The Life of Daniel (11)

The prophet Daniel was crowned with tokens of honor. He had honored His God and proclaimed faithfully what the Lord had made known to him and what the end of Belshazzar would be. This king had not humbled his heart but had provoked the Lord by desecrating the holy vessels of God’s house and feasting while the enemy was so near to him. In that night, the king of the Chaldeans was slain. The successor of Belshazzar was Darius the Median, who was about sixty-two years old when he began to rule. Also, during this reign, Daniel continued and was a living example of the fear of the Lord and faithfulness of His service.

Daniel’s position

We read in chapter 6:1&2a, “It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom an hundred and twenty princes, which should be over the whole kingdom; and over these three presidents; of whom Daniel was first.” We read, indeed, that it pleased Darius. He was a sovereign ruler and did what he delighted in, although it was not Darius’s good pleasure but actually God’s good pleasure which would be executed and manifested also in the exaltation of Daniel. The reason that he was preferred above the presidents and princes was because there was “an excellent spirit in him.” Daniel was now a very old man. He was in captivity in Babylon about seventy years; during this time he had remained faithful to His God despite all the temptations and several changes of throne. What a privilege it is that also in the evening of his life this testimony may be given of him, “an excellent spirit.”

We read in Psalm 92:14, “They shall still bring forth fruit in old age; they shall be fat and flourishing.” This may also be said of Daniel. Those that honor Him the Lord will honor, and so Daniel received his high position in a strange country. This caused the enmity and the envy of his colleagues, the other presidents and princes. Not only was there jealousy among them but also there was hatred in their hearts. The Lord has said in His Word that the world will hate His church because when God’s people walk in the tender fear of His name, their conduct accuses the enemies of God. Even without words, their walk is speaking loudly. It is a judgment upon the church if those people with “an excellent spirit” are taken away and the foolish and the wise virgins are sleeping while the Bridegroom may be near. Those enemies hope they can find something inconsistent or some failure in the walk of life of God’s dear children, but here in the case of Daniel, they could not. His conduct was perfect, honest, and free of partiality even in his high position so that they could find no ground for accusation. However, the devil provided a plan so that their envy could be gratified. It is true, the other rulers could not find any fault in Daniel’s official and public life, but perhaps they could ensnare him in his religious life. It was a very evil plan, but in all this, the Lord would clearly show the beauty of His grace in the heart of Daniel.

The new law

We read in Psalm 2:2, “The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against His anointed…” The devil will try to destroy God’s work or to take away such God-fearing people. His instruments are fully responsible for what the rulers do, and they ask the king for a decree, a new law. This law would state that nobody might ask a petition of any god or man for thirty days. It is hard to imagine a more unreasonable law than this. All prayer was suspended, and once the law was signed according to the constitution of the Medes and Persians, it could not be changed or abolished for any reason at all; neither could pardon be given to any offender.

The king had no idea that this law was aiming to remove Daniel from his position. People may have flattered him that according to this law, no petition could be made to any god or man, “save of thee, O king.” Every request had to come to the king alone. It has often been, not only in those days but also later, when the Christian church was young, that rulers as kings and emperors would be honored as gods. The emperor-worship was the cause that many Christians had to pay for their belief and their refusal to bow before a human idol. How is that in our days? Whoever dares to refuse to bow before the idol of the anti-discrimination laws may expect persecution, sometimes in a more subtle way but more and more in a very open way.

No, this does not mean that we may discriminate against those of another color or race, but in today’s philosophy, anti-discrimination also implies that we have to agree and may not say anything negative about what God has clearly forbidden in His Word. That will bring into conflict our laws and God’s testimony. Though we have to be obedient to the government when laws are made, if practices are promoted which go against His will, then we have to obey God rather than man. Would we be as faithful as Daniel was?

He knew what was at stake when he went to his house to bow his knees before his heavenly Master, the supreme King before whom all kings will one day have to bow.

Daniel’s prayer

Will Daniel now quietly go home, seek a hidden place, keep His religious devotions private, and bow his knees where no one can see him? We read something else in verse 10: “Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime.” No, Daniel did not deny His Master. He was steadfast and confessed Him publicly.

The Pharisees also loved to pray in public in the days of the Lord Jesus, even on the corners of the streets. They did so because they liked to be seen and honored by others. They desired to be respected as godly people while they sought their own glory only. No, Daniel’s heart was not longing for honor like this, and he knew very well the enmity that surrounded him. Yet, he did not seek a hidden place but bowed before windows open toward Jerusalem. Daniel did not complain to Darius and come against the absurdity, impiety, and iniquity of the edict. He also did not make an effort to have it repealed or try to obtain some ruling in his favor. He was determined to set an example of His religion without fear of what man could do unto Him. He did what David had done as we read in Psalm 55:17: “Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice.”

No, Daniel did not walk blindly into a trap. Daniel knew that the writing was signed, that is, he understood; he saw the danger. It is a blessing when we are not blind to the dangers, the allurements, the devices, the efforts that are made to lead us astray from the right paths. He had been in a strange heathen land so long already, but he was kept by the power of God. His windows were open, which means he was looking out, expecting, hoping, begging as a needy person. His expectation was from the Lord alone. He had a praying life.

In paradise heaven was open. There was God’s nearness. There was His favor and love. We left the Lord, closed the door, and from our side, there is no way back to God. It would be just if the Lord would refuse to listen also to the cries of those who need Him. Some may experience a hidden God and many enemies who say, “The Lord has cast you off,” and that would be righteous, but the Lord is merciful and gracious. A way is opened because Christ was nailed on the cross, nailed below a closed door to the house of the Father. He made a way to God by His bitter suffering. Now there is a door of hope in the valley of Achor (Hosea 2:15). There is hope for lost sinners. Guilty sinners may appear before Him, and they will experience, “He hath heard my voice and my supplications.” It was a precious place for Daniel where he could pour out his heart, ask for wisdom, and beg for God’s nearness. The Lord will not forsake those who in the midst of all opposition, enmity, and impossibilities may flee unto Him.

(To be continued)

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