Daniel's Prayer (Borrowed Prayers from Great Men and Women of God - Week 2)

Do you know that Daniel not only survived the den of lions and interpreted the king's dreams, but was also a man focused on prayer. Daniel and his three friends, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego (their Babylonian given names) were dedicated men of God despite their captivity in a foreign land surrounded by worship of other gods. They stood firm against any circumstance that would cause disloyalty to God. That is why their disobedience to the Babylonian king put the friends in the furnace and Daniel in the den of lions. If you have only followed their stories briefly you may be surprised to learn of their faith in prayer. Today the prayer we will borrow will be from the dream interpreter himself, Daniel!

Daniel and his friends were so full of knowledge and understood so much that these foreigners gained high positions among the Babylonians in the king's service. The king even placed Daniel ruler over the entire province of Babylon and in charge of all its wise men after he saw Daniel's ability to interpret dreams. So how did Daniel obtains this gift to interpret dreams when no other wise men could do it?

Daniel 1:17 NIV

To these four young men God gave knowledge and understanding of all kinds of literature and learning. And Daniel could understand visions and dreams of all kinds.

God gave them knowledge and understanding. Daniel and his friends also prayed to God for help. Read on.

After King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon had troubling dreams that kept him from further sleep, he called the Babylonian wise men. These were the magicians, enchanters, sorcerers and astrologers. The king demanded that they not only interpret his dream but also tell him what he dreamed. They could not. So in his anger threatened to cut them all into pieces and turn their homes into rubble.

They replied.

Daniel 2:10-11

The astrologers answered the king, “There is no one on earth who can do what the king asks! No king, however great and mighty, has ever asked such a thing of any magician or enchanter or astrologer. What the king asks is too difficult. No one can reveal it to the king except the gods, and they do not live among humans.”

With this response the king's anger ordered the execution of all the wise men including Daniel and his friends. When Daniel discovered this impending death sentence he ask the king for time, so he could interpret the dream. Why did Daniel assume he may be able to do this huge task above anyone else there?

He believed in calling on God. He believed in prayer.

Daniel 2:17-18

Then Daniel returned to his house and explained the matter to his friends Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah (Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego.) He urged them to plead for mercy from the God of heaven concerning this mystery, so that he and his friends might not be executed with the rest of the wise men of Babylon.

Daniel did not assume anything. He and his friends called on his God and pleaded for help!

Daniel 2:19

During the night the mystery was revealed to Daniel in a vision. Then Daniel praised the God of heaven

The mystery of the king's dream was revealed to Daniel in a vision from God.

Daniel talked to God, asked for help and received it. The Bible does not say Daniel simply approached the king, trusted God and told the king his dream along with the meaning. No! He asked his friends to plead for mercy from God of heaven concerning this mystery. Why? So that he and his friends would be spared execution. Daniel wanted to be saved from death! His cry to God was for a tool to stop this execution. The tool was a revelation of the king's dream – the only thing that could stop the approaching death sentence.

I don't think Daniel was asking God to reveal these things to him to show others his Godly knowledge and understanding. I personally feel that Daniel was seeking any thing or way to prevent the death of him and his friends.

Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego called on God (prayed) with an earnest cry for rescue regarding their very lives. They prayed. They prayed with seriousness. They prayed with hope. They prayed knowing their God could indeed save them.

And He did.  Now let's look at Daniel's prayer to God after receiving his answer.

Daniel 2: 19-23
During the night the mystery was revealed to Daniel in a vision. Then Daniel praised the God of heaven and said:
 
“Praise be to the name of God for ever and ever;

wisdom and power are his.

He changes times and seasons;
he deposes kings and raises up others.

He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning.
He reveals deep and hidden things;

he knows what lies in darkness,
and light dwells with him.

 I thank and praise you, God of my ancestors:
You have given me wisdom and power,

you have made known to me what we asked of you,
you have made known to us the dream of the king.”

This is the prayer we will borrow from Daniel this week. This is Daniel's prayer response to God's answers to his danger. God came to his rescue. Now he praises God for it. Daniel lived before the coming of Jesus, his death and resurrection. Daniel and his friends did not yet have the saving power of Christ on the cross.

This week I want you to call on God with your greatest need and plead for mercy from the God of heaven concerning it (just like Daniel and his friends did). No your need may not be a cry for deliverance from death, but it is still your sincere need. It will not offend God that your need is not as great as these men. He wants your earnest, heart felt cry for help concerning your particular need. 

 So plead for his mercy concerning your need, however don't wait until you receive the answer to borrow Daniel's praise and thanksgiving prayer. Because we dear brothers and sisters have been saved already. Jesus saved us on the cross. It has been done. Therefore make your plea and go straight to praise as if you have seen the answer with your eyes. 

 Yes plead for his mercy concerning your need and follow by saying “Praise be to the name of God for ever and ever; wisdom and power are his.” Then say, “I thank and praise you, God of my ancestors: You have given me wisdom and power, you have made known to me what we asked of you.” You get the idea.  You can apply almost all of this prayer to your own unique praise to God. Let Daniel teach you to plead for your need and praise your God.