The Sovereignty of God
Daniel 2:19–23
Blessed be the name of God forever and ever, to whom belong wisdom and might. Daniel 2:20

The theme of Daniel’s prayer is the sovereignty of God. The prayer has three parts.

First, there is praise to God for two of his most important attributes: wisdom and power. How appropriate is the ascription of wisdom to God in these circumstances—when Daniel needed to know the king’s dream and its meaning! The wisest of the Babylonians, the magicians, enchanters, sorcerers, and astrologers, had been shown to be inadequate. They had confessed, “There is not a man on earth who can meet the king’s demand, for no great and powerful king has asked such a thing of any magician or enchanter or Chaldean. The thing that the king asks is difficult, and no one can show it to the king except the gods” (vv. 10–11). That was true. But there is a God in whom is hidden all wisdom, and this is disclosed in the story.

The second attribute for which Daniel praised God is power, that is, his sovereignty. In our natural state none of us likes this attribute of God. This is because we want to be sovereign ourselves. We want to be powerful, to control our lives. This was true of Nebuchadnezzar, the greatest ruler of the time. As the story unfolds, even Nebuchadnezzar subjects himself to God and confesses openly, “He does according to his will” (4:35).

The second part of Daniel’s prayer is the acknowledgment that God imparts both wisdom and power to mankind. He imparts power, for “he changes times and seasons; he removes kings and sets up kings” (2:21). He imparts wisdom, for “he gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding; he reveals deep and hidden things; he knows what is in the darkness, and the light dwells with him” (vv. 21–22). No doubt the greatest portion of this wisdom, wisdom of spiritual things, is reserved for God’s people. But there is a general wisdom given to nonbelievers too, just as political power is given to nonbelieving as well as believing rulers. The important thing is the recognition that this comes from God. It makes all the difference in the way we live our lives when we know that God and not man is ultimately in charge of circumstances.

Finally, in the third part of his prayer, Daniel praises God for the wisdom and power he had imparted to him personally. You and I have not been given Daniel’s special ability to know and understand dreams. But wise as Daniel was, we have a wisdom greater even than his since it has been given to us to know and believe on Jesus Christ personally. The Bible says that in Christ “are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” (Col. 2:3). So to know Jesus as Savior and Lord is to be wise. If you have that knowledge, do you thank God for it, as Daniel did? Do you praise him for the wisdom that has made you wise unto salvation?

Taken from Come to the Waters by James Boice ISBN 9798887790954 used with permission from P&R Publishing, Phillipsburg NJ 08865

Scripture quotations are from the ESV (the Holy Bible English Standard Version) copyright 2001 by Crossway a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. All rights reserved.