DANIEL 2:14
Then with counsel and wisdom Daniel answered Arioch, the captain of the king’s guard, who had gone out to kill the wise men of Babylon; [Daniel 2:14 NKJV]
Then Daniel replied with discretion and wisdom to Arioch, the captain of the king’s bodyguard, who had gone out to execute the wise men of Babylon; [Daniel 2:14 AMP]
TREASURES OF WISE ANSWERS
So much is endowed in this "Answer of Daniel" that makes it rank among the greatest answers in the scriptures. Take 4 points:
*1* — Daniel answered with Wisdom those who were about to kill Wise the men: Meaning — He was neither ashamed of wisdom nor was he afraid of being wise before those who kill or persecuted the wise.
Being wise was what got him about to be killed, and yet he was not ashamed of being wise in the face of death or killers of the wise men. He was still talking with wisdom, instead of hiding or denying wisdom and talking foolishly so that the killers of the wise men will let him go if they do not fit him into the category of wise men at that point when death to the wise men was trending.
There was a time David was caught and identified among the Philistines as he whom Israel hailed for killing tens of thousands of the Philistines. And immediately David knew he was exposed and known for who he really was among the enemies he spied, David immediately began to pretend to be a madman or to be possessed with madness. Was he not the same David that's cast out evil spirits of madness from Saul the king just by playing musical instrument? How was he now the mad man, possessed? That's how far David went to deny who he really was among his enemies in order to escape or be saved from them. David reduced himself from curing madness in a king to playing madness in the presence of another king, for denying sanity when it meant death:
[I Samuel 21:14-15 NKJV] — Then Achish said to his servants, “Look, you see the man is insane. Why have you brought him to me? Have I need of madmen, that you have brought this fellow to play the madman in my presence? Shall this fellow come into my house?”
David may have denied his sanity or wisdom in order to save his life, but Daniel would never deny his sanity or wisdom even if he would lose his life. Peter may have denied the Lord Jesus Christ in order to save his life, but Daniel would not deny his prayers to God openly even if he was to be thrown into the Lion's den. If you know Daniel, you know that when Daniel knew wise men are getting killed for being wise Daniel put up and displayed more Wisdom and Counsel even before those about to kill him for being wise. Or know that when Daniel knew that those praying to any God will be cast into a pit of lions Daniel displayed his praying to God in an open window even before his enemies. Or do you want to try Daniel in integrity, you would not find anything against him.
*2* — This "Answer of Daniel" was not just with Wisdom, but also with Counsel
If it was with wisdom only, one may say Daniel was choosing his words carefully at the face of death or threat to the wise men. But Daniel answered with Wisdom and Counsel, which meant advisement. Wisdom is Defense, but Counsel is Direction. The king's decree directed them to kill all the wise men, but the Counsel in Daniel's Answer had redirect them away from what the king's decree directed them to do. Therefore, Daniel's Counsel overcame the king's Command, and stopped the Messengers of the king's death or wrath.
*3* — This "Answer of Daniel" was a Question of Daniel that awakened wisdom or common sense in people's heart
In this Bible verse above you are seeing it as an answer of Daniel, but in the next Bible verse after this one you will understand it was actually an answer but in question form. And the Question awakened wisdom in the heart of fools. For, in the days when a decree to kill all the wise men was ordered, Daniel released an "Answer that Questioned Execution of the Act" in a way that caused those who perceived it to question within them and became wiser. Even those sent to kill the wise men became converted into wiser men by this "Answer of Daniel."
Many foolish people only need to ask themselves wise questions, and then they will become wise. Many senseless people only need to question themselves with the right answers, and then their questioning themselves will become their gaining common sense. Amazingly, what it takes for some sinners to be converted is just for them to rightly question or doubt their ways of life, examine.
*4* — This "Answer of Daniel" in Wisdom was a Defense better than weapons of war.
Remember, men with weapons were sent or shot at Daniel to kill him along with the wise men. Daniel did not fire back, neither did he do "Back to Sender" nor declared "No weapon fashioned against me shall prosper." He was not returning evil for evil at least in self-defense to save his life as a wise man he was. Rather the only weapon Daniel used to reply back or answer was an "Answer with Wisdom and Counsel." Wisdom is a Defense better than self-defense of war or weapons of war.
[Ecclesiastes 7:12] — "For wisdom is a defense, and money is a defense: but the excellency of knowledge is, that wisdom gives life to them that have it."
[Ecclesiastes 9:18] — Wisdom is better than weapons of war; But one sinner destroys much good.”
Do not forget those four points pertaining to this "Answer of Daniel." In the next Bible reference below, you will find that folly (foolishness) can give joy to a foolish man, and also a man's answer of his mouth spoken well gives joy too. Choose which of the joys you want to enjoy between "Folly's Joy" and "Mouth's Answer Joy."
[Proverbs 15:21-24] — "Folly is joy to him that is destitute of wisdom: but a man of understanding walks uprightly. Without counsel purposes are disappointed: but in the multitude of counsellors they are established. A man has joy by the answer of his mouth: and a word spoken in due season, how good is it! The way of life is above to the wise, that he may depart from hell beneath."
Mention two things that make people happy in this Bible reference below:
[Proverbs 15:21-24 FBV] — Stupidity makes people with no sense happy, but sensible people do what is right. Plans fall apart without good advice, but with plenty of advisors they're successful. A good answer makes people happy—it's great to say the right thing at the right moment! Life's path for the wise leads upwards, so that they can avoid the grave below.
Arioch was the Captain of the Guard according to the top Bible verse above. But the first man named Arioch in the Bible was among the four kings Abraham killed or slaughtered in "Genesis 14." Behold the second Arioch was about to kill or slaughter Daniel, a descendant of Abraham but Daniel's Wisdom and Counsel was salvation from death to the wise.
Arioch (the Captain of the king's Guard in Babylon in the days of Daniel) was like Potiphar (the Captain of the king's Guard in Egypt) in the days of Joseph. Joseph did not answer the captain of the Guard that was about to throw him into dungeon, but Daniel wisely answered the captain of the Guard that was about to kill him. However, there was another captain of the Guard of Nebuchadnezzar, who was not named Arioch, but named Nebuzaradan. Nebuzaradan came to take Jerusalem captive, and no wise man answered him to avert that destruction of the great Solomon's temple or captivity of Jerusalem. [Jeremiah 52:12-16].