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THE KING’S BUSINESS
alty to God and His Word spoil it all .by their Pharisaical parade of their fidelity to conscience. How seldom it is that a spot- jj less puritanism and sweet reasonableness go hand in hand. v. 9. " Now God had brought Daniel into ( made Daniel to find) favor and tender love with (compassion in the sight of) the prince of the eunuchs." If we are careful to please God we may safely leave in His hands the matter of pleasing our fellow- men. “When a man’s ways please the Lord, He maketh even his enemies to be. at peace with him.” (Prov. 16:7). We see this great truth here illustrated in Daniel. It was also illustrated in Joseph (Gen. 39:21; Acts .7:10), in Ezra (Ezra 7:27, 28), in Nehemiah (Neh. 1:11; 2:4), and it is being illustrated every day. “If we are in God’s line, God 'will bring things into line with us.” All we need to see to is that we please God: vs. 10-13. “And the prince of the eu nuchs said unto Daniel, I fear my Lord the king, who hath appointed your meat and your drink-, for why should he see your faces worse liking than the children ( youths) which are of your sort (own age)? then shall (so should) ye endanger my head to (with) the king. Then said Daniel to Melzar (the steward), whom the prince of the eunuchs had set over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, ( ;) Prove thy servants, I beseech thee, ten days; and let them give us pulse to eat, and water to drink. Then let our countenances be looked upon before thee, and the counte nance of the children (youths) that eat of the portion of the king’s meat: ( ;) and as thou seest, deal with thy servants." Daniel’s suggestion, “prove thy servants, I beseech thee, ten days,” was born of faith. He knew God would not leave one of His children to suffer because of his loyalty to Him. Daniel had enough confidence in his religion to have it put to a practical test. His wisdom was indeed the wisdom that cometh from above (James 3:17). We should note how with Daniel’s absolute unbending firmness there was the gentlest
forbearance in everything he said and did. He had that greatness of character that is seen in those men who have such complete command of themselves that they are gently persuasive instead of overbearingly dom inating, firm as a rock but soft as velvet even in their unyielding firmness. vs. 14-16. "So he consented to (unto) them in this matter, and proved them ten days. And at the end of ten days their countenances appeared fairer, and fatter (they were fatter) in flesh (add ,) than all the children (youths) which did eat the portion of the king’s meat: Then Melzar (So the steward) took away the portion of (omit, portion of) their meat, and the wine which they should drink; (,) and gave them pulse.” Daniel’s faith was not disappointed. At the end of the ten days their counte nances appeared fairer and fatter in flesh than all the children which did eat the por- tion of the king’s meat.” Some would see in this an argument for a vegetable diet. What strange vision some have. It is an argument for obeying God and,seeking to. please Him in all things (cf. Ex. 23:24 • Deut. 28:1-14; Ps. 37:16). ,vs. 17-20. “ (Add, Now) As for these four children (youths), God gave them knowledge and skill in all learning and wis dom; and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams. Now (And) at the end, of the days which (that) the king had said he should bring (appointed for bring ing) them in, then the prince of the eunuchs brought them in before Nebuchadnezzar. And the king communed with them; and among them all was found none like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah: therefore stood they before the king. And in all mat ters of wisdom and understanding, that (concerning which) the king inquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers (enchant ers) that were in all his realm,” . True ,wis dom is God’§ gift (cf. ch. 2:20-23; 1 Kings 12:28; 4:29-31; 1 Chron. 1 :10-12; Job 32:8; Prov., 2:6). This is true of wisdom in all its forms, but it is pre-eminently true of the wisdom that is of perennial worth. The
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