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"Servants! Servants!" A very nervous king was calling out, perhaps in the middle of the night. King Nebuchadnezzar had just waked from a very perplexing dream. It troubled him so much he couldn't go back to sleep.
"Call all my magicians, astrologers, the sorcerers, and the Chaldeans to come at once!
I need them to tell me about this dream!"
Magicians and sorcerers were people who used witchcraft, and power from Satan. Astrologers are those who believe the stars cause things to happen in people's lives. They use horoscopes to try to tell what is going to happen. Have you ever played with horoscopes or Ouija boards？Maybe someone you know has tried to tell your future with a crystal ball, or the lines in your palm, or tea leaves. There are even games for children to call up spirits or to work a spell. In the Bible, God gives strict warning against these things. Leviticus 19：26 says, " ...neither shall you use enchantment or observing of times." Deuteronomy 4：19 says, " ...when you see the sun, the moon, and the stars, do not worship them." Deuteronomy 18：10-12 says "There shall not be found among you anyone who uses divination (or fortune telling), or an observer of times (horoscopes) or an enchanter (charms or spells), ...all that do so are an abomination to the Lord." An abomination is something God hates.
When the king called for all his magicians, astrologers, sorcerers, and Chaldeans, there were 4 young men who stayed in their rooms. Yes, Daniel, Hananiah, Azariah and Mishael were not present with those who appeared before the king because they were very different from them. Daniel and his 3 friends knew that their wisdom came from the Lord, not Satan's tricks or charms or spells.
Main Teaching：If you know the Lord Jesus as your Savior from sin, you should ask God for wisdom. Wisdom is knowing the right thing to do. Colossians 2：3 says that all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are hidden in one person, and that person is the Lord Jesus Christ! God's Word strictly forbids us to use Satan's evil tricks to try to find out the future, or hidden information. Some children play around with tarot cards, or seances "just for fun." But God warns us against having anything at all to do with Satan's ways. We are to hate them as God hates them. What does our memory verse say we should do when we need wisdom？James l：5, "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God...and it shall be given him." If you know the Lord Jesus as your Savior from sin, you should ask God for wisdom.
Daniel and his 3 friends did not spend their time with the king's astrologers and magicians, so probably they were not even called to help the king understand his dream.
"I have dreamed a very troubling dream. Tell me what it was, and what it means, " the king demanded of all his wisemen. "O King, live forever, tell us the dream, and we will show you the meaning."
But the king answered, "That's just the point, I can't remember the dream! The thing is gone from me, and if you will not make known unto me my dream, and the meaning of it, then you shall be cut in pieces, and your houses shall be destroyed! But if you will show me my dream, and the meaning, then you shall receive of me gifts and rewards, and great honor."
Imagine the large group of well-dressed, important looking men standing around whispering to each other. Can you imagine how serious and frightened they must have looked as they realized not one of them had the answer! "Let the king tell us the dream, and we will tell him what it means." The king was growing angrier and more impatient by the moment and he blasted out at them, "I know for sure that you are just trying to gain the time because you know I can't tell you the dream. You are trying to think of some smooth lies to tell me, but listen to me! There is but one decree for you, and I have already said it! Tell me the dream and its meaning, or else!"
The men were probably sweating by now! But they had only one answer they could give："There is not a man upon the earth that can show the king's dream, and there is also no king, lord nor ruler who has ever asked such a thing of his magicians and astrologers!"
The king's anger exploded! No doubt the palace halls thundered with the king's loud command："Destroy ALL the wisemen of Babylon!" Arioch, the captain of the king's guard, went rapidly to work gathering all the wisemen. A loud knock came at Daniel's door. When Daniel asked what this was all about, Arioch explained what had happened. Daniel immediately asked to see the king to request time, and promised the king that he would show him the dream and its meaning. King Nebuchadnezzar must have sensed the wisdom and truth in Daniel, for he granted Daniel time. In fact, he held up the entire execution until Daniel came back to him. Meanwhile, can you guess what Daniel did？He went straight to his house and told Hananiah, Azariah, and Mishael the whole story and asked them to pray with him that God would show mercy and reveal this secret thing to them. These young men knew there was only One Who could know the answer to this mystery.
