The Great Assembly Summoned…
v. 2a:
“Then Nebuchadnezzar the king sent word to assemble…”
o A mighty assembly including of all the Empire’s
civil and military dignitaries was summoned to attend the statue’s grand
dedication.
v. 2b:
“…the satraps, the prefects and the governors…”
o The offices are listed,
apparently, in rank order, representing all the provinces of Babylon’s
multi-national, multi-ethnic empire (cf. v. 4).
o Question: “WHERE was Daniel?”
Answer: Unknown! Silence regarding his whereabouts
makes it almost certain that he was not present, sharing the fate of his
friends.
But there must a reason why—as a
key political figure—his absence was plausibly “excused” or permitted by the
king. Various possibilities…
>Was Daniel “on assignment”
elsewhere?
>Did the King consciously
“re-assign” Daniel, knowing the nature of Daniel’s faith?
>Was Daniel suffering from a providential illness
at the time?
>Some implausibly suggest that Daniel was
present & did not bow to image—but
as a favorite of the king, was not denounced
by the Chaldeans like his brethren.
Several benefits arising from Daniel’s
absence:
o Daniel’s absence is
another indication of the book’s authenticity; a later, spurious
narrative would probably made Daniel the hero—not his friends!
o Daniel’s absence
provides an opportunity for his friends to “shine brightly like
the brightness of the expanse of heaven” (Dan. 12:3)!
o It is this incident
that leads to their induction into the “Heroes of Faith Hall of Fame” as
those who “quenched the power of fire” (Heb. 11:34).
o A reminder that Daniel
was not alone in his struggles; the Lord always has a righteous remnant—even
in the worst of times (1
Kings 19:18; Rom. 11:2-5)!
v. 3:
“…the satraps, the prefects and the governors…”
o
The
grand list of courtly dignitaries is repeated, reflecting the element of stately
pomp the proceedings were intended to convey by Nebuchadnezzar.
o
Yet,
such stilted and “serious” language also seems to have a mocking tone, pointing
to the vain & foolish pomposity of self-idolatrous human grandeur.
o
What
can be more ridiculous than an enforced (and thus empty) worship
rendered unto a gold-plated idol (i.e., something less-than-it-seems), that is
designed to overthrow God and derail His Kingdom, while celebrating Human
Sovereignty and the Eternal Kingdom of MAN?
o
The
same stilted, mock seriousness is also found in vv. 5 & 7, listing (twice)
the six instruments of the Royal Orchestra.
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