Daniel Prayed with Friends

The scene is straight out of an epic movie in line with Gladiator. The prosperous nation of Israel tries to withstand the ever expanding Assyrian empire led by Nebuchadnezzar.

They couldn’t resist. The Assyrian army was as vast as the sand on the seashore and their chariots and veteran fighters sweep over Israel and swipe up the people to be slaves. The poor were left behind to die of starvation, but the young, strong men were separated from the other slaves and brought to King Nebuchadnezzar’s private service.

Those with stronger backs than minds were sent to lift the physical world. Those with stronger minds than backs were sent to lift the spiritual world.

Four young Hebrews had stronger minds and found themselves in the King’s service as Seers, they were Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah. Most Christians know Daniel’s 3 friends by they Assyrian-given names: Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego.

Seers were trained religious minds. They “see” things that most people could not and they eagerly gave credit to a god for their special minds. In Israel, they were also called prophets.

Daniel and his three friends entered into the service to Nebuchadnezzar and became part of his team of Seers.

One day, Nebuchadnezzar had a disturbing dream. He awoke traumatized and called his top Seers together.

“Last night, I had a dream and it confused me, I need for you to give me the interpretation of the dream,” the king said.

His well dress and fed top management responded, “Sure, tell us about your dream.”

Nebuchadnezzar replied, “No, I want you to tell me the dream and it’s interpretation!”

The Seers were stunned. This didn’t fit their job description, they interpreted dreams.

They responded, “King, this isn’t how it works. Actually, no one can tell you what you dreamed, that would be impossible.”

“This is what I’ve decided to do and there isn’t any lee way, you tell me the dream and the interpretation or I will cut you to pieces and smash all of your homes. All of you! But the good news is, if you tell me the dream and it’s interpretation, I will give you gifts and rewards and a high position in my kingdom,” Nebuchadnezzar said, waving his hand at his royal guard to remove them from his presence.

The Seers went back to their peers and told them the kings command. It was ridiculous, no one could do it, it was impossible.

Daniel heard the bad news and turned to his three friends and began to pray to God. Daniel had the right idea.

When the situation looks impossible, it’s time to turn to God in prayer.

We don’t know Daniel and his friends prayers, but it was life or death and God promised them life.

Daniel 2:17-18

Then Daniel returned to his house and explained the matter to his friends Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah. 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.

Prayer is a team sport. Yes, we do need our own personal time of prayer with God, but there when the situation is serious, we need others.

God answered their prayer and gave Daniel the dream and the interpretation.

Daniel went before the king and told him the dream and interpretation, saving hundreds of Babylonian lives, including at least four Hebrews.

When you are feeling weak in your spirit or feel like the situation you are experiencing is impossible, then call your brothers and sisters around. Let them know the situation, just like Daniel did. Then ask them to join with you, daily, until God brings an answer for the impossible.

God will do for you, what He did for Daniel, when we pray together.

Photo by Johannes Plenio on Unsplash