Daniel 2:17-18

Daniel informed his three friends of the situation so they could pray together about it (cf. Philippians 4:6-7).

"It is the first instance of united prayer recorded in Scripture; and the fact that these children of the captivity resorted to it, discovers to us the secret of their holy and separate walk." [Note: Edward Dennett, Daniel the Prophet: And The Times of the Gentiles, p. 22.]

Since the decree affected them all, they joined in interceding corporately to "the God of heavens" (lit.). This title for God appears five times in this chapter (Daniel 2:18-19; Daniel 2:28; Daniel 2:37; Daniel 2:44) plus elsewhere, particularly in books that have pagan Babylon as their setting. It appears in Daniel 5:23; nine times in Ezra; four times in Nehemiah; and in Genesis 24:3; Genesis 24:7; Psalms 136:26; and Jonah 1:9. The Babylonians worshipped the heavens, but Yahweh is the God over all "the heavens," not just the God of heaven. He is sovereign over all.

The four young men prayed for compassion (mercy) from God, since the king’s edict was very harsh (Daniel 2:15). They asked that God’s compassion (mercy) would manifest itself by a revelation of the king’s dream, and its interpretation (Daniel 2:16), so they would not die with the other wise men who were worthy of death (Daniel 2:18; cf. Genesis 18:22-33). The "mystery" in view was something unknown that they prayed God would reveal. In Scripture this is the consistent meaning of a mystery. It is not something spooky but something previously hidden by God but now revealed by Him.