THE POWER OF RIGHTEOUSNESS DELIVERS FROM DEATH.
It hardly seems possible that any thoughtful student of the Scriptures can read the experience of Daniel as recorded in this sixth chapter, without noticing the parallel between it and the experience of the Son of man when he was betrayed into the hands of sinners. They were both delivered up on account of envy; they were both falsely charged with such disregard of the civil authority as really amounted to treason; in both cases the accusers made use of the civil power as a means of accomplishing their own personal ends; in both cases the ruler before whom the case was tried, was satisfied of the innocence of the accused, and desired to set him free, but was led to pronounce sentence against him by the clamor of the accusers, and through fear of loss of his own position; in both cases extra precautions were taken to prevent any human interference with the complete success of the plan, the seal of the civil power being set upon the stone which closed the door of hope; in both cases those who came “very early in the morning” found that a great deliverance had been wrought through the innocence of the accused; and in both cases the gospel of the kingdom was proclaimed throughout all the world, as the direct result of the effort to destroy the life which was revealing it. If the Jews in the time of Christ had understood this lesson from the book of Daniel, “they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.” And if the people of this generation understood it, there would never be a decree passed “that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed.” “Whoso readeth, let him understand.” Although the presidents and the princes were apparently much concerned for the welfare of the king, and the stability of the kingdom, and had acted in this matter with a great outward show of regard for the person of the king, yet the sequel showed that this was all a hollow mockery, and that they cared only for their own selfish ends, with an utter disregard for the effect of their conduct upon the peace of mind of the king. “Then the king went to his palace, and passed the night fasting: neither were instruments of music brought before him: and his sleep went from him. Then the king arose very early in the morning, and went in haste unto the den of lions. And when he came to the den, he cried with a lamentable voice unto Daniel: and the king spake and said to Daniel, O Daniel, servant of the living God, is thy God, whom thou servest continually, able to deliver thee from the lions? Then said Daniel unto the king, O king, live forever. My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions’ mouths, that they have not hurt me: forasmuch as before him innocency was found in me; and also before thee, O king, have I done no hurt. Then was the king exceeding glad for him, and commanded that they should take Daniel up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no manner of hurt was found upon him, because he believed in his God.” The contrast is again sharply drawn between the kingdom of this world and the kingdom of heaven; between the one who is surrounded with the outward indications of royalty, the pomp and circumstance of the court, and the one who has the kingdom of God within him. “The king went to his palace;” but the palace could give him neither peace of mind nor rest of body. Daniel spent the night in the den of lions, but had both, because the “kingdom of God is . . . peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.” And the king was glad to go from the palace to the den of lions “very early in the morning,” and found peace of mind only in learning that the wicked scheme, in which he had acted his part, had failed of its purpose. How plain it is again made that he who sits upon a throne is not always a king, and that character is the true test of membership in the royal family. Darius did not dare to stand for the right regardless of the consequences to himself, and the consequences of this course were destructive to his own peace of mind; he was the slave of corruption, the mere creature of circumstances. Daniel remembered that he was a servant of the living God, and was loyal to him regardless of the consequences to himself; and the consequences were full of glory. He was the Lord’s freeman, the ruler of circumstances. The co-operation of the human with the divine in the Lord’s provision to deliver man from all the destructive power of him who, “as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour,” is plainly brought out in the experience of Daniel. God sent an angel, and shut the lions’ mouths; but this was made possible by the fact that Daniel maintained his communion with God. He did not himself cut off the channel of communication. “No manner of hurt was found upon him;” but this deliverance was not the result of any arbitrary act upon the part of God, merely to show his power, but “because he believed in his God.” Faith is the key that God has placed in the hand of man, with which he may unlock the storehouse of heaven, and share with God all that God has. He is thus brought into the current of God’s own life, and experiences the power of the endless life, and becomes a partaker of the divine nature. Being thus united with the whole thought and purpose of God, all heaven is at his command to give him success in the way of the Lord, and he will experience the fulfillment of the promise that “whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.” Thus it was with all those “who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens.” Thus it is that “all things are possible to him that believeth.” In continuing his communion with God “as he did aforetime,” even when he “knew that the writing was signed,” Daniel had openly disregarded a decree which had been passed in due form, and established “according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which altereth not,” and yet in his deliverance from death the testimony was borne that he was innocent before God, and had done the king no hurt. This makes it clear that God has never conferred upon any civil ruler the power to interfere with his servants in rendering to him what is his due as Lord of all. Ruler and subjects alike are the servants of the most high God, and each one in his place is to serve him continually. It was because Daniel recognized that he was a servant of the living God, and then served him continually, that his God was able to deliver him from the lions. Any other course on the part of Daniel would have separated him from the protecting presence and power of God, and would have left him alone with the wild beasts. It is Immanuel, “God with us,” who is “the Deliverer.” The testimony of Paul the apostle is, “The Lord stood with me, . . . and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion.” “The Lord is with you, while ye be with him; and if ye seek him, he will be found of you; but if ye forsake him, he will forsake you.” (This study to be concluded next week.)