Dan 2:24-49  That Thou Might Know the Thoughts of thy Heart

[Study Aired November 15, 2021]

Dan 2:24  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. 
Dan 2:25  Then Arioch brought in Daniel before the king in haste, and said thus unto him, I have found a man of the captives of Judah, that will make known unto the king the interpretation. 
Dan 2:26  The king answered and said to Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, Art thou able to make known unto me the dream which I have seen, and the interpretation thereof? 
Dan 2:27  Daniel answered in the presence of the king, and said, The secret which the king hath demanded cannot the wise men, the astrologers, the magicians, the soothsayers, shew unto the king; 
Dan 2:28  But there is a God in heaven that revealeth secrets, and maketh known to the king Nebuchadnezzar what shall be in the latter days. Thy dream, and the visions of thy head upon thy bed, are these; 
Dan 2:29  As for thee, O king, thy thoughts came into thy mind upon thy bed, what should come to pass hereafter: and he that revealeth secrets maketh known to thee what shall come to pass. 
Dan 2:30  But as for me, this secret is not revealed to me for any wisdom that I have more than any living, but for their sakes that shall make known the interpretation to the king, and that thou mightest know the thoughts of thy heart. 
Dan 2:31  Thou, O king, sawest, and behold a great image. This great image, whose brightness was excellent, stood before thee; and the form thereof was terrible. 
Dan 2:32  This image’s head was of fine gold, his breast and his arms of silver, his belly and his thighs of brass, 
Dan 2:33  His legs of iron, his feet part of iron and part of clay.
Dan 2:34  Thou sawest till that a stone was cut out without hands, which smote the image upon his feet that were of iron and clay, and brake them to pieces.
Dan 2:35  Then was the iron, the clay, the brass, the silver, and the gold, broken to pieces together, and became like the chaff of the summer threshingfloors; and the wind carried them away, that no place was found for them: and the stone that smote the image became a great mountain, and filled the whole earth.
Dan 2:36  This is the dream; and we will tell the interpretation thereof before the king.
Dan 2:37  Thou, O king, art a king of kings: for the God of heaven hath given thee a kingdom, power, and strength, and glory.
Dan 2:38  And wheresoever the children of men dwell, the beasts of the field and the fowls of the heaven hath he given into thine hand, and hath made thee ruler over them all. Thou art this head of gold.
Dan 2:39  And after thee shall arise another kingdom inferior to thee, and another third kingdom of brass, which shall bear rule over all the earth.
Dan 2:40  And the fourth kingdom shall be strong as iron: forasmuch as iron breaketh in pieces and subdueth all things: and as iron that breaketh all these, shall it break in pieces and bruise.
Dan 2:41  And whereas thou sawest the feet and toes, part of potters’ clay, and part of iron, the kingdom shall be divided; but there shall be in it of the strength of the iron, forasmuch as thou sawest the iron mixed with miry clay.
Dan 2:42  And as the toes of the feet were part of iron, and part of clay, so the kingdom shall be partly strong, and partly broken.
Dan 2:43  And whereas thou sawest iron mixed with miry clay, they shall mingle themselves with the seed of men: but they shall not cleave one to another, even as iron is not mixed with clay.
Dan 2:44  And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever.
Dan 2:45  Forasmuch as thou sawest that the stone was cut out of the mountain without hands, and that it brake in pieces the iron, the brass, the clay, the silver, and the gold; the great God hath made known to the king what shall come to pass hereafter: and the dream is certain, and the interpretation thereof sure.
Dan 2:46  Then the king Nebuchadnezzar fell upon his face, and worshipped Daniel, and commanded that they should offer an oblation and sweet odours unto him.
Dan 2:47  The king answered unto Daniel, and said, Of a truth it is, that your God is a God of gods, and a Lord of kings, and a revealer of secrets, seeing thou couldest reveal this secret.
Dan 2:48  Then the king made Daniel a great man, and gave him many great gifts, and made him ruler over the whole province of Babylon, and chief of the governors over all the wise men of Babylon.
Dan 2:49  Then Daniel requested of the king, and he set Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, over the affairs of the province of Babylon: but Daniel sat in the gate of the king.

