The Life of Daniel (3)

The Lord has shown His approval to Daniel and his friends after a trial period. He had manifested His blessing upon their refusal to eat food from the king’s table. God also gave Daniel a high position in the king’s court. This continued for a very long time. Kings arose and were put down. There were many changes in those who had governing power. In chapter 2, we still read of King Nebuchadnezzar. There is much unrest in Babel. We see it in its helplessness. What is the reason for the unrest? Is it a revolution or economic recession? No, it is only a dream. It must have been a frightening dream for Nebuchadnezzar, for his spirit was troubled. However, he could not remember his dream anymore. He called the magicians which were masters in occultism and the astrologers who made predictions from the course of stars; the sorcerers, who made predictions from the tokens in nature, were also called. In addition, the Chaldeans were summoned to help the king. They were the philosophers of their time. We read in the Scriptures, “There is no peace for the wicked.” Human wisdom failed and was insufficient.

Human helplessness

The king was furious and commanded that all the wise men of Babylon be destroyed. This included also Daniel and his friends. So, the situation was dangerous. The king’s foolishness is evident because he sought human help and wisdom but did not call upon the Lord who can solve all riddles. We read in Psalm 146:3, “Put not your trust in princes, nor in the son of man, in whom there is no help.” This is a lesson that we need to learn also in our days. God has so clearly shown how helpless man is when the coronavirus appeared. Many necessary measures are taken. Precautions need to be followed. Normal life in many countries is severely disrupted. The economy is suffering severely. Churches are now nearly empty. Many wonder what this has to say to us. However, what we do not hear is that leaders of the nations become guilty ones before the Lord and that they seek to try to turn their subjects back to life in accordance with God’s law and testimony. Mankind has achieved an enormous development of knowledge, and scientific possibilities seem to be nearly unlimited. Then, suddenly, nearly everything comes to a standstill, and fear takes hold of many, especially older people.

How the Lord reminds us that we are but feeble and little creatures! It would be a blessing if also we, who know God’s Word and may hear the truth, would be blessed with true repentance, that we personally might become the guilty one before the Lord. In the life of God’s children, it has been experienced that the Lord brought them to an end, that they were bankrupt and did not know what to do anymore. They could not help themselves. However, this is the way in which He makes room for the work of an Almighty Saviour. Daniel speaks of the Lord.

A mighty Helper

When Daniel knew of the intent of the king to slay all the wise men of his country, he requested some delay from the king. If he would give him time, Daniel would show the king the dream and its interpretation. This is the language of faith when Daniel says in verse 24, “Bring me in before the king, and I will shew unto the king the interpretation.” Arioch brought Daniel before the king in haste. He boasted, “I have found a man of the captives of Judah, that will make known unto the king the interpretation.” When the king said to Daniel, “Art thou able to make known unto me the dream which I have seen, and the interpretation thereof?” Daniel gave a God-glorifying answer. First, he said from where the answer could not come. It cannot come from man, not even the wisemen in his country. Yet, hear him saying, “But there is a God in heaven that revealeth secrets.” The wisemen had said in verse 11, “And it is a rare thing that the king requireth, and there is none other that can shew it before the king, except the gods, whose dwelling is not with flesh.”

Daniel speaks about a God whose dwelling is with flesh. Christ is made of a woman, made under the law, but He will dwell among the people. He is the Wisdom Himself and will teach sinners mysteries of salvation. We read in Matthew 11:25, “At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank Thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because Thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes.” This the Lord still does when He teaches sinners His ways. Secrets are the things of God’s kingdom. The poet says in Psalm 25:14, “The secret of the LORD is with them that fear Him; and He will show them His covenant.” Of these secrets we also read in 1 Timothy 3:16, “And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.”

Daniel was God’s servant, and those servants may proclaim these mysteries. The gospel is a mystery—Ephesians 6:19, “And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel.” In our days, it seems that the name Jesus is no hidden name anymore. Yes, that name should be proclaimed and, as such, it should not be a hidden name. However, in the life of an uncovered sinner who has been shown his ungodliness, his being outside of God, alienated from Him, Jesus is so hidden. What he sees is God’s anger, the separation from Him, his own guilt, and he learns the inability to ever pay his debts or satisfy God’s justice. He first learns his impossibility to ever come back to God. Yes, there is a mighty Helper, for help is laid upon One that is mighty. God’s justice is against sinners; He must punish them. Nevertheless, there lies the secret. How can a just God also be gracious? How can He be a mighty Helper for those who have sinned everything away and kindled His wrath against them? That secret of God’s wisdom and power is revealed when gospel light may shine upon the precious name Jesus—when something may be seen of His power, of His ability, of His willingness. Daniel sings, as it were, a doxology in verse 20, “Blessed be the name of God for ever and ever: for wisdom and might are His.” What a wonder of God’s wisdom it is which He will reveal to babes, that there is a mighty, a willing, a suitable Saviour. A holy God dwells with sinners. Here is the ladder of Jacob. Here is the Ark of the Covenant. Here is the golden mercy seat, covering the law which curses the disobedient sinner. Here is the secret revealed, how grace can be given and yet justice maintained, how a place may be obtained in this Refuge, how poor sinners may be justified freely, how sinners can dwell with God.

Babel’s knowledge and wisdom could not find the key to the secret chamber of God. Neither the wise and learned of this world nor the theologians can find it without the light of God’s Spirit teaching them. However, babes who are instructed in the school of God’s grace may behold those secrets and admire the free favor of God, His good pleasure. There was no reason in them that He looked upon them in mercy. It was, and will always be, His free and sovereign grace; therefore, they will give all the honor to Him.

(To be continued)

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