Daniel 2:30, commentary and pictures

The secret was revealed to Daniel by God, not because he had wisdom above others, but so the dream and its meaning could be made known to the king and the thoughts of his heart laid open. The king had been troubled by a dream he could not recall, and his wise men had failed because they could neither recall it nor reveal its meaning. What was disclosed was the future through the great image and the stone that destroyed it and filled the earth, covering successive empires from the fall of Babylon till the close of time. That prophecy has been fulfilled in history with wonderful exactness, testifying to the inspiration of Scripture and anchoring faith amid skepticism. Daniel took no credit to himself for superior wisdom but openly acknowledged his dependence on his Maker and gave all honor and glory to God as the revealer of secrets.

Setting and Meaning

The secret was made known to Daniel by God, not because he possessed wisdom beyond any other living person. It was revealed for the sake of those who needed the interpretation, so that the meaning could be declared to the king. Through it the king was to learn his own dream, its interpretation, and the events it foretold in prophetic history. The disclosure answered the thoughts that had troubled him and laid open the thoughts of his heart. In making known the future of Babylon and of other kingdoms, the interpretation showed that God rules over kingdoms and exalted His power above earthly kings.

The verse stands in the history of Nebuchadnezzar's troubling dream, whose particulars he could not recall. It follows the failure of the king's wise men, who could neither bring back the forgotten dream nor declare its meaning. The whole episode displayed to an idolatrous nation the power and faithfulness of the God of Israel. Daniel's act of making known to Nebuchadnezzar the forgotten dream and its interpretation took place many years before the feast of Belshazzar, and it was still remembered by the queen-mother on the night of Belshazzar's sacrilegious revelry.

Prophecy and Fulfillment

The dream was given to make known what would come to pass in the future, shown through the great image and the stone that smashed it and then filled the whole earth. That disclosure included the fall of Babylon and its replacement by successive empires, reaching across the history of this world till the close of time. It was recorded through figures and symbols so that coming generations could read the mysteries of the future.

Its interpretation declared that God rules over kingdoms, exalting His own power above earthly kings. What was foretold concerning Babylon and the other kingdoms showed Jehovah to be more powerful than earthly rulers.

The prophecy of the chapter has been fulfilled in history with wonderful exactness, as the record of history shows. That exact fulfillment testifies to the inspiration of Scripture and anchors faith amid rationalism and skepticism. Through Bible study it leads to positive faith, and has helped lead even a skeptic to faith.

Further investigation of its prophecies shows that the coming of the Lord is at hand, a solemn and important truth to be brought before the people. The prophecies of Daniel are not unintelligible mysteries but can be understood and explained, even by children. Through them parents and others can be interested.

Understanding of these prophecies comes not from wisdom greater than others but as great light received from God by those studying while special prophecies were in process of fulfillment in their order. It was given so they could bear the message of time to the people and set before them historical events showing direct fulfillment, with truth shining clearly. In this light prophecy is seen as a figurative delineation of events leading down to the close of this earth's history, with the scenes connected with the working of the man of sin as the last features revealed.

Humility and Faithfulness

Daniel took no credit to himself for revealing the secret, for he had no wisdom more than any living, and he did not claim the interpretation as the result of wisdom superior to other people. He openly acknowledged before worldly men as well as his brethren that he was dependent on his Maker, giving all honor and glory to God for what was made known for the sake of those who needed the interpretation and that the king might know the thoughts of his heart. Though the interpretation brought him honor and authority, the glory belonged to God, whom the king himself recognized as the revealer of secrets.

The true Christian must do the same, ever feeling his dependence and unashamed to confess it, acknowledging dependence on the Maker and giving God the credit for abilities. He must weed out of his life everything that would grieve God's Spirit, lest cheap, bungling work be brought into God's cause. He must improve every opportunity to develop the talents God has given, adding to his acquirements, and trading upon God-given talents and abilities after the holy principles laid down in the Word, which gives multiplied ability, in order to reveal Him to the world and make known the truths that determine people's destiny.

Daniel's power to make known the secret was not from wisdom of his own above other men but from God. Because he held fast his allegiance, practiced firmness and self-denial, kept purity of motive, and clung to God with unwavering trust, God honored him by giving him knowledge and skill and understanding in all visions and dreams. The spirit of prophetic power came upon him, and God taught him to read the mysteries of the future. God used the failure of Babylon's wise men to show that human wisdom was powerless and to reveal the superior wisdom of those who worship Him. Rulers who had turned from God could not understand the warning themselves but had to seek its explanation from someone illuminated by heaven, while God's instruction through Daniel benefited the king, and Daniel and his companions remained faithful to God rather than mixing their faith with Babylonian religion.

God's revelation also spared Daniel and the others who were about to be destroyed. It brought the Hebrew captives the assurance of heaven's glory, while those captivated by Babylon's splendor did not receive that disclosure.