urging them to plead for mercy from the God of heaven concerning this mystery, so that Daniel and his friends would not be killed with the rest of the wise men of Babylon. urging themThis phrase indicates a sense of urgency and earnestness. Daniel, recognizing the gravity of the situation, implores his companions to join him in seeking divine intervention. The Hebrew root here conveys a sense of pressing necessity, highlighting the importance of communal prayer and support in times of crisis. This reflects the biblical principle of unity in prayer, as seen in Matthew 18:19-20, where Jesus speaks of the power of agreement in prayer. to plead for mercy
The act of pleading for mercy underscores the humility and dependence on God that Daniel and his friends exhibit. The Hebrew word for "plead" suggests a heartfelt supplication, a desperate cry for divine compassion. Mercy, in this context, is not just a request for leniency but an appeal to God's character as compassionate and gracious, as described in Exodus 34:6. This plea is a reminder of the believer's reliance on God's grace rather than human wisdom or strength. from the God of heaven
This title for God emphasizes His sovereignty and authority over all creation. In the polytheistic context of Babylon, where many gods were worshiped, Daniel's reference to the "God of heaven" distinguishes the true God as supreme above all. This phrase also connects to the biblical theme of God's transcendence and His ability to reveal mysteries beyond human understanding, as seen in Psalm 115:3, which declares God's sovereignty in the heavens. concerning this mystery
The "mystery" refers to King Nebuchadnezzar's dream, which none of the Babylonian wise men could interpret. The Hebrew term for "mystery" implies something hidden or secret, accessible only through divine revelation. This highlights the biblical truth that God alone possesses ultimate wisdom and knowledge, as echoed in Deuteronomy 29:29, where the secret things belong to the Lord. so that Daniel and his friends might not be executed
This phrase reveals the dire consequences facing Daniel and his companions. Their lives are at stake, underscoring the seriousness of the situation. The potential execution of these faithful men serves as a backdrop for God's deliverance, illustrating His power to save and protect those who trust in Him, as seen in Psalm 34:7, where the angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear Him. with the rest of the wise men of Babylon
This inclusion of the "wise men of Babylon" highlights the broader context of the narrative. Daniel and his friends are part of a larger group facing the king's wrath, yet their response is distinct. While the Babylonian wise men rely on their own understanding, Daniel turns to God. This contrast serves as a testament to the superiority of divine wisdom over human knowledge, as affirmed in 1 Corinthians 1:25, where God's foolishness is wiser than human wisdom. Persons / Places / Events 1. DanielA young Hebrew man taken into Babylonian captivity, known for his wisdom and faithfulness to God. He is the central figure in this passage, seeking divine intervention. 2. Daniel's FriendsHananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, also known by their Babylonian names Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. They are fellow captives and companions of Daniel, sharing in his faith and trials. 3. The God of HeavenThe one true God whom Daniel and his friends worship. This title emphasizes God's sovereignty and authority over all earthly powers. 4. The MysteryRefers to King Nebuchadnezzar's dream, which none of the Babylonian wise men could interpret. It symbolizes divine revelation that requires God's intervention to understand. 5. BabylonThe empire where Daniel and his friends are held captive. It represents a place of testing and challenge for the faithful. Teaching Points The Power of PrayerDaniel 2:18 highlights the importance of seeking God's mercy through prayer in times of crisis. Believers are encouraged to turn to God first when faced with seemingly insurmountable challenges. Community in FaithDaniel's inclusion of his friends in prayer emphasizes the strength found in communal faith and support. Christians are reminded of the value of praying together and supporting one another. Dependence on God for WisdomThe passage underscores the necessity of divine wisdom to navigate life's mysteries. Believers should consistently seek God's guidance in decision-making. God's SovereigntyBy referring to God as "the God of heaven," the text reminds us of His ultimate authority over earthly matters. Trusting in God's sovereignty provides peace amidst uncertainty. Courage in AdversityDaniel and his friends faced potential execution, yet they responded with faith rather than fear. This teaches believers to stand firm in their faith, even when facing dire circumstances. Bible Study Questions 1. How does Daniel 2:18 demonstrate the importance of prayer in times of crisis, and how can this be applied to your current life situation? 2. In what ways does the communal prayer of Daniel and his friends serve as a model for Christian fellowship and support today? 3. Reflect on a time when you needed divine wisdom. How did you seek God's guidance, and what was the outcome? 4. How does acknowledging God's sovereignty, as seen in Daniel 2:18, help you trust Him more fully in your daily life? 5. What practical steps can you take to cultivate courage and faith like Daniel and his friends when facing challenges or uncertainties? Connections to Other Scriptures James 1:5This verse encourages believers to ask God for wisdom, which connects to Daniel's plea for divine insight into the king's dream. Philippians 4:6-7These verses speak about presenting requests to God with thanksgiving, paralleling Daniel's approach of seeking God's mercy through prayer. Acts 4:24-31The early church's prayer for boldness and divine intervention mirrors Daniel's reliance on God for deliverance and revelation. People Abednego, Arioch, Azariah, Belteshazzar, Daniel, Hananiah, Meshach, Mishael, Nebuchadnezzar, ShadrachPlaces Babylon, ShinarTopics Babylon, Companions, Compassion, Daniel, Desire, Destroy, Destroyed, Destruction, Executed, Fellows, Friends, Heaven, Heavens, Mercies, Mercy, Mystery, Perish, Plead, Question, Request, Rest, Secret, Seek, WiseDictionary of Bible Themes Daniel 2:18 8415 encouragement, examples Daniel 2:17-18 8610 prayer, asking God Daniel 2:17-23 8160 seeking God Daniel 2:17-49 6694 mystery Library The Image and the Stone
'This is the dream; and we will tell the interpretation thereof before the king. 37. Thou, O king, art a king of kings: for the God of heaven hath given thee a kingdom, power, and strength, and glory. 38. And wheresoever the children of men dwell, the beasts of the field and the fowls of the heaven hath He given into thine hand, and hath made thee ruler over them all. Thou art this head of gold. 39. And after thee shall arise another kingdom inferior to thee, and another third kingdom of brass, which …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy ScriptureBook and Tract Catalogue.