The first part of Daniel Chapter 2 emphasizes the point that it is those who deny themselves the king’s meat and wine and focus on drinking the water of the word who are given the ability to understand deep and hidden things of God. In other words, they are given to know the mind of Christ which is symbolized by Nebuchadnezzar’s dream. The religions of this world, including Christianity symbolized in Chapter 2 by astrologers, magicians, sorcerers and Chaldeans, are not given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven.

Mat 13:11  He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.
Mat 13:12  For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath.
Mat 13:13  Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand.

Our review last week ended with Nebuchadnezzar’s dream being unveiled to Daniel as he sought the Lord in prayer together with the other three Hebrew men. This resulted in praise and worship of the Lord by the young Hebrew men. As we are given to know the mind of Christ through the word of God, we cannot help but to praise and worship our Lord for this privilege and honor.

Dan 2:19 Then was the secret revealed unto Daniel in a night vision. Then Daniel blessed the God of heaven.
Dan 2:20  Daniel answered and said, Blessed be the name of God for ever and ever: for wisdom and might are his:
Dan 2:21  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:
Dan 2:22  He revealeth the deep and secret things: he knoweth what is in the darkness, and the light dwelleth with him.
Dan 2:23  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.

Today’s study focuses on the revelation of the Lord Jesus Christ through the dream of Nebuchadnezzar and the reward that is set before us as we continue to be transformed by the renewing of our minds in Christ Jesus.

Rom 12:1  I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
Rom 12:2  And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

Dan 2:24  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.

Arioch means servant of the moon god. In this life, we are either serving the devil or Christ. Being a servant of the moon god means Arioch represents all who are not given to know Christ in this life but are ruled by the beast or serve the devil. According to verse 24, Arioch is the one ordained by the king to destroy the wise men of Babylon. This means that Babylon shall be destroyed by those ruled by the beast, who are represented by the ten horns, as they shall hate the whore or Babylon and shall destroy it as the Lord has put it in their hearts to do so.

Rev 17:12  And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet; but receive power as kings one hour with the beast.
Rev 17:13  These have one mind, and shall give their power and strength unto the beast.

Rev 17:16  And the ten horns which thou sawest upon the beast, these shall hate the whore, and shall make her desolate and naked, and shall eat her flesh, and burn her with fire.
Rev 17:17  For God hath put in their hearts to fulfil his will, and to agree, and give their kingdom unto the beast, until the words of God shall be fulfilled.

Dan 2:25  Then Arioch brought in Daniel before the king in haste, and said thus unto him, I have found a man of the captives of Judah, that will make known unto the king the interpretation.

As indicated, Arioch represents those ruled by the beast, that is, the world. Inwardly, Arioch represents the old man, and Daniel represents the new man. As we continue in the Lord, it will become obvious to the old man that the new man is the one who knows the mind of Christ and therefore has come to replace him. This is exemplified by Arioch telling the king that he has found a man (Daniel) to interpret his dream. It is also demonstrated by Saul admitting to David that David is meant to replace him as king.

1Sa 24:16  And it came to pass, when David had made an end of speaking these words unto Saul, that Saul said, Is this thy voice, my son David? And Saul lifted up his voice, and wept.
1Sa 24:17  And he said to David, Thou art more righteous than I: for thou hast rewarded me good, whereas I have rewarded thee evil.
1Sa 24:18  And thou hast shewed this day how that thou hast dealt well with me: forasmuch as when the LORD had delivered me into thine hand, thou killedst me not.
1Sa 24:19  For if a man find his enemy, will he let him go well away? wherefore the LORD reward thee good for that thou hast done unto me this day.
1Sa 24:20  And now, behold, I know well that thou shalt surely be king, and that the kingdom of Israel shall be established in thine hand.

Outwardly, what this verse means is that a time is coming when people of the world, signified by Arioch, will clamor for God’s elect to come and solve their problems. In other words, they will require the Lord’s elect to come and rule over them.

Rom 8:19  For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.
Rom 8:20  For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope,
Rom 8:21  Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.
Rom 8:22  For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.

The fact that Arioch brought Daniel before the king in haste means that our rulership shall be accomplished within the twinkle of an eye.

