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HIS chapter is a perfect introduction to the prophecies that make up
much of the remainder of the book of Daniel.
In fact, this chapter is a good starting point for any study on prophecy
in general. Although part of the chapter continues the narrative of Daniel's
biography, the heaviest part is comprised of a revelation, which God gave to
this heathen king, Nebuchadnezzar.
There is no such thing as a perfect prophet, or a perfect vehicle for
revelation. Other than Jesus Christ, all prophets have sinned and come short of
the glory of God. So, when we read of men like Pharaoh, Balaam, Saul, Nebuchadnezzar
or Jonah getting special messages from God, we should not be so surprised. The
bigger mystery is that God has seen fit to give any messages to any of us –
including even the greatest of prophets. At best, we are all just broken
vessels. We should thank God for His condescending grace.
Now, in the middle of the sadly humorous interactions between the
exasperatedly angry king and his impotent cabinet of occultists, we see that
God was working to set Himself and Daniel up for a big save. In Daniel 2:10 we
read that it was these "wise" men who set the stage for Daniel to
shine. "Nobody could do what you're asking," they stammered,
"and nobody should reasonably ask such a question. One would have to be a
god to tell somebody else what they dreamed!" Yes, exactly! So, when in
anger the king sent the captain of his guard out to kill every single member of
the Babylonian intelligentsia, Daniel took that opportunity to make a great
claim in the name of the one true God (Daniel 2:16 & 28).
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