How well do you know Him? I didn’t ask what do you know about Him, or what your grandmother told you about Him. I didn’t even ask what the preacher said about Him, but like Jesus asked His disciples, I’m asking you, how well do you know Him? Who do you say that He is? Agur asked a similar question in Proverbs 30. I don’t believe Ithiel and Ucal provided the answer. Most of us know some things not by personal fellowship, but by information we received from others. I’d like to introduce you to someone who was more than an acquaintance. He had more than a casual relationship with Yahweh. There are others, but I’m focusing on Daniel today.
“In the second year of his reign, Nebuchadnezzar had dreams that troubled him, and sleep deserted him. So the king gave orders to summon the magicians, mediums, sorcerers, and Chaldeans to tell the king his dreams. When they came and stood before the king, he said to them, “I have had a dream and am anxious to understand it.” The Chaldeans spoke to the king (Aramaic begins here): “May the king live forever. Tell your servants the dream, and we will give the interpretation.” The king replied to the Chaldeans, “My word is final: If you don’t tell me the dream and its interpretation, you will be torn limb from limb, and your houses will be made a garbage dump. But if you make the dream and its interpretation known to me, you’ll receive gifts, a reward, and great honor from me. So make the dream and its interpretation known to me.” They answered a second time, “May the king tell the dream to his servants, and we will make known the interpretation.” The king replied, “I know for certain you are trying to gain some time, because you see that my word is final. If you don’t tell me the dream, there is one decree for you. You have conspired to tell me something false or fraudulent until the situation changes. So tell me the dream and I will know you can give me its interpretation.” The Chaldeans answered the king, “No one on earth can make known what the king requests. Consequently, no king, however great and powerful, has ever asked anything like this of any magician, medium, or Chaldean. What the king is asking is so difficult that no one can make it known to him except the gods, whose dwelling is not with mortals.” Because of this, the king became violently angry and gave orders to destroy all the wise men of Babylon.”
Daniel 2:1-12 CSB
Ahem! At least they knew enough to get that part right, except He’s not one of the gods, HE IS GOD! And He does dwell with mortals. Mortals who have chosen to make Him their habitation. For those of you who can’t live without reading your horoscope, let this be an eye opener for you. I’m sure that prior to this dream Nebuchadnezzar would have told them the dream, but this time God was the dream giver. All this was purposefully orchestrated to demonstrate to a heathenestic society that He alone is The True and living God. Let’s continue reading.
“The decree was issued that the wise men were to be executed, and they searched for Daniel and his friends, to execute them. Then Daniel responded with tact and discretion to Arioch, the captain of the king’s guard, who had gone out to execute the wise men of Babylon. He asked Arioch, the king’s officer, “Why is the decree from the king so harsh?” Then Arioch explained the situation to Daniel. So Daniel went and asked the king to give him some time, so that he could give the king the interpretation. Then Daniel went to his house and told his friends Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah about the matter, urging them to ask the God of the heavens for mercy concerning this mystery, so Daniel and his friends would not be destroyed with the rest of Babylon’s wise men. The mystery was then revealed to Daniel in a vision at night, and Daniel praised the God of the heavens and declared: May the name of God be praised forever and ever, for wisdom and power belong to Him. He changes the times and seasons; He removes kings and establishes kings. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding. He reveals the deep and hidden things; He knows what is in the darkness, and light dwells with Him. I offer thanks and praise to You, God of my ancestors, because You have given me wisdom and power. And now You have let me know what we asked of You, for You have let us know the king’s mystery.”
Daniel 2:13-23 CSB
Now that’s a mortal who knows who God is. When was the last time you had a dream that disturbed you and you turned to God for the interpretation? Or did you call the psychic hotline? You may be thinking I’ve lost my mind. But do you know that Christians aren’t exempt from this practice? Our young people are more engaged in the occult like never before , according to the Barna research group. As authentic Christianity declines and new age moves in, the desire to seek the One True God decreases. Everyone wants to know their future, but there’s only One who knows it, GOD. I shared in a past message, where a church hired a medium to help people connect with dead relatives. I can’t make this stuff up.
Nebuchadnezzar got wise to his entourage of psychics. So he gave, I believe, a God ordained command: Tell me the dream and the interpretation. They freaked out. They had been exposed as frauds. Except for one mortal as I pointed out. When the God of all creation wants to upend the culture of lies, He always creates a scenario where we’re brought to the end of ourselves. Daniel chose the only path he knew. Prayer to the One true God. And He came through. How well do you know Him? What’s your angle when given a God sized challenge? Do you seek Him or the wisdom of men? The Bible says He knows our thoughts before we think them . Psalm 139:2. Let’s get to the conclusion of the matter.
“Therefore Daniel went to Arioch, whom the king had assigned to destroy the wise men of Babylon. He came and said to him, “Don’t destroy the wise men of Babylon! Bring me before the king, and I will give him the interpretation.” Then Arioch quickly brought Daniel before the king and said to him, “I have found a man among the Judean exiles who can let the king know the interpretation.” The king said in reply to Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, “Are you able to tell me the dream I had and its interpretation?” Daniel answered the king, “No wise man, medium, magician, or diviner is able to make known to the king the mystery he asked about. But there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries, and He has let King Nebuchadnezzar know what will happen in the last days. Your dream and the visions that came into your mind as you lay in bed were these: Your Majesty, while you were in your bed, thoughts came to your mind about what will happen in the future. The Revealer of mysteries has let you know what will happen. As for me, this mystery has been revealed to me, not because I have more wisdom than anyone living, but in order that the interpretation might be made known to the king, and that you may understand the thoughts of your mind.”
Daniel 2:24-30 CSB
Drop the mic! That’s what I’m talking about. Nebuchadnezzar is being schooled by Daniel about the God he knows. We can’t share what we don’t believe, and we can’t introduce others to a God we don’t know. So how well do you know Him? Can you convince your Nebuchadnezzars about the awesomeness of your God? Daniel’s devotion to Yahweh turned an entire empire upside down. His steadfast faith and that of his three prayer partners, introduced a heathen king and nation to the God who dwells among mortals. This is what happens when we truly know God. Ready for this award worthy moment?
“Then King Nebuchadnezzar fell facedown, worshiped Daniel, and gave orders to present an offering and incense to him. The king said to Daniel, “Your God is indeed God of gods, Lord of kings, and a revealer of mysteries, since you were able to reveal this mystery.”
Daniel 2:46-47 CSB
And this is what God does for those who know Him personally.
“Then the king promoted Daniel and gave him many generous gifts. He made him ruler over the entire province of Babylon and chief governor over all the wise men of Babylon.”
Daniel 2:48 CSB
And this is what people who know God intimately do for those who serve faithfully alongside them.
“At Daniel’s request, the king appointed Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego to manage the province of Babylon. But Daniel remained at the king’s court.”
Daniel 2:49 CSB
A great ending to a beautiful story of loyalty to Jehovah and his friends. Daniel wasn’t selfish nor was he prideful. He was God’s man in captivity and he remained faithful. Never allowing the culture around him to shape him. No! He shaped it. That’s what we’re called to do as those who know who God is. Are you convinced enough to stand up and out? There’s coming a time and I believe it’s already here, when we will have to come out of the shadows and declare our allegiance to the ONE TRUE GOD, no matter the cost. Are you ready?
“All I want is for you to get to know Me. To be still in My presence and enjoy our relationship. I want you to stop doing things out of duty and discover what it’s like to walk with Me in pure bliss, simply because I love you.” Quote from “ I hear His whisper.”
Written by permission of the Holy Spirit
W. Tennant
May 11, 2021