THE GOD OF HEAVEN
Daniel 2:1-49
It is interesting that Daniel calls God, “the God of Heaven”, now that Israel is no more. Built into this vision of the pre-eminent God over all of Creation is a God who has authority over time, nature and earthly power structures (“He changes times and seasons; he deposes kings and raises up others.”) The God of Daniel does not confine himself to Israel but is involved in the affairs of the world.
In hindsight, it is natural that at this time, when Israel has been allowed to be dismantled, that God would reveal his long game: the Kingdom of God. It is significant, I think, that this truth of an eternal kingdom that is to come is revealed to a Gentile king and comprehended by a Jewish man of God.
As Daniel pointed out, no one can know unless the God of Heaven reveals. The dream and the interpretation was done in such a way that there would be no doubt that this indeed is the mystery from God and revealed by him. At the end, Daniel was comfortable to declare, “The great God has shown the king what will take place in the future. The dream is true and its interpretation is trustworthy.”
Yet it is Christians like us that fully grasp the immensity of this revelation: A rock will smash to pieces the systems that control and shape the world, and bring them to an end, and establish a kingdom that will last forever—a rock cut out of a mountain, but not by human hands—a rock that broke the iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver and the gold to pieces. What a tremendous description of our Lord and Saviour.
In the face of the God of Heaven, King Nebuchadnezzar fell prostrate and gave honour to Daniel, as the representative of the God of Heaven. How would you respond, you who know and understand even more, and better?
“Surely your God is the God of gods and the Lord of kings and a revealer of mysteries, for you were able to reveal this mystery.”