Event VI
DANIEL AND THE KING OF BABYLON
by Charles Quigley
In previous examples, we have looked at interaction between common people, between a slave and the king of Egypt (the favorable incident, not the one leading to death), and even some which include a Jewish prophet. In this next example, we witness a series of interactions between a young and gifted Jewish man — a captive with his people in a far off, remote land — and the Gentile king of that land, one the scriptures describe "to whom the God of heaven has given the kingdom, the power, the strength, and the glory." And each time these two meet, the young Jewish man and the Gentile king, it is under most unusual circumstances.
Daniel answered and said, "Let the name of God be blessed forever and ever, For wisdom and power belong to Him.
"And it is He who changes the times and the epochs; He removes kings and establishes kings; He gives wisdom to wise men, And knowledge to men of understanding.
"It is He who reveals the profound and hidden things; He knows what is in the darkness, And the light dwells with Him." (Daniel 2:20-22)
It came to pass, when Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon besieged Jerusalem and destroyed it, that the remaining people of Judah, the Southern Kingdom, were carried away into captivity into Babylon, and some of the vessels of the house of GOD in Jerusalem were taken also. Of these Jewish captives, the king ordered that some of the high-born young men of Judah, in whom no defect nor blemish was found and who were good looking and intelligent, be set aside to serve in the king’s court. One of these was Daniel, who was of the royal house of Judah, and also Hanania, Michael, and Asariah. (We shall meet these three young men again shortly under different names which are more familiar to us.)
At the end of the days which the king had specified for presenting them, the king talked with them and recognized that none others were found like Daniel, Hananiah, Michael, and Asariah in every matter of wisdom and understanding about which he consulted them. Daniel even understood all kinds of visions and dreams. So Daniel and his three friends entered the king’s personal service.1
THERE CAME A TIME when the king of Babylon has dreams which troubled him, so he can no longer sleep. The king calls for his magicians, conjurers, sorcerers, and the Chaldeans to tell the dream to the king and to explain it, offering great rewards to the one who can do this. But his magicians, conjurers, sorcerers, and the Chaldeans correctly respond that no man can tell the dream that was in the king’s mind, only gods.2
When the king decreed as a result that all the wise men should be slain, Daniel asks that he be given a little time, and he requests compassion of the God of heaven that Daniel and his friends might not be destroyed. Then GOD responds by revealing the mystery to Daniel in a night vision.
We shall not recount details of the king’s dream, nor details of the mystery revealed to Daniel concerning the great statue — it is of concern to prophets and students of the End Times, but not of special interest in this discussion. Its only message to us is that it is GOD alone, the God of heaven, who establishes and tears down kings. Of interest to us is Daniel’s reply that no man can declare the mystery to the king, but that there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries, and who has revealed this mystery.
Instead, we examine the king’s response, his first halting steps toward his understanding of the one GOD, the true God, Creator and Ruler of the Universe — there is none other. On this occasion, the king of Babylon replies,
"Surely your God is a God of gods and a Lord of kings and a revealer of mysteries, since you have been able to reveal this mystery."
(The God of only Daniel? There are also other gods?))
It should be understood that the religion of Babylon was based on conjuring; on the arts of magic, which seek to control events by man manipulating one god or another; and on study of the stars, Astrology, intended to learn the secrets of the future revealed in the night sky.
The king of Babylon has been struck by this remarkable dream which has disturbed him so much he could no longer sleep. He must certainly have been impressed by the compliment paid him by this God (whoever He is). He surely must have found remarkable the future events revealed by Daniel in the interpretation.
But the king had missed the point! He could only perceive at this time that this God (whoever He is) can reveal mysteries. He could only see (dimly) that this was a God, a Lord — as though there were also others!
The king had still far to go in his understanding!
AS A SMALL MEASURE OF HOW MUCH THE KING MISSED, we observe a second incident and its outcome.
Now Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon fashioned a golden idol, in modern measure the height of ninety feet and the width of nine feet, which he set up in the plain of Dura in the province of Babylon. The king decreed that every man of every language at a certain signal must bow down and worship the golden idol the king had set up. Those who did not were to be cast into a furnace of blazing fire.3
But it is reported to the king that Daniel’s three friends, now renamed Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, whom the king has appointed over the administration of the province of Babylon, do not serve the gods of the king or worship the golden idol which the king had set up. The king in extreme rage and anger calls them before him to give an answer. The king demands,
"If at the time of the signal you will bow down and worship the image I have made, then very well. But if you will not, you shall without delay be cast into a furnace of blazing fire. And what god is there who can deliver you out of my hands?"