1Co 15:52  In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
1Co 15:53  For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
1Co 15:54  So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.

Dan 2:26  The king answered and said to Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, Art thou able to make known unto me the dream which I have seen, and the interpretation thereof?

As shown in the Daniel Chapter 1 review, the name Daniel being changed to Belteshazzar is to let us know that it is to through judgment we grow or mature in the knowledge of the glory of God. Being able to know the dream and its interpretation is being able to know the mind of Christ and His ways.

Dan 2:27  Daniel answered in the presence of the king, and said, The secret which the king hath demanded cannot the wise men, the astrologers, the magicians, the soothsayers, shew unto the king;

The wise men here represent the magicians, the astrologers, the sorcerers, and the Chaldeans which symbolize Babylon, which stands for the religions of this world including Christianity. Since those in Babylon are given over to lies, it is impossible for them to know the mind of Christ, much less His ways.

Joh 8:43  Why do ye not understand my speech? even because ye cannot hear my word.

Dan 2:28  But there is a God in heaven that revealeth secrets, and maketh known to the king Nebuchadnezzar what shall be in the latter days. Thy dream, and the visions of thy head upon thy bed, are these;
Dan 2:29  As for thee, O king, thy thoughts came into thy mind upon thy bed, what should come to pass hereafter: and he that revealeth secrets maketh known to thee what shall come to pass. 
Dan 2:30  But as for me, this secret is not revealed to me for any wisdom that I have more than any living, but for their sakes that shall make known the interpretation to the king, and that thou mightest know the thoughts of thy heart. 

For the sake of the Lord’s elect, nothing that is hidden shall remain a secret. Our Lord is willing to grant us access to the mysteries of the kingdom. As the word of God says, it is our Lord’s glory to conceal a matter and it is His joy when we come searching out the matter!!

Luk 8:17  For nothing is secret, that shall not be made manifest; neither any thing hid, that shall not be known and come abroad.

Jer 33:3  Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.

Pro 25:2  It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honour of kings is to search out a matter.

In verse 29, we are told that the revelation of the secret things of God will surely come to pass in our lives first. Later, all humanity will experience the revelation of the secret things of God.

Mat 24:32  Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh:
Mat 24:33  So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors.
Mat 24:34  Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.
Mat 24:35  Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.

As Daniel stated, the secret things of God are revealed to us, not because we are wiser than those living, but because we were chosen before the foundations of the world. This revelation that we are receiving of the Lord is for the sake of all humanity including us who are experiencing it first.

Joh 12:30  Jesus answered and said, This voice came not because of me, but for your sakes.

In verse 30, we are given to know that Nebuchadnezzar is being shown the dream and its interpretation for the purpose of knowing the thoughts of his heart. Here Nebuchadnezzar represents us who are being shown the truth of the word of God about us, so we will come to know who we are. This is who we are:

Ecc 3:18  I said in mine heart concerning the estate of the sons of men, that God might manifest them, and that they might see that they themselves are beasts.

Dan 2:31  Thou, O king, sawest, and behold a great image. This great image, whose brightness was excellent, stood before thee; and the form thereof was terrible.
Dan 2:32  This image’s head was of fine gold, his breast and his arms of silver, his belly and his thighs of brass, 
Dan 2:33  His legs of iron, his feet part of iron and part of clay. 
Dan 2:34  Thou sawest till that a stone was cut out without hands, which smote the image upon his feet that were of iron and clay, and brake them to pieces.
Dan 2:35  Then was the iron, the clay, the brass, the silver, and the gold, broken to pieces together, and became like the chaff of the summer threshingfloors; and the wind carried them away, that no place was found for them: and the stone that smote the image became a great mountain, and filled the whole earth.

The inward interpretation of this dream by Nebuchadnezzar is as follows:

The image of Nebuchadnezzar’s dream symbolizes who we are in Adam. In other words, our old man.  As indicated in verse 30, the essence of Nebuchadnezzar’s dream is that he might know the thoughts of his heart. That is to say that we may come to know what is in us, which is our old man or the beast. The stone cut out without hands represents Christ or the word of God which comes to smite the image or the old man. This stone can also be regarded as the new man after the image of Christ which grows to fill our whole being as the old man becomes chaff or destroyed and carried away by the wind of God’s words.

