Why didn't Daniel refuse to be worshipped (Daniel 2:46)?
New Living Translation "Then King Nebuchadnezzar threw himself down before Daniel and worshiped him, and he commanded his people to offer sacrifices and burn sweet incense before him." In order to undermine the explicit New Testament teaching that Jesus Christ is worshiped as God, certain Muslims have turned to the book of Daniel to show that the prophet Daniel received the worship belonging to God:
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Asked April 30 2019
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Jack Gutknecht
Supporter
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Paul Gerardi
Supporter
Whenever we come across Scripture that seems to be confusing, we have to remember - context is the key to understanding. The answer to your question is found within the context of the events recorded in the book of Daniel chapter 2 - specifically, the case of Nebuchadnezzar's dream. - The king has a troubling dream (Daniel 2:1) - The king seeks an understanding/interpretation of his dream (Daniel 2:2-3) - The magicians and wise men said they would tell him what it meant IF he would relate the dream to them (Daniel 2:4, Daniel 2:7) - But the king did not want them to just say what they thought he wanted to hear, and therefore required them to FIRST tell HIM what his dream was, and then to interpret/explain it (Daniel 2:5) - The king commanded that if they could not do both, they would all die (Daniel 2:5, Daniel 2:8-9) - ** But anyone who could tell the dream and its interpretation would be given great honor and gifts by the king (Daniel 2:6) - All the wise men knew that this is impossible. No man knows the dreams or thoughts of another man. (Daniel 2:10-11) - While the magicians and wise men prepare to meet their doom because they can not meet the king's demands (Daniel 2:12-15) - Daniel asks the king for more time (Daniel 2:16) and together with his friends and fellow Israelites, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah (Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego) asks God to provide "the secret" knowledge (Daniel 2:17-18) - God gives Daniel both the dream and its meaning (Daniel 2:19) - ** And Daniel praises God alone for answering prayer and doing what is impossible for man - to know both the dream and its interpretation (Daniel 2:20-23) - Daniel is brought to the King to tell him what God has revealed (Daniel 2:24-26) - ** Daniel DENIES any credit for his knowledge and is sure to tell the king that it is GOD in heaven, who has revealed the things the king demands to know (Daniel 2:27-28) - Daniel tells the king all that God has revealed - the king's dream and its meaning (Daniel 2:29-45) - ** Daniel is sure to give GOD the credit for the dream's interpretation, AND for being the one who will be causing everything in the dream to come to pass (Daniel 2:44-45) - ** The king throws himself down before Daniel in homage/honor (some translations say "worship") (Daniel 2:46) as he had promised he would do for anyone that could tell the dream and its meaning (Daniel 2:6) - ** The king knows Daniel is not the source of the information (Daniel made it clear) and the king therefore gives the GLORY for the interpretation to God and recognizes Daniel as his emissary (Daniel 2:47) - ** Daniel and his friends are honored and placed in positions of authority and given gifts (Daniel 2:48-49) but clearly this is done for them as men, and they are not treated as "gods" Paying attention to the ** passages above: - Daniel knew only God could give such knowledge to anyone - Daniel seeks God for the knowledge - Daniel praises God for the knowledge - Daniel presents the information to the king as having come from God (did not take credit) - Daniel reminds the king after delivery of the information that it is God who will make this all happen (did not take credit) - The king gives homage to Daniel, as he promised he would to anyone who could tell him the dream and its meaning, but gives the CREDIT and GLORY to God Since the context does not demonstrate that there was any wrongful "worship" (giving to another the credit and glory that belongs to God) being given or accepted, Daniel would have no reason to believe that he was being "worshipped", nor any reason to refuse what was offered. He was not treated as a god, he was not being given credit for knowing the dream and interpretation, but only for bringing forward that which God had given him in knowledge. God Himself is clearly given the glory by all involved.
Kenneth Babineaux
Supporter
The king offered Daniel special recognition. He payed homage to Daniel, which is simply honoring Daniel. He didn't worship him.
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