Talk about someone getting up on the wrong side of the bed that morning.  The Scriptures says “his sleep left him.”   I imagine him tossing and turning all night . . . the visions which ran through his mind making no sense . . . his spirit being stirred to the point of vexation . . . so that, when he got up, he was a little cranky.  “Bring me my wise men!” he says . . . “Tell me what I dreamed!” he says . . . “Then, tell me what it means!” he says.  “Oh, oh, we’re in trouble,” they say.

But the God who gave Judah into Nebuchadnezzar’s hand (Daniel 1:2) . . . the God who gave favor to Daniel in the sight of his handlers (1:9) . . . the God who gave learning and skill in all wisdom to Daniel and his friends (1:17) . . . the God who gave the king one of his worst nights of sleep ever . . . that God was about to make Himself known as the Revealer of Mysteries.

The king answered and said to Daniel, “Truly, your God is God of gods and Lord of kings, and a revealer of mysteries, for you have been able to reveal this mystery.”  (Daniel 2:47 ESV)

I sit back in awe this morning as I’m reminded that the God of heaven has purposed to make Himself known on earth through the revelation of mysteries.  To Nebuchadnezzar, God revealed the He would set up “a kingdom that shall never be destroyed” (2:44).  To me, He has revealed the manner of that kingdom . . . and the identity of its Sovereign.

Not that I’ve had some dream . . . in fact, at one time, if you had taken my spiritual EEG, I was brain dead . . . dead in trespass and sin . . .  no dreams . . . unaware of anything other than what was under the sun . . . oblivious to there even being a mystery concerning a kingdom.

But through the inspired Word of God, I’ve come to know the answer to the mystery of how sinful man can boldly enter into the holy presence of God.  Through the illuminating work of the Holy Spirit, I have gained a measure of understanding as to how a man can be born again . . . can be adopted into God’s family . . . can be grafted into God’s kingdom . . . can be transformed and conformed into the very nature of His blessed Son.

God, not because of anything I have done, but by His grace alone, stirred my slumbering soul with a sense of something more.  God, not because of who I am, but by His grace alone, then revealed the nature of the mystery to me.  It is the mystery of Christ . . . God incarnate that He might be a faithful High Priest . . . Lamb of God that He might, once for all, atone for men’s sins . . . Firstborn from the dead that He might lead many to glory . . . Coming King that all eyes might see Him and every knee should bow.

My God is a Revealer of Mysteries . . . all glory be to my God!

Blessed be the name of God forever and ever,
    to whom belong wisdom and might.
He changes times and seasons;
    He removes kings and sets up kings;
He gives wisdom to the wise
    and knowledge to those who have understanding;
He reveals deep and hidden things;
    He knows what is in the darkness,
    and the light dwells with Him.  (Daniel 2:20-22 ESV)