THE PLAN OF REDEMPTION. BY I. C. WELLCOME AND C. GOUD. "The Plan of Redemption is an earnest book, evidently prepared after no little study, and with a conscientious desire to advance the cause of Christ. The Bible is made the basis of argument; it contains many fresh and well considered suggestions. The careful reader will find much that is valuable."--Watchman and Reflector. "This treatise aims to serve up the gospel scheme in a compact form. It states the plan and work well, and usually correctly. …
Dwight L. Moody—That Gospel Sermon on the Blessed Hope Editor's Preface
Professor Maspero does not need to be introduced to us. His name is well known in England and America as that of one of the chief masters of Egyptian science as well as of ancient Oriental history and archaeology. Alike as a philologist, a historian, and an archaeologist, he occupies a foremost place in the annals of modern knowledge and research. He possesses that quick apprehension and fertility of resource without which the decipherment of ancient texts is impossible, and he also possesses a sympathy …
G. Maspero—History Of Egypt, Chaldaea, Syria, Babylonia, and Assyria, V 1 The Scattering of the People
[Illustration: (drop cap A) The Fish-god of Assyria and Babylonia] At last the full punishment for their many sins fell upon God's chosen people. The words of warning written in the fifth book of Moses had told them plainly that if they turned aside and worshipped the wicked idol-gods of Canaan, the Lord would take their country from them and drive them out into strange lands. Yet again and again they had yielded to temptation. And now the day of reckoning had come. Nebuchadnezzar, the great king …
Mildred Duff—The Bible in its Making That Gospel Sermon on the Blessed Hope
In 2 Timothy, 3:16, Paul declares: "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness;" but there are some people who tell us when we take up prophecy that it is all very well to be believed, but that there is no use in one trying to understand it; these future events are things that the church does not agree about, and it is better to let them alone, and deal only with those prophecies which have already been …
Dwight L. Moody—That Gospel Sermon on the Blessed Hope Epistle Xliii. To Eulogius and Anastasius, Bishops.
To Eulogius and Anastasius, Bishops. Gregory to Eulogius, Bishop of Alexandria, and Anastasius, Bishop of Antioch. When the excellent preacher says, As long as I am the apostle of the Gentiles I will honour my ministry (Rom. xi. 13); saying again in another place, We became as babes among you (1 Thess. ii. 7), he undoubtedly shews an example to us who come after him, that we should retain humility in our minds, and yet keep in honour the dignity of our order, so that neither should our humility be …
Saint Gregory the Great—the Epistles of Saint Gregory the Great A Description of Heart-Purity
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. Matthew 5:8 The holy God, who is of purer eyes than to behold iniquity' calls here for heart-purity, and to such as are adorned with this jewel, he promises a glorious and beatifical vision of himself: they shall see God'. Two things are to be explained the nature of purity; the subject of purity. 1 The nature of purity. Purity is a sacred refined thing. It stands diametrically opposed to whatsoever defiles. We must distinguish the various kinds …
Thomas Watson—The Beatitudes: An Exposition of Matthew 5:1-12 The Wisdom of God
The next attribute is God's wisdom, which is one of the brightest beams of the Godhead. He is wise in heart.' Job 9:9. The heart is the seat of wisdom. Cor in Hebraeo sumitur pro judicio. Pineda. Among the Hebrews, the heart is put for wisdom.' Let men of understanding tell me:' Job 34:44: in the Hebrew, Let men of heart tell me.' God is wise in heart, that is, he is most wise. God only is wise; he solely and wholly possesses all wisdom; therefore he is called, the only wise God.' I Tim 1:17. All …
Thomas Watson—A Body of Divinity The Wicked Husbandmen.
