I have hidden your word in my heart (Ps 119:11)

Sometimes hiding God’s word in your heart seems like an unavailing adventure.  There doesn’t seem to be much use in memorizing Scripture that isn’t relevant at the time.

Several months ago, I read the book of Daniel.  In Chapter 2, “Nebuchadnezzar had dreams; his mind was troubled and he could not sleep. So the king summoned the magicians, enchanters, sorcerers and astrologers to tell him what he had dreamed. When they came in and stood before the king, he said to them, ‘I have had a dream that troubles me and I want to know what it means.’”

Nebuchadnezzar couldn’t find anyone who could correctly interpret his dream, however.  “Then Daniel went to Arioch, whom the king had appointed to execute the wise men of Babylon, and said to him, ‘Do not execute the wise men of Babylon. Take me to the king, and I will interpret his dream for him.’” (2:24). Daniel was taken to the king, and he correctly interpreted his dream for him. 

Daniel clearly had a gift for interpreting dreams.  He was talented in this area.  He could handle it.

Then, “In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon, Daniel had a dream, and visions passed through his mind as he was lying on his bed” (7:1).

Though Daniel was clearly gifted in the area of interpreting dreams, he did not attempt to interpret his own dream:  "I, Daniel, was troubled in spirit, and the visions that passed through my mind disturbed me.  I approached one of those standing there and asked him the true meaning of all this.  "So he told me and gave me the interpretation of these things” (7:15-16).

Daniel had the ability to interpret dreams, but when he had a vision of his own, he sought the counsel of other (Pr 15:22).

I read this back in July, and it didn’t have any application for me – until recently.  I had a decision that I was really struggling with – a decision that, had anyone else been in that situation, I would have freely offered my advice – and, rather than simply seeking the Lord’s will on it myself, I thought back to Daniel and sought the counsel of others.  And it was others who helped reveal God’s will for me in this situation.