November 22, 2016
Today’s reading from Encounter with God

A Troubled Soul

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Opening Prayer

Loving Father, You are the strength of my life and the origin of my hope. I affirm my trust in You.

Read Daniel 2:1-23

[1] In the second year of his reign, Nebuchadnezzar had dreams; his mind was troubled and he could not sleep. [2] So the king summoned the magicians, enchanters, sorcerers and astrologers to tell him what he had dreamed. When they came in and stood before the king, [3] he said to them, “I have had a dream that troubles me and I want to know what it means.” [4] Then the astrologers answered the king, “May the king live forever! Tell your servants the dream, and we will interpret it.” [5] The king replied to the astrologers, “This is what I have firmly decided: If you do not tell me what my dream was and interpret it, I will have you cut into pieces and your houses turned into piles of rubble. [6] But if you tell me the dream and explain it, you will receive from me gifts and rewards and great honor. So tell me the dream and interpret it for me.” [7] Once more they replied, “Let the king tell his servants the dream, and we will interpret it.” [8] Then the king answered, “I am certain that you are trying to gain time, because you realize that this is what I have firmly decided: [9] If you do not tell me the dream, there is only one penalty for you. You have conspired to tell me misleading and wicked things, hoping the situation will change. So then, tell me the dream, and I will know that you can interpret it for me.” [10] The astrologers answered the king, “There is no one on earth who can do what the king asks! No king, however great and mighty, has ever asked such a thing of any magician or enchanter or astrologer. [11] What the king asks is too difficult. No one can reveal it to the king except the gods, and they do not live among humans.” [12] This made the king so angry and furious that he ordered the execution of all the wise men of Babylon. [13] So the decree was issued to put the wise men to death, and men were sent to look for Daniel and his friends to put them to death. [14] When Arioch, the commander of the king’s guard, had gone out to put to death the wise men of Babylon, Daniel spoke to him with wisdom and tact. [15] He asked the king’s officer, “Why did the king issue such a harsh decree?” Arioch then explained the matter to Daniel. [16] At this, Daniel went in to the king and asked for time, so that he might interpret the dream for him. [17] Then Daniel returned to his house and explained the matter to his friends Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah. [18] He urged them to plead for mercy from the God of heaven concerning this mystery, so that he and his friends might not be executed with the rest of the wise men of Babylon. [19] During the night the mystery was revealed to Daniel in a vision. Then Daniel praised the God of heaven [20] and said: “Praise be to the name of God for ever and ever; wisdom and power are his. [21] He changes times and seasons; he deposes kings and raises up others. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning. [22] He reveals deep and hidden things; he knows what lies in darkness, and light dwells with him. [23] I thank and praise you, God of my ancestors: You have given me wisdom and power, you have made known to me what we asked of you, you have made known to us the dream of the king.”

Scripture taken from the THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, NIV Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Reflect

In this incident, Nebuchadnezzar had the political power but Daniel had the moral authority. In this case moral authority won, but it doesn’t always happen.

All power has limits. This is a fact often denied by tyrants and yet is self-evident. A person may control the world outside but not their inner world. By day they may be all-powerful, but who is king over their dreams? To add to Nebuchadnezzar’s frustration at this chink in his armor, what happens if the nightmare of the night before remains elusively out of reach, creating vague terrors but not distinct recollection? Bluster and threat are the weapons at hand and Nebuchadnezzar is well-used to wielding them. Moreover, he knows how easy it is to use misleading words. He does not want to be taken in by his wise men’s flattering talk; he pays for results. He calls their bluff and demands the impossible. They try to reason but they have chosen the wrong man. There is no way out and they seemed doomed by their own publicity.
Except that there is one person whose skill does not lie in smooth words and clever talk. Daniel is God’s person and God is Lord of both the conscious and the unconscious mind. Daniel knows where the answer is found, though he does not presume he has a right to it. He knows God and, with his friends, casts himself on his mercy, pleading with him in prayer. What was given to the king first in a dream comes now to Daniel in a vision, together with its interpretation.
What fits Daniel to be entrusted with this knowledge is his response. Far from being filled with pride at being able to understand when no one else does, his reaction is unqualified gratitude to God and an outpouring of worship. His concern was never primarily his own skin but rather God’s glory. Thus equipped he went forth to meet the king.

All power has limits. This is a fact often denied by tyrants and yet is self-evident. A person may control the world outside but not their inner world. By day they may be all-powerful, but who is king over their dreams? To add to Nebuchadnezzar’s frustration at this chink in his armor, what happens if the nightmare of the night before remains elusively out of reach, creating vague terrors but not distinct recollection? Bluster and threat are the weapons at hand and Nebuchadnezzar is well-used to wielding them. Moreover, he knows how easy it is to use misleading words. He does not want to be taken in by his wise men’s flattering talk; he pays for results. He calls their bluff and demands the impossible. They try to reason but they have chosen the wrong man. There is no way out and they seemed doomed by their own publicity.

Except that there is one person whose skill does not lie in smooth words and clever talk. Daniel is God’s person and God is Lord of both the conscious and the unconscious mind. Daniel knows where the answer is found, though he does not presume he has a right to it. He knows God and, with his friends, casts himself on his mercy, pleading with him in prayer. What was given to the king first in a dream comes now to Daniel in a vision, together with its interpretation.

What fits Daniel to be entrusted with this knowledge is his response. Far from being filled with pride at being able to understand when no one else does, his reaction is unqualified gratitude to God and an outpouring of worship. His concern was never primarily his own skin but rather God’s glory. Thus equipped he went forth to meet the king.

Apply

How might your prayer life reflect Daniel’s prayer and praise (20–23) and his friends’ powerful intercession (17,18)?

Closing prayer

Lord, there is so much to learn from Daniel and his friends. They had firmness of conviction, exhibited faithfulness in prayer and were fearless in courage. May I learn from their example.

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