Open your Bibles, if you would please, to Daniel chapter 2.
! It's on page 737.
We'll continue our study this morning in the book of Daniel,
! Looking at the life of Daniel.
Now, I wonder this morning if, like me, sometimes you wonder,
well, I love the story of Daniel.
It's one of my favorites.
I love learning about Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, and how God used them.
But I wonder, really, what is the connection?
I mean, after all, Babylon is literally thousands of miles away,
and in a time that was a couple thousand years from today,
how relevant, really, is the message and the life that we learn about in this book?
So as we look into the Word of God, as we come to understand the God who is the same yesterday,
today, and forever, really the purpose of looking at the Old Testament
is for us to come to terms with the fact that the God of Daniel in 600 B.C.
in Babylon is the same God of 2024 here in America.
And the truths and the principles of that God, the character of that God,
the things that were true for Daniel,
in helping him navigate the situations and the circumstances that he encountered,
are the same truths that we need today.
And the God who was evident in the life of Daniel in seeking to reveal himself to King Nebuchadnezzar
is the same God who seeks to make himself known through your life,
your witness, your testimony in the here and now.
I think about today we're going to learn about the God of wisdom, the God who is wise.
And as I consider the fact that God is wise,
and especially as it relates to our culture today,
I think about the fact that there could be no greater truth for our culture today
than understanding a God who is wise, a God of wisdom.
After all, the world wants answers.
The world wants to make sense of the things that are happening in their here and now.
The world wants to know where they belong.
They want to know how to find happiness in this life.
And even in this week, as I was kind of considering and researching
some of the main questions that are asked of contemporary culture,
here are some of the questions that this world is seeking to find answers to.
First, how did life begin?
What is the purpose of life?
Are we alone in the universe?
What makes us humans?
What is consciousness?
Can we live forever?
What happens after you die?
And of course, as the world is searching for answers to these important questions,
we as God's servants, as God's people,
have those answers because we know the God who authored it all.
The God who is all-wise.
The God who is over all.
And as agents of God's revelation,
the word of God that comes through the lips of his people,
we are able to be the gateway, as it were,
to help point and direct people to come to see and to understand
and encounter in some way the God who is all-wise,
who is over all.
We have this incredible opportunity,
this incredible privilege,
as Daniel has and his friends had,
to be the catalyst for the gospel, as it were,
the catalyst for bringing the understanding of who God is in contemporary culture.
There is something that we would be familiar with
as it relates to conventional wisdom.
Conventional wisdom is defined this way,
quote,
the body of ideas or explanations generally accepted by the public and or experts in a field.
And so there is conventional wisdom as it relates to things like health
and parenting and investment and education and business or employment.
But there is a wisdom that is settled.
There is a wisdom that is sure,
a wisdom that is fixed,
not the conventional wisdom that changes in generation after generation,
but a wisdom that is firm
because it is a wisdom that comes from the unchangeable God.
And it is a wisdom that this world can only come to understand
and know as the people of God.
Embrace the wisdom of God
and reflect that wisdom to the world.
Paul speaks about that wisdom in 1 Timothy 1, verses 15 and 17.
When he says this,
This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance
that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners,
of whom I am chief.
However, for this reason I obtain mercy,
that in me first Jesus Christ might show all longsuffering
as a pattern to those who are going to believe on Him for everlasting life.
Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible,
the God who alone is wise,
be honor and glory forever and ever.
Amen.
And then as Paul will say in Romans,
chapter 16, verses 25 to 27,
he says,
Now to him who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel
and the preaching of Jesus Christ,
according to the revelation of the mystery
that was kept secret for long ages,
but has now been disclosed
and through the prophetic writings has been made known
to all nations,
according to the command of the eternal God,
to bring about the obedience of faith
to the only wise God be glory forevermore
through Jesus Christ.
Amen.
The wisdom that is available to the world
is a wisdom that comes from God alone
and it only comes through the gateway of the gospel.
We are the conduit of wisdom to the world
through the message of wisdom
that is the gospel of God.
Do you know the wisdom of God?
Do you know the God of wisdom?
And is your life so centered,
so aligned to the wisdom of God
that it is evident in how you live?
