Your Story Hour

Guest (Male): Hey sis, dad, mom, come on! Your Story Hour's on!

Guest (Male): Presenting Your Story Hour, building for a better tomorrow.

Aunt Carol: Hello everyone, I'm Aunt Carol.

Uncle Dan: And I'm Uncle Dan. Welcome. Today we have the third episode in our series on Daniel and his three friends. You can find it in your Bible, the book of Daniel chapter two. We call it "In the King's Court."

Uncle Dan: Nebuchadnezzar, the King of Babylon, had a dream.

Nebuchadnezzar: Beautiful. Gold, brass, the feet. A stone coming from nowhere. It's going to strike the image. The wind, it's carrying the pieces all over. There's nothing left. What happened? It was a dream. I can't remember. There was, I don't know what it was, but it was important. It must have been. The dream, it has some meaning, some special meaning. I've got to remember what it was. Was there a building? I can't remember. Something terrible happened, but what? To me? I wish I knew. If I could just remember the dream, then the wise men could tell me its meaning. The wise men, yes. Lackey! The dream, what was it? I have it on the end of my tongue, but I just can't remember. Lackey! Lackey! Where is everyone? I'll have someone's head for this. Lackey! Lackey!

Lackey: Yes, your majesty.

Nebuchadnezzar: There you are. Where have you been? I've been calling for an hour. What time is it?

Lackey: Not quite daylight, your majesty.

Nebuchadnezzar: Is the queen up?

Lackey: I doubt it, your majesty. The palace is still and quiet. The members of your family and the officers of your court are still sound asleep, your majesty.

Nebuchadnezzar: Forget my officers. Get them up. I want to see them. It's time they—no, let them sleep a little longer. Bring me some wine, food, and send word for the queen to come here. Lackey, you can awaken my chief wise man. Tell him he is to be in court the very first thing this morning, and he had better have some of his best men with him too, or off will come his head.

Nebuchadnezzar: I can't remember the meaning of the dream. What? Come in. Come in.

Queen: Good morning, dear.

Nebuchadnezzar: Sit down.

Queen: Yes, your majesty.

Nebuchadnezzar: Relax, my queen, this is informal. I just wanted to talk to you.

Queen: Rather an ungainly hour for a social chat, wouldn't you say?

Nebuchadnezzar: I'm worried. I couldn't sleep. I had a dream and I just can't wait to find out its meaning.

Queen: What was your dream? Maybe it's self-explanatory.

Nebuchadnezzar: I can't remember the dream.

Queen: I'm afraid I can't help you there.

Nebuchadnezzar: I can almost remember, but not quite. I am sure that something terrible happened, however.

Queen: Were you killed? In the dream, I mean.

Nebuchadnezzar: No, it didn't happen to me. Or did it? Not directly, at least.

Queen: Did someone get killed?

Nebuchadnezzar: No. Yes, I think someone did get killed. But who? How? I can't remember.

Guest (Male): Who is it?

Lackey: It's me, the King's personal attendant.

Guest (Male): What do you want?

Lackey: I have a message from his majesty the King.

Guest (Male): Just a minute. You have a message from Nebuchadnezzar?

Lackey: Yes, sir.

Guest (Male): It must be terribly important, waking me this time of morning.

Lackey: I'm sorry about that, sir, awakening you.

Guest (Male): That's all right, I wasn't actually asleep, just lying there thinking. What's the message from his imperial majesty?

Lackey: You are to be at court the very first thing this morning. Have your crowd with you.

Guest (Male): Crowd?

Lackey: The other wise men, magicians, astrologers.

Guest (Male): It must be important to send word before daylight. Wonder why he didn't notify us last night?

Lackey: I don't know, but he seemed terribly upset, almost angry. And he threatened your life if you fail to appear in court the very first thing this morning.

Guest (Male): Well, thanks anyway. Guess I'd better get busy rounding up the other members of the inner council.

Guest (Male): You still haven't told us what this is all about.

