Daniel (Greek) 2:17-23: a reflection

17Then Daniel went to his house and made the thing known to Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, his companions, 18that they would desire mercies of the God of heaven concerning this secret, and that Daniel and his companions would not perish with the rest of the wise men of Babylon. 19Then the secret was revealed to Daniel in a vision of the night. Then Daniel blessed the God of heaven. 20Daniel answered, “Blessed be the name of God forever and ever; for wisdom and might are his. 21He changes the times and the seasons. He removes kings and sets up kings. He gives wisdom to the wise, and knowledge to those who have understanding. 22He reveals the deep and secret things. He knows what is in the darkness, and the light dwells with him. 23I thank you and praise you, O God of my fathers, who have given me wisdom and might, and have now made known to me what we desired of you; for you have made known to us the king’s matter.”

Daniel and his companions face an impossible demand: the king has ordered all his wise men killed unless someone can tell him both his dream and its meaning. What does Daniel do? He does not despair, nor rely on his own wisdom; he goes to his friends and urges them to seek mercy from the God of heaven concerning this secret. They pray, and God reveals the secret to Daniel. And Daniel's response is a prayer of praise: Blessed be the name of God forever; wisdom and might are his; he reveals deep and hidden things; he removes kings and sets up kings.

Notice the pattern of Daniel's response: first he sought God in prayer, then he praised him. Facing what was beyond him, Daniel turned to God and his friends in prayer, seeking mercy; and when God answered, he did not simply take the answer and move on, but blessed God, praising him as the one who reveals hidden things and rules over kings and times. Both are worth noting: the turning to God in prayer when facing the impossible, and the praising of God when he answers.

That pattern is worth following. When we face what is beyond us, impossible demands, situations we cannot resolve, our first recourse should be, like Daniel's, to seek God in prayer, together with others, asking his mercy. And when God answers, we should not simply take the answer and hurry on, but turn to praise, blessing the God who has helped us. When you face what is beyond you, do not despair or rely only on yourself; seek God in prayer, as Daniel did, and enlist others to pray with you. And when God answers, remember to praise him, as Daniel did, blessing the God who reveals what we cannot know and rules what we cannot control. Seek God in prayer, and praise him for his answer.

Lord, facing an impossible demand, Daniel did not despair or rely on his own wisdom, but sought your mercy in prayer with his friends; and when you revealed the secret, he blessed you, praising you as the one who reveals hidden things and rules over kings and times. Help me follow that pattern. When I face what is beyond me, impossible demands, situations I cannot resolve, help my first recourse to be, like Daniel's, to seek you in prayer, together with others, asking your mercy. And when you answer, keep me from simply taking the answer and hurrying on; help me turn to praise, blessing you who have helped me. When I face what is beyond me, keep me from despair or reliance only on myself; help me seek you in prayer, and enlist others to pray with me. And when you answer, help me remember to praise you, blessing the God who reveals what I cannot know and rules what I cannot control. Teach me to seek you in prayer, and to praise you for your answer.