Title: “Daniel’s Prayer in a Precarious Predicament” Script: Daniel 2
Type: Expos/Series on Prayer Where: GNBC 9-26-21
Intro: Andrew van der Bijl is a 93 yrs old Dutchman. To many, he is just an unassuming elderly man. Van der Bijl was born during a hostile time in the world. As he entered into adulthood, he chose to fight against the injustices of communism. Communism restricted Christianity, and the Christians were strongly persecuted against. Van der Bijl wasn’t, however, a politician. Rather, Brother Andrew is one of the most inspiring missionaries in history, and his ministry impacted large portions of the world with the Gospel. Brother Andrew was forced to make 100’s of potentially life threatening decisions so as to do his best to fulfill the Great Commission by smuggling Bibles and literature behind the Iron Curtain during the days of the USSR and satellites. Countless times danger literally came to his doorstep. Brother Andrew earned the moniker, “God’s Smuggler”. But God’s Smuggler was only successful because he has a great God. The same Great God we see in today’s story about Daniel.
Prop: Today we’ll examine Daniel 2 to see how we can trust God in a crisis.
BG: 1. Event takes place in the 3rd year of Daniel’s Babylonian captivity. King Nebuchadnezzar’s 2nd year. 2. Name “Daniel” – means “God is my judge”. 3.Personally, along with David and Joseph, one my favorite OT characters. 4. Daniel was a valued advisor to 5 kings (Neb., Evil-merodach, Belshazzar, Darius, and Cyrus.), serving about 70years!
Prop: Exam. Daniel 2 will serve as an example of how we can trust Christ when facing a crisis.
I. The Precarious Predicament Begins with a Problematic Premonition. Vv.1-12
A. The King’s Troubled Sleep Precipitates the Crisis.
1. A Tyrant’s Troubled Sleep Spells Trouble for Everyone Else. Vv. 1-3
a. Illust: We have all heard the phrase: “No one’s happy if mama ain’t happy.” Well, let me one up that. “No one’s happy if King Nebuchadnezzar ain’t happy.” We see in v. 1 that this is the king’s 2nd year of reign. He is unable to sleep. Not uncommon for world leaders. Napolean Bonaparte, Winston Churchill, Abraham Lincoln, and a host of other famous world leaders struggled with insomnia. The problem for Nebuchadnezzar was he had slept and had a terrifying dream. Now he wants to know the meaning.
b. From an old Babylonian omen text we find this quote, "if a man cannot remember the dream he saw, his god is mad at him." This same interpretation is picked up on in vv. 5 and 8 in the King James translation, which implies that Nebuchadnezzar forgot his dream, but it must remain a possibility that he was testing them. (v.9) What does he do? Calls in his cabinet. His advisors. Wise men. Chaldeans. Conjurers. Magicians. King wants an answer (v.3). That’s what pays these men to do.
2. The Wise Men’s Response: v.4
a. Wise men don’t get to be wise men because they are stupid! V.4 We see these men attempt to finesse the situation with the relatively new/young king. They attempt to get him to tell the dream so they can “Give him the interpretation.” They know if they can get the king to tell them the dream they can spin a story that will sound good regardless of the facts. (You know, kind of like our media today!)
b. An interesting side note for us. Can’t tell in our English Bibles., but in v.4, the writing of the book of Daniel changes from Hebrew to Aramaic, from 2:4 thru 7:28. Besides two sections in Ezra, and a couple of verses in Jeremiah and Genesis, This was the only section of the OT in Aramaic. It was the diplomatic language of the time. Saw it when Sennacherib came to hash out terms of surrender with Hezekiah (II Ki.18).