(Consider the king’s words. They are required to bow down as to a god to the golden image the king by his hands has caused to be set up. And if they do not, the king would cause their fiery destruction, saying what god could deliver them out of the king’s hands.)
But their reply shows unwavering obedience and abiding trust in their God, even in the face of this fearsome threat.
"[Oh king,] if it be so (that they would be thrown into a blazing furnace), our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the furnace of blazing fire; and He will deliver us out of your hand, O king.
"But even if He does not, let it be known to you, O king, that we are not going to serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up." (Daniel 3:17-18)
Once again, we will not detail the frightening scene which follows: the hot furnace made much hotter; the flame so hot that it consumes the guards who carry up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego; and the extra figure who appears inside the furnace with the three. And when the three are removed from the furnace and are presented to the king, there is not even the smell of fire on them!
The king’s response —
"Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego, who has sent His angel and delivered His servants who put their trust in Him, … as there is no other god who is able to deliver in this way." (Daniel 3:28a-29)
(The God of only Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego? There are still gods who can do other things?)
In his response, the king of Babylon had taken another step (perhaps even two) in his understanding. By his words, the king saw that this God (whoever He is) not only reveals mysteries, but also protects those who put their trust in Him by worshiping no other. This God (whoever He is) even protects from fire, and that there is no other god what can do this! He is unique (at least in this regard)!
The king of Babylon was gra-a-a-adually learning. But he still had a long distance to go in his understanding.
[THOUGH THERE IS much to say also about Daniel’s interaction with a later king, Darius, when GOD rescued Daniel from the lion’s den under similar circumstances, our narrative now in focus concerns only Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon.]
THE KING HAD ANOTHER DREAM, YET! Just as before, the king is alarmed by the visions in his mind. What is worthy of note is that, on this occasion, the king of Babylon is so deeply moved by these events that we learn of them not through Daniel, but by the king’s own words.4
Once again, we will not detail his vision which disclosed what would happen to Nebuchadnezzar — about his pride and his humbling as a result, though only for a time. For he becomes deranged in his mind and like a wild beast in the fields.5 The king is left in this deranged condition until he speaks as follows. Turning to the king’s own narrative,
"But at the end of that period I, Nebuchadnezzar, raised my eyes toward 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.
"And all the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing, But He does according to His will in the host of heaven And among the inhabitants of earth;
"And no one can ward off His hand Or say to Him, 'What hast Thou done?’" (Daniel 4:34-35)
And later in his account, the king writes,
"Now I Nebuchadnezzar praise, exalt, and honor the King of heaven, for all His works are true and His ways just, and He is able to humble those who walk in pride." (Daniel 4:37)
Our observation: How often it is that we must come to him, finally, not in our pride but on our knees. No less for a king than for a common person like you or me!
Notice, after all this time and all these many encounters with GOD by the king, that the king has finally gotten the message!
- The king finally understood there is not just one god for one person (or group) and one god for another — remember the 'God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego?’ — but rather the GOD Most High. He is unique!
- The king recognized at last that GOD is not temporary but is eternal, that His domain also is everlasting.
- Finally, the king saw that this God, GOD Most High, does as He wills, that He can not be manipulated as the religion in Babylon taught. Nor is GOD accountable to any man.
IN CONCLUSION, WE MAKE the following observation. GOD’s own interaction with the king of Babylon at first troubled this king as he experienced his dreams and as he witnessed the remarkable rescue of others from the fiery furnace. Later the king became terrified as he experienced for himself that he was torn from his throne as a sovereign king and caused to be deranged, living as a wild beast in the fields. It was through these interactions, troubling and terrifying as they were, that GOD finally taught this proud Gentile king the true knowledge of GOD Most High.
In the outcome, it was a most beneficial interaction indeed!
1 Daniel 1.
2 Daniel 2.
3 Daniel 3.
4 Daniel 4.
5 Daniel's explanation of the mystery of the dream indicates that the king's derangement would be temporary only, lasting for seven periods of time.' The exact duration is unclear.
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