Nebuchadnezzar Promotes Dani’el
2: 46-49
Nebuchadnezzar promotes Dani’el DIG: Why did king fall down before Dani’el? Was the king a believer at this point? Who are the people today who have the opportunity to influence our world’s leadership the way Dani’el influenced the king? How can we best pray for those people to be a positive influence?
REFLECT: The king did not forget his dream. And you must not forget it either; don’t forget what the God of heaven reveals to you through this dream, for this is a dream that will come true. How do you handle the compromise of your godly values? What primary theological truths are emphasized in this chapter?
The king had concluded that Dani’el was the man in touch with the God of heaven,
and as such, was to be honored and feared.
With the successful explanation and interpretation of Nebuchadnezzar’s dream (to see link click Aw – The King’s Dream), the king was overwhelmed. He knew Dani’el had spoken the truth and fell down before Dani’el and paid him honor, ordering that an offering and incense be presented to him (2:46). Although aware that Dani’el was not divine, as evidenced by the fact that the king immediately gave glory to Dani’el’s God and not to Dani’el (see below), the Babylonian ruler ordered an offering be given to Dani’el as ADONAI’s representative. Regardless of Nebuchadnezzar’s intent, Dani’el would have never accepted worship of himself and would have been appalled at the suggestion. The king’s actions are perfectly understandable in light of the circumstances. He had just witnessed a miracle. Had not Nebuchadnezzar’s own magi declared to him that such knowledge could only come from the gods themselves (2:10-11)? The king had concluded that Dani’el was the man in touch with the God of heaven; and as such, was to be honored and feared.107
The king said to Dani’el, “Surely your God is the God of gods and the Lord of kings,” the ruler over the kings of the earth, and a Revealer of mysteries because ADONAI was the only God who was able to reveal this mystery (2:47), that is the dream and its interpretation. At this point, then, we cannot conclude that Nebuchadnezzar had become a believer. While he had given YHVH a position of superiority, he still only added Him to the Babylonian pantheon.108 Many people are like Nebuchadnezzar today. They know about the true God – many even believe in His miraculous powers – but they never step over the line from knowledge to faith (see Hebrews Al – How Shall We Escape If We Ignore So Great a Salvation).
Nebuchadnezzar had declared that anyone who revealed and interpreted his dream would receive gifts and rewards and great honor (2:6a). Therefore, the king kept his word and promoted Dani’el with great honors, just as Pharaoh had honored and promoted Joseph in Egypt (Genesis 41:39-43).109 Then the king placed Dani’el in a high position and lavished many gifts on him. He made him ruler over the entire province of Babylon and placed him in charge of all its wise men (2:48). Apparently, Nebuchadnezzar saw Dani’el as a superior astrologer. This conclusion illustrates the king’s lack of spiritual insight. Dani’el would never practice astrology. He would never ask the stars to tell him about the future. Instead, he would always go to the Creator of the stars, and that was the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. A rabbinic commentary points to this truth. “There was no disloyalty from the religious point of view in Dani’el accepting this position. What was forbidden by the Torah was not the knowledge, but the practice, of the Babylonian superstitious arts (Sloki, Dani’el, Ezra, Nehemiah, page 20).110
Babylon was divided into many provinces, each one under the leader of a satrap (3:2a). Dani’el was made a satrap over the province in which the royal court was located. From the king’s perspective, this promotion would be the logical reward for his success as an interpreter of dreams; from Dani’el’s perspective, there would be many opportunities for Dani’el to compromise, but Dani’el’s faith in ADONAI was strong and he would choose to always trust and serve God. Also, not to mention jealousy of the royal administrators who would cause Dani’el no little amount of trouble (see Dm – The Plot of the Royal Administrators).111
This passage raises a number of questions, such as how did these Gentile astrologers from Babylon know that a Jewish King had been born? And, even if they knew about it, why would they choose to come and worship Him? There had been astrologers in Babylonia at least from the time of Nebuchadnezzar. Yet, there is no record of one wise man from Babylon going to Jerusalem to worship a Jewish king – until the birth of Yeshua (see the commentary on The Life of Christ Av – The Visit of the Magi). The answers to these questions go back to Dani’el and his position as the head of the Babylonian school of astrology.112
Moreover, Dani’el did not forget his friends, but asked that they be promoted too. So the king appointed Shadrach (Hananiah), Meshach (Mishael) and Abednego (Azariah) administrators to serve under Dani’el in the province of Babylon, while Dani’el himself remained at the royal court, as an advisor to Nebuchadnezzar (2:49). The references to Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego set the stage for the next court story in Dani’el . . . the account of the statue of gold and the fiery furnace (see Bk – Nebuchadnezzar’s Statue of Gold and the Fiery Furnace).
Three primary theological truths are emphasized in this chapter. First, God is sovereign over kings and the affairs of this earth. If the Lord does not control our lives, from the actions of rulers and other positions of power to the most minute circumstance, then everything in life is uncertain. We are victims of circumstance, and whatever happens will happen. Que sera, sera! But since ADONAI is sovereign, as the Bible declares Him to be, and since He is our God – since the promises He makes and the actions He takes are certain to be fulfilled – then we can be confident of the future and know that we will be able to live our lives in a way that pleases YHVH. Second, Ha’Shem is omniscient. He knows all things, including the future, and at times chooses to reveal the future to human beings. And third, empires will rise and fall until Messiah comes back, but the glorious Kingdom of God will surely come and all wickedness of earthly regimes will cease (see Bg – The Fifth Empire: The Kingdom of God).113
Dear heavenly Father, praise You that You are so wise, loving and holy! The greatest joy is living a life close to You, praising You for Your wonderful character that never changes! Faith is the key for those who seek YHVH. Now without faith it is impossible to please God. For the one who comes to God must believe that He exists and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him (Hebrews 11:6). Though Nebuchadnezzar fell down before Dani’el, acknowledging with words that You are the God of gods and the Lord of kings; he did not have faith, for his heart did not worship You as his Lord and King. He would soon have a statue made for his own glory and would require all to worship the golden statue. Faith trusts You – no matter what the circumstances are. Daniel’s faith caused him to trust in You even when his life was on the line and he knew that he would be thrown into the lion’s den because he chose to publicly pray to You, and You protected him (Dani’el 6). Like those who lived out their faith, even in the midst of hard trials, so I love You and want to live by faith. You are so wonderful and so worthy of all love and worship. In Messiah Yeshua’s holy Name and power of His resurrection. Amen
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