Daniel 2:19-23 – God answers sincere and earnest prayers.

By definition, a mystery is a hidden, incomprehensible secret, something that human minds cannot fully grasp and understand. This definition perfectly describes Nebuchadnezzar's dream. It was a mystery that only the true God could reveal.

What those Babylonian sages told Nebuchadnezzar was only partially right. When they told him only gods could make the king know about the mystery, they were referring to their pagan gods. But they failed to realize that only the true God, whom Daniel and his friends worshipped and served, could reveal the mystery.

If Daniel and his friends hope to escape the “guillotine,” the only person who could help is their God. Daniel was sure that only their God could reveal the mystery, so he went to Him at this critical hour. It could well be that he sought Him urgently deep into the night. And God responded and gave him what he sought through a night vision.

A night vision was different from a dream. And what he saw was likely a vivid technicolor re-run of what the king saw in his dream. Notice what Daniel did immediately. He gave praise and blessed God. Any lesser person would have rushed off to make the vision known to save his skin. But not Daniel; his first impulse was to pause, praise, bless, and offer thanks to God.

 Daniel was given two important truths about the Almighty in his thanksgiving to God. Firstly, verse 21 tells us power rests in Him. He controls seasons and eras. Through Him, kings are set up or removed. Nebuchadnezzar might be reigning, but God had put him there. Many of us are in our position because He places us there.

Secondly, verse 22 tells us that wisdom rests in Him. He is the revealer of profound mystery. Daniel could only comprehend mystery because God chose to make it known. So, in verse 23, Daniel burst forth in praise and thanksgiving for answering their prayers and granting him wisdom, revealing the mystery to him.

Our powerful God has the answers to all the critical issues in life. Prayers make those answers accessible to us. Our prayers must be sincerely and earnestly offered if we are to move God's heart.

Without God, we cannot, but without us, God will not. Prayer is a collaborative effort between us and God. We must learn to talk with God and not just talk to God. And when God has answered our prayers, be sure that our first impulse is to pause, bless, praise, and give thanks to Him. Don’t be like the prodigal son who only wants the father’s goods but not the father himself.