indestructible. Those who believe in God are members of His kingdom and are secure in Him (v.45).
Nebuchadnezzar’s reaction to Daniel’s reporting of the dream and its interpretation (vv 46-49).
Nebuchadnezzar fell on his face: This great king was obviously impressed. He wasn’t in the custom of showing such respect to anyone, especially a foreign slave who was about to be executed with the rest of the wise men. This confirms that Daniel accurately reported the dream and skillfully explained its meaning.Your God is the God of gods: Nebuchadnezzar knew that it wasn’t Daniel himself that revealed these things, but Daniel’s God revealed it through Daniel. He wanted the glory to go to God, and it did.The king promoted Daniel: Daniel not only had his life spared, but he was promoted to high office – and he made sure his friends were also promoted. It was fitting that Daniel’s friends got to share in his advancement, because they accomplished much of the victory through their prayers.
Application
My feeling about promotion is that when you are in the center of God’s will there is no point in seeking a higher position because you are already in that position. I am very thankful to the Lord for all of the opportunities He has given me to serve Him in this life.
Daniel 2:44– 49 (NET)
44 In the days of those kings the God of heaven will raise up an everlasting kingdom that will not be destroyed and a kingdom that will not be left to another people. It will break in pieces and bring about the demise of all these kingdoms. But it will stand forever. 45 You saw that a stone was cut from a mountain, but not by human hands; it smashed the iron, bronze, clay, silver, and gold into pieces. The great God has made known to the king what will occur in the future. The dream is certain, and its interpretation is reliable.”
46 Then King Nebuchadnezzar bowed down with his face to the ground and paid homage to Daniel. He gave orders to offer sacrifice and incense to him. 47 The king replied to Daniel, “Certainly your God is a God of gods and Lord of kings and revealer of mysteries, for you were able to reveal this mystery!” 48 Then the king elevated Daniel to high position and bestowed on him many marvelous gifts. He granted him authority over the entire province of Babylon and made him the main prefect over all the wise men of Babylon. 49 And at Daniel’s request, the king appointed Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego over the administration of the province of Babylon. Daniel himself served in the king’s court.
Illustration: When Robert Kennedy Was Attorney General
When Robert Kennedy was Attorney General he was reported to greet new young lawyers entering the Department with the following message: “This may appear to be a large organization, but when you do something well, I will hear about it and it will go on your record. I want you to recall that I was recently a lowly worker in the Justice Department myself, but that I now serve as Attorney General, due to perseverance, long hours, hard work, and the fact that my brother became President of the United States, not necessarily in that order. (Source Unknown).