The Chaldean king Belshazzar saw some mysterious writing on the wall while partying with his cronies. None of the educated intelligentsia of his kingdom could tell him what the writing meant. So the king turned to Daniel, a captive in the land because he was among the followers of a God named Jehovah.
The king said to Daniel: “If you tell me what this writing means, I’ll pay you well, and give you one of the highest positions in my kingdom.”
Daniel said to the king: “Give your gifts and rewards to someone else, but I will tell you the meaning of the writing.”
This exchange tells us several things about knowledge. First, in this world, there is a kind of knowledge that is exchangeable for reward and position. Let us call this knowledge for pay.
But there is another kind of knowledge, a second kind, one that is highly sought after -- although rarely regarded when the first kind of knowledge is paying well and life is comfortable. This second kind of knowledge is never accessible in the nature of those positions for pay.
To be clear: It is not that a follower of Jehovah God cannot occupy a position-for-pay in the world; Daniel himself did. It is just that the nature of a position-for-pay in the world, as such, is not the basis by which one can gain access to this second kind of knowledge.
This means that all of the mechanisms for acquiring knowledge resulting in positions-for-pay: dedicated study, diplomas, titles and ranks, possession of special bodies of knowledge or skill, professorships; all of these mechanisms cannot of themselves yield access to this second kind of knowledge.
This knowledge of the second kind is the sole purview of Jehovah God, and he to whom he chooses to reveal it. On this the Old and New Testaments are the same.
We might think we live in a world with much more knowledge than Daniel had in his day. But this is only knowledge of the first kind. As to knowledge of the second kind, we remain as clueless as Belshazzar.
There is, however, a difference. The Son has come, and he is amazingly willing to reveal knowledge of the second kind to whomsoever he chooses. Regular encounters with Him, then, are the key. But don’t you ever think you can cook this stuff up all by yourself, and then sell it for pay.
Logos2Go
Daniel 5:13-17 Then Daniel was brought in before the king. The king said to Daniel, "So you are Daniel, one of the exiles of Judah, whom my father the king brought from Judah? [14] I have heard of you that a spirit of the gods is in you, and that enlightenment, understanding, and excellent wisdom are found in you. [15] Now the wise men, the enchanters, have been brought in before me to read this writing and tell me its interpretation, but they were not able to give the interpretation of the matter. [16] But I have heard that you can give interpretations and solve problems. Now if you are able to read the writing and tell me its interpretation, you shall be clothed in purple, have a chain of gold around your neck, and rank third in the kingdom." [17] Then Daniel answered in the presence of the king, "Let your gifts be for yourself, or give your rewards to someone else! Nevertheless I will read the writing to the king and let him know the interpretation.
Daniel 2.28, 30 but there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries. He has shown …. what will happen in days to come … (30) As for me, this mystery has been revealed to me, not because I have greater wisdom than other living men, but so that you, O king, may know the interpretation ….
Luke 10.22 All things have been committed to me by my Father. No one knows who the Son is except the Father, and no one knows who the Father is except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.
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