"Hear another parable: There was a certain householder, which planted a vineyard, and hedged it round about, and digged a winepress in it, and built a tower, and let it out to husbandmen, and went into a far country: and when the time of the fruit drew near, he sent his servants to the husbandmen, that they might receive the fruits of it. And the husbandmen took his servants, and beat one, and killed another, and stoned another. Again, he sent other servants more than the first: and they did unto …
William Arnot—The Parables of Our Lord The First Great Group of Parables.
(Beside the Sea of Galilee.) Subdivision B. Parable of the Sower. ^A Matt. XIII. 3-23; ^B Mark IV. 3-25; ^C Luke VIII. 5-18. ^a Behold, ^c 5 The sower went forth to sow his seed [Orientals live in cities and towns. Isolated farmhouses are practically unknown. A farmer may therefore live several miles from his field, in which case he literally "goes forth" to it]: ^b 4 And it came to pass, as he sowed, some seed { ^a seeds } fell by the way side, ^c and it was trodden under foot, and the birds of …
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel The Necessity of Regeneration, Argued from the Immutable Constitution of God.
John III. 3. John III. 3. Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. WHILE the ministers of Christ are discoursing of such a subject, as I have before me in the course of these Lectures, and particularly in this branch of them which I am now entering upon, we may surely, with the utmost reason, address our hearers in those words of Moses to Israel, in the conclusion of his dying discourse: Set your hearts unto all …
Philip Doddridge—Practical Discourses on Regeneration Letters of St. Bernard
I To Malachy. 1141.[924] (Epistle 341.) To the venerable lord and most blessed father, Malachy, by the grace of God archbishop of the Irish, legate of the Apostolic See, Brother Bernard called to be abbot of Clairvaux, [desiring] to find grace with the Lord. 1. Amid the manifold anxieties and cares of my heart,[925] by the multitude of which my soul is sore vexed,[926] the brothers coming from a far country[927] that they may serve the Lord,[928] thy letter, and thy staff, they comfort …
H. J. Lawlor—St. Bernard of Clairvaux's Life of St. Malachy of Armagh Lii. Concerning Hypocrisy, Worldly Anxiety, Watchfulness, and his Approaching Passion.
(Galilee.) ^C Luke XII. 1-59. ^c 1 In the meantime [that is, while these things were occurring in the Pharisee's house], when the many thousands of the multitude were gathered together, insomuch that they trod one upon another [in their eagerness to get near enough to Jesus to see and hear] , he began to say unto his disciples first of all [that is, as the first or most appropriate lesson], Beware ye of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. [This admonition is the key to the understanding …
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel Annunciation of the Birth of Jesus.
(at Nazareth, b.c. 5.) ^C Luke I. 26-38. ^c 26 Now in the sixth month [this is the passage from which we learn that John was six months older than Jesus] the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth [Luke alone tells us where Mary lived before the birth of Jesus. That Nazareth was an unimportant town is shown by the fact that it is mentioned nowhere in the Old Testament, nor in the Talmud, nor in Josephus, who mentions two hundred four towns and cities of Galilee. The …
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel The First Sayings of Jesus --His Ideas of a Divine Father and of a Pure Religion --First Disciples.
Joseph died before his son had taken any public part. Mary remained, in a manner, the head of the family, and this explains why her son, when it was wished to distinguish him from others of the same name, was most frequently called the "son of Mary."[1] It seems that having, by the death of her husband, been left friendless at Nazareth, she withdrew to Cana,[2] from which she may have come originally. Cana[3] was a little town at from two to two and a half hours' journey from Nazareth, at the foot …
Ernest Renan—The Life of Jesus The Gospel of the Kingdom.
"This is He whom Seers in old time Chanted of with one accord; Whom the voices of the Prophets Promised in their faithful word." We have seen that, in the providence of God, John the Baptist was sent to proclaim to the world that "The Kingdom of Heaven" was at hand, and to point out the King. And as soon as the Herald had raised the expectation of men by the proclamation of the coming Kingdom, our Lord began His public ministry, the great object of which was the founding of His Kingdom for the salvation …
Edward Burbidge—The Kingdom of Heaven; What is it? Daniel
Daniel is called a prophet in the New Testament (Matt. xxiv. 15). In the Hebrew Bible, however, the book called by his name appears not among the prophets, but among "the writings," between Esther and Ezra. The Greek version placed it between the major and the minor prophets, and this has determined its position in modern versions. The book is both like and unlike the prophetic books. It is like them in its passionate belief in the overruling Providence of God and in the sure consummation of His …
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament Links Daniel 2:18 NIVDaniel 2:18 NLTDaniel 2:18 ESVDaniel 2:18 NASBDaniel 2:18 KJV
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