091. The Prayer Of Daniel And His Companions That The Lord Would Interpret Nebuchadnezzar...

The Prayer Of Daniel And His Companions That The Lord Would Interpret Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream. The Prayer as recorded.—Daniel 2:16-18. The Lord’s Answer.—Daniel 2:19.

Daniel returns Thanks.—Daniel 2:20-23.

Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, had taken away Daniel and his friends, and in the second year of his reign had the remarkable dream, the subject of Daniel’s prayer. The king’s heart was troubled, for “a vision of the night had left a weight upon his waking thoughts;” it was from the Lord, and so ordered as to bring Daniel into notice—to make known his glory as Israel’s God, and the God of the whole earth. This vision consisted of a description of four monarchies which would continue to the end of the world, and one of them till the kingdoms of the world should become the kingdoms of “his son,” whose right it is to reign in the armies of heaven and among the children of men. Man’s feeble knowledge could not satisfy the king, the magician’s art had failed, and the monarch’s heart was restless— his harsh decree is issued. There is a never failing source of knowledge, Daniel has often been at the mercy-seat; and though, O man! in thy own strength frail and erring, in prayer—

“Thy momentary breath can still the raging waters, Thy hand can touch a lever that may move the world;

O Merciful, we strike eternal covenant with thee.” For man may take for his ally the “King who ruleth kings.” Daniel seeks his companions to call with them upon the Almighty. Can we not imagine this prayer-meeting? Are not two or three met here for the purpose of communing with their Maker? Here we have high authority for persevering in the practice of meeting for social prayer. God has promised to be in the midst of the little company, to reveal to his children knowledge the world knows not of. Daniel, high in power in Nebuchadnezzar’s court, surrounded by all the temptations that wealth and royalty could give, was humble-minded and spiritual, prayerful and devoted to the end of life.