Daniel 2:17-19 The Only Right Response to Divine Disturbance

Introduction

What do you do when you are faced with a crisis?

I think alot of us pray. But I think our prayer looks more like the old Star Trek shows, “Beam me up Scotty I think I am in trouble.” They are more human centered and to get out of trouble or to to get gain, rather than God centered with His Glory first and foremost in our minds.

Our text shows us the proper way to approach divine disturbances in our lives. I say they are divine disturbances because I am convinced, as I think Daniel and many other biblical folks, as in Joseph of Job that all things that happen to us are under God’s control. The psalmist said God does what he pleases in heaven and earth. So how are we to approach this. My contention is that there is only one right response to these divine calamities and that is prayer. So lets look at how this develops in our text.

I. Invoke your godly friends, v.17

II. four thoughts on prayer, v.18

III. God answers prayer, v.19a

IV. Grateful thanksgiving is the response to answered prayer, v.19b

I. Invoke your godly friends, v.17

Then we are given the reason why he goes to his house it is where his friends are at.

Friends are important in times of crisis. Daniel doesn’t go to the river to pray as he does to the Chebar river. But he goes to his house where his friends are at. Not just any friends these are the ones who have been singled out from all the rest as being of like mind as He is. They took part with him in the diet, They are the ones who were exalted with him in chapter one able to stand before the king, 1:19, they were found to be 10x wiser than all the other wisemen of the kingdom, 1:20.

So he naturally is seeking them out in order to be part of this answer.

I think of Peter in prison waiting to be executed the next day, where the disciples are praying on his behalf.

Ultimately I find Jesus example the most telling, After He was informed of John the Baptist’s execution, in he teaches and feeds the 5,000, then send the disciples on a shore to shore all night adventure, sends the crowds away and then spends the night in communion with the Father.

He taught the disciples and us to pray “our father in heaven. . ..”

God is our father and friend, but A thought occurs to me there is a lesson here in that friends are crucial in times of divine disturbances. The kind of friends whose whole aim is to glorify God, they are true believers, they are endowed with divine wisdom as these are. It is important to seek out and develop friendships with those who love the Lord, who are tested like yourself or moreso, and who only want what God wants. These are those who when tested are able to stand as faithful to the Lord. These three will soon be tested after this in the furnace of fire and will come through magnificently.

A thought occurs to me there is a lesson here in that friends are crucial in times of divine disturbances. The kind of friends whose whole aim is to glorify God, they are true believers, they are endowed with divine wisdom as these are. It is important to seek out and develop friendships with those who love the Lord, who are tested like yourself or moreso, and who only want what God wants. These are those who when tested are able to stand as faithful to the Lord. These three will soon be tested after this in the furnace of fire and will come through magnificently.

He makes the matter known to these friends.

The picture is one of 4 teens gathered in prayer, united in one theme: that God would preserve their lives by revealing the dream.

in the NT might fit as it says ‘if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven.”

WE have prayer meeting every Wednesday night. We have the prayer chain, prayer ought to be the major part of our ministry, both personally and corporately. The incense rising in the temple was indicative of the prayer of the saints. We must be joining with others in prayer and fasting on a daily basis, but especially in times of great disturbances.

II. four thoughts on prayer, v.18

This is a title for God that emphasizes His Sovereign rule over all. He is above all. To be God of heaven is to be God of all. Daniel using this title is showing these gentiles who worshipped the sun, the stars, the moon, that God of Israel is the God who is over them and is to be worshipped

I see four things to consider in this prayer that help us to develop our prayers in times of disturbance.

Daniel and this three friends go to the only one who is able to give them the answers they seek and need. It is life or death for them.

And of course purpose is that he and his friends not die along with the rest of the wise in Babel.

Here is the prayer basically, “seek the mercy from the God of Heaven concerning this mystery” (ESV)

“that they would desire mercies from the God of heaven concerning this secret.” (KJV)

4 thoughts about this prayer:

A. They sought mercy, ie. they knew God is the God of mercy. They were dependent upon God’s mercy. They could not come to God on merit or to even expect that God owed them anything. They knew it was all up to God and His mercy.

B. They had the highest view of God. He is the God of heaven, the Lord Most High. He has dominion over all. We need to think this, know this about the God we go to for our needs to be met.

the phrase God of Heaven- is used in 2:18,19,37,44; 5:23 in a expanded form. Also 9x in Ezra, 4x in Neh. We also see in referring to the mercy of God, and referring to Him as the creator.

This is a title for God that emphasizes His Sovereign rule over all. He is above all. To be God of heaven is to be God of all. Daniel using this title is showing these gentiles who worshipped the sun, the stars, the moon, that God of Israel is the God who is over them and is to be worshipped

They went to the God of heaven.

