Daniel 2:48, commentary and pictures

After God made known to Daniel the king's forgotten dream and its meaning concerning kingdoms to come, the king advanced him with great gifts to rule the whole province of Babylon and to stand as chief over all its wise men at court, and Daniel used his standing to have his three companions set over the affairs of the province. This honor followed the king's confession that Daniel's God is above all earthly kings and kingdoms and reveals secrets. Through these events the power and faithfulness of the God of Israel were made known to idolatrous Babylon, and the exact fulfillment of the prophecy in history testifies to the inspiration of Scripture and calls faith to look for the coming of the Lord. Daniel's open acknowledgment of God as the source of his wisdom did not weaken his influence but won him favor and advancement, showing that God gives wisdom and promotion to those who humbly, faithfully and prayerfully use what He has entrusted to them. His high office stood together with heavenly guidance as a prophet, and his faultless, closely scrutinized record shows that business ability and godliness belong together, so that a leader's daily work done for God is worship as truly as prayer.

Setting and Appointment

This appointment belongs to the history in which Nebuchadnezzar's forgotten dream together with its meaning was revealed to Daniel, disclosing future events in prophetic history. The honors came after Daniel had explained the dream to the king. They followed the king's acknowledgment that Daniel's God is sovereign above earthly kings and kingdoms and is able to reveal secrets.

After the explanation the king made Daniel a great man and bestowed many great gifts upon him. He set him as ruler over the whole province of Babylon and as chief of the governors over all the wise men of Babylon. That place carried responsibility at the king's court. Daniel used his new position to secure the appointment of his three companions, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, over the affairs of the province, while he himself remained at court.

Prophecy and Witness

The promotion belongs to the events by which the power and faithfulness of the God of Israel were revealed to Babylon, an idolatrous nation. It stands in the historical record as part of the fulfillment of Daniel's prophecy in Daniel 2. That fulfillment proved exact when tested by ancient history, testifying to the inspiration of Scripture, and this evidence helped lead Gaussen from skepticism to faith.

The prophecy of Daniel 2 is fulfilled with wonderful exactness as seen in the record of ancient history. That exact fulfillment gives testimony to the inspiration of the Scriptures which anchors faith amid rationalism and skepticism. Investigating it leads to belief that the coming of the Lord is at hand, a solemn and important truth to be brought before the people. Contrary to the popular belief that the prophecies of Daniel are mysteries that cannot be understood, it can be understood even by children.

Example for Believers

Daniel's open acknowledgment of God as the source of his wisdom did not weaken his standing at the Babylonian court but secured for him the king's favor and elevation to high position. After he explained the dream he was honored with gifts and authority over Babylon and its wise men, with responsibility at the king's court, while his three companions were set over the affairs of the province. That advancement did not make Daniel and his fellows vain; they rejoiced that through it God was acknowledged as above all earthly rulers and kingdoms.

His being made great and advanced by God shows that God will advance humble, faithful, praying, whole-hearted medical missionaries. He became a trusted man in the kingdom because he looked to God for wisdom in faithful and humble dependence, conscious that he must render an account to God for his mental and physical endowments. Having so depended, he then put into exercise every power God had given him, and the verse means that God gives wisdom to all who faithfully and humbly use the abilities He has entrusted to them.

His high office as ruler over the province and chief over the wise men, in effect prime minister of Babylon, was fully compatible with being a prophet who received heavenly inspiration and guidance. He was instructed by God at every step, proving that a capable leader in business or government need not be merely worldly or driven by ambition. His example shows that business ability and godliness can belong together, and that God's work needs intelligent, capable business people who bring truth into all their transactions.

As prime minister his business record, when carefully examined and closely scrutinized, had no faulty item. His life thus shows that a Christian businessperson and leader can act with integrity, be guided by God, and serve as an example to others. Daniel and his fellows held important duties in connection with the government of Babylon and yet remained in the service of God. Their business life was not separate from their religious life but was part of their service to God, so that attending to that business was worship of God as truly as offering prayer. It was done not to get glory for self or to serve self, but to serve and glorify Him.