Daniel 2: Review of Daniel 2:46-47

Transcription

1 Daniel 2:48-49 Daniel 2:48-Nebuchadnezzar Rewards Daniel With Many Gifts, Grants Him Authority Over The Entire Province Of Babylon And Makes Him Prefect Over The Wise Men Of Babylon Review of Daniel 2:46-47 Daniel 2:46-49 records Nebuchadnezzar s response to Daniel telling him the content and interpretation of his dream. Daniel 2:46 records Nebuchadnezzar prostrating himself before Daniel in order to pay homage to him. It goes on to say that the king issued an order to present an offering as well as a fragrant incense to Daniel. Daniel 2:46 Then by king Nebuchadnezzar falling down upon his face, he thus paid homage to Daniel. In fact, he issued an order to present an offering as well as fragrant incense to him. (Author s translation) Daniel 2:46 presents the next event that took place after Daniel completed telling Nebuchadnezzar the content and interpretation of his dream. The actions of Nebuchadnezzar in this verse of prostrating himself to pay homage to Daniel express his humble thanks and submission to Daniel s interpretation and to honor him and to show him respect. In the ancient world, lying prostrate before someone also was an expression of fear. Undoubtedly, Nebuchadnezzar prostrated himself before Daniel out of fear of his God who could read his mind and tell him the future which is unknown to men. When Daniel told Nebuchadnezzar the content of his dream, this was equivalent to reading his mind since only the king and God knew the vision which he saw in a dream. This verse does not record Nebuchadnezzar worshipping Daniel but rather the king was paying homage to God through His servant Daniel, which is indicated by the king s statement in Daniel 2:47. This verse records him acknowledging that Daniel s God is a God ruling gods and Lord ruling kings, a revealer of mysteries since Daniel was able to tell him the content of his dream and its interpretation. When Nebuchadnezzar says this he is stating that Daniel s God is superior to the gods the heathen worshipped throughout the world and in his kingdom, Babylon. Therefore, Nebuchadnezzar understood that Daniel was God s representative and ambassador and was emphatically not worshipping Daniel as if he was God. In Daniel 2:26-30, Daniel made clear to the king that his God had revealed to him the content and interpretation of the king s dream. Furthermore, if Daniel thought that the king was worshipping him, we would have expected him rejecting the king presenting offerings and incense to him William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 1

2 The fact that Nebuchadnezzar prostrated himself before Daniel in order to pay homage to him demonstrated the king s submission to Daniel s interpretation. It demonstrated his acceptance of the interpretation. The emphatic statement he issued an order to present an offering as well as fragrant incense to him advances and intensifies the previous statement in the sense that Nebuchadnezzar s orders would be shocking since he is honoring Daniel, a captive of his and his servant and the God of the Israelites whom he conquered. This emphatic statement also demonstrates that Nebuchadnezzar was a man of his word since in Daniel 2:6 he promises to reward one of the necromancers, witches, astrologers and occult priests if they can tell him the content of his recurring dream. Further indicating that Nebuchadnezzar was a man of his word is that in Daniel 2:48, he promoted Daniel and gave him many gifts and made him ruler over the entire province of Babylon and chief prefect over all the wise men of the city of Babylon. It is striking that Nebuchadnezzar honors Daniel and his God since Daniel s interpretation revealed to the king that his God, the God of Israel will reign upon the earth and bring an end to his kingdom. The interpretation revealed to the king that his kingdom and the ones to follow his are all doomed to destruction. However, based upon the actions of Nebuchadnezzar recorded in chapter three, we can infer that the king became full of himself and arrogant as a result of Daniel telling him that he was the head of gold in the statue. The gold represented the fact that the character of authority in rulership of Nebuchadnezzar s kingdom would be superior to the kingdoms which would follow his. In Daniel chapter three, Nebuchadnezzar made an image of gold, which was ninety-feet tall and nine feet wide. He erected it in the plain of Dura in the province of Babylon. He then proceeded summon the satraps, prefects, governors, counselors, treasurers, judges, magistrates, and all the other authorities of the province to attend the dedication of the statue that he had erected. He then ordered these dignitaries and nations and peoples which he conquered to bow down and pay homage to the statue when they heard the sound of the horn, flute, zither, trigon, harp, pipes, and all kinds of music. He then told them that if anyone does not bow down and pay homage will immediately be thrown into the midst of a furnace of blazing fire. This statue was of course of himself since it was made of gold, which corresponds to the gold head of the statue in his dream. Therefore, evidently, he focused on the fact that he was the gold head of the impressive statue rather than the fact that his kingdom would be destroyed and that Daniel s God would rule the earth through His Son William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 2