B. Next We Notice Along w/the King’s Outlandish Request is a Threatened Harsh Response. Vv.5-6
1. Notice the unreasonableness of the request and the proposed punishment.
a. Vv.5-6 – “Tell me my dream (Without me telling you!) and the interpretation or else I am going to have you torn limb from limb (Horses attached and pulled at same time.) and your house pulled down! The king has lost his mind. Makes no sense. Impossible tasks. Willing to sacrifice his cabinet to get his dream told and interpreted.
b. Illust: During the Great Potato Famine, Irish tenants were being thrown out of their homes by mostly absentee landlords. Usually what took place was after the baliffs came and removed the family, they would knock the main beam out of the house, causing the roof and walls to crash down. Nonsensical! Sure, that family could no longer live there, but hey, couldn’t rent it out either! Nebuchadnezzar is doing just that!
2. The Wise Men’s Response to the Harsh Threat. V.9
a. The Wise men attempt to delay the king’s threat (v.7) by asking him again to tell the decree. However, Nebuchadnezzar did not bet to be king by being a push over! V.9 – “There is one decree for you…” Do this or else! The king probably suspected the advisors’ deceitfulness (v.9) and was going to learn very quickly who should keep on the payroll and who should take off. Advisors trying to save own skins.
b. Beware of harsh rulers. Rutherford (Lex Rex, pp. 36-37) tells us that Scripturally speaking, both the ruler and the people are above and below each other in certain respects. That the ruler is supposed to always seek the welfare of all of the people of his land. That he is a ruler made by God for the welfare and not the intimidation of the people. So we see here the king is out of bounds. Rulers today are out of bounds when they use their power to attempt to intimidate their citizens or lesser magistrates. You know when they say things like: “Do the right thing because my patience is wearing thin with you people.” Or to the lesser magistrates, “Those of you who stand in my way I will deal with you…” “Or, you governors, get out of my way…” (Quotes from President Biden.) Actually Mr. President, God has established the principle of lesser magistrates for the very purpose of protecting the people and being able to make legal appeal against questionable orders.
C. Applic: vv.10-11. Advisors say that this is too difficult a thing for man to do. Bingo! In those words, these pagans are being used by a Sovereign God to set the stage to teach a pagan king a valuable lesson. Friend, when trouble comes unexpected knocking at your door, trust that a sovereign God is setting the stage to use you in some way to show His glory.
II. Unwanted Trouble Comes Calling for Daniel. Vv. 13-18
A. Sometimes Trouble Comes Looking for You When You are simply Minding Your Own Business. Vv.13-18
1. We see the Deadly Decree that Pulls Daniel & friends into the conflict. Vv.12-13. They looked for Daniel and his friends to kill them.” Daniel is now in his 3rd year at University of Babylon or maybe because of chapter 1 they have been given a great overseas internship! Point is, he isn’t part of the advisory circle yet about to get same sentence as them. Sometimes trouble comes when not looking for it! Rather than reacting, Daniel approached Arioch.
2. Illust. About 4 yrs ago came home Wed. pm service. As popped garage door, Joseph came out from under it. “Dad, we have a situation in the backyard. There’s a woman hiding on our back porch.” Young lady been at party. BF and she began to argue. Left party. Drove to secluded road out by our house where he began to beat her up. Jumped from the car and in the darkness ran to our house. As Carol and I were trying to comfort her, car slowly drove by (Can’t see our porch due to trees.) Thug was screaming her name promising to kill her. Woman almost hysterical. David and Joseph still at home. I prayed then I said to her: “Honey, I don’t know if you believe in God or not. But He led you to the best house you could have hoped for. Your boyfriend ain’t gonna touch you.” Listen, we weren’t looking for trouble but trouble came to our doorstep. 15 minutes was a long wait before police arrived.
