Daniel 2
John Calvin · Citado em PreceptAustin
Daniel 2:1-23
Calvin - Some are raised on high, and others fall to the ground. Experience teaches us these events do not proceed from human skill, or through the equable course of nature, while the loftiest kings are cast down and others elevated to the highest posts of honor. Other OT passages affirm God's sovereign control over men and history… Job 12:18 He loosens the bond of kings, And binds their loins with a girdle. Ps 75:6-7 For not from the east, nor from the west, Nor from the desert [comes] exaltation; But God is the Judge; He puts down one, and exalts another. Jeremiah 27:5 “I have made the earth, the men and the beasts which are on the face of the earth by My great power and by My outstretched arm, and I will give it to the one who is pleasing in My sight. 1Sa 2:7-8 “The LORD makes poor and rich; He brings low, He also exalts. “He raises the poor from the dust, He lifts the needy from the ash heap To make them sit with nobles, And inherit a seat of honor; For the pillars of the earth are the LORD’S, And He set the world on them. Gleason Archer notes that "God determines when in history events are to take place and how long each process or phase in history is to endure. Thus Yahweh not only decreed the fall and destruction of Jerusalem in 587 B.C.—an event future for Daniel in 602 B.C.—but also the exact number of years the captivity would last (cf. Da 9:2)." (bolding added) It is intriguing that just before Jesus ascended, His disciples asked Him if it was "at this time (chronos) You are restoring the kingdom to Israel" (Acts 1:6). Jesus answered them by declaring "It is not for you to know times (chronos) or epochs (kairos) which the Father has fixed by His own authority; but you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth." (Acts 1:7-8) In other words, Jesus agreed with Daniel that the Father controls the times and epochs! Tony
Daniel 2:1-23
Calvin comments on He knows what is in the darkness explaining that "Scripture, when it wishes to assert what is peculiar to God, joins these two things inseparably; first, God foresees all things, since nothing is hidden from his eyes; and next, he appoints future events, and governs the world by His will, allowing nothing to happen by chance or without His direction. Daniel here assumes this principle, or rather unites the two. (Daniel 2 Commentary) Light dwells with Him - In context Daniel is referring to God's ability to illuminate those things not discernible to natural eyes. As David explains "Even the darkness is not dark to Thee, And the night is as bright as the day. Darkness and light are alike [to Thee]." (Ps 139:12) After explaining that the Word of God is living and active, the writer of Hebrews says "there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are open and laid bare to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do." (Heb 4:13-note) Solomon writes "Prov 15:3 The eyes of the LORD are in every place, Watching the evil and the good." Daniel 2:23 "To You, O God of my fathers, I give thanks and praise, for (term of explanation) You have given me wisdom and power; Even now You have made known to me what we requested of You, for (term of explanation) You have made known to us the king's matter." thanks: 1Ch 29:13 Ps 50:14 103:1, 2, 3, 4 Isa 12:1 Mt 11:25 Lk 10:21 Jn 11:41 for You: Ge 32:9, 10, 11 Ex 3:15 1Ki 8:57 18:36 1Ch 29:10 2Ch 20:6 who have given: Da 2:20,21 Pr 8:14 21:22 24:5 Ec 7:19 9:16,18 and have: Da 2:18,29,30 Ge 18:17 Ps 25:14 Am 3:7 Jn 15:15 Rev 1:1 5:5 Daniel Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries THE FAITHFUL COVENANT KEEPING GOD God of my fathers (cp Ge 31:42) - "Fathers" is a reference to the patriarchs Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and thus an allusion to the unconditional Covenant God made with the patriarchs. This was a covenant He would be faithful to keep, even though at the time of Daniel's prayer Israel had been torn from the land promised to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Yes, God will discipline Israel, but God will not forget His promises to Israel, because He is the faithful covenant keeping God! There are those in evangelicalism today who feel God is "finished with Israel" and that all the OT promises to her have been shifted to the Church, who they interpret now as the "Israel of God." Some refer to this as replacement theology, and perhaps there were many in Daniel's day who were sure God was finished with Israel as a nation. But they were wrong then and those of that same persuasion are wrong now! The very creation in May, 1949 against all odds and subsequent survival of tiny Israel (I am not commending ALL of their international behavior) surrounded by violently anti-Semitic nations should make it blatantly clear that God is NOT finished with Israel (see Israel of God). And why not? Because He has yet unfulfilled promises which He made with Daniel's fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob! See related resources - Covenant: Abrahamic versus Mosaic and Covenant: Abrahamic vs Old vs New. In another time of exile in Egypt, we read "So God heard their groaning; and God remembered His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob." (Ex 2:24, 3:16, 6:3-4 - all uses of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob = Ex 2:24; 3:16; 6:3, 8; 33:1; Deut 6:10; 9:5, 27; 29:13; 30:20; 34:4; 2Ki 13:23; Jer 33:26; Mt 8:11; Acts 3:13 - note frequent emphasis on "the land") Tony Garland on God of my fathers - The name emphasizes God’s covenant faithfulness and is rooted in the covenant He established with Abraham, who was called from the very region where Daniel now found himself captive. Abraham left “Ur of the Chaldeans” (Ge 11:28; 15:7; Ne. 9:7) bound for the Promised Land of Israel and now Daniel had come full circle, back to the land of the Chaldeans! Yet Daniel understood that despite all outward appearances, God was still bound by His promise to the fathers (Ge 12:1-3; Ge 15:7; 17:19-21; 21:12; 22:18; 25:5, 11, 23; 26:3-5; 26:24; 27:27; 28:3-4, 13-15; 32:9; 35:11; 48:4; 49:10). It was God’s covenant faithfulness standing as a guarantee behind Daniel and his companions who found themselves back in the region of Ur under foreign domination. (Daniel Defended) Notice the pronouns (I… me… me… we… us) - Daniel makes sure to include his 3 prayer partners! Even now You have made known to me what we requested - These words of God's wise man are in striking contrast with the words of the pagan wise men in Da 2:10 (“There is not a man on earth who could declare the matter for the king." - WRONG!). It is interesting that four Hebrews had petitioned God but He spoke specifically only to Daniel, His man in Babylon! He had a mission for His man in Babylon! But as Chapter 3 demonstrates, God would use Daniel's 3 prayer partners to teach one of the more profound lessons on faith in all the Bible! Each had their specific roles to play in God's great drama of redemption. And the same can be said for your life dear saint. You may not have the exalted podium of Daniel, but if you are faithful, you can be assured that you will be fruitful, if not in this life, then certainly in the life to come! So hang in there. It's too soon to quit!