3 Daniel 2:47 The king replied to Daniel and said, Certainly, your God is the God ruling over the gods as well as the Lord ruling over kings and in addition one who reveals mysteries because you were able to reveal this mystery. (Author s translation) Daniel 2:46 recorded Nebuchadnezzar paying homage to Daniel by falling down upon his face and then issuing an order to present an offering as well as fragrant incense to him. Now here in Daniel 2:47, we have Nebuchadnezzar finally addressing Daniel. In this verse, Nebuchadnezzar presents a three-fold description of the God of Israel. In this verse, we have the king addressing Daniel and acknowledging that Daniel s God is the God ruling over the gods as well as the Lord ruling over kings and in addition one who reveals mysteries because Daniel was able to reveal this mystery. Notice that Nebuchadnezzar describes God as Daniel s God and not his God which reveals that at this point in the narrative, the king has not trusted in Yahweh but has made progress in doing so. In verse 47, he is acknowledging the superiority of Daniel s God to the gods of the heathen. He is also acknowledging that Daniel s God is sovereign and superior over the kings of the earth. So when Nebuchadnezzar describes Daniel s God as the God ruling over the heathen gods, he is saying that Daniel s God is sovereign over these heathen gods. When he says that Daniel s God is Lord ruling over the kings of the earth, he is also expressing the sovereignty of Daniel s God over the earth. The term sovereignty connotes a situation in which a person, from his innate dignity, exercises supreme power, with no areas of his province outside his jurisdiction. As applied to God, the term sovereignty indicates His complete power over all of creation, so that He exercises His will absolutely, without any necessary conditioning by a finite will or wills. In Daniel 2:47, Nebuchadnezzar also acknowledges that Daniel s God is a God who reveals mysteries because He gave Daniel the content and interpretation of the king s dream. Daniel s God reveals mysteries in the sense that He reveals events, which are hidden meaning He reveals the future to humans like Daniel which would otherwise be unknown. Mysteries refers to what cannot be fully understood by human reason. He reveals that which resists or defies explanation. It describes Him as one who can reveal a truth to men that cannot be fully understood or known unless He reveals it. Daniel 2:31-45 tells the reader that the Father revealed to Daniel the content and interpretation of Nebuchadnezzar s recurring dream, which was a revelation from God concerning His future program for planet earth. It contains knowledge of what would take place in the future. This revelation from God concerned itself with the future Gentile world powers as well as the future of the nation of Israel. It spoke of 2012 William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 3

4 the kingdom of God being established on earth through His Son, and which kingdom He will established at His Second Advent. Because you were able to reveal this mystery is a causal clause which presents the reason why Nebuchadnezzar describes Daniel s God as one who reveals mysteries. Thus, Nebuchadnezzar is saying that Daniel s God is a revealer of mysteries because Daniel was able to reveal this mystery to the king and his wise men. This mystery is referring to both the content and interpretation of Nebuchadnezzar s dream. The former was a mystery to Nebuchadnezzar s occult priest, witches, necromancers and astrologers since the king refused to tell them the dream itself. The latter was a mystery to the king since he did not know what the dream meant. Certainly says that the king s three-fold description of Daniel s God has been proven or affirmed to be true so that it this is certain because Daniel was able to reveal the mystery of the king s dream. Nebuchadnezzar Promotes Daniel to a High Government Position Daniel 2:48 Then the king promoted Daniel and gave him many great gifts, and he made him ruler over the whole province of Babylon and chief prefect over all the wise men of Babylon. (NASB95) Then the king promoted Daniel is composed of the temporal adverb ʾěḏǎ yin (א ד י ן) (ed-ah -yin), then and then we have the masculine singular form of the noun mě lěḵ (מ ל ) (meh -lek), the king which is followed by the preposition lĕ ( (ל (leh), which is not translated and its object is the masculine singular proper noun dā niy yē(ʾ)l (דּ נ יּ אל) (daw-nee-yale), Daniel and this is followed by the third person masculine singular paʿʿel (Hebrew: piel) active perfect form of the verb r e ḇā(h) (ר ב ה) (reb-aw ), promoted. ʾěḏǎ yin The temporal adverb ʾěḏǎ yin is a temporal coordinator and means then since it shows consecutive events in the narrative. Here it introduces a statement that tells the reader the next event that took place after Nebuchadnezzar acknowledged that Daniel s God is the God ruling over the gods, the Lord ruling over the kings of the earth and a revealer of mysteries because Daniel was able to reveal the content and interpretation of his dream, which he described as a mystery. The word introduces a statement that tells the reader that Nebuchadnezzar promoted Daniel to a high governmental position and bestowed upon him many marvelous gifts. This temporal adverb thus indicates that this took place after Nebuchadnezzar 2012 William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 4

