Wisdom Wednesday: Daniel’s Acknowledgment of Wisdom
Submitted by Debbie’s Dad
“Let the name of God be blessed forever and ever, For wisdom and power belong to Him.
It is He who changes the times and the epochs; He removes kings and establishes kings; He gives wisdom to wise men And knowledge to men of understanding. It is He who reveals the profound and hidden things; He knows what is in the darkness, And the light dwells with Him.
(Daniel 2:20–221 NASB)
Daniel acknowledged that wisdom lived in God alone and that He would share the gift of wisdom with those who trust in Him.
The context of this passage is well -known. Daniel was a young Jewish man that was taken by the Babylonians to their capital city of Babylon in about 600 BC when Jerusalem was besieged and conquered. The first chapter of the book of Daniel describes King Nebuchadnezzar’s order to being the “best and brightest” from the Jewish young men to Babylon to be instructed in the ways of the heathen nation. The first chapter describes how Daniel determined to remain faithful to God’s dietary laws, and how God rewarded his faithfulness. Daniel was regarded as a “wise man of Babylon”.
In the second chapter of Daniel, the event of the King’s troubling dream is introduced… Nebuchadnezzar had a dream and asked the wise men (magicians, conjurers, sorcerers, and astrologers; 2:2) to tell him what the dream was that he had, and then to interpret the dream. It was important to the king, and he demanded a severe test–and the wise men failed. They exclaimed, “There is not a man on earth who could declare the matter for the king, in as much as no great king or ruler has ever asked anything like this!” (2:10) Furious, the king ordered that all the categories of wise me be killed. (Verse 2:5 gives the decree detail they would be torn apart, and their houses destroyed for not providing what the king wanted!)
The executioners sought Daniel and his three friends, considered “wise men of Babylon” who were not present when the magicians, conjurers, sorcerers, and astrologers failed the test. Daniel asked for time–time for himself and his three friends who remained faithful to God. He was given at least one night; they prayed and Daniel was given a night vision that revealed the dream and its interpretation (2:19).
Our verse above is the praise and thanks given by Daniel. In this passage, Daniel acknowledges God’s sovereignty:
- That all wisdom and power belong to God.
- That God is sovereign over time and events (the times and seasons).
- That He is also sovereign over nations and leaders (removes and establishes kings).
- And that in His sovereignty, He gives wisdom and knowledge.
- And He reveals hidden things (things we don’t know that we don’t know!)
- And finally, God, Who is light, even knows what is in the darkness!
Daniel explained and interpreted the dream to the king (2:24-49) resulting in the promotion of the faithful young men, and the acknowledgment of their God as superior to the gods of Babylon.
In thanks to God for his gift of wisdom, Daniel exclaimed, “To You, O God of my fathers, I give thanks and praise, For You have given me wisdom and power; Even now You have made known to me what we requested of You, For You have made known to us the king’s matter.” (Daniel 2:23 NASB)