Daniel 2:49

New International Version

Moreover, at Daniel’s request the king appointed Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego administrators over the province of Babylon, while Daniel himself remained at the royal court.

For Meditation

A real friend is the selfless and praying person in your life. That is what Daniel was to his friends, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Call them the winsome four; they defied everything the world threw at them in their Babylonian exile to remain faithful to the Lord, their God. .  The quality of their friendship is a test case encouraging us to become true friends.Much has been noted about their integrity. However, the manner in which they supported each other in a hostile foreign culture has not received the attention it deserves for Christian edification.

 The first characteristic of their friendship worth emulating is the positive influence they had on each other. We read in Daniel 1:8 that Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine. This was a personal decision but note how Daniel included his three friends when he asked for a special menu for ten days apart from the designated one from the royal court (11-14). The four friends banded together to support each other to stand in their faith for the glory of God in the foreign land with its idolatrous practices. O, how we need this influence in this foreign culture of today’s world!   

Second, true friends, with a united front share their concerns and deepest needs  before the Lord for mercy and grace. They strengthen the faith of each other. When Daniel returned from the king to seek for the Lord for interpretation of Nebuchadnezzar’s dream, he called his three friends to stand with him in prayer for mercy from the God of heaven (2:17-18).

Third, when friends share their concerns and prayers, they recognize each other before the Lord when He answers. Daniel recognized his friends when he thanked the Lord for revealing the dream to him. 

I thank and praise you, God of my ancestors: You have given me wisdom and power, you have made known to me what we asked of you, you have made known to us the dream of the king.

Isn’t that wonderful?

Finally, true friends share their reward when they are promoted. The time came when Daniel was recognized and rewarded by Nebuchadnezzar for revealing the mystery of his dream (46-48). Daniel requested that the king appoints his friends as administrators of the province of Babylon, while he remained in the royal court. Unlike many friends who forget those who supported them in various ways to  the ladder of fame, Daniel shared the recognition with Shadrack, Meshack, and Abednego when God raised him to the special position (49). That is a true mark of Christian friendship and fellowship in the Lord.

How is the quality of our friendship in light of that of Daniel and his three Hebrew friends? Do we positively influence each other, share our concerns, and pray together for mercy and grace to attend us in times of need, and remember each other before the Lord when He moves in our situations? How about when we gain promotion as a result of the matter for which we have labored in prayer? Do we seek the welfare of our friends, when possible, because of the favor we have received?

Daniel is a true friend to emulate in this hostile foreign world – a prayerful and unselfish friend.