5 acknowledged that Daniel s God is the God ruling over the gods, the Lord ruling over the kings of the earth and a revealer of mysteries because Daniel was able to reveal the mystery of his dream. Therefore, we will translate the word then. mě lěḵ The noun mě lěḵ means king and of course is used with reference to Nebuchadnezzar referring to the fact that he was governmental head of Babylon. r e ḇā(h) The verb r e ḇā(h) means to make great in position, honor and status, to place someone in a high position, which brings honor and status to that person. Here the word is used with Nebuchadnezzar as its subject and Daniel as its object. Therefore, it denotes that Nebuchadnezzar placed Daniel in a high governmental position, which brought him honor and status in Babylonian society. The word indicates that the king made Daniel great in Babylonian society in terms of honor and status. How the king did this is explained later on in the verse which says that he granted Daniel authority over the entire province of Babylon and made him prefect over the wise men of Babylon. The paʿʿel (Hebrew: piel stem) denotes the subject causing its direct object to enter a state that can be described by the verb in the qal. Here the subject is of course Nebuchadnezzar and Daniel is its object and the state is that of being in a high governmental position which makes one great in Babylonian society. Thus, this stem indicates that Nebuchadnezzar caused Daniel to become great in Babylonian society by promoting him to a high position in his government. The perfect tense of the verb is constative describing in summary fashion this action by Nebuchadnezzar as taking place in the past. We will translate the verb r e ḇā(h), made great. dā niy yē(ʾ)l The proper noun dā niy yē(ʾ)l refers of course to the author of this book that bears his name and which book testifies to the fact that he was a Jewish captive, of noble descent, who was carried off to Babylon after Nebuchadnezzar s first conquest of Jerusalem in 605 B.C. Daniel 1:7 records that Ashpenaz gave Daniel the name Belteshazzar. The proper noun dā niy yē(ʾ)l is the object of the preposition lĕ, which marks the word as the direct object of the verb r e ḇā(h), made great indicating that 2012 William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 5

6 Daniel received the action of Nebuchadnezzar making him great in Babylonian society by promoting him to a high position in his government. Nebuchadnezzar Gives Daniel Many Gifts Daniel 2:48 Then the king promoted Daniel and gave him many great gifts, and he made him ruler over the whole province of Babylon and chief prefect over all the wise men of Babylon. (NASB95) (ו ( wa And gave him many great gifts is composed of the conjunction (waw), and, which is followed by the feminine plural form of the noun mǎt t e nā(h) (מ תּ נ ה) (mat-ten-aw ), gifts which is modified by the feminine plural form of the adjective rǎḇ (ר ב) (rab), many and then we have the feminine plural form of the adjective śǎg gî(ʾ) (שׂ גּ יא) (sag-ghee ), great which is followed by the third person masculine singular peʿal (Hebrew: qal) active perfect form of the verb y e hǎḇ (י ה ב) (yeh-hab ), gave and then we have the preposition lĕ ( (ל (leh), to (הוּא) hû(ʾ) and its object is the third person masculine singular pronominal suffix (who), him. wa The conjunction wa is used in a adjunctive sense meaning it is introducing a clause which says that Nebuchadnezzar bestowed many wonderful gifts upon Daniel, which was in addition to being made great by the king and given a high position in the king s government. We will render the word as well as. y e hǎḇ The verb y e hǎḇ means to give in the sense of imparting something to someone or bestow something upon someone. Therefore, it denotes that Nebuchadnezzar gave Daniel many wonderful gifts. The peʿal (Hebrew: qal) stem of the verb is fientive expressing an action. Here it expresses an action taken by Nebuchadnezzar of bestowing upon Daniel or giving him many wonderful gifts as a reward for telling him the content and interpretation of his dream. The perfect tense of the verb is constative describing in summary fashion this past action taken of Nebuchadnezzar. hû The pronominal suffix hû means him and refers of course to Daniel and functions as the direct object of the verb y e hǎḇ, bestowed upon. The word is the 2012 William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 6

7 object of the preposition lĕ which is a marker of advantage meaning that it is marking out Daniel as benefiting from Nebuchadnezzar giving him many wonderful gifts. Therefore, we will translate this prepositional phrase as him for his benefit. mǎt t e nā(h) The noun mǎt t e nā(h) is in the plural and means gifts referring to something of great value that is given to another implying gratitude for a service rendered. Here it refers to the gifts of great value which were given out of gratitude by Nebuchadnezzar to Daniel as a reward for telling him the content and interpretation of his dream. This word is modified by the adjective rǎḇ, which means number since it denotes the quantity or number of something. The noun is also modified by the adjective śǎg gî(ʾ), which means significant since it denotes a large number or quantity of something. Therefore, these three words denote that Nebuchadnezzar bestowed upon Daniel a significant number of gifts out of gratitude for telling him the content and interpretation of his dream. Nebuchadnezzar Makes Daniel Ruler Over the Entire Province of Babylon Daniel 2:48 Then the king promoted Daniel and gave him many great gifts, and he made him ruler over the whole province of Babylon and chief prefect over all the wise men of Babylon. (NASB95) And he made him ruler over the whole province of Babylon is composed of the conjunction wa ( (ו (waw), and, which is followed by the third person masculine singular hafʿel (Hebrew: hiphil stem) active perfect form of the verb š e lēṭ (שׁ ל ט) (shel-ate ), he made ruler and then we have the third person masculine singular pronominal suffix hû(ʾ) (הוּא) (who), him which is followed by the preposition ʿǎl (ע ל) (al), over and its object is the singular construct form of the noun kōl (כּ ל) (kole), whole which is modifying the feminine singular construct form of the noun m e ḏî nā(h) (מ ד ינ ה) (med-ee-naw ), the province of and then we have the feminine singular proper noun bā ḇěl (בּ ב ל) (baw-bel ), Babylon. wa This time the conjunction wa is used in an explicative sense meaning that the word is introducing a statement, which clarifies the preceding statements that said that Nebuchadnezzar made Daniel great in his kingdom and bestowed upon him 2012 William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 7

