IN those days, dreams and their meanings were much thought of, and
great kings had their soothsayers and sorcerers, their magicians and
astrologers, who were always at hand to explain doubtful or hard
questions, and to pretend to look into the future.
Many of them were extremely clever, and from long practice and
observation, many of their answers and explanations seemed very
plausible.
So when Nebuchadnezzar, the great king, had a perplexing dream, which
worried him very much, he sent for these soothsayers and magicians; and
they at once, of course, asked what the dream had been, so that they
might furnish the interpretation.
But Nebuchadnezzar had to confess, that though the dream troubled him,
he could not recall what it was!
So the magicians were greatly alarmed; as they said, no king would ask
his magicians to tell the dream, as well as the interpretation!
But the king was angry and furious; and at length sent out an order
that all the magicians and soothsayers in Babylon were to be destroyed.
So the decree went out that all the "wise" men, meaning astrologers and
soothsayers, were to be slain: and with them, Daniel and his companions
would perish!
Then Daniel with gentle wisdom, which God gave him, said to Arioch, the
captain of the king's guard, who was sent out to kill the wise men:
"Why is the king's decree so urgent?"
So Arioch explained to Daniel that the king wanted not only the
explanation of his dream, but the dream itself! And that the magicians
could not tell it.
But Daniel went in and asked the king to give him time, and he would
show the king the interpretation.
Then he went to his house, and told Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, and
asked them to pray to God to show them this secret, so that they and
all the wise men in Babylon should not perish.
We must pause here for one moment to remember that God gives wonderful
answers to "united prayer"! We see it over and over again throughout
the Bible; and we see it over and over again in our own experience,
when we trust Him!
So Daniel and his companions prayed, and the answer came.
Then was the secret revealed to Daniel in a vision in the night.
And what did Daniel do the first thing after he knew the secret?
He blessed the God of Heaven! He thanked Him for giving him wisdom to
understand, and that He had made known what they had desired of Him.
Then Daniel went to Arioch, and told him the good news, and he brought
him to the king in haste, saying: "I have found a man among the
captives of Judah, who will tell you the interpretation!"
So the king said to Daniel: "Can you make known the dream, and the
interpretation?"
And Daniel answered: "The secret which the king requires, the
astrologers and magicians cannot answer. But there is a God in Heaven
that revealeth secrets, and maketh known to King Nebuchadnezzar what
shall happen in the latter days."
And then he added: "This secret is not revealed to me for any wisdom
that I have . . . but for their sakes who make this interpretation
known to the king, and that the king may know the thoughts of his
heart."
We see here an evidence of Daniel's humility; no wonder that God could
trust him with Vision after Vision about the future, which we read in
the later chapters of this wonderful Book of Daniel.