T H E K I N G ' S B U S I N E S S (2) THE DEJECTION OF DARIUS, vs. 14-18 “ The king * * * passed the night fasting.’ The king was displeased and dejected and sought some method by which he could deliver Daniel. He was in the same condition as was Herod (Matt. 14: 6-9) “But when Herod’s birthday was kept, the daughter of Herodias danced before them, and pleased Herod. Whereupon he promised her with an oath to give her whatsoever she would ask And she, being before instructed of her mother, said, Give me here John Baptist’s head in a charger. And the king was sorry; nevertheless for the oath’s sake, and them which sat at meat, he commanded it to be given her.” His pride had caused him to fall into this trap (Prov. 29:23) “ A man’s pride shall bring him low.” He was guilty of the sin of which the anti- Christians are guilty (2 Thess. 2:4) “Who opposetb and exalteth himself above all that la called God, or that Is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth In the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.” He labored to deliver Daniel, but could not. The law of the Medes and Persians was ironclad, but sin was at the bottom of it all. (Dan. 8:12-15) “And a host was given him against the daily sacrifice by reason of transgression, and it cast down the truth to the ground; and it practised and prospered.” and the law of the Medes and Persians was contrary to God’s law (Mai. 3 :5). The command was given for Daniel’s incarceration in the lion’s den, but the king spoke words of encouragement to Daniel that are surprising, “Thy God whom thou servest, He will deliver thee.” The king passed a sleepless night— a night of fasting. He hung his harp upon the willows. Had he possessed a wife like Jezebel, how different it would have been (1 Ki. 21:7) “And Jezebel his wife said unto him, Dost thou now govern the kingdom of Israel? arise and eat bread, and let thine heart be merry.” Pilate could wash his hands, but not the guilt from his hands. The king was really anxious for Daniel, however, and had some faith that Daniel’s God
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might deliver him. And he was right. (3) THE DELIVERANCE OF DAN IEL, vs. 19-23 “ My God hath sent His angel.” Very early in the morning! He could not wait. Perhaps you are think ing of Mary and the tomb of Jesus (Matt. 28:1) or of Paul, “ I had no rest in my spirit because I found not Titus, my brother” (2 Cor. 2:13). Had God, Daniel’s God, given some faith to Darius that he should have call ed for Daniel at a lion’s den? Note the honorable distinction bestowed upon Daniel by the king in v. 20. Note the reply in v. 22. Then ask yourself the question: “ Is this story true? Did some imaginative genius write this and never say a word about the lions or the manner in which Daniel spent the night?” Put this question up to some of these wiseacres who are constantly telling us that these are fairy stories. Are we not warranted in using our imagination? An angel came and shut the mouths of the lions. Are not angels ministering spirits (Heb. 1:14) and would that not be just like God’s man ner of dealing? Did He not do this for David? (2 Sam. 22:1) “And David spake unto the Dord the words of this song, in the day that the Lord had delivered him out of the hand of all his enemies, and out of the hand of Saul.” Did He not do the same for Paul (2 Tim. 4:17), and is the Bible not full of illustrations of God’s deliverances, and have you not had deliverances in your own experience? If not, how have you lived? And have you always voiced your praise and honor to the Lord as Daniel did? Why did God deliver him? “ Because he believed in his God.” (Psa. 34:7; Acts 12:1; Psa. 91:14, 15.) “Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore Trill I deliver him; I will set him on high, because he hath known my name. He shall call upon me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him.” We may walk in the valley of the
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