8 many significant gifts. The statement it introduces says that Nebuchadnezzar gave Daniel authority over the entire province of Babylon and made him the ruler over the wise men of Babylon. This statement explains in detail how the king made Daniel great in his kingdom and what were some of these significant gifts he gave him. Thus, we will translate the word specifically. š e lēṭ The verb š e lēṭ means to make or cause someone to be a ruler or to be in authority. Here it is used with Nebuchadnezzar as its subject and Daniel as its object. This indicates that Nebuchadnezzar caused Daniel to have authority over the entire province of Babylon. It denotes that Nebuchadnezzar had delegated authority to Daniel so that he exercised authority over all the inhabitants of the province of Babylon. The hafʿel (Hebrew: hiphil) stem of the verb š e lēṭ is factitive meaning that the subject of this verb causes the direct object to enter the state described by this same verb in the peʿal (Hebrew: qal) stem. This indicates that Nebuchadnezzar caused Daniel to enter into the state of ruling over the entire province of Babylon. The perfect tense of the verb is constative describing in summary fashion a past action taken by Nebuchadnezzar on behalf of Daniel. We will translate this verb he made ruler. hû The pronominal suffix hû means him and refers of course to Daniel and functions as the direct object of the verb š e lēṭ. The word is the object of the preposition lĕ which marks the word as the direct object of this verb meaning that the pronominal suffix hû is receiving the action of this verb indicating that Daniel received from Nebuchadnezzar the rulership of the entire province of Babylon. bā ḇěl The proper noun bā ḇěl refers to the province of Babylon as indicated by the noun m e ḏî nā(h), province, which is modifying it. The Babylonian empire was divided into provinces or satrapies, of which Babylon was one. Thus, this proper noun refers to the province of the city of Babylon. The city of Babylon was founded by Nimrod according to Genesis 10:10 whom made it his capital. However, Babylonian religious tradition gives credit to the god Marduk. It is located in modern Iraq, about twenty miles south of Baghdad, near the modern city of Hilla, on the Euphrates River, south of where the Tigris and 2012 William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 8

9 Euphrates approach. Babylon had long been the commercial and pagan religious center of the entire Mesopotamian region. Nebuchadnezzar expanded the city and made it a magnificent capital of the Neo-Babylonian Empire. The city was a square and was approximately 14 miles on each side. It was surrounded by a double wall with a wide moat in between. The inner wall was about 75 feet high and 32 feet wide. The outer wall of the city was about 344 feet high and 86 feet wide. Four horse chariots could run on top of the wall, pass each other and turn. The Euphrates River flowed through the city. m e ḏî nā(h) The noun m e ḏî nā(h) means province referring to a governmental administrative district. Here it refers to the province of the city of Babylon. This word is modified by the noun kōl, which denotes totality indicating that Nebuchadnezzar gave Daniel authority over the entire province of the city of Babylon. It indicates that all the inhabitants of the province of the city of Babylon were under Daniel s authority with no exceptions. This m e ḏî nā(h) is also the object of the preposition ʿǎl, which is a marker of authority meaning that Nebuchadnezzar gave Daniel authority over the entire province of Babylon. Nebuchadnezzar Makes Daniel Prefect Over All the Wise Men of Babylon Daniel 2:48 Then the king promoted Daniel and gave him many great gifts, and he made him ruler over the whole province of Babylon and chief prefect over all the wise men of Babylon. (NASB95) And chief prefect over all the wise men of Babylon is composed of the conjunction wa ( (ו (waw), and, which is followed by the masculine singular construct form of the noun rǎḇ (ר ב) (rab), chief which is modifying the masculine plural noun s e ḡǎn (ס ג ן) (seg-an ), prefect and then we have the preposition ʿǎl (ע ל) (al), over and this is followed by the noun kōl (כּ ל) (kole), all which is modifying the masculine plural construct form of the noun ḥǎk kîm (khak-keem ), the wise men of and then we have the feminine singular (ח כּ ים) proper noun bā ḇěl (בּ ב ל) (baw-bel ), Babylon. wa Once again, the conjunction wa is used in an explicative sense meaning that the word is introducing a statement, which clarifies the preceding statements that said that Nebuchadnezzar gave Daniel authority over the entire province of Babylon. It is introducing a statement, which says that the king made Daniel chief over the 2012 William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 9