Guest (Male): I've told you all I know. His majesty sent word that we were to be at court first thing this morning, and we must be prepared.

Guest (Male): But how can we prepare if we don't know what he wants?

Guest (Male): That's a very good question. You haven't any idea what he wants?

Guest (Male): No, not a smattering. I guess the best thing to do is to go expecting anything.

Guest (Male): That's the only thing we can do. I hope he doesn't expect too much of us.

Guest (Male): We can always delay answering one way or another, at which you're a past master. Of course. Well, it's still a little early, but we'd better go anyway just in case his majesty is a little early too. Come along.

Guest (Male): We're not the only ones early at court. Look at them.

Guest (Male): Yes, something's up all right. Notice how even the scribe and guards are uneasy, nervous? I wonder what this is all about.

Guest (Male): I wonder if I can resign as his majesty's chief wise man. I wouldn't mind right about now.

Scribe: Bow the knee. His royal majesty, great and mighty King of Babylon, son of the gods, sustainer of mankind enters.

Guest (Male): Long live the King!

Nebuchadnezzar: Scribe, I want an audience with my chief wise man.

Scribe: Yes, your majesty. Come forward and bow the knee.

Guest (Male): Long live the King!

Nebuchadnezzar: Last night I dreamed a dream. I am troubled about it. It worries me. I must know the dream.

Guest (Male): Oh King, great and wise ruler of all Babylon, live forever. Tell thy servants thy dream, oh King, and we will gladly tell you the interpretation.

Nebuchadnezzar: I don't remember the dream.

Guest (Male): You don't remember the dream, sir? Perhaps the King will—

Nebuchadnezzar: It's gone from me, the entire dream. I can't remember a thing except that it was important. Something terrible happened. You tell me the dream.

Guest (Male): I?

Nebuchadnezzar: You tell me the dream and its interpretation, or I shall have you torn limb from limb and your houses shall be laid in ruin. And if you are able to show me the dream and the interpretation thereof, you shall receive great gifts and rewards. I will honor you throughout the entire kingdom. Therefore, chief wise man, tell me what I dreamed and give me its interpretation.

Guest (Male): Oh King, live forever. We are wise men and magicians, oh King. Tell thy humble servants the thing that you dreamed, and we will reveal to you its interpretation.

Nebuchadnezzar: You claim to know all secrets. I know what you're up to, and yet you can't even tell me my dream. You're stalling, trying to gain time so that you can make up a story and tell me it's the one I dreamed.

Guest (Male): But the king has asked an impossibility.

Nebuchadnezzar: What?

Guest (Male): There is not a man upon the face of the earth who can tell another man what he dreamed. And no king or lord or ruler has ever asked such a thing from any magician or astrologer or wise man. It is the most unusual request his majesty demands of us. And there is none who can show the King his dream except the gods whose dwelling is not with flesh.

Nebuchadnezzar: Unusual? Impossible? Your words, you speak them to me, the King of Babylon? How dare you speak thus to me? I am the son of the gods, sustainer of mankind, ruler of all the earth. You must die for this. Scribe, issue an order at once. All wise men and magicians and astrologers are to be destroyed. Send criers to the four corners of the earth. Captain, arrest these men and all others of their kind. They lie to me, will they? And defy me, call me unfair? Captain, at once!

Arioch: At once, your majesty.

Shadrach: Someone's at the door. I'll get it. Well, good morning Arioch, captain of his majesty's guards. Won't you come in?

Arioch: This is official business.

Shadrach: Well, can't you come in anyway?

Arioch: All right, Shadrach.

Daniel: Oh, good morning, Arioch.

Arioch: Morning, Daniel.

Daniel: You appear to be sad, unhappy.

Shadrach: He's here on official business.

Daniel: And that means royal business? The King's personal business?

Arioch: I'm here to carry out an order the King signed scarcely an hour ago. Oh Daniel, I detest doing this to you and your three friends, but I'm but obeying orders. Daniel, you're under arrest, the four of you.

