Today’s passage: Daniel 2:46-49
Helpful thoughts:
- Nebuchadnezzar shows some of his confusion in his response. Who was he supposed to thank and praise? He decided to praise Daniel AND God. This might have looked as though Nebuchadnezzar was worshiping Daniel, but he was treating Daniel as a representative. The Babylonians had statues and images/icons to burn incense before…the God of Israel has no shrine or golden replica, this was a foreign concept to the king.
- Nebuchadnezzar did not convert to Judaism here. At best he acknowledged that Daniel’s God was the best of all the gods. That’s a major statement for the Babylonian king to make. It would have been offensive to think of him calling the Babylonian gods inferior to the God of Judah. But he was not converting, just adding another God to the list.
- Daniel was made the head of all the wise men in Babylon and the head of the government of the province of Babylon. This combination of responsibilities made him incredibly powerful.
- Daniel first exercised his power by bringing Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego into the government as well. They would have reported to him.
Questions to consider:
- What were some amazing things we learned about God in this chapter?
- Who was in control of this situation? Who humbled Nebuchadnezzar and elevated the role Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego would play in Babylon during the exile? Who is sovereign?
- Why would it have looked like Daniel was in control…or that he had a handle on the whole situation? Where was Daniel’s hope and trust? How did that impact his bravery and actions?