10 senior officials, over each and every one of the city of Babylon s wise men. This statement explains in what sense did Nebuchadnezzar give Daniel authority over the entire province of Babylon. Thus, we will translate the word in other words. s e ḡǎn The noun s e ḡǎn is in the plural and means senior officials in Nebuchadnezzar s government, which are identified as the wise men of the city of Babylon. rǎḇ The noun rǎḇ describes Daniel as an individual who was given by Nebuchadnezzar supreme authority over his wise men. Thus, this word describes Daniel as the chief or the commander over the wise men. The noun rǎḇ is in the construct state meaning that it is governing the noun s e ḡǎn which follows expressing a genitive relationship. The genitive relationship is one of subordination meaning that the noun s e ḡǎn specifies that which is subordinated to or under the dominion of the head noun, which in our context, is the singular form of the noun rǎḇ. This indicates that Nebuchadnezzar made Daniel the commander over the senior officials in his government who were the wise men. This construction denotes that Nebuchadnezzar made Daniel his chief over his senior officials, which were the wise men. ḥǎk kîm The noun ḥǎk kîm is not only a reference to the four groups mentioned in Daniel 2:2, namely, occult priests (ḥǎr ṭōm), necromancers (ʾǎš šāp ), witches (kā šǎp ) and astrologers (kǎś dîm) but also it is a reference to all the other dignitaries or diplomats. This is indicated by the fact that Daniel 2:13 records Arioch, the executioner looking for Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah who did not belong to these four groups. The noun ḥǎk kîm is in the construct state meaning that it is governing the proper noun bā ḇěl, which follows indicating the latter has a genitive relationship. This would indicate that these wise men belong to the city of Babylon. The adjective kōl is modifying the noun ḥǎk kîm and denotes totality but is used in a distributive sense meaning each and every. Here it refers to the totality of Nebuchadnezzar s wise men indicating that the king gave Daniel authority over each and every one of the Babylonian wise men as the chief of his senior officials with no exceptions William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 10

11 bā ḇěl The proper noun bā ḇěl refers to the city of Babylon and not the province or the empire as a whole. This is indicated by the fact that Daniel 2:14 tells the reader that Arioch, the captain of Nebuchadnezzar s bodyguard was sent by the king to execute the wise of men Babylon. Nebuchadnezzar would not send only one man to execute the wise men of a province or an entire empire but he would for an entire city. Therefore, we will translate this proper noun the city of Babylon s. Translation of Daniel 2:48 Daniel 2:48 Then the king made Daniel great as well as bestowing on him for his benefit a significant number of gifts. Specifically, he made him ruler over the entire province of the city of Babylon or in other words chief over the senior officials over each and every one of the city of Babylon s wise men. Exposition of Daniel 2:48 This verse continues to show that Nebuchadnezzar was a man of his word. If you recall, Nebuchadnezzar promised his occult priests, witches, necromancers and astrologers that he would reward one of them if they could tell him the content of his recurring dream. Daniel 2:1 Now during second year of Nebuchadnezzar s reign, on more than one occasion Nebuchadnezzar dreamed a revelation in a dream so that his soul was repeatedly disturbed with the result that his sleep departed from him. 2 Therefore, this king issued an order to summon the occult priests as well as the necromancers and in addition those whose habit is practicing witchcraft also the astrologers in order to interpret for the benefit of this king his revelations in a dream. Consequently, they entered so that they stood in the presence of this king. 3 Then, this king said to them, I have dreamed a revelation in a dream so that my heart is anxious to understand this revelation in a dream. 4 Next, these astrologers replied to this king in Aramaic, O King live forever! Tell the dream to your servants in order that we can make known the interpretation. 5 The king replied to the astrologers and said, The command from me is irrevocable: if you do not communicate the content of the dream to me as well as its interpretation, all of you will be dismembered and in addition your homes will be turned into a rubbish heap. 6 On the other hand, if any of you are able to make known the content of the dream as well as its interpretation, you will receive gifts, indeed a reward as 2012 William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 11

12 well as great honor. Therefore, one of you make known to me this dream as well as its interpretation. (Author s translation) In Daniel 2:46, Nebuchadnezzar issued an order to present an offering as well as fragrant incense to Daniel as a result of telling him both the content and interpretation of his dream. Now, in Daniel 2:48, we have Nebuchadnezzar making Daniel great in Babylonian society as well as bestowing a significant number of gifts upon him. This verse also says that Nebuchadnezzar made Daniel ruler over the entire province of the city of Babylon as well as chief over his senior officials, specifically, over each and every one the wise men of the city of Babylon. In Daniel 2:48, the first statement that Nebuchadnezzar made Daniel great means that Nebuchadnezzar placed Daniel in a high governmental position, which brought him honor and status in Babylonian society. It indicates that the king made Daniel great in Babylonian society in terms of honor and status. Verse 48 also says that gave gifts of great value to Daniel which were given out of gratitude as a reward for telling him the content and interpretation of his dream. Nebuchadnezzar bestowed upon Daniel a significant number of gifts out of gratitude for telling him the content and interpretation of his dream in the sense that he gave Daniel a large number or quantity of gifts. Then, Daniel goes on to say in verse 48 to explain in detail how the king made him great in his kingdom and what were some of these significant gifts he gave him. First of all, Nebuchadnezzar caused Daniel to have authority over the entire province of the city of Babylon. It denotes that Nebuchadnezzar had delegated authority to Daniel so that he exercised authority over all the inhabitants of the province of the city of Babylon. Daniel then clarifies this by stating that the king made him the chief over his senior officials and specifically he was made chief over each and every one of the city of Babylon s wise men. This is significant since this would give Daniel a chance to further evangelize these wise men so as to turn them away from idolatry and slave to sin and Satan. This tremendous promotion that Nebuchadnezzar gave Daniel indicates how impressed the king was by Daniel telling him the content and interpretation of his dream since usually such promotions were reserved for Chaldean nobility and not a Jew who was a captive of Babylon. Not only this but it would give Daniel further opportunities to evangelize the king since he would be reporting directly to Nebuchadnezzar and spending time with him talking about the affairs of the empire. Furthermore, this promotion would provide Daniel an opportunity to serve as a mediator between the king and the exiles from Judah who would soon be brought to Babylon by Nebuchadnezzar in 597 and 586 B.C. This promotion that Nebuchadnezzar gave Daniel as a result of the latter communicating to the former the content and interpretation of his dream parallels that of Joseph being rewarded for interpreting Pharaoh s dream (See Genesis 41) William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 12