It's evident in the decisions you make.
It's evident in the priorities that you set
that when people see you,
they see the wisdom of God.
The challenge so often
is that our lives
seem so unsettled
in following after the wisdom of this world
rather than following after the wisdom of God.
And we're going to see from the life of Daniel
that Daniel becomes
a faithful servant of God
to Nebuchadnezzar
by helping to point and direct
Nebuchadnezzar's heart
to see the one true God,
the God of wisdom
through his life.
And it comes,
we're going to see this morning,
through a character
that believes in God
and reflects the character
of God in the world.
And as Daniel
believes and trusts
in the wisdom of God,
and as he embraces that wisdom
and applies it to his life,
he becomes a gateway
for Nebuchadnezzar
to actually see God
and God's wisdom.
In the same way,
we can be the same catalyst,
the same gateway
for the people of this world
to encounter and experience
the God of wisdom
as we follow Daniel's example.
So I hope you're already there.
Turn with me to Daniel chapter 2.
We're going to begin our study this morning
in verse 16.
And we're going to see
that Daniel
will consistently point
to the God of wisdom.
Our first point this morning
is that Daniel's,
excuse me,
God's wisdom
is made known
through Daniel's faith.
God's wisdom
is made known
through Daniel's faith.
Notice
in verse 16.
And Daniel went in
and requested the king
to appoint him a time
that he might show
the interpretation
to the king.
Then Daniel went to his house
and made the matter
known to Hananiah,
Mishael,
and Azariah,
his companions,
and told them
to seek mercy
from the God of heaven
concerning this mystery
so that Daniel
and his companions
might not be destroyed
with the rest
of the wise men of Babylon.
Then the mystery
was revealed to Daniel
in a vision
of the night.
Then Daniel blessed
the God of heaven.
We see
in this
short couple of verses
we see the faith
of Daniel
in his friends.
First,
the faith of Daniel
in standing before the king.
Daniel has committed himself
to see
that God is in
these circumstances.
God is in
this vision.
He recognizes
that God is orchestrating
even these
very events
to showcase
the wonder
of who God is,
the wisdom
of God.
And Daniel sees
and understands
and is willing
in faith
to be a representative
of the God
of wisdom
by standing
before the king.
If you were here
last week,
you recognize
or know
that Nebuchadnezzar
had a dream.
That dream begins
there in
the first parts
of the chapter.
And Nebuchadnezzar
has come to
appreciate
or recognize
the fact
that this dream
is not something
that is
of himself.
It is something
that is significant.
He recognizes
that this dream
has come
from beyond,
from the gods
as it were.
And actually,
it came from
the God
of heaven.
And so he
calls in
his counselors,
his magistrates,
he calls them in
and asks them
to tell him
what the dream is
so that he can
know for sure
that they also
understand
the interpretation.
The king understands
and knows
that his request
to the counselors
is impossible.
But he doesn't want
an approximate answer.
He wants
the message
from God.
He wants
to ensure
that these wise men
not only know
what the dream is,
but they can
accurately
tell him
what the dream
means.
So he sends
for these experts
and he
commands them
to tell him
what the dream
is.
But of course,
the experts
can't do this.
They tell the king
in verse 10 and 11,
the Chaldeans
answered the king
and said,
there is not
a man on earth
who can meet
the king's demand.
For no great
powerful king
has asked
such a thing
of any magician
or enchanter
or Chaldean.
The thing
the king
asks is difficult
and no one
can show it
to the king
except the gods
whose dwelling
is not with flesh.
You see,
God is setting up
a showdown.
God is trying
to help
Nebuchadnezzar
to recognize
his place.
Nebuchadnezzar
who believes
that he is
the most powerful,
that he is
the most wise
emperor
who's ever lived.
his kingdom
is now
set against
the backdrop
of the true king,
the true,
all-wise,
and powerful
God.
And so to establish
his servant,
God is calling out
Daniel and his friends
in this unique way
so that
Nebuchadnezzar
can see
who is
truly the God
of heaven.
For all of
Nebuchadnezzar's
military might
and his
engineering genius,
he is helpless
to find the answer
to this dream.
