Revealer of Mysteries

Daniel 2:19-23, 27-28, 47

Then the mystery was revealed to Daniel in a vision of the night. Then Daniel blessed the God of heaven
To you, O God of my fathers, I give thanks and praise, for you have given me wisdom and might, and have now made known to me what we asked of you, for you have made known to us the king’s matter.”
Daniel answered the king and said, “No wise men, enchanters, magicians, or astrologers can show to the king the mystery that the king has asked, but there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries, and he has made known to King Nebuchadnezzar what will be in the latter days.
The king answered and said to Daniel, “Truly, your God is God of gods and Lord of kings, and a revealer of mysteries, for you have been able to reveal this mystery.”

You are a young man taken captive from Judea and are now serving as part of the counselor band in the court of Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon. He has had a dream, called in some of the counselors and demanded interpretation. He has thrown in the extra challenge of not telling what the dream was. You have not been part of the group consulted but their response is in keeping with the inadequacies of their magic arts:

The Chaldeans answered the king and said, “There is not a man on earth who can meet the king’s demand, for no great and powerful king has asked such a thing of any magician or enchanter or Chaldean. 1

Nebuchadnezzar is unsatisfied, angered, ‘very furious’ and commands all the wise men of Babylon be destroyed. 2 The King has lumped all of the counselors together as being unable and all are doomed together. When the chief over the entire counselor group declares the death sentence, it is the first you have heard of the question. Asking for time and being given an appointment to appear before the King, you, Daniel, and your three companions seek the Lᴏʀᴅ who responds,

 Then the mystery was revealed to Daniel in a vision of the night. Then Daniel blessed the God of heaven. 3  

With the answer in mind, Daniel first praises God as the One who Knows and as the One who Reveals. You make it clear that you have the answer but it is from God and not yourself. You give credit to God for what is known,

Daniel answered the king and said, “No wise men, enchanters, magicians, or astrologers can show to the king the mystery that the king has asked, but there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries, and he has made known to King Nebuchadnezzar what will be in the latter days. 4

There is a God in heaven who reveals and makes known’ points directly to the true source being the Lᴏʀᴅ. Daniel explains in great detail what is to come, what God has revealed, in the following passage (vss. 36-45). In response, Nebuchadnezzar not only honors Daniel but proclaims,

The king answered and said to Daniel, “Truly, your God is God of gods and Lord of kings, and a revealer of mysteries, for you have been able to reveal this mystery.” 5

Is there more to God than we take the time to know, does He have more to reveal about Himself through His Word to us, the Bible? Do we run with the crowd and find ourselves unable to give forth the truth that God is speaking about Himself? Do we give Him the praise for what we do know that He has revealed to us and are we clear that this wisdom comes from Him? We don’t find truth in enchantments, sorcery, magic or secret arts but rather in the open Bible.

All Scripture references from the Blue Letter Bible, ESV
at https://www.blueletterbible.org
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version
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