Feeling a need to ponder and pray more and produce less during my morning devos this week. So after my readings, my plan is to go back through my archives and let the thinking of the past minister to me in the present. That which particularly sticks with me I’ll share with you. Here are some thoughts from November, 2012.

Never fails to happen . . . there is always a joy and excitement about hitting the book of Daniel . . . like when the kids come home from Christmas . . . it’s familiar territory to them . . . they like finding things decorated and in place as they’ve always been . . . but there’s a freshness, a wide-eyed re-encounter that puts a bit of electricity in the house. The themes in these opening chapters of Daniel are familiar, touchstones that have been used to ground my life for years . . . like purposing in my heart to not defile myself with the kings food (1:8) . . . like being reminded that Daniel’s favor with men and his meteoric rise to the top of the class was less about him and all about God’s divine hand upon His life (1:9, 17) . . . like being repeatedly told that God is the God of heaven (2:18, 19, 28, 37, 44) . . . and finally, of being reminded that my God is the Revealer of Mysteries (2:28, 47).

A Revealer of Mysteries. The One who can make known the unknown. He who can take the hidden thing and bring it to light. That’s our God.

Usually what captures me about this thought is that, by His grace, I have been the recipient of such revelation of mystery. Through the Word of God . . . by the illumination of the Spirit of God . . . I have been allowed some level of understanding into the mysteries of God. True enough . . . but funny how I tend to think about me. This morning my thoughts tend to be more about Him, the Revealer.

What has my awe-o-meter kicking over to the right hand side is that He is the God who knows the mysteries. He is the Revealer because, in many cases He is the Author. He is the Revealer because, in all cases, He is the One who knows everything . . . my God is omniscient . . . the God of heaven is all-knowing. And there’s something about that alone which inspires worship . . . and brings about peace.

Sure, I like to know “what’s behind the curtain.” I want to be brought into the inner circle. I, as much as the next guy, like to have things figured out. But, as I sit hovering over this story of a king with a bad dream, a bad attitude, and a sad bunch of magicians, enchanters, and sorcerers, I’m grabbed less by the revelation then I am by the Revealer. That He knows . . . that His realm of understanding and insight so dwarfs that of kings and prophets and this guy sitting in this chair . . . that He is the Possessor of all truth and Knower of all secrets. He is . . . the Revealer!

Amazing God!

So this morning, though there are many mysteries I might like to have made known to me, I rest in that I know the Revealer of Mysteries. Whether He chooses to allow me to “interpret the dream” or not, it’s enough to know that He knows . . . and to trust in Him even when I don’t know . . . and to rest in Him who will reveal mysteries according to His will . . . and in line with His perfect timing . . . and all for His glory. Amen?

“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.
To you, O God of my fathers,
I give thanks and praise . . .

(Daniel 2:20-23a ESV)