Lesson #9
THE HEAVENLY PROMOTION Daniel 2:46-49
Presented Live on Sunday, May 23, 2021
I. Introduction and review
A. We have seen that God chose, in His sovereign wisdom, to give this special dream to Nebuchadnezzar, but why?
1. He was a pagan king that had destroyed the southern kingdom of Judah
2. But God had a number of reasons, let’s consider several of them a. To serve as an introduction of Nebuchadnezzar to the one true
God, remember the boys have not graduated yet b. To demonstrate to him who is really in control
c. And to let all of us know that history both past and future, is occurring according to God’s plan,
3. Now here’s a question that we should ponder a. Could that plan be reduced to written form?
b. Consider Daniel 10:20-21 Then he (the angelic being) said,
“Do you understand why I came to you? But I shall now return to fight against the prince of Persia; so I am going forth, and behold, the prince of Greece is about to come. 21 However, I will tell you what is inscribed in the writing of truth. Yet there is no one who stands firmly with me against these forces except Michael your prince.” [NASB]
(1) ESV Daniel 10:21 But I will tell you what is inscribed in
the book of truth: there is none who contends by my side against these except Michael, your prince.
(2) KJV Daniel 10:21 But I will shew thee that which is noted in the scripture of truth: and there is none that holdeth with me in these things, but Michael your prince.
(3) NKJDaniel 10:21 "But I will tell you what is noted in the Scripture of Truth. (No one upholds me against these, except Michael your prince.
(4) NLT Daniel 10:21 Meanwhile, I will tell you what is written in the Book of Truth. (No one helps me against these spirit princes except Michael, your spirit prince.
B. Then we examined the kingdom of the Stone
1. A kingdom which will commence at the end of the Times of the Gentiles
2. It will eliminate any vestige of any preceding kingdom 3. It will endure forever and ever
4. And we learned that men make bricks while God makes stones C. So at the end of this event recorded in Chapter 2, Nebuchadnezzar reacts to
what Daniel has done and what he has told the king
II. Nebuchadnezzar’s response to Daniel’s rendition of the dream and then its interpretation
A. Daniel 2:46-49 Then King Nebuchadnezzar fell on his face and did homage to Daniel, and gave orders to present to him an offering and fragrant incense.
47 The king answered Daniel and said, "Surely your God is a God of gods and a Lord of kings and a revealer of mysteries, since you have been able to reveal this mystery." 48 Then the king promoted Daniel and gave him many great gifts, and he made him ruler over the whole province of Babylon and chief prefect over all the wise men of Babylon. 49 And Daniel made request of the king, and he appointed Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego over the administration of the province of Babylon, while Daniel was at the king's court.
B. It appears that Nebuchadnezzar prostrates himself before Daniel and had an offering made to him
1. Daniel 2:46 Then King Nebuchadnezzar fell on his face and did homage to Daniel, and gave orders to present to him an offering and fragrant incense.
a. Did homage to – dg;s. cegid (Aramaic) {seg-eed'} Meaning: 1) to prostrate oneself, do homage, worship 1a) (P'al) to do
homage
b. Offering – hx'n>mi minchah (Aramaic) {min-khaw'} Meaning: 1) gift, offering 1a) oblation, offering (to God through
representative) 1b) meal offering
c. Fragrant incense – x;AxynI nichoach or x;xoynI nichoach Meaning:
soothing, tranquilizing
2. These things that the king is doing for Daniel would be something that would be reserved for one of Nebuchadnezzar’s gods
3. Why did he do this to Daniel?
4. Remember Daniel 2:10-11 The Chaldeans answered the king and said . . . 11 "Moreover, the thing which the king demands is difficult, and there is no one else who could declare it to the king except gods, whose dwelling place is not with mortal flesh."
5. As a result Daniel must have said something, although it is not recorded in the book
C. Did Daniel object at all to what the king was doing?
1. Consider the next verse Daniel 2:47 The king answered Daniel and said, "Surely your God is a God of gods and a Lord of kings and a revealer of mysteries, since you have been able to reveal this mystery."