13 Like Joseph s elevation to power as a result of God giving him the ability to interpret Pharaoh s dreams so Daniel s elevation to power as a result of God giving him the ability to know and interpret Nebuchadnezzar s dream reveals the spiritual principle recorded in Proverbs 21:1. Proverbs 21:1 The king's heart is like channels of water in the hand of the LORD; He turns it wherever He wishes. (NASB95) Of course, God is responsible for Daniel s promotion, which the Lord would use to evangelize the king, the wise men and the Babylonian people and to aid the Jewish exiles who will be coming to Babylon in the near future. Daniel as well as his three friends have endured undeserved suffering and now were being rewarded by God for their faithfulness during their adversity. When Nebuchadnezzar issued the order to execute the wise men of the city of Babylon which put Daniel and his three friends under the sentence of death, this placed Daniel and his three friends under undeserved suffering, which was to test their faith and ultimately to bless them. Now, we see in Daniel 2:46-49, these four being rewarded by God through Nebuchadnezzar who is God s servant (cf. Jeremiah 27:5-6; cf. Romans 13:1-7). Undeserved Suffering The Bible teaches that God uses undeserved suffering to advance His children to greater spiritual growth. The believer must experience undeserved suffering since it is through undeserved suffering that the believer is conformed to the image of Christ. Underserved suffering is designed to get us to exchange our old pre-salvation Adamic life for the new post-salvation Christ life. It is designed to draw us closer to the Lord by leading us to appropriate by faith our union and identification with Christ in His death, resurrection and session. It is designed to get us to rest in our position in Christ (2 Corinthians 3:17-4:18). There are three agencies that God employs to bring about suffering: (1) Old sin nature (2) Cosmic system (3) Satan. Now there are different categories of suffering: (1) Self-induced misery (2) Divine discipline (3) Undeserved Suffering for Blessing. The power of God in our lives is never more noticeable or conspicuous as when we are suffering, going through adversities and even going through the process of dying. When self has been crucified then the life of Jesus can be manifested in the believer. 2 Corinthians 12:7-10 illustrates this Biblical principle that divine power is manifested in human weakness. This passage deals with the apostle Paul s thorn in the flesh William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 13

14 2 Corinthians 12:1 Boasting is necessary, though it is not profitable; but I will go on to visions and revelations of the Lord. 2 I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago -- whether in the body I do not know, or out of the body I do not know, God knows -- such a man was caught up to the third heaven. 3 And I know how such a man -- whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, God knows 4 was caught up into Paradise and heard inexpressible words, which a man is not permitted to speak. 5 On behalf of such a man I will boast; but on my own behalf I will not boast, except in regard to my weaknesses. 6 For if I do wish to boast I will not be foolish, for I will be speaking the truth; but I refrain from this, so that no one will credit me with more than he sees in me or hears from me. 7 Because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, for this reason, to keep me from exalting myself, there was given me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me -- to keep me from exalting myself! 8 Concerning this I implored the Lord three times that it might leave me. 9 And He has said to me, My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness. Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. 10 Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ's sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong. (NASB95) The Lord gave Paul this thorn in the flesh in order to prevent him from getting too puffed up and arrogant because of his trip to the third heaven. His trip to heaven took place when he was stoned in Lystra. The account of this is found in Acts 14. The principle of God s grace being sufficient to handle the storms of life is mentioned in several passages. Jeremiah 1:6 Then I said, Alas, Lord GOD! Behold, I do not know how to speak, because I am a youth. 7 But the LORD said to me, Do not say, I am a youth, because everywhere I send you, you shall go, and all that I command you, you shall speak. 8 Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you to deliver you, declares the LORD. 9 Then the LORD stretched out His hand and touched my mouth, and the LORD said to me, Behold, I have put My words in your mouth. (NASB95) Matthew 10:19 But when they hand you over, do not worry about how or what you are to say; for it will be given you in that hour what you are to say. 20 For it is not you who speak, but {it is} the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you. (NASB95) Luke 21:15 for I will give you utterance and wisdom which none of your opponents will be able to resist or refute. (NASB95) 1 Corinthians 10:13 No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted 2012 William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 14