The power
and wisdom
of God
versus the power
and wisdom
of man.
Nebuchadnezzar
did have power
and did have
a measure
of wisdom
but it was
limited.
Evident
in the
massive walls
of Babylon
that some
historians
say were
300 feet tall
and 85 feet
wide.
likely an
exaggeration
but it was
meant to convey
this impenetrable
nature of the
walls,
how
formidable
they were,
how invincible
they seemed.
But also
the hanging
gardens which
were considered
one of the
ancient seven
wonders of the
world,
this
engineering
genius
of
King
Nebuchadnezzar
and his
associates.
And already
throughout this
short book
of Daniel
we've seen
this call
or attention
given to
wisdom
going all the
way back
to chapter
one.
In Daniel
chapter one
verses three
and four
we find the
king
who commanded
Ashpenaz to
bring some
of the people
of Israel
used without
blemish
and of good
appearance
and skillful
here it is
in wisdom
endowed with
knowledge
understanding
learning.
And then in
verse 17
of chapter
one
as for
these
youth
God
gave them
learning
and skill
in all
literature
and wisdom.
And then
Nebuchadnezzar
in chapter
two
verse two
the king
commands
that the
magistrates
enchanters
sorcerers
and Chaldeans
be summoned
to tell
the king
the dream.
And then
verse 12
because
of this
the king
was angry
and very
furious
and commanded
that all
the wise
men
of Babylon
be destroyed.
There was
attention
given
to wisdom
and God
is calling
attention
to their
deficiency
and his
absolute
supremacy
as it relates
to wisdom.
And in one
event
all of the
accumulated
wisdom
of Babylon
the brightest
minds
in the ancient
world
trained at
the best
schools
of Babylon
were to be
completely
wiped out.
A huge loss
for a proud
king but
a necessary
price
to save
his empire.
But God
was getting
Nebuchadnezzar's
attention.
God's
wisdom
and power
will put
Nebuchadnezzar
in its
place.
God will
do this
through the
testimony
of Daniel
his servant
and through
his friends
Hananiah,
Mishael
and Azariah.
Daniel stands
before the
king
which gives
Daniel
an opportunity
to convey
his faith
in the God
who is able
to reveal
this mystery
to the king.
Daniel's
faith in
God
was meant
to help
Nebuchadnezzar
understand that
God alone
is the God
of wisdom
and Daniel
was willing
to stand
in this
place.
But Daniel
doesn't
rely on
his own
wisdom.
As soon as
he gains
time we find
in verse
17 and 19
he not only
stands before
the king
but his
faith
is expressed
now
in kneeling
before the
Lord.
Because Daniel
knew where
wisdom was
going to
come from.
Notice
verse 17
Then Daniel
went to his
house
and made
the matter
known to
Hananiah,
Mishael,
and Azariah,
his companions
and told them
to seek mercy
from the God
of heaven
concerning this
mystery
so that Daniel
and his
companions
might not
be destroyed
with the rest
of the wise
men of Babylon.
Then the
mystery
was revealed
to Daniel
in a vision
of the night.
Then Daniel
blessed the
God of heaven.
Daniel goes
home.
He gathers
his friends
to pray.
Daniel
demonstrates
that his
faith is
dependent
not on
himself
but his
faith is
dependent
upon God.
God alone
who can
answer
his prayer.
You find
this is
built in
to the
normal
routine
of Daniel's
life.
This daily
regular
commitment
to seek
the Lord
in faith
as we'll
find several
chapters later
in Daniel
chapter 6
verse 10.
Daniel knew
the document
had been
signed.
He went
to his
house
where he
had windows
in his
upper
chamber
open
towards
Jerusalem.
He got
down
on his
knees
three times
a day
and prayed
and gave
thanks
before his
God
as he
had done
previously.
I want
you to
appreciate
the magnitude
of what
is happening
in our
text this
morning.
As I
have studied
and I
would
welcome
other
study
as well
but as
I've
studied
through
the
Old
Testament
this
past
week
I
believe
this
is
the
only
time
in
the
entire
Old
Testament
where
God's
people
come
together
to pray
in this
kind
of way.