Jesus taught us to pray “Our Father in Heaven”

I wonder, since Daniel knew Jeremiah’s writings, cf. chapter 9, he must have known and believed

Jeremiah 10:6–7 ESV

There is none like you, O Lord; you are great, and your name is great in might. Who would not fear you, O King of the nations? For this is your due; for among all the wise ones of the nations and in all their kingdoms there is none like you.

Jeremiah 10:10 ESV

But the Lord is the true God; he is the living God and the everlasting King. At his wrath the earth quakes, and the nations cannot endure his indignation.

Jeremiah 32:27 ESV

“Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh. Is anything too hard for me?

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I can see Daniel claiming this verse, , “Thus saith the Lord who made the earth, the Lord who formed it to establish it, the Lord is his name: call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known.” as he prays for the dream to be revealed and its interpretation.

; ;

I can see Daniel claiming this verse, , “Thus saith the Lord who made the earth, the Lord who formed it to establish it, the Lord is his name: call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known.” as he prays for the dream to be revealed and its interpretation.

Daniel and this three friends go to the only one who is able to give them the answers they seek and need. It is life or death for them.

Daniel and this three friends go to the only one who is able to give them the answers they seek and need. It is life or death for them.

C. They were specific in their prayer, ‘concerning this secret’. The secret things belong to God. He is the one who holds the kings heart in his hands. He is the one who can reveal what is needed for His glory and our good. Daniel uses a preposition al/upon, on account of tied to a phrase this secret showing that he views God as the one who is able to reveal this secret for which they are coming to him in prayer.

Nothing is too hard for Him. What he was asking for was basically wisdom. And He would have known from Solomon’s prayer in

1 Kings 3:9–12 ESV

Give your servant therefore an understanding mind to govern your people, that I may discern between good and evil, for who is able to govern this your great people?” It pleased the Lord that Solomon had asked this. And God said to him, “Because you have asked this, and have not asked for yourself long life or riches or the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to discern what is right, behold, I now do according to your word. Behold, I give you a wise and discerning mind, so that none like you has been before you and none like you shall arise after you.

what happens when we ask for wisdom. And of course we have James word on the matter, about asking for wisdom.

what happens when we ask for wisdom. And of course we have James word on the matter, about asking for wisdom.

what happens when we ask for wisdom. And of course we have James word on the matter, about asking for wisdom.

D. They desired mercy so that they would not perish along with the wicked, ‘the rest of the wise men in Babylon.’

Daniel used the most powerful tool in all the world, prayer. It is a model for all of us in all circumstances, “Pray without ceasing.”

III. God answers prayer, v.19a

Jesus taught us to pray “Our Father in Heaven”

The prayer answered

I wonder, since Daniel knew Jeremiah’s writings, cf. chapter 9, he must have known and believed ,,; ;

Then

I can see Daniel claiming this verse, , “Thus saith the Lord who made the earth, the Lord who formed it to establish it, the Lord is his name: call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known.” as he prays for the dream to be revealed and its interpretation.

To Daniel

in the NT might fit as it says ‘if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven.”

in a vision in the night

Daniel used the most powerful tool in all the world, prayer. It is a model for all of us in all circumstances, .

was revealed the secret

cf. with Peter in the same predicament, imminent death and yet asleep while others are praying. In this case the four prayed and the vision was revealed, presumably while Daniel slept, but the text doesn’t tell us exactly.

The prayer request is granted, the secret is revealed.He is shown to be the revealer of things. He is the God of revelation. God has shown mercy to them, but also to the wicked who were the Magi in Babylon.

remember “the effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.”

God is able to answer all the questions we may ask of Him. He is sovereign over all. And the God of Heaven does communicate with man.

IV. Grateful thanksgiving is the response to answered prayer, v.19b

Thanksgiving offered from a grateful heart

Then

Daniel blessed the God of heaven

Thanksgiving is always the right response to the mercy of God.

The prayer request is granted, the secret is revealed.He is shown to be the revealer of things. He is the God of revelation. God has shown mercy to them, but also to the wicked who were the Magi in Babylon.

remember “the effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.”

Conclusion

God is able to answer all the questions we may ask of Him. He is sovereign over all. And the God of Heaven does communicate with man.

with the thrust being focused on God revealing the secret to Daniel in a vision in the night. This is focused on in Daniel’s praise in v.20-23.

Thanksgiving is always the right response to the mercy of God.

Since God is the one who is the revealer of Secrets. He is the God of Heaven it only stands to reason that we as believers would, like Daniel, go to God with all our needs. That we would do as Jesus commands, “seek first the kingdom of God” after all we of all people should know that God is the God of all mercy. His mercies are new every day. And He will give you and me what we have need of when we ask.