May 19: THREATS AND PROMISES
The king answered and said to the Chaldeans, “My decision is firm: if you do not make the dream known to me, and its interpretation, you shall be cut in pieces, and your houses shall be made an ash heap. However, if you tell the dream and its interpretation, you shall receive from me gifts, rewards, and great honor. Therefore tell me the dream and its interpretation.” Daniel 2:5-6
Nebuchadnezzar’s dream had left a powerful impression upon his mind, but to his utter frustration, the dream itself had been obscured. This was the Lord’s doing, and thus the priceless message contained therein was protected from false interpretations by the king’s counselors. But the king is reaching out for (demanding, actually) supernatural help in this matter, so he resorts to applying pressure in two forms: terrifying threats and lavish promises. The gory ultimatum of extensive dismemberment was not an idle threat, but rather a common practice in ancient cultures. Along with the dreaded Assyrians, the Babylonians were exceedingly notorious for their barbarous treatment of offenders. And the utter destruction of offenders’ houses left a lingering message for onlookers, that they may be extra careful not to become guilty of any offense toward the monarchy.
At the other end of the spectrum, the promise of gifts, rewards, and great honor reminded all hearers of the king’s magnanimity and greatness. Both extremes (threats and promises) were intended to make abundantly clear the immense power wielded by the king. His choice of wording indicates that both of these “motivations” had worked in the past, causing people to spring into action. But knowing their inability to produce the king’s dream for him, [the Chaldeans] answered again and said, “Let the king tell his servants the dream, and we will give its interpretation.” The king answered and said, “I know for certain that you would gain time, because you see that my decision is firm.” (vv.7-8). The hesitancy of the king’s advisors to comply with his orders constitutes an attempt to gain time. Such delay tactics only added to the king’s angst. Bear in mind that the faith of this pagan culture was built entirely upon a belief that “the gods” sent messages to men through the various occultic channels represented by the Chaldean “specialists”, i.e. magicians, astrologers, and sorcerers (v.2). The urgency sensed by the king was accompanied by a fear that danger was approaching his realm and he was doing nothing about it! “If you do not make known the dream to me, there is only one decree for you! For you have agreed to speak lying and corrupt words before me until the time has changed. Therefore tell me the dream, and I shall know that you can give me its interpretation” (v.9).
The Aramaic word for decree may also be rendered sentence or penalty. Now the king reveals his suspicion of conspiracy: “you have agreed…” Perhaps they know of a plan to overthrow the king and are part of it! If such was the case, they would withhold information until the time has changed, meaning until it’s too late to avert the crisis. History is replete with godless leaders whose unteachable egos pushed them into the realm of paranoia. The solution is in God’s Word.
Listen, for I will speak of excellent things, And from the opening of my lips will come right things; For my mouth will speak truth; Wickedness is an abomination to my lips. All the words of my mouth are with righteousness; nothing crooked or perverse is in them. Proverbs 8:6-8