Daniel Shines Before The King Series

Introduction

Daniel had been granted by King Nebuchadnezzar some time to tell the king the dream that had greatly bothered the king and then to share its interpretation. Daniel immediately upon returning home tells his friends the matter of concern and they join him as part of his prayer team. And Daniel and his prayer team were effective because God revealed to Daniel in a night vision the dream and its interpretation. He got the answer first because he went to God seeking the answer. The Bible says you have not because you ask not. And secondly he got his answer because he used a prayer team to help him bring the request to God. Such a serious matter required the actions of a prayer team.

And I gave you a Scripture to show you the effectiveness of a prayer team.

Matthew 18:19–20 ““Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.””

We talked about the urgency of having a prayer team a couple of weeks ago, and I hope by now you have talked with someone about being part of your prayer team.

Daniel’s actions should have taught us that the first line of offense when there is a matter of grave concern is prayer. And Daniel also teaches us that their are times I have to call in reinforcements to pray with me. Daniel did just that- Daniel and his three companions went to God in prayer, and Daniel received his answer.

But Daniel’s instruction to us did not stop there. The answer was received but praying for that request was not complete until Daniel praised God for the answer. And that is exactly what Daniel did, He broke out in praise to God.

And the lesson for us is that our personal petitions to God are not complete until we praise God for whatever the answer might be.

Now, Daniel having prayed for his request and having received the answer and breaking out in praise, he now in haste needs to follow up with the king. Peoples lives are at stake. So Daniel seeks out Arioch, the captain of the guard, to arrange for Daniel to immediately appear in the presence of the king.

So let’s see what we can learn when Daniel with answer in hand arranges this all important meeting with the king through Arioch.

Scripture

Daniel 2:24–28 (NKJV)

24 Therefore Daniel went to Arioch, whom the king had appointed to destroy the wise men of Babylon. He went and said thus to him: “Do not destroy the wise men of Babylon; take me before the king, and I will tell the king the interpretation.”

25 Then Arioch quickly brought Daniel before the king, and said thus to him, “I have found a man of the captives of Judah, who will make known to the king the interpretation.”

26 The king answered and said to Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, “Are you able to make known to me the dream which I have seen, and its interpretation?”

27 Daniel answered in the presence of the king, and said, “The secret which the king has demanded, the wise men, the astrologers, the magicians, and the soothsayers cannot declare to the king. 28 But there is a God in heaven who reveals secrets, and He has made known to King Nebuchadnezzar what will be in the latter days...

Point #1

Daniel shined because his first concern when finding Arioch was for the safety of the wise men of Babylon. These were not his friends; these are the people who took him captive; they would be considered his enemy.

24 Therefore Daniel went to Arioch, whom the king had appointed to destroy the wise men of Babylon. He went and said thus to him: “Do not destroy the wise men of Babylon; take me before the king, and I will tell the king the interpretation.”

The Babylonians were the ones who took Daniel and his companions captive and brought them 700 miles to Babylon. It was the Babylonian who destroyed their beloved Judah. It was the Babylonians who took items from the temple in Jerusalem and brought them to Babylonian. It was the Babylonians who forced these young men to attend three years of classes to learn about Babylon and their gods.

How could Daniel show compassion to the people who done all these things to him and his friends and destroyed his country and stole from God’s temple in Jerusalem? Only if he had a whole lot of Jesus in him. In my flesh, I could not show compassion because they have hurt me and my companions and they destroyed my homeland.