B. The Decision by Daniel. Vv.14-16
1. When Trouble Unavoidably Comes to You, be Wise in How You respond.
a. Notice how Daniel responds to the King’s messenger, Arioch. He responds with discretion and discernment. Illust: When someone comes to your door and says “I am here from the king to kill you.” You have exactly three choices: 1. See if you can outrun them. 2. See if you can take them. 3. Respond gently and seek clarification in a delaying tactic. This what Daniel does. Discreet. Soft language and gentle tones, humble, modest, inquires so as to better understand the meaning of the decree and consider how he might be able to answer it.
b. Illust: When trouble comes to your door, look at Daniel’s example. E wise in how your respond. Be tactful. Appeal with humility. The old phrase: “You can catch more flies with honey than with vinegar.” Look to see who might be your unexpected allies. I don’t believe Arioch had a desire to do this evil deed. Sometimes people are forced into the conflict who aren’t your foes. Don’t unnecessarily make them your enemy.
2. Daniel seeks a Stay of Execution to have Time to See God’s Answer.
a. When unexpected trouble comes attempted to give God time to work. V.14-16 can imagine: “Knock on door. Hello. Who is it? Arioch. Hi! What do you need? Sorry, But I have to kill you!” “Whoa! Wait a minute!” Daniel after gaining a friend in Arioch Daniel goes directly to the king to request a stay of execution order and promises to give the monarch an answer if he “will give him time”. Arioch, like Ashpenaz before him (see 1:9-10), showed kindness to Daniel by answering his questions.
b. Illust: Oct. 4, 1983 the state of Texas was about to execute James David Autry at the Huntsville prison. Autry had been convicted of 2 counts of first degree murder where a convenience store clerk and a Catholic priest were murdered and another man permanently injured, all for a pack of beer worth $2.70! Strapped to the gurney with the needles in his arm, a temporary stay of execution came through for Autry. Last minute! Imagine what Daniel is feeling!
3. Daniel Responds in Such a Way so as to Give God Time to Work.
God providentially orchestrated the events of Babylon so that the “gods,” along with all those who called on them, were shown to be worthless and powerless. At the same time, He created a situation in which His four servants would be in danger, and for whom He would prove to be their deliverer. Furthermore, in the midst of these circumstances, God would demonstrate that He could do what no other god could do—foretell history. All things are possible for God; there is no impossible situation. In situations which appear insurmountable, the faith of His saints grows strong, and His power and majesty is demonstrated to all. (Bob Deffinbaugh, Daniel 2)
C. Applic: The crisis here is by divine design, as is every crisis involving the people and purposes of God. Daniel, who did not initiate this crisis, but he did show initiative in responding to it. Consider the same when trouble comes calling.
III. The Prayer of Daniel vv.17-24
A. Daniel’s Preparation for Prayer vv. 17-18
1. Daniel Informs his friends to Pray for their Future.
a. Young people, let me tell you something. Praying friends are the best type of friends to have. They are the most valuable. They will stick with you. They will appeal to God your behalf. They are the ones who identify with Jesus Christ. So, here in the passage we see these 4 young men petition the Throne of Grace over their dire situation. Friend, true preparation for prayer is oneness with the brethren. You need to be in a right relationship with Christ and with your fellow Christian. Sadly, one of the greatest casualties of Covid has been the closing of Christian churches, corporate worship, and prayer.
b. Illust: D. Bonhoeffer was a Christian to whom trouble came kicking in his door. In Life Together, he wrote: ““A Christian fellowship lives and exists by the intercession of its members for one another, or it collapses. I can no longer condemn or hate a brother for whom I pray, no matter how much trouble he causes me. His face, that hitherto may have been strange and intolerable to me, is transformed in intercession into the countenance of a brother for whom Christ died, the face of a forgiven sinner.”
