Where True Wisdom is Found (pt. 1)

In Chapter 1 Daniel and his friends are established as the kings servants (Daniel 1:19). Chapter 2 verses 1-30 Nebuchadnezzar has a dream that was so troubling to his spirit that the king had summoned his Chaldeans, magicians and astrologers to determine the meaning of the dream. The wise men were unable to tell the meaning of the dream (verses 1-11) because the king would not share the details of the dream with them. When hearing of their inability to interpret the dream, the king is furious (verse 10) and he declares to have the wise men including Daniel and his three friends put to death (verses 12-16). Daniel hears of the decree from the king and reports back to his friends the details of the decree and requests that they all seek the Lord in prayer for His mercy. In (verses 17-23) we see, through Daniel’s prayer that he asks God who possess all knowledge and wisdom to reveal the prayer to him. God answers the prayer and reveals the kings dream to Daniel in a night vision. Soon after receiving the answer, Daniel requests a meeting with the king through Arioch, the king’s captain. Daniel meets with the king and tells that he has the answer the king is searching for. Daniel asserts that no man can know what another is dreaming unless they are told, but there is a God in heaven that is all knowing and God has revealed this dream to him.

We see from verses 1-30 that Daniels source of wisdom and power come from God and God alone. Without prayer and without God’s love for His children, Daniel and his three friends would have found certain death. But, for God, Daniel was given mercy and favor from God because of his strong belief in Him. God wants to bless His children and has shown us in scripture that through Daniel’s strong belief and faith in the Lord, he is blessed and the power that he receives in this world comes from the God who has created the world. It is only through our sovereign God that we are blessed. It is in God that true wisdom exists. When we follow God and truly believe in Him, that power is given to us.

When we put God first in all that we do in life and walk in God’s will, we will see and experience the same love that God bestowed upon Daniel and his friends. Albeit, God’s blessings may not propagate or flow to us in the same ways as it did with Daniel. This is because God knows each one of us on an intimate basis and will bless us with the things that will continue to grow our relationship with Him. If we are asking in His will, then He will provide (1 John 5:14). We often see true believers who are blessed in ways that only God knows. God will not give us anything that will distract us from our relationship with Him. God does not succumb to extortion, meaning God will not bless based on conditions set by you and I. God blesses each one of us based on our faith, trust and love we have for Him.

Daniel was blessed because of his uncompromising relationship with God. Daniel showed his faith in the Lord and relied on God for everything. Daniel put his faith before the king’s command and through His faith was delivered from death. We can use Daniel and his determination to serve God as an example of how we are to grow in Christ and never compromise our walk with Him. It takes someone submitting to God filled with the Holy Spirit to resist the devil (James 4:7). When we live our lives God forward, our lives become a tool that God will use to attract others to live for Him. Does He need us to do this? The answer is no. God wants the best for you and I and He will use us to show that our sacrifice and reward to live with Him outweighs the life for eternity in hell we will live without Him.

My prayer is that we continue to seek His will for our lives. I pray that we take the time to seek, listen and learn the things God wants to teach us. It is through God’s power and our faith in Him that we can continue to grow more deeply in Love with Him. I pray that we never forget who we are in Christ and never forget how important our relationship with Him is to sustaining our lives and delivering us to that Holy place in heaven. In Jesus mighty name Amen! Amen!