Daniel: Arrest? What have we done?

Shadrach: Will we be political prisoners or prisoners of war?

Arioch: You are to be executed.

Shadrach: Executed? Killed?

Arioch: Along with all the other wise men, sorcerers, and magicians in his majesty's court.

Daniel: Why is the decree of the king so severe? For what crime are we to be executed?

Arioch: Lying to the king. Saying you're wise men when you're not. Oh, I didn't mean you, Daniel. It's those others. For years they've claimed to be able to solve any problem, reveal any secret, but they in an emergency they failed and the King is angry.

Daniel: Arioch, sir, could I, may I see the king?

Arioch: What for? He won't rescind the execution order.

Daniel: He would, wouldn't he, if I were able to help him?

Arioch: Can you reveal the secret of dreams?

Daniel: So that's where they failed the King. They couldn't interpret his dream. Can you? No, but we worship a God who can. May I see the king?

Arioch: I wish I could let you, Daniel, but I have my orders. And you yourself know the result if I disobey.

Daniel: The King wishes his dream interpreted, doesn't he?

Arioch: Of course.

Daniel: What would he do to you if he ever found out that you executed a man who claimed to be able to give him what he requests, the interpretation of his dream?

Arioch: I suppose he would be angry.

Daniel: And he'd be the first to tell you to give me a chance to reveal the secret of his dream. After all, that's what he desires, not the death of his wise men.

Arioch: Yes, you're right. All right, Daniel, I'll give you a chance.

Nebuchadnezzar: Did I send for you, Daniel?

Daniel: No, your majesty.

Nebuchadnezzar: You risk your life appearing without being summoned.

Daniel: Yes, your majesty. My mission is worth the risk. I bring his majesty a message of hope and peace.

Nebuchadnezzar: That's what they all say, but they end up wanting a favor. What sort of favor do you wish?

Daniel: If it pleases his majesty, I beg that the decree to destroy all the wise men be delayed until day after the tomorrow.

Nebuchadnezzar: I knew it. You want me to save your life.

Daniel: Only delay the execution, your majesty.

Nebuchadnezzar: But why do you go to all this trouble merely to delay your execution? After all, what difference does it make whether you die today or day after the tomorrow?

Daniel: I seek time, your majesty. Time to determine the secret of his majesty's dreams.

Nebuchadnezzar: You can tell me what I dreamed?

Daniel: The God whom I serve can, your majesty.

Nebuchadnezzar: Well, not only will I delay your execution, but cancel it and give you great rewards of fame and fortune. Go ahead, Daniel, I am listening. Let's hear my dream.

Daniel: I must first communicate with my God, who will then reveal to me the secret of his majesty's dreams.

Nebuchadnezzar: All right. All right. But I think you're just stalling for time like the others. But maybe, who knows? I'll assure you one thing though, Daniel. If you don't tell me my dream tomorrow, you will die like the others. Die, do you hear?

Uncle Dan: Then Daniel returned unto his house and made the thing known to Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.

Daniel: We will fast for the rest of the day, and individually we will communicate with God in prayer and request that He reveal to us the secret of his majesty's dream.

Uncle Dan: Individually, Daniel and his three friends prayed.

Daniel: Oh God of Abraham and Isaac, God of mercy and understanding, be merciful unto me, a sinner. Be merciful to my companions that they perish not at the hand of the king. Thou hast brought us here to Babylon to be a well of living water in this desert of sin. So preserve us now, oh God, that we may fulfill our mission. If it be Thy will, reveal unto us the dream Thou gavest to Nebuchadnezzar. Then give us its interpretation. Show unto the king through Thy humble servants that Thou art all-knowing.

Uncle Dan: Then was the secret revealed unto Daniel in a night vision. And Daniel blessed the Lord God of heaven.