15 beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it. (NASB95) 1 Corinthians 15:10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me did not prove vain; but I labored even more than all of them, yet not I, but the grace of God with me. (NASB95) 2 Corinthians 3:5 Not that we are adequate in ourselves to consider anything as {coming} from ourselves, but our adequacy is from God, 6 who also made us adequate {as} servants of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. (NASB95) Colossians 1:28 We proclaim Him, admonishing every man and teaching every man with all wisdom, so that we may present every man complete in Christ. 29 For this purpose also I labor, striving according to His power, which mightily works within me. (NASB95) 1 Timothy 1:14 and the grace of our Lord was more than abundant, with the faith and love which are {found} in Christ Jesus. (NASB95) Tribulation and undeserved suffering will be the lot of God s people while living in enemy territory. The problems, difficulties and adversities which take place in a believer s life were already decreed by God the Father in eternity past to occur and are now controlled in time by the Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, the believer should have confidence and comfort in the midst of these things. Romans 8:35 Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? (NASB95) John 16:33 These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world. (NASB95) 2 Corinthians 4:17 For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, 18 while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal. (NASB95) 1 Thessalonians 1:6 You also became imitators of us and of the Lord, having received the word in much tribulation with the joy of the Holy Spirit, 7 so that you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia. (NASB95) God s will, purpose and plan will be accomplished regardless of a believer s difficult circumstances or seemingly insurmountable problems because God ordained them to take place in eternity past under the divine decree. Therefore, He has already provided a solution for every problem, difficulty and adversity in life through the appropriation by faith of the promises in the Word of God William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 15

16 The decree of God is His eternal, holy, wise and sovereign purpose, comprehending at once all things that ever were or will be in their causes, courses, conditions, successions, and relations and determining their certain futurition (i.e., that they will certainly take place). When I say comprehending I mean that the omniscience of God is the source of the divine decrees. When I say determining I mean that the sovereignty of God choosing before anything has existed which things would actually become historical events. The decree of God is His eternal and immutable will, regarding the future existence of events, which will happen in time and regarding the precise order and manner of their occurrence. The decree of God is the chosen and adopted plan of all God s works. The decree of God is His eternal purpose according to the counsels of His own will, whereby for His own glory He has foreordained whatever comes to pass. The decree of God is the sovereign choice of the divine will (His attribute of sovereignty) and mentality (His omniscience) by which all things are brought into being and controlled, made subject to His pleasure, and producing His glorification (Isa. 46:10; Eph. 1:9). The will of God refers here to His sovereign decision as to what would come into existence; in other words, the divine decrees. This will and purpose of God originated within Himself long before any creature of any kind existed. His will is always consistent with His perfect essence. The will and purpose of God-that is, the divine decree-was objectively designed for His own glory, pleasure, and satisfaction. The decree of God is His eternal purpose, according to the counsels of His own will, whereby for His own glory He has foreordained whatever comes to pass. The decree of God is the sovereign choice of the divine will (His attribute of sovereignty) and mentality (His omniscience) by which all things are brought into being and controlled, made subject to His pleasure, and producing His glorification (Proverbs 8:15-16; Job 23:13-14). God the Father in eternity past decreed every circumstance and adversity and prosperity in the believer s life. Ecclesiastes 7:14 In the day of prosperity be happy, but in the day of adversity consider -- God has made the one as well as the other so that man will not discover anything that will be after him. (NASB95) The believer s awareness of the Lord Jesus Christ controlling human history will provide the believer with confidence and will anchor his soul (cf. Hebrews 6:17-19; Isaiah 40). Therefore, no matter how adverse the circumstances, a believer can accomplish the Father s will. In fact, the worse the circumstances, the more God can be glorified. This principle that no matter how adverse the circumstances, a person can accomplish the Father s will was realized at the Cross 2012 William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 16

17 when our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ suffered as an innocent Man, undeservedly and unjustly as a common criminal. The worst and most terrible adversity ever suffered by a human being was when our Lord was crucified and voluntarily died a substitutionary spiritual and physical death for all mankind in order to accomplish the Father s will that mankind be reconciled to Himself. Other men in history have suffered nobly and undeservedly such as in time of war but their suffering cannot compare to the suffering of our Lord since our Lord was impeccable and all mankind are sinners (Rm. 3:10). Therefore, our Lord s underserved suffering was superior to the undeserved suffering of any person in history by virtue of the fact that our Lord was sinless. 1 Peter 3:18 For Christ also died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, so that He might bring us to God, having been put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit. (NASB95) Thus, our Lord was the only human being in history whose undeserved suffering had merit with the Father. In eternity past, the Father ordained the undeserved suffering of our Lord, and which undeserved suffering was to accomplish the Father s will of reconciling the entire human race to Himself (Acts 2:22-24). Therefore, there is no circumstance or adversity or situation or person or angel that can stop God from accomplishing His purpose in the world and in history (Isaiah 46:3-11). Not only is there no circumstance or adversity or situation or person or angel that can stop God from accomplishing His purpose in the world and in history but also there is there no circumstance or adversity or situation or person or angel that can separate the believer from the love of God (Romans 8:28-39). Every instance of suffering has a reason and an explanation. Christian suffering can be understood most clearly in relation to the individual believer s spiritual growth. The believer who is executing the plan of God and learning Bible doctrine will go through suffering which is undeserved (1 Thess. 3:4). It is called undeserved because they did not bring this suffering upon themselves (1 Pet. 2:19-20; 2 Cor. 1:6). It is a privilege to suffer undeservedly for Christ s sake. Philippians 1:29 It has been graciously granted (the privilege) because of Christ, not only to believe in Him, but also, to suffer (hardship) because of Him. (Author s translation) God never permits us to undergo any testing that we don t have the capacity for. 1 Corinthians 10:13 No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it. (NASB95) 2012 William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 17

