OT: Daniel 5:13-17

Reading:

Then was Daniel brought in before the king. And the king spake and said unto Daniel, Art thou that Daniel, which art of the children of the captivity of Judah, whom the king my father brought out of Jewry?   I have even heard of thee, that the spirit of the gods is in thee, and that light and understanding and excellent wisdom is found in thee.   And now the wise men, the astrologers, have been brought in before me, that they should read this writing, and make known unto me the interpretation thereof: but they could not shew the interpretation of the thing:   And I have heard of thee, that thou canst make interpretations, and dissolve doubts: now if thou canst read the writing, and make known to me the interpretation thereof, thou shalt be clothed with scarlet, and have a chain of gold about thy neck, and shalt be the third ruler in the kingdom.   Then Daniel answered and said before the king, Let thy gifts be to thyself, and give thy rewards to another; yet I will read the writing unto the king, and make known to him the interpretation.

Commentary:

Note here how the king speaks to Daniel in the only way he knows how.  Not knowing the True God, the God of Israel, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, he speaks of the "god" which Daniel must know as, "the spirit of the gods".  This king thus believed there were many gods.  He also believed in salvation by works, for he appealed to Daniel's greed by the promise of gifts of Daniel would interpret the dream.  This is how pagan's still worship their god today.  They cannot contemplate a person loving and serving their God out of thankfulness for their salvation, but they assume "god" must be bribed by good works and the "gifts" of men.  Daniel's answer then to the king is good, in that by not desiring any gifts, Daniel showed a proper love for his neighbor which seeks no earthly reward, but does all to the glory of God out of thankfulness.  "Let thy gifts be to thyself, and give thy rewards to another; yet I will read the writing unto the king, and make known to him the interpretation."