Service

Service

Daniel replied, “There are no wise men, enchanters, magicians, or fortune-tellers who can tell the king such things. But there is a God in heaven who reveals secrets, and he has shown King Nebuchadnezzar what will happen in the future. Now I will tell you your dream and the visions you saw as you lay on your bed.”

Daniel 2:27-28

King Nebuchadnezzar had a dream so disturbing that he immediately called all his magicians, enchanters, sorcerers, and astrologers and demanded that they tell him its meaning. The only problem was, he also wanted them to tell him what he dreamed! When they protested that this was impossible, he gave orders that all the wise men in Babylon were to be executed.

When a guard came to kill Daniel, the Bible tells us he “handled the situation with wisdom and discretion” (vs. 14). He asked the king for extra time to interpret the dream, and God then provided the knowledge he needed.

Why might King Nebuchadnezzar have granted more time to Daniel and not to the other wise men? Perhaps it’s because Daniel had the reputation of being God’s servant. What was it about his life that communicated his faith?

Daniel reverenced God. The king gave Daniel extra time to interpret his dream. What did Daniel do with that time? He and his friends prayed.

Daniel praised God. After God gave Daniel the meaning of the king’s dream, Daniel didn’t rush right over to the king, and he didn’t boast. Instead, he praised God for his wisdom and power.

Daniel testified about God. When the king asked for Daniel’s description and interpretation of the dream, Daniel replied, “There is a God in heaven who reveals secrets” (2:28). The king was even prompted to praise God, saying to Daniel, “Truly, your God is the God of gods, the Lord over kings, a revealer of mysteries” (2:47).

As the king saw Daniel reverence God, praise God, and testify about God, he was convinced that Daniel was a servant of God. May our lives display these same qualities so that our children will learn what it means to serve God.

Father,

As we seek to be your servants, may we act in such a way that others will know we serve you. Thank you for the example of Daniel. Amen.