Now
there is
corporate
prayer
in the
Old
Testament.
It
happens
very
seldom
throughout
the
Old
Testament
but in
every
single one
of those
examples
it is
led
by a
leader
either
by a
priest
or a
prophet
or a
king
but not
the kind
of prayer
that we
see
happening
here in
Daniel
chapter 2
where Daniel
goes back
and his
friends
and the
three of
them
unite
in aligning
their
hearts
in yearning
and asking
God
for prayer
this is
a special
occurrence
that we
find
in our
chapter
this
morning.
It
demonstrates
that faith
can happen
independent
of age
and I
want to
just encourage
the students
who are
here
and the
children
who are
here
you don't
have to
wait
until you
grow up
to be
a person
of faith
you can
be a
person
of faith
at age
14
15
16
as we're
finding
here
and even
earlier
and God
can use
your faith
as a
means
by which
the world
around you
can see
the wisdom
of God
the power
of God
as you
anchor
your heart
to trust
him in
this way
of course
we believe
that God
is wise
of course
we believe
that wisdom
only
comes
from
him
and so
as we
believe
those
things
to be
true
the heart
of one
who
believes
is the
heart
of one
who
shows
faith
Hebrews
11
6
says
without
faith
it's
impossible
to
please
him
for
whoever
would
draw
near
to
God
must
believe
that
he
exists
and
that
he
rewards
those
who
seek
him
we
cannot
please
God
without
faith
and so
we
cannot
be
a
gateway
for
others
to
see
who
God
is
unless
our
own
lives
demonstrate
a commitment
to God
in
faith
whatever
situation
you're in
right now
whatever
challenge
you're
facing
whatever
crisis
is
happening
in your
life
right now
it is
a
unique
way
for
God
for
you
to
demonstrate
your
faith
in
God
in
this
moment
and
thus
put a
smile
on
God's
face
you
will
get
other
opportunities
you
will
God
will
provide
other
avenues
for
you
to
express
faith
but
you
will
never
get
this
specific
moment
to
demonstrate
faith
in
God
than
you
have
right now
this
specific
instance
to
demonstrate
that
you
believe
God
in
this
moment
with
this
particular
crisis
you
can
please
God
through
your
faith
and
it
can
be
a
way
a
means
by
which
you
can
invite
others
to see
the
God
of
wisdom
the
God
who
is
trustworthy
the
God
who
is
faithful
to
be
believed
in
you
see
we
don't
have
to
we
don't
have
to
defend
his
principles
we
don't
have
to
soften
his
gospel
we
can
preach
the
word
and
the
word
of
God
is
able
to
transform
is
able
to
save
we
don't
have
to
be
ashamed
of
the
gospel
of
Christ
it
is
the
power
of
God
for
salvation
to
everyone
who
believes
we
live
in an
age
of
deconstruction
!
the
word
of
God
and
seek
to
turn
them
upside
down
seek
to
reconfigure
them
and
to
paint
them
in a
way
that
would
make
God
look
oppressive
and
immoral
Christian
deconstruction
is described
as the
process
by which
Christians
critically
reevaluate
the tenets
and doctrines
of traditional
Christianity
and
emerge
with
a
different
perspective
on
their
faith
which
turns
out
to
be
completely
abandoning
the
faith
altogether
but
those
of
us
who
believe
in
the
wisdom
of
God
those
who
believe
in
the
sufficiency
of
the
scripture
those
who
believe
that
what
we
have
been
given
is
not
only
sufficient
but
authoritative
for
life
and
we
don't
have
to
explain
it
or
excuse
it
or
accommodate
it
to
our
world
we
can
trust
that
the
word
of
God
is
living
and
active
that
it
will
pierce
to
the
dividing
asunder
of
soul
and
spirit
and
joints
and
marrow
it
is
a
discerner
of
the
thoughts
and
intents
of
the
heart
it
alone
can
transform
and
we
can
trust
the
wisdom
of
God
we
don't
have
to
make
excuses
for
it
and
that's
what
Daniel
does
Daniel
is
committed
to
a
God
who
alone
is
wise
and
he
stakes
his
claim
and
he
wants
Nebuchadnezzar
to
know
that
God
is
trustworthy
so
he
stands
before
Nebuchadnezzar
and
then
he
kneels
before
his
God
and
pours
out
his
heart
and
wouldn't
you
know
that
the
God
who
says
that
he
will
answer
did
that
very
thing
ask
and
you
receive
seek
and
you
find
to
the
glory
of
God
Daniel
asked
and
God
answered
God
revealed
the
mystery
as
God
alone
can
do
God
was
able
to
answer
Daniel's
request
for
his
glory
so
the
wisdom
of
God
might
be
made
known
to
Nebuchadnezzar
but
Daniel
doesn't
stop
there
Daniel
is
not
only
a
man
of
faith
but
God's
wisdom
is
also
made
known
by
Daniel's
praise
made
known
by
Daniel's
praise
notice
verse
20 to
23
here's
what
it
says
Daniel
answered
!