Daniel: Blessed be the name of God forever and ever, for wisdom and might are His. And He changeth the times and the seasons. He removeth kings and setteth up kings. He giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding. He revealeth the deep and secret things. He knoweth what is in the darkness, and the light dwelleth with Him. I thank Thee and praise Thee, oh Thou God of my fathers, who hast given me wisdom and might and hast made known unto me what we desired. For Thou hast now made known unto us the king's matter. Oh God, I thank Thee, and may Thy name be forever honored.

Guest (Male): Captain Arioch, sir.

Arioch: Yes, what is it?

Guest (Male): There's a man outside wants to see you. Says his name is Daniel.

Arioch: Daniel, eh? Tell him I'll be with him in a minute as soon as I finish dressing.

Guest (Male): Yes, master.

Arioch: Daniel, your call is an early one.

Daniel: I had to get here early before you had a chance to carry out the King's orders and execute the wise men.

Arioch: Early or late, I'm going to have to obey the King.

Daniel: Not until you've taken me to the King and I've had an opportunity to tell the King his dream.

Arioch: You know the King's dream?

Daniel: I know.

Arioch: You know what the King dreamed? What he dreamed in his own bed, in his own room?

Daniel: I know the dream and its interpretation.

Arioch: The king will be delighted. This is important. I'll take you to him immediately. Daniel, you remain here while I go in before the King. You're sure, absolutely sure you know the King's dream?

Daniel: I'm sure, captain.

Arioch: And its interpretation?

Daniel: And its interpretation.

Arioch: I'll be right back. Audience granted. You may come forward, captain.

Nebuchadnezzar: Long live the King. And what brings the captain of my guards to the throne room, and in such a hurry?

Arioch: Your majesty, I have found a man who knows the secret of your dream.

Nebuchadnezzar: He knows what I dreamed?

Arioch: Yes, sir.

Nebuchadnezzar: And its interpretation?

Arioch: Yes, your majesty.

Nebuchadnezzar: Well, where is he? Why didn't you bring him with you? Send for him at once.

Arioch: He's one of the captives from Jerusalem.

Nebuchadnezzar: Send for him.

Arioch: He's waiting now in the audience chamber.

Nebuchadnezzar: Well, bring him in. You say he's one of the captives from Jerusalem?

Arioch: Yes, sir.

Daniel: Long live the King.

Nebuchadnezzar: Why Daniel, it's you. And you are now able to make known to me the dream that I have seen and its interpretation?

Daniel: No wise men, enchanters, magicians, or astrologers can show to the King the mystery which the King has asked.

Nebuchadnezzar: I knew it. You're a fake like the rest.

Daniel: But there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries, and He has made known to King Nebuchadnezzar what will be in the latter days.

Nebuchadnezzar: God knows? Which God?

Daniel: The God I obey and worship, your majesty. The God of creation.

Nebuchadnezzar: The same God who teaches you the wonders of science, of nature and the universe?

Daniel: The same, your majesty.

Nebuchadnezzar: If this be true, He surely is a wonderful God.

Daniel: He is a God of gods. And He gave to the King a dream so as to reveal the secrets of the future.

Nebuchadnezzar: Your God gave me the dream?

Daniel: Yes, your majesty.

Nebuchadnezzar: Well, what is it? The dream?

Daniel: Your dream and the visions of your head are these. When you retired, you did not immediately go to sleep. You lay quite some time thinking, thinking and wondering what the future held for you and your people.

Nebuchadnezzar: That's exactly what happened.

Daniel: Through the dream shall the King know what is to come.

Nebuchadnezzar: The dream your God gave me reveals the future?

Daniel: Yes, your majesty.

Nebuchadnezzar: And you know all these things?

Daniel: God has revealed them to me. Not that I have more wisdom than any other one living, but for the sake of those people living at the time of the end and for thy sake has the God of heaven revealed the future.

Nebuchadnezzar: And just what did I dream?

Daniel: You saw, oh king, and beheld a great image. The image, mighty and of exceeding brightness, stood before you, and its appearance was frightening.

Nebuchadnezzar: Yes, now I remember.