a. Answered – hn'[; `anah (Aramaic) {an-aw'} Meaning: 1) to answer, respond 1a) (P'al) 1a1) to answer, make reply 1a2) to respond
b. Mystery – zr' raz (Aramaic) {rawz} Meaning: secret c. Reveler – hl;G. gelah (Aramaic) {ghel-aw'} or al;G. gela'
(Aramaic) {ghel-aw'} Meaning: 1) to reveal 1a) (P'al) to reveal (secrets), be revealed 1b) (Aphel) to take into exile d. As a result of Daniel’s response to the king’s worship the king
then turns his praise toward Daniel’s God 2. Consider the admission that Nebuchadnezzar makes
3. Nebuchadnezzar then admits that Daniel’s God is superior to all others D. Then Nebuchadnezzar bestows his gratitude upon Daniel
1. Daniel 2:48 Then the king promoted Daniel and gave him many great gifts, and he made him ruler over the whole province (or
district) of Babylon and chief prefect over all the wise men of Babylon.
a. Promoted – hb'r. rebah (Aramaic) {reb-aw'} Meaning: 1) to grow great 1a) (P'al) to grow long, grow tall and large, grow great, increase 1b) (Pael) to make great
b. Made him ruler – jl;v. shelet (Aramaic) {shel-ate'} Meaning:
1) to have power, rule, domineer, rule over 1a) (P'al) have power upon or over, rule, fall upon, assault, be ruler 1b) (Aphel) [expressing causative action] make ruler
c. Chief – br; rab (Aramaic) {rab} Meaning: adj 1) great 1a) great 1b) great (fig of power) n 2) captain, chief
d. Prefect – !g:s. cegan (Aramaic) {seg-an'} Meaning: 1) prefect, governor {English definition of prefect – chief officer of chief magistrate}
e. Wise men – advisors counselors who are wise or knowledgeable
2. The Babylonian Empire was divided provinces
a. Each province was ruled by a satrap or prefect that reported directly to the king
b. The most important province was the province of Babylon, which contained the capitol city
E. Daniel did not forget his friends and countrymen
1. Daniel 2:49 And Daniel made request of the king, and he appointed Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego over the administration of the province of Babylon, while Daniel was at the king's court.
2. Daniel’s three friends now worked directly under him in the administration of the province of Babylon
F. Who promoted Daniel and his three companions?
1. Consider Psalm 75:6-7 For promotion cometh neither from the east, nor from the west, nor from the south. 7 But God is the judge: he puts down one, and sets up another.
2. And 1 Peter 5:6-7 Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time, 7 casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.
G. What caused God to promote Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah?
1. Consider
a. Luke 16:10 "He who is faithful in a very little thing is faithful also in much; and he who is unrighteous in a very little thing is unrighteous also in much.
b. Luke 19:17 And he said to him, 'Well done, good slave,
because you have been faithful in a very little thing, you are to be in authority over ten cities.'
H. God also gave this dream to Nebuchadnezzar so that He could use it to have his men put into place where He could best use them
III. Loyalty pleases God and evidences the integrity of a man’s heart A. The king’s initial promotion was of Daniel alone
B. But notice Daniel’s response
1. The king quickly acquiesced and promoted Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah also
2. They had been in the trenches with Daniel and he would not forget them
3. Moreover, he may encounter other times in which a “prayer to the death” in called for
4. Daniel also stayed true to his friends, without injuring or harming his master or adopted nation
C. God values loyalty
1. Proverbs 20:6 Many a man proclaims his own loyalty, But who can find a trustworthy man?
2. Proverbs 20:28 Loyalty and truth preserve the king, And he upholds his throne by righteousness.
3. Nehemiah 13:14 Remember me for this, O my God, and do not blot out my loyal deeds which I have performed for the house of my God and its services.
4. Hosea 6:4-6 What shall I do with you, O Ephraim? What shall I do with you, O Judah? For your loyalty is like a morning cloud And like the dew which goes away early. 5 Therefore I have hewn them in pieces by the prophets; I have slain them by the words of My mouth;
And the judgments on you are like the light that goes forth. 6 For I delight in loyalty rather than sacrifice, And in the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.
IV. Success can be the enemy of radical obedience A. Review the six aspects of radical obedience
1. Immediate 2. Unquestioning 3. Unconditional 4. Complete 5. Consistent 6. Whole hearted
B. Review the eight characteristics of an uncompromising life 1. You speak and act with an unashamed boldness.
2. You are confident of an unearthly protection.
3. You carry on with an unhindered persistence.
4. You choose to adopt an uncommon standard.
5. Your outlook on life is controlled by an unblemished faith.
6. You are not unprepared for testing to come your way.
7. You become the recipient of unlimited blessing.
8. You will have an immeasurable influence, presently or in the future C. If obedience is impaired and compromise ensues, what is lost?
