When Daniel heard that the king of Babylon wanted to slay all the wise men, including him and his friends, what did he do? He asked the king for time, saying that he would "shew the king the interpretation" (Daniel 2:16). As soon as he had done this, Daniel went home and told his three friends Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, what was going on (v. 17). Why did he tell them? Was it to gossip about matters at court? No. Was it to sit there and fret, wondering how they could save themselves from certain disaster? No. The Bible tells us that Daniel told them for a far different reason.
He let them know, "that they would desire mercies of the God of heaven concerning this secret; that Daniel and his fellows should not perish with the rest of the wise [men] of Babylon" (v. 18). It was so they could all pray about it together. Even though none of them knew Christ in person, they doubtless understood even then the principle He put forth when He said, "For where two or three are gathered together in My name, there am I in the midst of them"(Matthew 18:20) a few hundred years later. There is power in prayer, and even more power in group prayer. Was Daniel unrewarded for choosing to ask his friends to unite with him in requesting the aid of heaven? Did their petitions go unheard? "Then was the secret revealed unto Daniel in a night vision. Then Daniel blessed the God of heaven" (Daniel 2:19). No; as we can see, it was because of their prayers that the secret was revealed; and that revelation blessed not only these youth and the people in their lifetime, but also people throughout every age. Why not follow this example today?
Blessings,
Jean
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