Daniel: The head of the image was of fine gold, its breast and arms of silver, its belly and thighs of brass, its legs of iron, its feet partly of iron and partly of clay.

Nebuchadnezzar: Exactly the way it was. Then something strange, terrible happened.

Daniel: As you looked, a stone was cut out by no human hand, and it smote the image upon its feet of iron and clay and broke them into pieces.

Nebuchadnezzar: That's it.

Daniel: Then the iron, the clay, the brass, the gold, and the silver were broken in pieces and became like the chaff of the summer threshing floors. And the wind carried them away so that not a trace of them could be found. But the stone that struck the image became a great mountain and filled the whole earth.

Nebuchadnezzar: That's exactly what I dreamed. It all comes back to me. Now, I will tell the King its interpretation. I believe you. Anyone who can tell me what I dreamed can certainly tell me the meaning.

Daniel: Oh king, you are a great king. The God of heaven has given you the kingdom and power and strength and glory.

Nebuchadnezzar: The God didn't give them to me. I—all right, Daniel, God gave them to me.

Daniel: Wherever men dwell, and the beasts of the field and the fowls of the heaven, these has God given into your hand and He has made you ruler over them all. You, oh King, are this head of gold.

Nebuchadnezzar: I am the head of gold.

Daniel: After you, oh king, shall arise another kingdom.

Nebuchadnezzar: My kingdom will last forever.

Daniel: This second kingdom shall be inferior to you, even as silver is inferior to gold.

Nebuchadnezzar: I am the gold. Yes, no kingdom shall ever equal mine.

Daniel: And a third kingdom of brass will arise, which shall rule over all the earth.

Nebuchadnezzar: Ah Daniel, I think I begin to see. The materials of the image represent different world kingdoms. Very clever, very clever.

Daniel: The fourth kingdom shall be strong like iron. As iron is strong and breaks to pieces and shatters all things, so will the fourth kingdom break into pieces and crush all these.

Nebuchadnezzar: The feet, part of clay and part iron. What do they represent?

Daniel: A kingdom partly strong and partly weak. And as iron and clay cannot be mixed, so shall the people not cleave one to another.

Nebuchadnezzar: Not cleave one to another?

Daniel: They won't unite together.

Nebuchadnezzar: A large stone came from out of nowhere and smote the image on its feet and the entire thing fell and disintegrated and was blown away into nothing.

Daniel: And the stone grew and filled up the entire earth.

Nebuchadnezzar: Yes, what does that all mean?

Daniel: In the days of the kingdom represented by the toes, the God of heaven shall set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed. Nor shall its sovereignty be left to another people. It shall break in pieces all these kingdoms and bring them to an end, and it shall stand forever.

Nebuchadnezzar: These things are true, Daniel?

Daniel: The God of heaven has made known to the King what shall happen hereafter. The dream is certain and the interpretation thereof sure.

Nebuchadnezzar: Daniel, all my life I've believed in and worshipped many gods, Asheroth, Ishtar, and others. But now I'm not so sure that they're what I've always thought they were. Tell me about your God, the one who reveals secrets.

Daniel: He is the one and only God, your majesty. Simply stated, He made the earth and all that is in it. He is the God of creation, of war, peace, fertility. He is the God of gods.

Nebuchadnezzar: Can anyone worship your God, or must one be an Israelite?

Daniel: The God of creation is the God of all people.

Nebuchadnezzar: Can I, a Babylonian, worship Him?

Daniel: God would be pleased to accept you as one of His children.

Nebuchadnezzar: I believe, Daniel. Of a truth, your God is a God of gods, Lord of lords, King of kings. He is a revealer of secrets and worthy of my respect and honor and worship. Scribe!

Scribe: Yes, your majesty.

Nebuchadnezzar: Summon all the officers of my court, the members of my family, and all men everywhere who are interested in the welfare of Babylon.

Scribe: Yes, your majesty.

Nebuchadnezzar: Now Daniel, let's talk about you. Scribe, scribe, come back here.

Scribe: Yes, your majesty.