and
said
blessed
be
the
name
of
God
forever
!
and
ever!
to
whom
belong
wisdom
and
might
he
changes
times
and
seasons
he
removes
kings
and
sets
up
kings
he
gives
wisdom
to
the
wise
and
knowledge
to
those
who
have
understanding
he
reveals
deep
and
hidden
things
he
knows
what
is
in
the
darkness
and
light
dwells
with
him
to
you
oh
God
of
my
fathers
I
give
thanks
and
praise
for
you
have
given
me
wisdom
and
might
and
have
made
known
to
me
what
we
ask
of
you
for
you
have
made
known
to
us
the
kings
matter
Daniel's
faith
was not
a blind
faith
Daniel
believed
that
God
was
able
to
reveal
because
Daniel
knew
that
God
was
the
one
who
gave
this
dream
to
Nebuchadnezzar
and had
a plan
to use
this
dream
to make
much
of who
God
was
Daniel
knew
what
God
had
said
about
the
revelation
of
God
going
all
the
way
back
to
Deuteronomy
chapter
29
verse
29
where
it
says
the
secret
things
belong
to
the
Lord
our
God
!
but
the
things
that
are
revealed
belong
to
us
and
to
our
children
forever
that
we
may
do
all
the
words
of
this
law
Daniel
knew
that
God
could
reveal
these
secret
things
and
that
he
would
do
it
for
a
purpose
to
make
much
of
himself
and
the
truth
is
that
Daniel
he
recounts
through
this
song
of
praise
draws
attention
to
this
working
God
this
God
who
is
active
there
in
Babylon
we
phrase
after
phrase
that
are
just
drawn
straight
from
the
scriptures
and
so
as
Daniel
is
praying
this
psalm
of
praise
back
to
God
his
heart
is
full
it's
clear
that
his
heart
has
been
saturated
by
the
scriptures
his
faith
has
been
founded
and
undergirded
by the
truths
of the
scripture
and
so
there's
no
surprise
that
as
Daniel
now
praises
Lord
he's
praising
God
in
expression
of the
truths
that
he
knows
from
the
word
of
God
Daniel's
reflex
is
to
praise
God
notice
he does
not
immediately
get up
and go
to the
king
he's
not
immediately
concerned
about
the
preservation
of his
life
he is
concerned
about
the
glory
of
God
he's
concerned
about
thanksgiving
and
throughout
this
prayer
Daniel
points
to
this
active
hand
of
God
up
until
this
point
in
the
narrative
in
chapter
one
and
chapter
two
it
seems
as
though
Nebuchadnezzar
and the
forces
of
Babylon
are the
ones
who are
pulling
all the
strings
but
woven
throughout
these
two
chapters
we see
the
active
hand
the
active
working
of
God
in
Daniel
chapter
one
verse
two
notice
and
the
Lord
gave
Jehoiakim
king of
Judah
into
Nebuchadnezzar's
hand
in
Daniel
chapter
one
verse
nine
and
God
gave
Daniel
favor
and
compassion
in
the
sight
of
the
chief
of
the
eunuchs
in
Daniel
117
as
for
these
four
youth
God
gave
them
learning
and
skill
in
all
literature
and
wisdom
and
now
prominently
through
this
psalm
of
praise
Daniel
points
to
the
active
working
of
God
at
least
ten
times
where
Daniel
is
referring
to
this
active
ongoing
continuous
and
even
intensive
way
in
which
God
is
involved
in
the
affairs
of
man
I
would
even
encourage
you
as
I
read
through
this
again
just
to
underline
those
action
words
so they
stand
out
they're
meant
to be
the
forefront
of your
attention
notice
in
verse
21
he
changes
times
and
seasons
verse
21
he
removes
kings
and
sets
up
kings
verse
21
he
gives
wisdom
to
the
wise
in
verse
21
he
gives
knowledge
to
those
who
have
understanding
then
in
verse
22
he
reveals
deep
and
hidden
things
he
knows
what
is
in
the
darkness
light
dwells
with
him
verse
23
you
have
given
me
wisdom
and
might
you
have
made
known
what
we
asked
you
have
