This week’s lesson covers both Daniel and Esther. I’d like to take a few minutes to focus on the first six chapters of Daniel and one of the lessons that caught my attention. As I began reading a few chapters, I confess that I began to wonder about this king Nebuchadnezzar. After hearing Daniel explain his visions and seeing Shadrach (Hananiah), Meshach (Mishael), Abed-nego (Azariah) thrown into the fiery furnace, how, I wondered, could he throw Daniel into the lion’s den? The answer, I am embarrassed to admit, is in the scriptures. King Nebuchadnezzar did not throw Daniel in the furnace – that was King Darius. Daniel, in fact, lasted through the reign of three kings before one came into power who publically recognized the Lord.
But I would like to explore the conversion of a single king. For the sake of simplicity, I’m going to refer to him as King Nebuchadnezzar, although a little poking around has caused me to question his identity (see “Nebuchadnezzar or Nabonidus? Mistaken Identities in the Book of Daniel” by John A. Tvedtnes, published in the September 1986 Ensign to ensure I’m not the only confused person around. The article provides evidence that King Nebuchadnezzar’s story only took place in Daniel 2, while Daniel 3-5 refer to King Nabonidus).
Daniel interpreted a dream that King Nebechadnezzar had one night when the king’s wise men could not. I, personally, found the king’s response to the wise men and magicians particularly interesting. “But if ye will not make known unto me the dream, there is but one decree for you: for ye have prepared lying and corrupt words to speak before me, atill the time be changed: therefore tell me the dream, and I shall know that ye can shew me the interpretation thereof.” In other words, I won’t tell you the dream; you tell me, so I won’t know you are just trying to decieve me.” Daniel 2:9 Smart guy, that King Nebechadnezzar! Of course, none of the wise men could tell him what he had dreamed, and only when the king decided to kill the wise men did Daniel learn of the problem. He and his friends Shadrach, Meschach, and Abed-nego prayed over the problem before they went to sleep, and when they woke up, Daniel knew both the king’s dream and the interpretation thereof. Daniel and his friends are elevated in the kingdom, and well respected.
Next, the king – whether Nebechadnezzar or Nabonidus – builds a giant idol and commands all present to worship it. Shadrach, Meschach, and Abednego refuse, and as a result, they are thrown into the fiery furnace, where an angel keeps them safe and unsinged. The king is amazed and proclaims that none shall speak amiss about their god – and since the punishment involved being hacked to pieces, I’m sure that this command was kept. Shadrach, Meschach, and Abed-nego were again promoted.
Finally, in chapter four, the king pens his personal testimony. He tells the story of Daniel interpreting a vision of his downfall, and then notes that the things Daniel predicted came to pass. At the close of the chapter, Nebechadnezzar proclaims God to be “the King of heaven, all whose works are truth, and his ways ajudgment: and those that bwalk in pride he is able to cabase.” (Daniel 4:37)
In short, we have a king who faces the hand of God in his life three times – four if you count him losing and regaining his kingdom seperately – who finally comes to acknowledge His divine presence. I have had many events in my life that have humbled me, but can only imagine the complete debasement of a king of an enormouse nation losing his kingdom – he would have lost his entire way of life and perhaps have been in mortal danger as those who took his throne sought to take his life. Yet obviously the interpretation of a dream or the appearance of an angel did not change his perspective significantly, although they may have been instrumental in preparing him to accept the Lord. And while the loss of his kingdom surely helped him be humble, I don’t think that was the significant factor in his life.
Instead, I would hazard to guess that the calm, sweet voice of the Spirit, shown over and over again in Daniel and his friends’ lives, did more work towards converting him than any of these miracles. With Nebechadnezzar as with Darius, Daniel continued to live his life according to what he believed, even when it put him in mortal peril. His friends chose likewise.
Often, we ourselves are missionaries without ever realizing it. As a convert, I have seen this in my life. Before one of my friends invited me to his home for discussions with the missionaries, five or six others – and their parents – had shown me the joy and peace that comes with living the gospel daily. While we may never be called upon to be thrown into the lion’s den or the fiery furnace, but the lives we live may still be used to convert a king, a future president, or ‘just another’ soul into our Father’s kingdom.
Related Articles:
Trial of Faith: Trial By Fire
Family Home Evening: Missionary Work
Primary Time: “The Gospel Is a Gift to Share”