Page 68 - Daniel

time to formulate an answer, Daniel was granted his request. It is
possible that Daniel’s calm assurance that his God would help him
impressed the king in contrast to his fawning, older counselors.

DANIEL AND HIS COMPANIONS PRAY FOR WISDOM (2:17–18)

2:17–18 Then Daniel went to his house and made the matter known
to Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, his companions, and told them to
seek mercy from the God of heaven concerning this mystery, so that
Daniel and his companions might not be destroyed with the rest of the
wise men of Babylon.

Daniel lost no time informing his three godly companions so they

could join him in prayer that God would reveal the secret. As they
shared in the danger, so they could also share in the intercession. They
were to seek “mercy” or compassion from God, a word sometimes used
of human mercy or compassion (Dan. 1:9; Zech. 7:9), but more
commonly of the mercies of God (Neh. 9:28; Isa. 63:7, 15; Dan. 9:9,
16
etc.). God’s mercy stands in stark contrast to the decree of
Nebuchadnezzar calling for the merciless slaughter of all the royal
counselors.
The reference to “the God of heaven,” literally “of the heavens,” is an

obvious contrast to the religious superstitions of the Babylonians who
worshiped the starry heaven. Abraham first used this term in Genesis
24:7, and it is found frequently later in the Bible (Ezra 1:2; 6:10; 7:12,
21; Neh. 1:5; 2:4; Ps. 136:26). Although these four godly young men
faced certain death, one can almost visualize them on their knees, fully
believing that their God was able to meet their need. Instead of being in

a panic, they prayed. For this supreme hour of crisis they were well
prepared, as their faith had been tested previously (see chap. 1).
The result could be expected: “The prayer of a righteous person has

great power as it is working” (James 5:16). Daniel and his friends
obviously were motivated by the desire to save their lives. That they
would be willing to die if necessary to be faithful to God is revealed in
chapter 3. Verse 18 does not necessarily imply that the other wise men
had already perished, although this is a possibility. But the probability is