Daniel 2
"If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you." James 1:5
Daniel and his friends were careful to obey God, and God gave them great knowledge and understanding. He also gave Daniel the ability to understand dreams and visions. This ability was put to good use. In the second year of Nebuchadnezzar's reign he had a dream that troubled him, and he summoned all the wise men to tell him what he had dreamed and what it meant. The astrologers asked the king to tell them what he had dreamed and assured him they could interpret it. However, the king kept insisting that they tell him both what he had dreamed and the interpretation. Scripture doesn't tell us whether the king had forgotten his dream or whether he was just testing the wise men in his kingdom. When the wise men said it was impossible for them to know what the king had dreamed, Nebuchadnezzar became so angry that he ordered them all put to death.
Men were sent to find Daniel and his friends and kill them. Daniel went to the king and asked for time so he could interpret the dream for him. Then he and his three friends began to pray earnestly. God heard their prayers and revealed the dream and the interpretation to Daniel during the night. Then Daniel prayed a beautiful prayer of praise and thanksgiving. Philippians 4:6-7 encourages us to pray about everything, but it also reminds us not to forget to thank God for His answers to our prayers. Daniel did not forget.
When Daniel went before the king to explain the dream, he gave God all the credit for revealing the dream and its meaning. Only God could have done that. Our heavenly Father does hear and answer our prayers.
The dream was of a large statue with a head of gold, a chest and arms of silver, a belly and thighs of bronze, legs of iron, and feet partly of iron and partly of clay. A rock smashed the statue, and the pieces of the statue were blown away, but the rock became a huge mountain and filled the whole earth.
The statue represented kingdoms that would exist throughout history. Nebuchadnezzar was the head of gold. After him inferior kingdoms would arise, followed by a divided kingdom represented by the feet of part iron and part clay. The rock represented the kingdom that God will set up. It will never be destroyed but will crush all the other kingdoms, bringing them to an end. But God's kingdom will endure forever.
The king honored Daniel greatly, but he also recognized the greatness of Daniel's God. When we obey and glorify God, it can cause even unbelievers to recognize and acknowledge Him.
James has told us if we lack wisdom to ask God for it, and He will give it to us. Do you need wisdom and guidance for any situation in your life right now? Have you remembered to ask God for it? If not, will you follow Daniel's example and pray about it?
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