“Then the king Nebuchadnezzar fell upon his face, and worshipped Daniel, and commanded that they should offer an oblation and sweet odours unto him. Then the king gave Daniel high honors and many great gifts, and made him ruler over the whole province of Babylon and chief prefect over all the wise men of Babylon. Daniel made a request of the king, and he appointed Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego over the affairs of the province of Babylon. But Daniel remained at the king’s court.”
Daniel 2:46-49
The king turned his focus and praise on Daniel instead of God. The king saw God work but he gave Daniel the praise. What do we do in that situation? We read the outcome of Nebuchadnezzar’s first exposure with the living and true God. Then the king gave Daniel The king focuses on Daniel who knew he had done nothing, this was all from God.
High honors and many great gifts The king bestows high
honors. He made Daniel a great man in Babylon. He gave Daniel
many great gifts. This is what he promised the Chaldeans when
he first had his dream.(See his focus on men, not God?) The king
keeps his promise which Satan uses to set a trap for Daniel?
Here, love these things, the joys of Babylon. Live your life for the
king and you can get more of the world’s goodies.) Satan will use
Everything I our lives to try to destroy our love of God.
Made him ruler over the whole province of Babylon Then the king promotes Daniel. He is placed over the entire province of Babylon where the king’s palace is located. The king wants
to keep Daniel near him and this is the way he will do it. Daniel is now in charge of the. majestic city of Babylon (remember the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, one of the world’s seven wonders?).
Chief prefect over all the wise men of Babylon. The king promoted Daniel over all the wise men. This likely caused great resentment despite Daniel having saved their lives. Possibly they felt Daniel should have come through them to give the interpretation to the king.
Daniel made a request of the king We read an amazing statement. Daniel did not turn down the gifts and promotions of the king, nor did he try to divert the credit to God. Instead Daniel asked for even more from the king.
He appointed Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego Daniel knew if he was going to serve God by being promoted in the king’s court, he needed faithful, loyal, wise people around him who he could trust and depend on. These men were prayer warriors – Daniel needed them.
Over the affairs of the province of Babylon. Daniel asked for his three partners to be placed in key leadership positions in the province he was to oversee. Would these promotions turn out to be a test? Never underestimate Satan!
But Daniel remained at the king’s court. Daniel remained in the presence of the king where the king would have constant access to Daniel’s counsel and, whether the king valued it or not, Daniel’s God.
What can we learn? Daniel sees God in control of the situation. He accepts what God does (perhaps remembering how Joseph was promoted to the number two position in Egypt). What we don’t read is how Daniel must have continued to pray for the redemption of the king. The king saw firsthand God’s majesty but he did not respond. Daniel would continue to pray and witness to that end.