D. Elijah was given a two fold mission by God:
1. Turn the people of Israel back to the worship of the one true God a. 1 Kings 18:36-37 At the time of the offering of the evening
sacrifice, Elijah the prophet came near and said, “O LORD, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, today let it be known that You are God in Israel and that I am Your servant and I have done all these things at Your word.” 37 “Answer me, O LORD, answer me, that this people may know that You, O LORD, are God, and that You have turned their heart back again.”
2. And to reinforce that mandate by declaring a stoppage in the rain until the people turn back to their God
3. I Kings 17:1 Now Elijah the Tishbite, who was of the settlers of Gilead, said to Ahab, “As the LORD, the God of Israel lives, before whom I stand, surely there shall be neither dew nor rain these years, except by my word.”
E. But success can be a major factor in failing to complete our obedience to God
1. Something spectacular happened in Elijah’s life
a. In a challenge to the existence of Baal, Elijah called down fire from heaven which consumed his sacrifice to Yahweh
b. This was one of the most awesome displays of God’s power directed by a man, recorded anywhere in the Scripture c. Elijah could have turned his focus onto that event and stayed
there
(1) Had God given Elijah the power to call fire down from heaven when he needed to or was that a one time occurance?
(2) 2 Kings 1:8-15 They answered him, "He was a hairy man with a leather girdle bound about his loins." And he said, "It is Elijah the Tishbite." 9 Then the king sent to him a captain of fifty with his fifty. And he went up to him, and behold, he was sitting on the top of the hill. And he said to him, "O man of God, the king says, 'Come down.'" 10 Elijah replied to the captain of fifty, "If I am a man of God, let fire come down from heaven and
consume you and your fifty." Then fire came down from heaven and consumed him and his fifty. 11 So he again sent to him another captain of fifty with his fifty. And he said to him, "O man of God, thus says the king, 'Come down quickly.'" 12 Elijah replied to them, "If I am a man of God, let fire come down from heaven and consume you and your fifty." Then the fire of God came down from heaven and consumed him and his fifty. 13 So he again sent the captain of a third fifty with his fifty. When the third captain of fifty went up, he came and bowed down on his knees before Elijah, and begged him and said to him, "O man of God, please let my life and the lives of these fifty servants of yours be precious in your sight. 14 "Behold fire came down from heaven and consumed the first two captains of fifty with their fifties;
but now let my life be precious in your sight." 15 The Angel of the LORD said to Elijah, "Go down with him;
do not be afraid of him." So he arose and went down with him to the king.
d. Fire coming down from heaven is much more scintillating than water falling from heaven
2. When something spectacular happens we can get sidetracked from what God has called us to do
a. And yet Elijah exhibited unhindered persistence in completing God’s assignment
b. He told Ahab that it would rain heavily so he’d better eat in a hurry and get on the road
c. He did that at a time when the sky was cloudless
d. Elijah then skipped lunch and spent however long it took praying for rain
e. And as we all know, the rain came in buckets
3. Elijah was complete in his obedience to God’s charge, choosing not to compromise
V. But victory creates vulnerability
A. Consider Elijah after Mt. Carmel – the fire, the rain and the run
1. Remember the message he received after he returned to Samaria 2. 1 Kings 19:1-4 Now Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and
how he had killed all the prophets with the sword. 2 Then Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, "So may the gods do to me and even more, if I do not make your life as the life of one of them by
tomorrow about this time." 3 And he was afraid and arose and ran for his life and came to Beersheba, which belongs to Judah, and left his servant there. 4 But he himself went a day's journey into the
wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper tree; and he requested for himself that he might die, and said, "It is enough; now, O LORD, take my life, for I am not better than my fathers."
3. How should Elijah have responded to Jezebel?
B. Consider David staying home from the battle and letting Joab, his trusted general, lead the army [II Sam. 11:1-5]
1. 2 Samuel 11:1-5 Then it happened in the spring, at the time when kings go out to battle, that David sent Joab and his servants with him and all Israel, and they destroyed the sons of Ammon and besieged Rabbah. But David stayed at Jerusalem. 2 Now when evening came David arose from his bed and walked around on the roof of the king's house, and from the roof he saw a woman bathing; and the woman was very beautiful in appearance. 3 So David sent and inquired about the woman. And one said, "Is this not Bathsheba, the daughter of
Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite?" 4 David sent messengers and took her, and when she came to him, he lay with her; and when she had purified herself from her uncleanness, she returned to her house. 5 The woman conceived; and she sent and told David, and said, "I am pregnant."