Nebuchadnezzar: Prepare a document canceling the decree to destroy all the wise men. Because of Daniel, they shall live. Begone, begone!

Scribe: Long live the King!

Nebuchadnezzar: We were talking about you, Daniel. You are to be rewarded both in gifts and position.

Daniel: I care not for personal rewards, your majesty.

Nebuchadnezzar: You don't want personal honor and glory and power?

Daniel: No, your majesty.

Nebuchadnezzar: Will you accept them if they are honest, worthy, and will do someone some good? They'll help me. I need you, Daniel. A king always needs good men about him, men whom he can trust and lean on.

Daniel: Your majesty, if it please thee, I would like to make a request.

Nebuchadnezzar: Anything, to the half of my kingdom.

Daniel: My companions, they, we all prayed individually to our God. The revealing of thy dream and its interpretation is as much to their credit as mine. I would wish your majesty, if there are rewards to be made, that they also be rewarded.

Nebuchadnezzar: It shall be done, Daniel. It most certainly shall.

Guest (Male): The king demands our presence in the throne room again. What is it this time? Not another dream, I hope.

Guest (Male): I understand that his majesty is going to hand out some rewards. To Daniel? That's what I understand.

Guest (Male): Personally, I'm not going to complain. Were it not for Daniel and his ability to reveal and interpret dreams, I'd be dead this minute. And so would you.

Guest (Male): I'm not complaining, I'm just wondering why Daniel gets all the rewards and honor. He revealed the secret to the king. Sure, but before this, we wise men stuck together. When one of us was honored, we all were. We shared in honors and rewards. But Daniel, is he sharing with us? And he is one of us, you know.

Guest (Male): I don't care. I'm just happy to be alive.

Guest (Male): So am I, but this is a stain on our abilities and characters. We've lost face, power, influence. If Daniel doesn't share the honor and glory with us, we're done, finished. We'll never live down the disgrace.

Guest (Male): As I say, I'm still happy to be alive, thanks to Daniel.

Scribe: Ladies and gentlemen, princes, officers, all members of the Babylonian court, his majesty, ruler of the earth, son of the gods, sustainer of mankind, great, mighty, and just King of Babylon enters. Bow the knee.

Nebuchadnezzar: You may arise. I am Nebuchadnezzar, King of Babylon.

Guest (Male): Long live the King!

Nebuchadnezzar: I am a wise and just ruler, filled with compassion and love for my people.

Guest (Male): Long live the King!

Nebuchadnezzar: There is none other in all creation as wise and mighty and just as I.

Guest (Male): Long live the King!

Nebuchadnezzar: Because I am great and just and full of compassion, I do here and now revoke the decree to destroy all the wise men, astrologers, and magicians of Babylon.

Guest (Male): Long live the King!

Nebuchadnezzar: Four of the newest additions to my confidential council are the four captives from Jerusalem: Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego, and Daniel. Of all the wise men of the earth, only these four could reveal and interpret my dream. It is therefore with great pleasure that I here and now promote them to responsible positions in my court. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego are placed in charge of the affairs of the province of Babylon.

Guest (Male): Long live the King!

Nebuchadnezzar: Daniel, he who has the respect and special consideration of his God. To Daniel, I give great gifts of much worth. Daniel shall henceforth be a great and influential man. At the sound of his trumpet shall all people everywhere bow the knee. To Daniel, I, King of Babylon, bequeath power and authority. He is now ruler of the whole province of Babylon. He is chief governor over all wise men and counselors of my kingdom. So be it.

Guest (Male): Long live Prince Daniel!

Uncle Dan: Then the King gave Daniel many great gifts and made him ruler over the whole province of Babylon, and Daniel remained at the King's court. We hate to go, but it's time for us to sign off for today.

Aunt Carol: So goodbye for now, and God bless you until we meet again.

Uncle Dan: This has been Your Story Hour, building for a better tomorrow. This is Aunt Carol and Uncle Dan saying goodbye everyone. See you again next time.