made
known
to
us
the
kings
matter
time
and
time
again
the active
nature
of God
even
in
this
distant
land
this
is
the
testimony
of
Daniel's
faith
and
commitment
to
praise
God
who
is
active
and
present
in
the
affairs
of
men
Daniel
and
his
friends
are
not
victims
of
circumstances
Daniel
and
his
friends
have
been
providentially
placed
in
Babylon
for
this
special
purpose
God's
servants
are
set
apart
throughout
history
as
those
who
will
be
given
to
praise
and
thanksgiving
it
should
be
the
hallmark
of
those
of
us
who
love
God
and
seek
to
draw
attention
to
what
God
is
about
in
this
world
as
we
find
in
Colossians
chapter
2
verses
6
and
7
it
says
this
therefore
as
you
have
received
Christ
Jesus
the
Lord
so
walk
in
him
rooted
and
built
up
in
him
and
established
in
the
faith
just
as
you
were
taught
abounding
in
thanksgiving
abounding
in
thanksgiving
the
hallmark
of
those
who
love
the
Lord
who
have
enjoyed
the
benefits
of
faith
in
Jesus
who
are
walking
in
accordance
with
his
scripture
will
do
so
in
such
a
way
that
is
abounding
in
thanksgiving
so that
when the
people
around
you
see
your
situation
and
recognize
that
in
spite
of
the
things
that
you
are
experiencing
there's
still
a
praise
and
thanks
to
God
they
say
he
must
follow
the
God
of
wisdom
there's
no
other
answer
and
when
trouble
comes
and
trials
arise
we
come
to
understand
that
even
those
things
cannot
diminish
the
praise
of
those
who
truly
follow
after
God
James
chapter
1
verse
2
says
count
it
all
joy
my
brothers
when
you
meet
trials
of
various
kinds
how
is
that
possible
because
we
know
we're
not
victims
of
circumstance
that
God
is
in
control
and
in
1
Peter
chapter
4
verses
12
to
14
beloved
don't
be
surprised
at
the
fiery
trial
when
it
comes
upon
you
to
test
you
as
though
something
strange
were
happening
to
you
rejoice
insofar
as
you
share
Christ's
sufferings
you
also
may
rejoice
and be
glad
when
this
glory
is
revealed
if
you
are
insulted
for
the
name
of
Christ
you
are
blessed
because
the
spirit
of
glory
and
of
God
rests
upon
you
hard
things
happen
and
that's
when
the
spirit
shows
up
in
power
to
help
carry
you
through
the
hardest
of
times
it
is
through
those
kinds
of
moments
that
the
glory
of
God
is
most
evident
and
the
power
of
God
is
most
experienced
and enjoyed
by
God's
people
and
as
we're
experiencing
and enjoying
the power
of God
in our
lives
we
allow
the
people
around
us
to
encounter
God
because
there
is
no
other
explanation
for
power
outside
of the
power
of God
working
in the
heart
and
life
of a
believer
who's
going
through
desperate
things
Daniel
and his
friends
were
committed
to
trusting
God
in
a
hard
situation
recognizing
that
God
was
over
this
and
looking
for
opportunities
for
their
faith
in
God
to
shine
so
that
Nebuchadnezzar
could
encounter
God
they could
see
God's
wisdom
through
their
life
now
we
turn
to
verse
24
and
we
see
that
God's
wisdom
is
known
by
Daniel's
mercy
God's
wisdom
made
known
by
Daniel's
mercy
notice
therefore
Daniel
went
into
Ariok
whom
the
king
had
appointed
to
destroy
the
wise
men
of
Babylon
he
went
and
said
thus
to
him
do
not
destroy
the
wise
men
of
Babylon
bring
me
in
before
the
king
and
I
will
show
the
king
the
interpretation
Daniel
has
just
poured
out
his
heart
in
his
life
to
the
God
of
mercy
and
the
expression
of
his
experience
with
the
God
of
mercy
extends
itself
in
mercy
to
others
Daniel
demonstrates
a
uniqueness
a
distinctiveness
!