2. But this was the time when kings led their armies 3. Up until then David have never lost at anything
a. Not a battle
b. Or a political maneuver c. Or in pursuit of a woman
d. Or anything else for that matter
4. He did have to leave the Saul’s palace and live on the run, but during that time he was able to build the core of his army and his government and grow remarkably closer to God
5. But now he compromised, making himself vulnerable, and terrible sin and consequences ensued in his life
C. And finally Gideon
1. A man who had developed an unblemished faith 2. And experienced great victory as a result
3. But then became vulnerable
4. Consider Judges 8:22-27 Then the men of Israel said to Gideon,
"Rule over us, both you and your son, also your son's son, for you have delivered us from the hand of Midian." 23 But Gideon said to them, "I will not rule over you, nor shall my son rule over you; the LORD shall rule over you." 24 Yet Gideon said to them, "I would request of you, that each of you give me an earring from his spoil."
(For they had gold earrings, because they were Ishmaelites.) 25 They said, "We will surely give them." So they spread out a garment, and every one of them threw an earring there from his spoil. 26 The weight of the gold earrings that he requested was 1,700 shekels of gold,
besides the crescent ornaments and the pendants and the purple robes which were on the kings of Midian, and besides the neck bands that were on their camels' necks. 27 Gideon made it into an ephod, and placed it in his city, Ophrah, and all Israel played the harlot with it there, so that it became a snare to Gideon and his household.
VI. Character
A. The private life of God’s man will have an impact on his public life B. Daniel is the perfect example of this concept
C. Daniel could have tried to merely endure this experience and get out of there as soon as possible
D. Daniel allowed his inner character and personal commitment to control his actions and response to this calamity in his life
E. Consider for a moment how his character directed him
1. In his diet: eating according to an uncommon standard
2. His motives: he refused to take credit for what his God had done, instead relying on his unblemished faith in his Savior
3. His honesty: he spoke the truth with unashamed boldness to those over him, regardless of the unpopularity of that truth
4. His discipline: he prayed as was pleasing to God 5. His integrity: he had no interest in bribes or graft
6. His convictions: he stayed committed to his God, to his people and to his friends, no matter which position in public service he held
F. How a man deals with circumstances and crisis that arise in his life, tells you about his character
1. Crisis does not create character but it does reveal it
2. The adversity that one encounters forces a choice: either character or compromise
3. And every time that one chooses character, his strength of character grows
G. Character is one of the central foundation stones in a godly man’s life 1. God can use him because he is trustworthy
2. People will follow him because they can trust him 3. Character:
a. Communicates credibility, b. Harnesses respect,
c. Creates consistency, and d. Earns trust
H. Character
1. Is more than just talk, it is proved by actions and attitude a. It determines who you are and what you do
b. If someone’s actions and stated intentions are continually at odds, a consideration of their character will tell you why
2. Talent is a gift, but character is a choice
a. Most things in our life we cannot choose, e.g. parents, geography, or circumstances
b. But we do choose our character, every time we make a choice 3. Character brings lasting relationships with others
4. Men and women cannot rise above the limitations of their character VII. Satan’s response
A. His meeting with his senior staff
1. We got these men out of Israel so that they would not be able to effect what we were doing there, the nation’s destruction and the eradication of God’s people
2. We sent them to Babylon, where they would be rendered ineffective 3. Now you have allowed them to be put in charge of the entire province
of Babylon and that blasted Daniel is over all of my wise men
4. But don’t worry, in spite of your miserable failures, I have a plan, and a marvelous one at that:
a. We are going to take this dream of Nebuchadnezzar’s and turn it into a god – thereby using God’s own dream against Him (1) Just like the Brass Serpent in the wilderness; or (2) The golden ephod of Gideon
b. Then we will separate the three other guys from Daniel, for they won’t be nearly as strong without him
c. Then we will take them out leaving Daniel all alone
d. And then he will eventually fall, it may take several tries, but he will fall
B. In chapter 3, for some unexplained reason, Daniel is not on the Plain of Dura when the new god was unveiled, and Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah will be forced to face this battle alone
VIII. Final thoughts
A. When blessings come, don’t forget your friends
B. When you experience success, immediately focus on obedience
C. When victory is granted to you, be aware of the vulnerability that it creates and seek protection
D. Always choose a leader with character
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