p. 411 | MEN OUGHT ALWAYS TO PRAY by William Warren Prescott

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jun 26, 1900

MEN OUGHT ALWAYS TO PRAY.

By William Warren Prescott

Through the faithful testimony of Daniel and his companions the gospel of the kingdom was proclaimed in Babylon, and the knowledge of the true God was spread abroad throughout all the realm. And although “Babylon, the glory of kingdoms, the beauty of the Chaldees’ excellency,” had fallen, because Belshazzar, the king, had lifted up himself against the Lord of heaven, with a full knowledge, too, of God’s dealings with Nebuchadnezzar, yet Daniel, who was in himself a representative of the kingdom of God, was brought safely through this crisis, that he might still be a witness to the superiority of the principles of the kingdom of God, and their power to bring salvation to those who accepted them. As the God of heaven had made himself known in the court of Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, so he would do in the court of Darius the Median; and the way was opened for this in both cases by the loyalty to principle on the part of those who were known to be his worshipers. That same “excellent wisdom” which brought to Daniel the highest honors which Belshazzar the king had it in his power to bestow, was recognized by King Darius in the reorganization of the affairs of the kingdom, and Daniel was again given a leader’s place.

“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: that the princes might give accounts unto them, and the king should have no damage. Then this Daniel was preferred above the presidents and princes, because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king thought to set him over the whole realm.”

Under this new plan for the administration of the affairs of the kingdom, the responsibility of guarding the interests of the king was equally divided between three men (see Revised Version), each one of whom had the same opportunity for promotion; but Daniel’s loyalty and faithfulness to the King of heaven made him a faithful servant to King Darius, and thus he exemplified in his experience the gospel instruction that all service should be rendered “in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ; not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart; with good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men.”

The contrast between the service which was rendered upon such a basis as this, and that which was prompted by merely selfish policy, soon attracted the attention of King Darius, and naturally led him to the conclusion that it would be for his own interest to intrust Daniel with the charge of the whole kingdom. But the unfaithful servants, who were thinking only of themselves, and not of the good of the kingdom, were not willing that the character of a leader should give to one the place of a leader, and so they laid their plans to prevent it.

“Then the presidents and princes sought to find occasion against Daniel concerning the kingdom; but they could find none occasion nor fault; forasmuch as he was faithful, neither was there any error or fault found in him. Then said these men, We shall not find any occasion against this Daniel, except we find it against him concerning the law of his God. Then these presidents and princes assembled together to the king, and said thus unto him, King Darius, live forever. All the presidents of the kingdom, the governors, and the princes, the counselors, and the captains, have consulted together, to establish a royal statute, and to make a firm decree, that whosoever shall ask a petition of any god or man for thirty days, save of thee, O king, he shall be cast into the den of lions. Now, O king, establish the decree, and sign the writing, that it be not changed, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which altereth not. Wherefore King Darius signed the writing and the decree.”

What a testimony was here borne to the superiority of the principles of the heavenly kingdom when they have been given an opportunity to reveal themselves in practical life? With an eagerness and a keenness stimulated by the envy of their own selfish hearts, these men hunted for the evidence upon which to base a charge against Daniel, which would defeat the plan to promote him above them; but after the closest examination they could find nothing against him. No record of a mere politician would stand such a scrutiny as this. It was the triumph of principle over policy. A thousand mere sermons would not have preached the gospel of the kingdom like that faultless record of public life. The testimony borne concerning Jesus, “the Apostle and High Priest of our profession,” is that he “was faithful to him that appointed him,” and thus he revealed the character of “the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations.” So of Daniel it is written that “he was faithful, neither was there any error or fault found in him.” Thus his administration of public affairs was a living testimony to the perfection of him “who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth.”

The plan which these men adopted in order to get Daniel within their power, as they supposed, and to preserve their own dignity of position by destroying him, was in itself a testimony to their confidence in his faithfulness to the God whom he worshiped. The success of their plan depended wholly upon the certainty that Daniel would not be prevented from offering his tribute of praise and thanksgiving to God, even when forbidden to do so under pain of death. Thus their own course in this matter was the strongest evidence that Daniel had in his life proclaimed that faithfulness to God was the true basis of faithfulness to man, and that although he was himself in high position, yet he regarded himself as simply a servant of the most high God. This is the true gospel of the kingdom.

Of course it was envy which led these presidents and princes to seek some evidence to be used against Daniel. They were not looking for a weak point in his character, in order that they might help him to strengthen it. They could not bear the thought that he should be preferred above them, even though the excellent spirit which was in him suggested the promotion, and showed that he was worthy of it. This is the spirit of “this present evil world.” It is the spirit which was at the foundation of the

whole rebellion against God and the law of his kingdom, and which led Lucifer to say, “I will exalt my throne above the stars of God. . . . I will be like the Most High.” And as this spirit could not endure the revelation of the character of God in his Son, and sought his destruction when he was manifested in the flesh, so it has in a special manner directed its efforts against those who have in any marked degree represented the divine character. Thus Korah, Dathan, and Abiram “envied Moses also in the camp, and Aaron the saint of the Lord.” Thus “the patriarchs, moved with envy, sold Joseph into Egypt.” Thus when Jesus was brought before Pilate, “he knew that for envy they had delivered him.” And so in Daniel and his accusers we have presented before us in striking contrast the spirit of the two kingdoms.

W. W. P.

(To be concluded.)