“He changeth the times and seasons: He removeth kings, and setteth up kings: He giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding.” Daniel 2:21
Daniel, one of the captives brought to Babylon by Nebuchadnezzar, has been greatly used by God to influence history. How can this be, and what did he do? The answer to such questions is found in the fact that Daniel learned early, and well, the necessity of receiving all from God, being devoted to Him, regardless of where he was, or the circumstance in which he found himself. Key to that devotion to God, even though Daniel had been chosen to be instructed and taught in the ways and language of the Babylonians, was a position of faith in God: “He purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s meat, nor with the wine which he drank.” (1:8) From the very beginning of his captivity, Daniel had chosen that he would be the Lord’s servant. As a result of this devotion, but primarily because of the blessing of God, Daniel had taken a position of faith before God, to receive from Him the interpretation of dreams that Nebuchadnezzar had. Those dreams, which were given by God to Nebuchadnezzar, occurred probably in the 6 B.C., a very long time before the present day, and yet, their interpretation and meaning have a direct bearing on what is occurring in this world today. Why did God work in this manner? In Daniel’s day it was to show to Nebuchadnezzar that God alone knows “…the deep and secret things…He knoweth what is in the darkness, and the light dwelleth with Him.” (2:22) The sovereignty of God revealed at that time to the king, would continue to manifest itself throughout the ages, as the realization of those dreams would come to pass. It is for this reason, in part, that God changes times, removes and sets up kings, giving wisdom to the the wise and knowledge to them of understanding. Regardless of the “history” between the declaration of the interpretation of the dreams, and their realization, God brings His declared will to pass because He alone is God, almighty, possessing all power and authority. Well did the Lord Jesus, in His model prayer, conclude it by declaring: “…for Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.” The God of Daniel is the same today. But do we know Him in some measure as Daniel knew Him. God met Daniel in Babylon. He is the same today.
One of the first facts that Daniel learned from God, about God, was that He was a God of revelation, for He reveals secrets, hidden things. In the first of two prayers that the Apostle Paul prayed for the Ephesian believers, he reveals that he too had learned this about God. He prayed, “…that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him.” (1:17) Why does he pray this, and why is it first in the order of his prayers for the Ephesians? Essential to faith is the revelation of God, according to the truth. God takes the truth, hidden to our minds and hearts, to reveal, or unveil, to us the meaning. It is as we grasp something of the truth that is in Christ, that faith is given to lay hold of God according to it. Paul even gets specific in requesting of God, “…that ye may know what is the hope of His calling, and what the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of His power to us-ward who believe.” (v.18) God’s revelation is the gift of God’s vision of Himself and His ways in truth. The second prayer is for power, strength to believe all that is revealed. He prays for the Ephesians, that they will be strengthened with might by His Spirit in the inner man, that Christ may dwell in their hearts BY FAITH.” (3:16)
Dear Father, Since You have placed us in Christ, strengthen us to live, abiding in the true Vine. In Jesus’ name, Amen.