2. Daniel and his friends convene an impromptu prayer meeting.
a. Daniel and his friends have house church! V.17 Daniel and his friends had two main prayer requests: 1. God would show them the dream and the meaning of the dream. 2. God would spare their lives. Have you ever prayed like your life depended on it? Daniel’s life and the lives of his friends did! (Great things have happened in history because people have prayed.) Illust: Knew a man who was in a submarine in WWII. Running silent at one point trying to escape German destroyers. Depth charges were being dropped. Germans got frustrated couldn’t find and went on. A few months later able to contact his mother. Realized to his shock that on that exact date at that exact time, God had awakened his mother, back in Columbia, SC, and put on her heart to pray for her son. Prayed for over an hour until she felt Christ tell her the trouble was passed.
b. Nothing in the text indicates Daniel wanted to be a hero. Daniel acted as he did because he was put “between a rock and a hard place.” He was forced to act. If he did not act, not only he, but his three friends would die, along with all the other wise men. Daniel acted inn faith. Once he understood the problem, he knew the solution. What was impossible for the wise men of Babylon was possible for the God of heaven, the God of Israel. God knew the future. More than this, God planned the future, in eternity past. Daniel was confident the God of all eternity could make both the dream and its meaning known.
B. Daniel’s Practice of Prayer vv. 19-23 (Read entire prayer!)
1. Daniel prays two times.
a. In the passage we see that Daniel prayed before and after receiving God’s answer. 1st- Prays for the desire of his heart. 2nd – He prays with gratitude from the bottom of his heart. Here’s the great take away: We trouble comes, PRAY! But before trouble comes be a man or woman of PRAYER!
b. Daniel’s prayer of gratitude contained 2 distinct parts: 1. Praise to God for His attributes and greatness. 2. Psalm of Thanksgiving for answer in allowing him to know the king’s dream. “For Thou hast made known to us the king’s matter.” Amen! Thank God for answered prayer! For confidence! How many answers we miss? How much confidence we lack? How much anxiety we carry because we don’t take our concerns to Christ in prayer.
2. We see 5 action verbs describe the activity of God in Daniel’s prayer: 1. He changes times and seasons. 2. He removes kings and establishes kings. 3. He gives wisdom to the wise. 4. He reveals deep and secret things. 5. He knows what’s in the darkness. His knowledge is beyond what even reveals to man.
C. The Power of Prayer when we Call Upon the One True God. vv.24-30
1. Daniel calls upon God in the midst of the unfolding drama.
a. Please notice…none of the gods of the magicians, conjurers, sorcerers or Chaldeans answered their devotees. Why? They don’t exist or are demons at best. There is ONE true God! Daniel prayed to Him and He proved Himself strong. Remember back in v.11? No man can do this…only gods. Well, correct that statement, ONLY GOD CAN!
b. Friend, has trouble come to your doorstep? Trouble you haven’t wanted. You weren’t looking for it, but there it is. Health crisis. Relationship? Job situation? Call on Christ!
2. The Drama Unfolds. Vv.24-27.
a. Arioch comes before the king: “I have found a man who can interpret your dream.” Next thing, Daniel says: “No person can interpret your dream!” I imagine Arioch is thinking to himself: “I am dead!”
b. Neither the wise men nor their gods could satisfy the king’s demands. They were 2. too difficult for them. God revealed the dream and its meaning for the king. The God who answered the prayers of Daniel and his friends was the “God of heaven” (verse 19), the God about whom the wise men spoke but did not know. Illust: Friend, do you know God or do you know about God? The wise men knew about God. Daniel knew God. The difference is monumental when facing a crisis. Do you know about Jesus or KNOW Jesus?
D. Applic: What was the purpose of the dream and Daniel’s prayer? 1. First, Daniel’s praise focuses on the superiority of God to the “gods” of Babylon. 2. Second, Daniel’s prayer gives insight into the message which God was giving to Nebuchadnezzar through his dream. As the king pondered the future, God informed him through his dream that the future is in God’s hands and is not determined by kings. (Same true for us.) 3. Third, the dream demonstrated God’s care for His people Israel. The four young Hebrew captives, about to be put to death, prayed for mercy and deliverance. Even in captivity, God cared for His people. Dear one, the same is true today. Whatever hardship you are facing. Whatever crisis comes calling. Imitate Daniel and go to God in prayer.