Ecc 3:18  I said in mine heart concerning the estate of the sons of men, that God might manifest them, and that they might see that they themselves are beasts.

Eph 4:24  And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.

The outward application of this image is given to us as follows:

Dan 2:36  This is the dream; and we will tell the interpretation thereof before the king.
Dan 2:37  Thou, O king, art a king of kings: for the God of heaven hath given thee a kingdom, power, and strength, and glory.
Dan 2:38  And wheresoever the children of men dwell, the beasts of the field and the fowls of the heaven hath he given into thine hand, and hath made thee ruler over them all. Thou art this head of gold.

We must remember that Nebuchadnezzar does not represent an elect and so he could not understand what the spirit was saying about the dream he had. He was therefore given only the outward or the physical interpretation. However, within this physical interpretation, there is the spiritual implication. Once we are ruled by our carnal minds, we cannot understand spiritual things.

1Co 3:1 And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ.

The head in the dream represents the Babylonian kingdom headed by Nebuchadnezzar. In 625 B.C, his father founded the New Babylonian Empire which became one of the first of the world empires. Babylonian conquest knew no bounds. In 605 B.C., Nebuchadnezzar added the Egyptians to his conquest.

Jer 46:2  Against Egypt, against the army of Pharaohnecho king of Egypt, which was by the river Euphrates in Carchemish, which Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon smote in the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah.

The fact that Nebuchadnezzar’s kingdom is described as gold is significant. In our time in Babylon, signified by gold here in the dream, we turn the precious word of the Lord into images of men or idols of the heart which is the same as false doctrines. Thus, we turn the words of the Lord into a stumbling block of iniquity during our time in Babylon powered by the old man (the image in Nebuchadnezzar’s dream) who is also empowered by the devil.

Eze 16:17  Thou hast also taken thy fair jewels of my gold and of my silver, which I had given thee, and madest to thyself images of men, and didst commit whoredom with them,

These false doctrines lead us to covetousness as demonstrated by Achan coveting the gold of the spoil.

Jos 7:21  When I saw among the spoils a goodly Babylonish garment, and two hundred shekels of silver, and a wedge of gold of fifty shekels weight, then I coveted them, and took them; and, behold, they are hid in the earth in the midst of my tent, and the silver under it.

Dan 2:39  And after thee shall arise another kingdom inferior to thee, and another third kingdom of brass, which shall bear rule over all the earth.

The kingdom that came after the kingdom of Babylon was the Persian empire led by Cyrus the great. King Cyrus was the divine instrument for the release of the Jews from the Babylonian exile (Isaiah 44:28 and Isaiah 45:1-14). A few years after the fall of Babylon, Cyrus issued a proclamation which permitted the Jews to return to their own land. He restored the sacred vessels of the temple which had been carried to Babylon by Nebuchadnezzar (Ezra 1:1-11).

The Persian kingdom is described as silver.  The Hebrew word for silver, by implication, is money. In addition, the Hebrew root for the Hebrew word for silver (H3700) means desire, be greedy, long or sore. These are negative applications of the word silver. So, as we can see, silver is synonymous with greed. Our time in Babylon was characterized by our greed or desire for the riches of this world or mammon.

Isa 56:11  Yea, they are greedy dogs which can never have enough, and they are shepherds that cannot understand: they all look to their own way, every one for his gain, from his quarter.

1Ti 3:3  Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous;

1Ti 3:8  Likewise must the deacons be grave, not double-tongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre;

After the Persian empire came the Greek empire led by Alexander the great. He was an ancient Macedonian ruler and one of history’s greatest military minds who, as King of Macedonia and Persia, established the largest empire the ancient world had ever seen. His kingdom was divided among his four generals.

This third kingdom was described as brass, which is synonymous with copper in the King James version of the Bible. Copper refers to our state as carnal babes in Christ. In our carnal state in Babylon, Christ’s words have no place in our hearts because we cannot hear them. We end up even trying to kill Christ in our brothers who tell us the truth about the word of God.

Joh 8:40  But now ye seek to kill me, a man that hath told you the truth, which I have heard of God: this did not Abraham.

