Dwelling With Flesh

Daniels Prophecy 2:10-16

The Chaldeans answered before the king, and said, There is not a man upon the earth that can shew the king's matter: therefore there is no king, lord, nor ruler, that asked such things at any magician, or astrologer, or Chaldean. 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.

The wise mens statements revealed they had no connection to God. They claimed that no one knew the answer except for their many gods, whose dwelling is not with flesh and which frankly speaking must not have dwelt here very much among men. I just have another question of my own here. Who exactly did these supposed wise men think they are to tell the Almighty he cannot do as it pleases him. The very fact that the Jewish nation has been carried into captivity and now found favor in a strange land should have been clue enough. This always seems to be a favorite taunt of the enemies of Israel throughout the years. The foreign nations and godless wise men seemed to think that the presence of God meant always being on the winning side. As if God were a thing to be captured. As though God could be reduced to a simple formula for how to succeed at life. While the wise men were busily consulting their history books and how many men could show the king what was the matter, God had someone waiting.

Here we see the king asked what he already knows. Did the king know what his dreams meant? It is certain he knew something before he even asked the wise men. Both his interpretation and his application to the pagan magicians and astrologers was theologically correct according to the revelation he had received. God had not asked him to purge the pagan theologians from his court, but his zeal for God even without his full knowledge led to greater exaltation. How can you call someone evil who is fulfilling Gods plan? God will not share his glory with any in Isaiah 42:8. The cleansing of the pagan theologians is like the actions of other Israeli kings and judges desiring to cleanse idolatry from their land. Yet, we note that this king Nebuchadnezzar is not of Israel, nor has he yet received the teachings of man. God himself was his councilor. However, these men wished to be all things unto the king so that they themselves might have the preeminence in place of the Lord above all as Johns Third Letter 1:9-10 would testify now unto him.

For this cause the king was angry and very furious, and commanded to destroy all the wise men of Babylon. And the decree went forth that the wise men should be slain; and they sought Daniel and his fellows to be slain.

These words made the king so angry and furious he ordered their immediate execution. See him cleansing the nation of Babylon from their pagan attachments. All these sorcerers, idolators, and men who depended on their own wisdom were to be put to death. The situation is not always what it seems. When the kings men went hunting, they found naught but the servants of the most High God over all. Daniel and his friends had never told the king how God had blessed them for their faithfulness to him. Of course, the king did not tell them that God was also blessing him. Now they are all about to be pleasantly surprised. God will be found when he is sought of them according to 1 Chronicles 28:9. Look at the king not sitting in the seat of the scornful and being like the tree planted by the rivers of water in Book of Psalms 1:1-3. The righteous tree got there because God planted it. The righteous man got there because God planted him.

Then Daniel answered with counsel and wisdom to Arioch the captain of the king's guard, which was gone forth to slay the wise men of Babylon: He answered and said to Arioch the king's captain, Why is the decree so hasty from the king? Then Arioch made the thing known to Daniel.

Notice how Daniel answers the captain who came to slay him. Daniel and his friends might be considered along with the unrighteous wise men, but they will not be for long. Is it not interesting how often times counsel and wisdom go hand in hand. You cannot give advice about a situation when you are upset, stressed, and depressed. You need God to give you wisdom how to handle that thing. Daniel rightfully should have been in the fetal position after everything he had witnessed and experienced. However, when God is with you and on your side, there is not much man can do unto you. Daniel had council and wisdom to offer this captain of the king's guard who was gone forth to slay the wise men of Babylon. This captain was likely as distressed over having to become a mass murderer as Daniel was at hearing his name was on that list. Daniel could have said, God you captured me out of my homeland, promoted me, and brought me to this strange land to die. That is what many of us would have done. Had Daniel indulged himself, there would not have been a kingdom impact. Just as with the eunuchs, Daniel also understood what both the king and the captain of the guard were going through. So also, God knows what each of us endure, think, feel, experience, hope, and even dream. So intimately does God know his creation. It is important in all places to portray him uprightly. I am not saying these responses are wrong. Rather, they are very human and natural. God used Daniel, as I have said before, for a testimony. Look, he has not even been asked, yet he is testifying again.

Then Daniel went in, and desired of the king that he would give him time, and that he would shew the king the interpretation.

So, Daniel went back to the king to ask for time. This is exactly what the king accused the pagan wise men of wanting to do. Imagine God bringing them so far; yet, when God caught up with the king, the four Hebrew children are begging God not to kill them too. After all God had done for them, they still doubted him. When it was God all along, do you not think he has the answer for the predicament in which you put your own self. I can hear some of you now saying, what do you mean by that. Daniel and his friends, having gained favor, should have been the ones in the kings ear teaching him the things of God. Here we see them still hiding with the people of God and under the commanders care who had sheltered them. When Daniel found out what had happened, great was his astonishment. Sometimes I wonder how that meeting went. I have a feeling we are about to find out.