in his
concern
for his
enemies
in that
he
seeks
after
their
life
it
is
on
the
forefront
of
his
attention
it's
not
an
afterthought
and
he
cares
about
them
even
more
than
he
cares
about
himself
Daniel
reflects
a
heart
of
mercy
that
comes
from
the
God
of
mercy
he
would
in
this
way
embody
what we
have
come to
understand
as the
first and
second
great
commandment
love
the
Lord
your
God
with
all
your
heart
your
soul
your
mind
your
strength
love
your
neighbor
as
yourself
and
Daniel
is
showing
in
this
moment
his
love
for
God
by
his
love
for
others
Daniel's
true
love
for
God
is
reflected
in
his
interest
in
these
wise
men
who
by
the
way
Daniel
had
every
reason
to
want
to
be
removed
because
the
Mosaic
law
commanded
that
such
men
be
destroyed
their
participation
in
the
secret
arts
their
involvement
in
various
forms
of
witchcraft
targeted
them
as
deserving
judgment
and
then
the
fact
that
they
are
enemies
of
Israel
means
that
they
are
also
objects
of
God's
curse
remember
God's
promise
to
Abraham
I
will
bless
those
who
bless
you
I
will
curse
those
who
curse
you
Daniel
had
every
reason
to
allow
these
wise
men
to be
totally
destroyed
but
his
heart
for
God
led
to
a
heart
of
mercy
for
these
individuals
Daniel
experienced
oppression
Daniel
experienced
injustice
in a
world
of
today
where
we
believe
that
those
oppressors
should
get
their
just
desserts
Daniel
as
one
who
has
been
oppressed
should
have
conveyed
the
same
kind
of
attitude
but
in
spite
of
all
these
things
Daniel's
interest
in
preserving
these
men
pours
out
of
his
life
his
love
for
God
this
God
of
mercy
pours
out
in
a
love
and
a
mercy
to
others
as
we
find
in
Romans
chapter
12
verse
14
where
it
says
bless
those
who
persecute
you
bless
and
do
not
curse
or
in
first
Peter
chapter
3
verse
9
do
not
repay
evil
for
evil
or
reviling
for
reviling
but
on
the
contrary
bless
for
to
this
you
were
called
that
you
may
obtain
a
blessing
the
hallmark
of
those
who
love
God
is
that
they
pour
themselves
out
in
love
and
mercy
for
those
around
them
that
they
do
what
Jesus
commanded
in
Matthew
chapter
5
verses
43
to
45
you
have
heard
that
it
was
said
you
shall
love
your
neighbor
and
hate
your
enemy
but
I
say
to
you
love
your
enemies
pray
for
those
who
persecute
you
so
that
you
may
be
sons
of
your
father
who
is
in
heaven
for
he
makes
his
son
to
rise
on
the
evil
and
on
the
good
and
sends
rain
on
the
just
and
on
the
unjust
those
who
claim
to be
followers
of
Christ
will
walk
in
the
same
path
that
Christ
walked
they
will
be
those
who
like
Christ
says
!
