Rubric Ink

As Thanksgiving approaches, we will be going through some praises and thanksgivings given to God from the book of Daniel.

The book of Daniel is loaded with praises and thanksgiving to the Lord. It’s not the typical go-to selection for giving adoration to the Lord, but it contains some of the most sophisticated, and intellectual praise components to God, that were ever recorded. What makes the thanksgiving in Daniel so special is that much of it’s focus is derived from individuals who were of a different worldview, a different belief system, and a different faith. Here, we will explore, and re-discover, how ungodly kings gave thanksgiving to the Lord Eternal, the Most High, almighty Jehovah Elohim.

So, at various times in Daniel’s service to Babylon, the acts of God were so infamous that individuals could do nothing else but praise and offer thanksgiving to the Lord God Almighty.

The first thanksgiving to God comes from Daniel, due to an ungodly order: Daniel chapter 2

In the meantime, king Nebuchadnezzar has a dream that greatly troubles him. He awakes to call for his demonic cabinet of magicians, sorcerers, the chaldeans, to demand of them to tell him the dream he had, and the interpretation of the dream, which is impossible for a mere man to do. Of course they could not discover  the dream or interpret it, and the king threatened to have them killed if they would not grant him his demands in a certain time.

 Consequently, Daniel and his friends were considered to be among the wise and forth-telling individuals in the palace at that time; which caused the decree of death to be extended to them as well. 

How be it, the king releases a death order for the wise men to be killed.

”And the decree went forth that the wise men should be slain; and they sought Daniel and his fellows to be slain”. Daniel 2:13

Look at what happens here. Daniel filled with knowledge, skill and all wisdom, is able to constrain the king’s assassin, Arioch, who was given custody and  instructed to kill both Daniel and the occultic men.

‘’Then Daniel answered with counsel and wisdom to Arioch, the captain of the king’s guard, which was gone forth to slay the wise men of Babylon:’’ Daniel 2:14.

How was Daniel, a man on the king’s hit list, able to dismantle the assassin, ordered to kill him? With words!

‘’How forcible are right words! But what doth your arguing reprove? ‘’Job 6:25

He was able to subdue his assassin with wisdom, and buy time to seek God for a solution.

‘’Wisdom is better than weapons of war: but one sinner destroyeth much good.’’ Ecclesiastes 8:19

Then, Daniel was able to postpone his and the other men’s death, which was later nullified, and gathered his friends to pray to God, asking the Lord to reveal the king’s dream and interpretation to him, so that they would not perish with the rest of the wise men of Babylon.

‘’Then the secret was revealed unto Daniel in a night vision. Then Daniel blessed the God of heaven.’’ Daniel 2:19

Here is the first thanksgiving …

‘’Daniel answered and said, Blessed be the name of God for ever and ever: for wisdom and might are his:

And he changeth the times and the seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up kings: he giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding:

He revealeth the deep and secret things: he knoweth what is in the darkness, and the light dwelleth with him. I thank thee, and praise thee, O thou God of my fathers, who hast given me wisdom and might, and hast made known unto me now what we desired of thee: for thou hast now made known unto us the king’s matter.’’ Daniel 2:20-23

Amazing! What was the outcome of this thanksgiving?

‘’Therefore Daniel went in unto Arioch, whom the king had ordained to destroy the wise men of Babylon: he went and said thus unto him; Destroy not the wise men of Babylon: bring me in before the king, and I will shew unto the king the interpretation.’’ Daniel 2:24

First of all, Daniel becomes in charge of the assassin, and begins to give him orders; the table has turned. Secondly, Daniel was able to revoke, cancel, and discharge a king’s verdict, order, and decree.

We will examine the second thanksgiving shortly.