The young people who made up their minds

  

 

God gives grace to those young people who made up their minds

That they would not defile themselves (Dan. 1:8ff.).

God grants them favor and compassion in the sight of unbelievers (v. 9).

God gives them knowledge and intelligence

So that they are found them ten times better than the unbelievers (vv. 17, 20).

But a crisis can come to them.  It could be a life-threatening crisis (2:12-13).

But this crisis is an opportunity for them.

 

  1. It is an opportunity to receive God’s grace.

 

King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon didn’t give “time” to the magicians, the conjurers,

the sorcerers and the Chaldeans (v. 2) to declare his dream and its interpretation (v. 6).

            He thought that they were bargaining for time (v. 8). 

            But he gave “time” to Daniel (v. 16).

            Why did King Nebuchadnezzar who didn’t give time to all his “wise men” (v. 13)

But gave time to the foreigner Hebrew Daniel? (v. 16)

            Would it be possible if God didn’t intervene and help Daniel

To find favor with King Nebuchadnezzar?

 

  1. It is an opportunity to receive our prayers answered from God and thus to praise God.

 

When time was given to Daniel, he went to his three friends

And asked them to pray to God (vv. 17-18).

Then God who answered their prayer revealed the mystery to Daniel in a night vision (v. 19).

            And God gave him “wisdom and power” (vv. 20, 21, 23).

            As a result, Daniel was able to tell King Nebuchadnezzar

his dream and its interpretation (vv. 25-45).

            As a result, Daniel was able to praise God (vv. 19, 20, 23).

 

  1. It is an opportunity to be raised and exalted by God.

 

Daniel told King Nebuchadnezzar his dream and its interpretation

with wisdom and power that God gave him.

Then King Nebuchadnezzar fell on his face and did homage to Daniel (v. 46).

And he said to Daniel, “Surely your God is a God of gods and a Lord of kings

and a revealer of mysteries, since you have been able to reveal this mystery” (v. 47).

            Then the king promoted Daniel and gave him many great gifts,

and he made him rule over the whole province of Babylon

and chief prefect over all the wise men of Babylon (v. 48).

Also, he appointed Daniel’s three friends over the administration of the province of Babylon

upon his request (v. 49).

               Eventually, God raised and exalted Daniel and his three friends through King Nebuchadnezzar.

               

God gives grace to the young people who made up their minds.

God gives grace to them even through the crisis they face

And eventually exalt them in this world.