Main Teaching：If you know the Lord Jesus as your Savior, ask God for wisdom! There is no secret hidden from the Lord! In fact, God's Word says that the secret things belong to the Lord. (Deuteronomy 29：29). God already knows everything in your future, the person you are going to marry, the day you will die, and every detail of your life. He knows the very best decision for you to make in any situation. He has the very best solution to every problem. But you may ask, "How does God show the answer？" Many times God shows you His wise answer in the Bible. Don't forget to read your Bible every day! So many times we miss God's wise answer by not taking time to read His Word. Another way God reveals His wisdom is when we pray. His Holy Spirit can direct us right in the middle of our prayer time! Another way children can find God's wisdom is through asking godly counselors, like your Christian parents, Bible teachers, and pastor. If you know the Lord Jesus, as your Savior, ask God for wisdom!
Daniel and his three friends wasted no time in crying out to God for His wisdom in this life-threatening situation. They knew only God had the power to reveal the secret of the king's dream. How long did they continue in prayer？We don't know, but Daniel 2：19 says, "Then was the secret revealed to Daniel in a night vision."
What do you think was the first thing Daniel did？Verse 19 ends, "Then Daniel blessed the God of heaven." Daniel remembered to praise and thank God for His answer! He prayed, "Blessed be the name of God for ever and ever：for wisdom and might are his：...He reveals the deep and secret things..." Then Daniel went to Arioch and asked to be brought to the king. "Are you really able to make known the dream and its meaning？" the king asked. Daniel answered, "The secret which the king has demanded could not the wisemen, the astrologers, the magicians, nor the sorcerers show the king. But there is a God in heaven that reveals secrets, and He wants you to know what is going to happen in the last days." Then Daniel began to explain the dream and its meaning. "You saw an awesome statue, huge and dazzling. The head was gold, the chest was silver, the belly and thighs of bronze. The legs were of iron, and the feet were iron mixed with clay. Then suddenly you saw a big rock strike the statue and smash it into pieces and the rock grew and filled the whole earth." The king's attention was riveted! No doubt the dream was coming back to him now and he realized Daniel was telling him not only the dream but the profound meaning of it! Daniel went on, "You, O King Nebuchadnezzar, are the head of gold. The God of heaven has given you great power. But you will not rule forever. The other parts of the statue represent other kings that will come after you. The big rock stands for the kingdom God will set up. It will destroy all other kingdoms and it will last forever!"
Gospel：Did you know that you and I live in the part of world history that has seen most of that vision come true! Now we are just waiting for that "big rock!" Who is that big rock？It's the Lord Jesus Christ, God's perfect Son! Remember that we celebrate Christmas as the time Jesus came into the world. I Timothy 1：15 tells us the reason for His first coming："Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners." Because we were all born as sinners, we are all under the curse of death. Driving by a cemetery, reading the daily paper, all remind us of the Bible verse, "The wages of sin is death." (Romans 6：23) Does everyone have to die？The reason is because everyone has sinned. Sin is breaking God's laws, like disobeying parents, hating someone, wanting our own way. God says the punishment is death forever in a place called hell. Aren't you glad that God sent Jesus to save us from that punishment？Do you remember how Jesus saved us？By coming into the world as a baby, growing up, and allowing wicked men to nail Him to the cross. Jesus hung bleeding and dying, taking our punishment for sin. The Bible says, "how that Christ died for our sins...and was buried..and rose again the third day..." I Corinthians 15：3 & 4. Now Jesus is alive, in Heaven, and He is preparing for the time when He will return to earth, not as a Savior, but as the King, the big rock! The Bible tells us much about how Jesus will come and destroy all His enemies and set up His everlasting kingdom!
When Daniel finished revealing the king's dream and all its wonderful meaning, King Nebuchadnezzar did an incredible thing! He fell down on the floor on his face before Daniel, saying, "It is true that your God is a God of gods, and a Lord of kings, and a revealer of secrets!" The Bible says, "Then the king made Daniel a great man, and gave him many gifts, and made him ruler over the whole province of Babylon, and chief over all the wise men of Babylon." Daniel asked and received promotions for his 3 friends and they too served as rulers in the kingdom. Do you think they ruled wisely？Yes! Because no doubt daily they were asking God for His wisdom.
Challenge：If you know the Lord Jesus, will you remember to ask God for His wisdom？This week you will face problems, decisions, and have questions about things people tell you. Maybe someone else will even ask your advice about something. Don't try to figure out your own answers, or listen to ungodly friends. Especially remember God's warnings to stay away from any occultic things. This week will you remember to ask God for the wisdom you need？Remember James 1：5, "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God...and it shall be given him."
If you have never believed on the Lord Jesus, won't you make the wisest decision you could ever make, by believing on Him today？He will save you and make you His child forever! Go now to "How to Be a Child of God."