Joh 8:43  Why do ye not understand my speech? even because ye cannot hear my word.

Dan 2:40  And the fourth kingdom shall be strong as iron: forasmuch as iron breaketh in pieces and subdueth all things: and as iron that breaketh all these, shall it break in pieces and bruise. 

The fourth kingdom to succeed the Greek Empire was the Roman Empire, which is symbolized by iron. On a negative note, iron refers to us being instruments of death while in Babylon.

Num 35:16  And if he smite him with an instrument of iron, so that he die, he is a murderer: the murderer shall surely be put to death.

We therefore become murderers as shown in the scriptures:

Luk 11:49  Therefore also said the wisdom of God, I will send them prophets and apostles, and some of them they shall slay and persecute: 
Luk 11:50  That the blood of all the prophets, which was shed from the foundation of the world, may be required of this generation; 
Luk 11:51  From the blood of Abel unto the blood of Zacharias, which perished between the altar and the temple: verily I say unto you, It shall be required of this generation. 

Dan 2:41  And whereas thou sawest the feet and toes, part of potters’ clay, and part of iron, the kingdom shall be divided; but there shall be in it of the strength of the iron, forasmuch as thou sawest the iron mixed with miry clay. 
Dan 2:42  And as the toes of the feet were part of iron, and part of clay, so the kingdom shall be partly strong, and partly broken. 
Dan 2:43  And whereas thou sawest iron mixed with miry clay, they shall mingle themselves with the seed of men: but they shall not cleave one to another, even as iron is not mixed with clay.

In verse 40, we are told that iron breaks in pieces and subdues everything. That is a positive application of iron, which represents the word of God. The clay symbolizes false doctrines or lies of mankind. Mixing iron with clay means mixing the truth of the word of God with lies by the religions of this world to oppress all mankind. However, since naturally, it is impossible to mix iron with clay, what this means is that such oppression will not last as the truth will always prevail. This is spiritually what it means by the statement, “They shall mingle themselves with the seed of men.”

Outwardly and physically, the mixing of iron and clay means the following:

During Nebuchadnezzar’s conquest of nations, their practice was to transport the citizens of a conquered nation into Babylon and simultaneously send different nations’ citizens to occupy the conquered cities. The rationale behind this practice was to destroy any sense of patriotism in those who have been conquered. Other empires which came after Babylon also perpetuated this practice. That is what it means by the statement “They shall mingle themselves with the seed of men” in verse 43. (Refer to Mike Vinson’s response: “What does the mingling with the seed of men in Daniel mean?”) As we can see in verse 43, this practice had not worked and will continue not to work.

2Ki 17:23  Until the LORD removed Israel out of his sight, as he had said by all his servants the prophets. So was Israel carried away out of their own land to Assyria unto this day.
2Ki 17:24  And the king of Assyria brought men from Babylon, and from Cuthah, and from Ava, and from Hamath, and from Sepharvaim, and placed them in the cities of Samaria instead of the children of Israel: and they possessed Samaria, and dwelt in the cities thereof.

Dan 2:44  And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever. 
Dan 2:45  Forasmuch as thou sawest that the stone was cut out of the mountain without hands, and that it brake in pieces the iron, the brass, the clay, the silver, and the gold; the great God hath made known to the king what shall come to pass hereafter: and the dream is certain, and the interpretation thereof sure. 

As indicated in verse 44, all these human kingdoms shall not stand the test of time. They will all be destroyed and replaced by the kingdom of heaven when the kingdoms of this world become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ.

Rev 11:15  And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever. 

Inwardly, the old man’s kingdom in us shall be destroyed by the stone cut out of the mountain without hands. This stone here represents Christ and His words which will destroy the old man. This is taking place in our lives as the Lord comes into our lives with the brightness of His coming.

2Th 2:8  And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:

The iron, the brass, the clay, the silver and the gold represent all the false doctrines of man’s wisdom that we have learned in Babylon. All these will be removed from our heavens by the brightness of our Lord’s coming to us.