18 Just as the Father s plan for the Lord Jesus Christ involved undeserved suffering so the plan of God for our lives involves undeserved suffering. In 2 Corinthians 3:17-4:18, Paul writes to the Corinthians regarding his experience with undeserved suffering and his attitude regarding it. The believer s sole ambition in life must be to become like Christ in His death in order to grow to spiritual maturity. Paul s sole ambition in life was to become like Christ by experiencing identification with Christ in His death and resurrection. Philippians 3:10 that I come to know Him experientially and the power from His resurrection and the participation in His sufferings by my becoming like Him with respect to His death. (Author s translation) The order of thought in Philippians 3:10: (1) The believer must come to know Christ experientially in order to attain Christ-like character and as a result to be identified with Christ as expressed by tou gnonai auton, that I come to know Christ experientially. (2) To come to know Christ experientially, the believer must come to know experientially the power made available to him from Christ s resurrection and session as expressed by the phrase ten dunamin tes anastaseos autou, the power from His resurrection. (3) Then the believer must experience underserved suffering in order to experience the power made available to him from Christ s resurrection, as expressed by the phrase koinonian pathematon autou, the participation in His sufferings. (4) The manner that must be adopted by the believer in order for him to know Christ experientially and the power from His resurrection and the participation in His sufferings is by becoming like Christ with reference to His unique voluntary substitutionary spiritual death and appropriating what Christ accomplished on the cross as expressed by the phrase summorphizomenos to thanato autou, by my becoming like Him with respect to His death. Philippians 3:11 If somehow (by becoming like Him with respect to His death), I may attain to the exit-resurrection, namely, the one out from the (spiritually) dead ones. (Author s translation) That I come to know Him experientially refers to experiencing fellowship with Christ after salvation by being obedient to the Lord s command to selfsacrificially love his fellow believer as Christ self-sacrificially loved the believer. The believer who experiences fellowship with the Lord Jesus Christ is enabling God the Holy Spirit to reproduce in him the life and character of Christ (Galatians. 5:22-23). The power from His resurrection refers to experiencing divine omnipotence by appropriating by faith the Spirit s revelation in the Word of God of the believer s identification with Christ in His death, burial, and resurrection, which results in experiencing identification with Christ in His resurrection William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 18

19 The participation in His sufferings by my becoming like Him with respect to His death refers to experiencing identification with Christ in His death by means of underserved suffering. The enclitic particle of indefinite manner pos, somehow indicates Paul s uncertainty of what manner of undeserved suffering that the Lord will employ in his life to identify him with Christ experientially in His death in order that he may be identified with Christ experientially in His resurrection. It indicates an unspecified form of undeserved suffering that will identify Paul with Christ experientially in His death in order that he may attain the exit-resurrection life of Christ, or in other words, maximum identification with Christ experientially in His resurrection. Undeserved suffering is the means that the Lord employs in the believer s life in order to identify the believer with Christ experientially in His death. I may attain to the exit-resurrection, namely, the one out from the (spiritually) dead ones refers to experiencing identification with Christ in His resurrection, which is accomplished by applying the Word of life, which enables the Spirit of life to reproduce the character and life of Christ in the believer. Identification with Christ in His resurrection experientially is appropriating and experiencing the eternal life that was imputed to the believer at the moment of salvation through regeneration. Resurrection life is eternal life or the life of God. The phrase namely, the one out from the dead ones refers to 2 categories of spiritual death: (1) Real spiritual death: unregenerate people (2) Temporal spiritual death: regenerate people who our consistently out of fellowship with God. It was the death of Christ, which saved us from sin in the past; it is the life of Christ, which delivers us from sin in the present and future. The teaching of the New Testament is that the Christian life is one in which Jesus Christ lives His life out in us. The believer cannot experience identification with Christ in His resurrection until he first denies himself the function of his old Adamic nature, which is experiential identification with Christ in His death. The believer cannot appropriate and experience eternal life in time prior to his death or the rapture until he denies himself the function of his old Adamic nature. Thus, the believer cannot appropriate and experience eternal life in time prior to his death or the rapture until he first experiences identification with Christ in His death. The believer must die to self before Christ can live out His life through the believer. Identification with Christ experientially in His resurrection is appropriating and experiencing eternal life in time, prior to death or the rapture. Experiential sanctification, knowing Christ experientially, identification with Christ experientially and gaining Christ-likeness are all synonymous terms for the process that God puts the believer through who is positive towards His Word William E. Wenstrom, Jr. Bible Ministries 19