Father
forgive
them
they
know
not
what
they
do
a
heart
that
seeks
to
bless
and
finally
we
find
in
Daniel's
life
that
God's
wisdom
was
made
known
by
Daniel's
humility
it was
made
known
by
Daniel's
humility
beginning
in verse
25
it says
then
Ariok
brought
in
Daniel
before
the
king
in
haste
and
said
thus
to
him
I
have
found
among
the
exiles
from
Judah
a
man
who
will
make
known
to
the
king
the
interpretation
the
king
declared
to
Daniel
whose
name
was
Belteshazzar
are
you
able
to
make
known
to
me
the
dream
that
I
have
seen
and
its
interpretation
Daniel
answered
the
king
and
said
no
wise
man
enchanter
magician
or
astrologer
can
show
to
the
king
the
mystery
that
the
king
has
asked
but
there
is
a
God
in
heaven
who
reveals
mysteries
and he
has
made
known
to
king
Nebuchadnezzar
what will
be
in the
latter
days
your
dream
and the
vision
of your
head
as you
lay
in your
bed
are
these
to
you
oh
king
as you
lay
in your
bed
came
thoughts
of what
would
be
after
this
and
he
who
reveals
mysteries
made
known
to
you
what
is
to
be
but
as
for
me
this
mystery
has
been
revealed
to
me
not
because
of
my
wisdom
that I
have
more
than
all
the
living
but
in
order
that
the
interpretation
may be
made
known
to
the
king
and
that
you
may
know
the
thoughts
of
your
mind
Daniel
is
careful
not
to
take
credit
and
Daniel
is
faithful
to
point
to
the
glory
of
God
he
sees
this
as
an
opportune
moment
to
call
attention
to
the
wonder
of
who
God
is
and
to
set
Nebuchadnezzar
in a
place
of
recognizing
that
the
gods
of
Babylon
can't
do
what
the
only
God
the
God
of
heaven
can
do
There
is
a
God
Nebuchadnezzar
and
you're
not
worshiping
him
he
is
the
God
the
only
God
who
revealed
this
dream
to
you
and
he
is
the
one
and
only
God
who
will
now
make
the
dream
and
its
interpretation
known
to
you
he
is
the
God
who
holds
the
present
and
as
we're
going
to
see
he's
also
the
God
who
holds
the
future
he
is
the
God
who
has
revealed
this
dream
to
you
!
And
he's
the
God
who
desires
through
this
revelation
to
set
himself
above
all
the
others
and
to
help
you
understand
oh
Nebuchadnezzar
who
the
one
true
God
is
so
you
can
worship
him
the
God
of
heaven
not
just
the
God
of
Abraham
Isaac
and
Jacob
not
just
the
God
of
Israel
but
the
God
of
heaven
who
desires
for
the
nations
to
know
him
and
they
can
only
know
!
as
they
come
to
see
and
hear
the
revelation
of
God
through
his
people
and
through
his
word
are
we
those
who
are
willing
to
capitalize
on
the
moments
that
God
has
given
to
us
to
make
the
all
wise
God
known
to
the
world
around
us
and
do
our
lives
today
do
our
lives
demonstrate
a
commitment
to
the
wisdom
that
God
has
given
to
us
in
his
word
so
that
when
the
world
sees
how
counter
cultural
and
how
counter
intuitive
our
lives
are
and
yet
still
marked
by
the
wonder
of
God
and
the
favor
of
God
and
the
strength
that
God
gives
even
in
hard
things
they
will
say
truly
you
know
the
God
of
heaven
may
God
help
us
to
capitalize
on
those
opportunities
to
make
much
of
the
God
of
wisdom
oh
God
I
pray
that
you
would
help
us
like
Daniel
to
capitalize
on
the
moments
that
you've
given
to
us
day
by
day
to
not
see
them
as
inconveniences
to
not
see
them
as
distractions
to
not
see
them
as
those
crises
that
are
uncomfortable
and
we
want
just
to
get
out
of
our
life
but
to
see
them
as
divine
appointments
and
opportunities
to
make
much
of
you
and
to
call
attention
to
the
one
true
God
Father
I
pray
that
you
would
help
us
help
us
to
commit
ourselves
just
like
Peter
says
to
recognize
that
when
the
fiery
trial
comes
that
we
are
blessed
because
the
glory
of
God
and
his
spirit
rests
upon
us
thank
you
for
that
hope
we
pray
in
Jesus
name
amen
God
bless
you
have
a
great
week