Daniel 2
I once heard it said that a good friend doesn’t bail you out of jail; they are in jail with you. As funny as that is, I don’t think it is what God had in mind in Proverbs 27:17 (as iron sharpens iron…). Friends are designed to make us better versions of ourselves, walking the path beside us as we strive to be our best. Growing up heavily involved in youth group, we were trained to be very careful about who our friends were – because “bad company corrupts good morals” (1 Cor 15:33). While this verse is important, if mis-applied it can actually keep us from doing the very thing Jesus did and taught – which was to eat with sinners. Granted, we don’t want them to influence us negatively, but we are supposed to eat with sinners like Jesus, so how do we do that?
As an exile in Babylon, Daniel understood he had a mission which included seeking the good of his captors – those around him. Basically, Daniel had to be a friend – especially to those people whom many would consider his enemies. This is the key to living a loyally subversive lifestyle – others focused while staying loyal to God. In Daniel 2, we see God pushing Daniel’s friendship abilities to their limits in a turn-about story that really ends up flipping the script on Nebuchadnezzar (again). As we look into this story, we will see God’s perfect recipe for making friends in a world full of enemies.
Not long after Daniel arrives in Babylon, the King gets mad because advisors aren’t honest, so he hires a hitman to kill every wise man. Daniel, as he is about to be murdered, chooses to respond kindly to Arioch and provides Arioch a solution to the entire problem by offering to interpret the dream – even though he doesn’t know it. Daniel goes to his friends, asks for prayer and God answers, giving Daniel the dream. He then takes it to the king and tells him what it means. Nebuchadnezzar stops the hit, promotes and praises Daniel. Daniel then shows the king that it’s all from God. There are four main ingredients in here that can help us build kingdom focused relationships in a world of enemies–how we can eat with sinners.
Honesty
The king answered and said to the Chaldeans, “The word from me is firm: if you do not make known to me the dream and its interpretation, you shall be torn limb from limb, and your houses shall be laid in ruins. But if you show the dream and its interpretation, you shall receive from me gifts and rewards and great honor. Therefore show me the dream and its interpretation.” They answered a second time and said, “Let the king tell his servants the dream, and we will show its interpretation.” The king answered and said, “I know with certainty that you are trying to gain time, because you see that the word from me is firm— if you do not make the dream known to me, there is but one sentence for you. You have agreed to speak lying and corrupt words before me till the times change. Therefore tell me the dream, and I shall know that you can show me its interpretation.”
Daniel 2:5-9
If seeking your own glory, you will do whatever it takes to get it. Only if seeking God’s can you choose honesty – which is even harder if you don’t have the answer. The king wanted honesty instead of self-serving yes-men, only deceiving him for their benefit. We must be willing to speak truth to people in love and graciousness.
Fearlessness
So the decree went out, and the wise men were about to be killed; and they sought Daniel and his companions, to kill them. Then Daniel replied with prudence and discretion to Arioch, the captain of the king’s guard, who had gone out to kill the wise men of Babylon. He declared to Arioch, the king’s captain, “Why is the decree of the king so urgent?” Then Arioch made the matter known to Daniel. And Daniel went in and requested the king to appoint him a time, that he might show the interpretation to the king.
Daniel 2:13-16
Daniel was fearless when facing Arioch for the benefit of others, which is especially compelling when we find out they will betray him later on. This can only come with complete trust in God and a willingness to suffer for the sake of others – friends or enemies. Daniel didn’t know the dream, but trusted God and jumped in. He put the weight on himself, as he saw others’ lives as more important and worked with the assassin to find a win-win solution for everyone.
Vulnerability
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. Then the mystery was revealed to Daniel in a vision of the night. Then Daniel blessed the God of heaven.
Daniel 2:17-19
Daniel knew he needed help and wasn’t afraid to ask. He also saw that God was His only answer and the only one who could reveal this mystery – remember his thankful prayer after receiving the dream! Allow yourself to be vulnerable, both with friends and with God. It will lead you to great levels of trust and confidence, giving you the backing to do what needs done.
Devotion
The king declared to Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, “Are you able to make known to me the dream that I have seen and its interpretation?” Daniel answered the king and said, “No wise men, enchanters, magicians, or astrologers can show to the king the mystery that the king has asked, but there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries, and he has made known to King Nebuchadnezzar what will be in the latter days.
Daniel 2:26-28
This whole story was God working to get deeper in Nebuchadnezzar’s life with Daniel. Daniel’s faith showed the king (through actions) that God was the most important and the most powerful. He also made sure the reward was shared (v48-49). In all, the king learned quickly who was someone he could trust and listen to. Daniel set up an incredible opportunity to introduce a man to God.
Next Steps
Being a friend with eternal influence must include these key ingredients to be successful. Then you can put the friendship in the oven and give it some time to bake – as God is the one doing the work in the other person’s life. Remember that you are not the one responsible for their salvation, but you are responsible for being that kind of friend. Let God work through you by loving those not like you.
- Engage a per-believer this week and keep looking for people to befriend.
- Be honest, fearless, vulnerable, and devoted to everyone you meet.
- Be patient and trust God to work through you.
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