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HELEN SANDERS
1-29-2024
REVEALER OF SECRETS
Daniel was a very young man, probably a teenager, when he was taken into Babylonian captivity. In chapter 1:3-4 of Daniel it says: “And the king spake unto Ashpenaz the master of his eunuchs, that he should bring certain of the children of Israel and of the king’s seed, and of the princes; children in whom was no blemish, but well-favored, and skillful in all wisdom, and cunning in knowledge and understanding science, and such as had ability in them to stand in the king’s palace, and whom they might teach the learning and the tongue of the Chaldeans.”
It goes on to say that the king appointed them a daily provision of the king’s meat, (food) and of the wine which he drank, so they would be nourished for three years before they would stand before him. Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah were among these young “children.” They knew the ways of their God, and now the King wanted to incorporate them into his land. He changed their names, but he could not change their beliefs that they had been trained in about Jehovah God from childhood.
Daniel purposed in his heart not to defile himself with the King Nebuchadnezzar’s food. You might think, why? The reason is simple. It was offered unto foreign God’s before being served, and Daniel would not eat of it because it was defiled. He spoke with the Eunuch (who had favor and love for Daniel v. 9) over him and asked to just have pulse (beans) to eat and water to drink. As the story goes, they were given this and fared well. They were brought before the King and were found to be ten times better in wisdom than all the magicians and astrologers in the King’s realm. They got their information from God, while the magicians and astrologers got theirs from the dark side.
The King had a very troubling dream and asked his magicians and astrologers to interpret it. He couldn’t remember the dream but expected them to tell him what it meant. Now, that in the natural, would be very hard to do, and his “wise men” told the King this. He threatened to kill all the “wise men” if they didn’t tell him what it meant. Word got back to Daniel, and he pleaded with the king to give him time to determine the interpretation of the dream. Daniel goes back to his friends Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah and the four of them asked for mercy from God to reveal this “secret.” Sure enough, God gives Daniel the interpretation, and brings it before the King. King Nebuchadnezzar said in Daniel 2:47, “…Of a truth it is, that your God is a God of gods, and a Lord of Kings, and a revealer of secrets, seeing thou couldst reveal this secret.”
The King rewarded him by making him ruler over the whole province of Babylon and over the governors and the wise men of Babylon.
Why did God give Daniel the interpretation of a dream? Why did he reveal this secret that even the King couldn’t remember? It came because Daniel had purposed in his heart to not defile himself. He would serve his God in captivity no matter the cost.
He spent time with God praying several times a day. He did not compromise his faith, and God rewarded him first with the interpretation, but also rewarded Daniel for his faith by elevating him to be a great man of authority even in captivity. God always rewards those that diligently seek him. He can be trusted even if we are in a place of captivity, IF, we don’t turn away from Him.
If you seek first after the things of God, we can be sure that God will bring us what we need in our hour of need. Daniel not only saved his life and his friends, but also the pagan magicians and astrologers. He did not think only of himself. He always put God first, then others, then himself. He is a wonderful example for us to follow after.
No matter what may happen to us as Christians with any coming persecution, we can be confident like Daniel that God will take care of us. Remember, they were chosen because they were God’s “children” of the hour. Yes, they were taken into captivity, but they never let that captivity into them. This is why secrets are revealed from God when we put Him above all else.
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