Lesson 6D Daniel, The Impossible dream Made Possible 2:46- 49

The King Bows to the Captive 2:46- 47

English Standard Version Chapter 2

46 Then King Nebuchadnezzar fell upon his face and paid homage (worshipped) to Daniel, and commanded that an offering and incense be offered up to him. 47 The king answered and said to Daniel, “Truly, your God is God of gods and Lord of kings, and a revealer of mysteries, for you have been able to reveal this mystery.”

The dream was spot on. It was a mic drop moment. Daniel drops the mic so to speak, and the king does what a king is supposed to do! He steps up to the podium and falls on his face to the greater man. King Nebuchadnezzar speaks his heart and mind for all eternity to hear after he pays homage or worships the miraculous thing he has just heard from Daniel. God did it but Daniel has has just shared in the credits to this man of God who was a captive. It is here that the king bows before the servant captive. It is amazing how the Lord God of Heaven can turn a hopeless situation around to downright victory. Nebuchadnezzar makes a certain confession of God about how he feels about the Holy One that many people would not acknowledge. But he does and we have the Scripture transcript.

‘Your God is God of gods and Lord of kings and a revealer of mysteries”- verse 47. Oh yes, and He is that and much much more. He is just not a lord of Kings , but also The Lord of Lords and King of Kings. At a later point in Daniel’s book of the Bible, King Nebuchadnezzar leads us to believe he is making an old Testament profession of faith after seeing the Lord at work in the lives Daniel and the three Hebrew children. Yet at this point he has commanded and brought up incense and offering in homage to Daniel and God in the telling of the dream. The homage paid to Daniel was probably accepted because The Lord God was being lifted high in the palace of the idolater king. And, homage is being paid to a Jew by a Babylonian. This is quite the role reversal. In the book of Esther there is a role reversal between Mordecai and Haman. It is not the only time we will see the king acknowledge the miraculous works of the Lord. It is in Daniel 4 that Nebuchadnezzar makes a pretty serious case for the Lord:

English Standard Version Chapter 4

34 At the end of the days I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted my eyes to heaven, and my reason returned to me, and I blessed the Most High, and praised and honored him who lives forever, for his dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom endures from generation to generation; 35 all the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing, and he does according to his will among the host of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth; and none can stay his hand or say to him, “What have you done?”

36 At the same time my reason returned to me, and for the glory of my kingdom, my majesty and splendor returned to me. My counselors and my lords sought me, and I was established in my kingdom, and still more greatness was added to me. 37 Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the King of heaven, for all his works are right and his ways are just; and those who walk in pride he is able to humble

Just as the Lord is a revealer of mysteries to a Babylonian king, the New Testament reveals mysteries to the church but God uses His Word to do just that. Colossians 1:26- 28, the mystery of Christ in you:

The Lexham English Bible Chapter 1

26 the mystery which has been hidden from the ages and from the generations, but has now been revealed to his saints, 27 to whom God wanted to make known what is the glorious wealth of this mystery among the Gentiles,

Then we have the mystery of His will in Ephesians 1:7- 10

King James Version Chapter 1

7 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; 8 Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence; 9 Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself: 10 That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him

We are Stewards of the mysteries of God, I Corinthians 4:1:

King James Version Chapter 4

4 Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God. 2 Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.

And the last one we will explore at this time is the mystery of The coming of Jesus Christ and how that not everyone will die I Corinthians 15:51- 53:

The Lexham English Bible Chapter 15

51 Behold,

Nebuchadnezzar has nothing over the church as God has revealed Himself to the king. But this experience should not be passed over because it was for an unbeliever. God is working with this king’s heart just as He moves upon the hearts of leaders today. If they are willing to listen, God will speak.

Daniel’s Promotion in The Inner Courts of Babylon 2:48, 49

English Standard Version Chapter 2

48 Then the king gave Daniel high honors and many great gifts, and made him ruler over the whole province of Babylon and chief prefect over all the wise men of Babylon. 49 Daniel made a request of the king, and he appointed Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego over the affairs of the province of Babylon. But Daniel remained at the king’s court

When God is going to make a great man he does not always make him a warrior in battle, sometimes a great man comes out of a great need for a leader with the uncanny wisdom of God, like Daniel. Then again, who says God cannot do both as David observed God at work in his life in Psalm 18:34-36:

English Standard Version Psalm 18

34 He trains my hands for war, so that my arms can bend a bow of bronze.

35 You have given me the shield of your salvation, and your right hand supported me,

and

Not many people would seek the gentleness of God to help make them a success as we see in Psalm 18 but it is a Psalm we can learn from in great measure as we see God’s power upon our life. Beware God may make you more gentle.

Daniel’s promotion awarded him a promotion in the government, many great gifts worthy of a king’s gratitude, and made him a ruler over the whole province of Babylon. The text indicates it would be much like a governor since Nebuchadnezzar remains supreme and the King James version says he was then made chief over all the governors and wise men of Babylon. Boom. Daniel, you are the man! Not one to forget his friends, Daniel requested that his three Hebrew friends take over the day to day affairs of Babylon. It looks like the motion carried as Daniel now sits in the kings gate. In other words, if you wanted an audience in the king’s court, your audience would be with Daniel first. You would not get to the king unless there was some dire need to do so. I imagine the king when someone says “What’s next?” He says “since I’ve got the palace and court running smoothly, I’m goin to__________________!” Believe me, the kingdom is going to need the secondary ruler in the coming years as he runs into some precarious positions.

Kings may give God’s men lot’s of honor and position and make you great, but the best position today that you can be in is at the foot of the cross. In that humble spot the Lord Jesus will make you feel like a king.