Sárospataki Füzetek 20. (2016)
2016 / 2. szám - MISCELLANEOUS / SONSTIGES - Imre Tokics: Daniel's Worship int he City of Babylon
Imre Tokics • God and the future The story in this second chapter of Daniel, teaches that while human beings are often ignorant and afraid of what may come, God knows, reveals, and holds in His hand the future. In fact, the central massage of Daniel 2 is that God knows the future. The pagan gods are impotent to shape events in history.33 Amos 3:7 says: God does nothing, without revealing his plan to his servants the prophets. Three times in this chapter Daniel asserts that God reveals mysteries. In each case, he openly confesses who is the Source if his wisdom.34 In this story, we can see that God protected his faithful remnant in Babylon in accordance with the numerous promises found in particular in biblical prophecies. Yet, God’s love story did not end with his grace toward those who know and worship him. • God and Babylon The most provoking concept found in this second chapter is that God loved king Nebuchadnezzar and had a role for him to play in the fabric of world history. John Calvin argued that the wise men of Babylon “deserved to be exterminated from the world, and the pest must be removed ifit could possibly be accomplished.35 In saying that, Calvin reflected a type of negative feeling toward the Babylonians commonly found among the Judeans of Daniel’s time. But in several places, the Bible mandates love for one’s enemies Exod. 23:4; Prov. 24:17; 25:21; Luke 6:27. Thus, the God of the Bible is the God of all human beings. He reaches out to all in order to save. It has been suggested that the overall theme of the book of Daniel is that: in spite of present appearances, God is in control.36 May God grant us the eyes to behold His magnificence and the privilege of helping His people worship him together. 33 LONGMAN,Tremper III.: Ibid 75. 34 LUCAS, Ernest C: Ibid 78. 35 CALVIN, John: A Commentary on Daniel, Geneva Commentaries Series, Carlisle, PA: Banner of Truth 1995, 1:135. 36 TOWNER, W. Sibley: Daniel, Interpretation, Atlanta, John Knox Press 1984,43. 94 Sárospataki Füzetek 20. évfolyam 2016-2
