Introduction
There is a crisis going on in Babylon. King Nebuchadnezzar had a series of dreams that greatly disturbed him, and he wants to know their meaning. The magicians, sorcerers and Chaldeans could not give back to Nebuchadnezzar the dream and its interpretation. The king in his anger told the captain of the guards to do away with all the wise men.
Daniel asked permission of the captain of the guards to see the king. Permission was granted , and in the presence of the king, Daniel requested more time and it was granted. Daniel went back home, gathered together his prayer team, and beseech God for the dream and the interpretation. And God granted their prayer request in a night vision to Daniel.
Daniel broke out in praise to God. And today, in Daniel’s praise, he gives us some more reasons why our life should shine. And we want to look at them, as we study Daniel 2:19-23.
Scripture
Daniel 2:19–23 (NKJV)
Then the secret was revealed to Daniel in a night vision. So Daniel blessed the God of heaven.
Daniel answered and said:
“Blessed be the name of God forever and ever,
For wisdom and might are His.
And He changes the times and the seasons;
He removes kings and raises up kings;
He gives wisdom to the wise
And knowledge to those who have understanding.
He reveals deep and secret things;
He knows what is in the darkness,
And light dwells with Him.
“I thank You and praise You,
O God of my fathers;
You have given me wisdom and might,
And have now made known to me what we asked of You,
For You have made known to us the king’s demand.”
Point #1
IF YOU ARE A CHILD OF GOD, NO MATTER HOW BAD YOUR SITUATION,YOU CAN FIND SOMETHING TO PRAISE GOD FOR, AND WHEN YOU DO- YOU SHINE.
So Daniel blessed the God of heaven.
Daniel answered and said:
“Blessed be the name of God forever and ever,
Daniel shined because in the midst of all the bad stuff that was happening to him, he could find something to praise God for. True, he got the dream and the interpretation in a night vision but he still had so many things he could complain about. He could complain about being exiled 700 miles from home; he could complain about the name change to honor one of their gods; he could complain about being forced to attend their training to learn the Babylonian ways. He could complain about that he will die in Babylon and not his beloved Israel.
But Daniel teaches us in the midst of what is happening to us; there is always something to praise God for. Today, you may have a lot of things coming against you- you maybe battling an illness, or finances, or family conflicts but you can find something to praise God for. And when you do, you shine.
And let me give you an idea of something to praise God for. No matter what I might be going through, it is temporary but the God I serve lives forever and ever and as his child I will be with Him.
Luke 19:40 NKJV
But He answered and said to them, “I tell you that if these should keep silent, the stones would immediately cry out.”
If stones can cry out in praise to God than certainly God’s people can find something to praise God for.
Point #2
Daniel could shine because no matter who is on throne in Babylon or president of the United States, or prime minister in some country, Daniel knew the One who is control of all of them.
For wisdom and might are His.
And He changes the times and the seasons;
He removes kings and raises up kings;
Daniel knew that Nebuchadnezzar was a powerful king over Babylonian. Daniel knew that Nebuchadnezzar was probably the most powerful man in the world at this time.But Daniel knew something else, he knew the king over the king and his hope and help came from that king. And that king is the Lord Jesus Christ. Daniel knew as powerful as Nebuchadnezzar, the Lord Jesus was much more powerful.
We live in a day and time when the choices for leadership on the state and national, and local levels seem poor. I have questioned in many elections, “is that the best America has to offer for that office to lead our people?’
But then I need to remember that whoever is in office, the one who I listen to is over that person. If Jesus was here, He would probably tell us to spend less time criticizing Mr. Biden and more time praising me. Our God is over Mr. Biden and our God is over Mr. Putin, and any world leader you can think of, I can tell you Jesus Christ is over them..
You are sitting there saying you are wrong, Bro. Dave, that is Old Testament. Let me read you what Paul says in Romans 13. It even makes it clearer.
Romans 13:1 NKJV
Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God.
The same thing that Daniel says in the Old Testament is what Paul says in the New Testament. Their is One, named Jesus Christ, who is in control of those who are in control. And that is the One we serve. And that is the One we need to remember is always in charge.
Do you know how I know that the Book of Revelation is going to end up exactly like it is written? Because I know the One who is in charge will always be in charge. And there is nobody , not even the devil himself, has the power to change God’s plans.
Point #3
Daniel shined in this difficult situation because He had faithful men in his life that came before him that pointed the way.
“I thank You and praise You,
O God of my fathers;
We are told in Daniel 1:3 (NKJV)
3 Then the king instructed Ashpenaz, the master of his eunuchs, to bring some of the children of Israel and some of the king’s descendants and some of the nobles,
Daniel was one of the king’s descendants. He is according to history the son of David by Abigail. He had a father that the Bible describes as a man after God’s own heart. And that would make his grandfather Jesse who was the grandson of Ruth and Boaz. Daniel had a good spiritual up-bringing. He had strong spiritual men in his life as he was growing up.
I hope every man in this room had a godly father and grandfather like Daniel. I wish that each man here today had strong spiritual men in their lives. Men that taught you the ways of God from a young age so that when you grew up you can be a man who shines for Christ like Daniel. Let’s be honest, It is easier to shine if your up- bringing was focused on God.
If you did not have that type of up-bringing then it is not too late to start that type of upbringing beginning with you. You need to be that man in your family that honors God and your children see it. You will be making it so much easier for your children to accept Christ and one day shine in their life for Jesus.
Men, we neglect a lot of things, but don’t neglect passing down a spiritual heritage to your children. Daniel was faithful in Babylon because he had faithful men before him.
Questions to Consider
Can you find something to give God praise for?
Do you remember no matter what is happening in the world, that there is One who is in control of those who are in control?
Was I raised with a spiritual heritage, or does it have to begin with me?
