Daniel 2:46-49 – The benefits of trusting God unreservedly.

Overjoyed by Daniel's precise revelation, Nebuchadnezzar responded dramatically. In unrestrained joy and gratitude, the king fell prostrate before Daniel and paid homage to him. He even ordered an offering and sweet incense to be presented to him.

Why did the king do what he did? He equated Daniel with one of the gods because his sages had told him earlier that they couldn't do what he expected and that only a divine could. Since Daniel could do them precisely, the king concluded that he must be a god.

Daniel, however, redirected the honor to God. How do we know? Because of the phrase "The king answered Daniel and said..." in verse 47. The phrase implies that Daniel has related something to him to trigger an answer. It is not unreasonable to believe that Daniel vehemently reemphasized that everything he knew came from His God, the God of Heaven.

 Knowing that God had revealed everything to Daniel, the king exclaimed, "Surely your God is a God of gods, a Lord of kings, and a revealer of mysteries since you have been able to reveal this mystery." From the king's response, we surmise that he was triggered to say what he said by what Daniel had related to him. However, the king remained an unbeliever.

Daniel was then richly rewarded with many gifts for what he had done and was even given an exalted position in Nebuchadnezzar's kingdom. Verse 48 says the king "…made him ruler over the whole province of Babylon and chief prefect over all the wise men of Babylon." And Daniel remained in the city to serve in the king's court.

Verse 49 shows Daniel to be a valued pal. When he was promoted, he did not forget his friends. He requested the king to promote his three friends as well. And they, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, were given administrative positions in the province of Babylon.

When we stay faithful to God, we will be His true witness. We can trust Him to help us in difficult moments and bring us victoriously through life's challenging circumstances. The more we trust Him, the more we will experience His goodness. And we will experience His hand undergirding and working on our behalf. We can never out-do God, and neither can we out-give Him. As Daniel had experienced, there is no telling of the returns we will have when we give ourselves entirely to God and trust Him unreservedly.