Daniel told Nebuchadnezzar that the dream was certain and the interpretation sure. This is to assure us that whatever our situation is currently, in the final analysis, the old man shall be destroyed. The old man does not pose any challenge to our Lord. He will surely come through for us at the set time. What He starts, He is able to finish!! He will not leave us alone as half-baked believers. Our Lord has the mandate to present us blameless before our God and the zeal for our houses to be cleansed has consumed Him!!

Psa 69:9  For the zeal of thine house hath eaten me up; and the reproaches of them that reproached thee are fallen upon me.

Dan 2:46  Then the king Nebuchadnezzar fell upon his face, and worshipped Daniel, and commanded that they should offer an oblation and sweet odours unto him. 

What this means is that in the fulness of time, our brothers and sisters in Babylon will come and worship us.

Rev 3:9  Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee.

In another perspective, Nebuchadnezzar here represents us who become enchanted as our brethren expound the secret things of the kingdom of God. We naturally fall to worship those who minister to us just as Nebuchadnezzar fell down to worship Daniel. This scenario is similar to what happened to Apostle John when he was thrilled by the angel who revealed Christ to him. He also wanted to worship the angel, but the angel prevented him because he was just like us, a messenger of the gospel.

Rev 22:8  And I John saw these things, and heard them. And when I had heard and seen, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel which shewed me these things.
Rev 22:9  Then saith he unto me, See thou do it not: for I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren the prophets, and of them which keep the sayings of this book: worship God. 

David showed us the way to give God all the glory and honor when his soldiers risked their lives to get water for him in the enemy’s camp. He poured the water away as an offering to the Lord because he felt that he did not deserve such an act. He recognized that it is only the Lord to whom we have to bow or die or risk our lives.

2Sa 23:14  And David was then in an hold, and the garrison of the Philistines was then in Bethlehem. 
2Sa 23:15  And David longed, and said, Oh that one would give me drink of the water of the well of Bethlehem, which is by the gate! 
2Sa 23:16  And the three mighty men brake through the host of the Philistines, and drew water out of the well of Bethlehem, that was by the gate, and took it, and brought it to David: nevertheless he would not drink thereof, but poured it out unto the LORD. 
2Sa 23:17  And he said, Be it far from me, O LORD, that I should do this: is not this the blood of the men that went in jeopardy of their lives? therefore he would not drink it. These things did these three mighty men.

Dan 2:47  The king answered unto Daniel, and said, Of a truth it is, that your God is a God of gods, and a Lord of kings, and a revealer of secrets, seeing thou couldest reveal this secret. 

Are we not blessed to be those whom the Lord is revealing all the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven to us? Surely, we are blessed beyond measure!!

Mat 13:11  He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.
Mat 13:12  For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath.

Mat 13:16  But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear. 
Mat 13:17  For verily I say unto you, That many prophets and righteous men have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them.

Luk 12:32  Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.

Dan 2:48  Then the king made Daniel a great man, and gave him many great gifts, and made him ruler over the whole province of Babylon, and chief of the governors over all the wise men of Babylon. 
Dan 2:49  Then Daniel requested of the king, and he set Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, over the affairs of the province of Babylon: but Daniel sat in the gate of the king. 

The king giving many great gifts to Daniel is to let us know the spiritual blessings that our Lord has bestowed on us so that we can finish the race marked out for us and win the prize.

Eph 1:3  Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: 

Eph 4:8  Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.

Eph 4:11  And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
Eph 4:12  For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
Eph 4:13  Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:
Eph 4:14  That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; 
Eph 4:15  But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:

This gift refers to all things that pertain to life and godliness. We do not bring anything of ours to the table of our salvation. All is of God!!

2Pe 1:3  According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: 
2Pe 1:4  Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

Becoming partakers of His divine nature through escaping from the corruption that is in the world through lust is what these great gifts from the Lord are achieving in us. That is what will guarantee us the prize, which is also the joy that is set before us. This joy entails reigning with Christ when the kingdoms of this world becomes the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ.  In verse 48 and 49, Daniel and the three Hebrew men were made rulers to assure us that we shall also possess the crown of rulership in the fulness of time.

1Co 10:11  Now these things happened to them as an example, but they were written down for our instruction, on whom the end of the ages has come.

Rev 11:15  And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever. 

Rev 2:26  And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations:
Rev 2:27  And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father.