Sanctified Life
69
appear wrong. And still he made no claim to sanctification, but he
did that which was infinitely better—he lived a life of faithfulness and
consecration.
The decree goes forth from the king. Daniel is acquainted with the
purpose of his enemies to ruin him. But he does not change his course
in a single particular. With calmness he performs his accustomed
duties, and at the hour of prayer he goes to his chamber, and with his
windows open toward Jerusalem, he offers his petitions to the God of
heaven. By his course of action he fearlessly declares that no earthly
power has the right to come between him and his God and tell him to
whom he should or should not pray. Noble man of principle! he stands
before the world today a praiseworthy example of Christian boldness
and fidelity. He turns to God with all his heart, although he knows that
death is the penalty for his devotion.
“Then the king commanded, and they brought Daniel, and cast him
into the den of lions. Now the king spake and said unto Daniel, Thy
God whom thou servest continually, he will deliver thee.”
Verse 16
.
Early in the morning the monarch hastened to the den of lions, and
cried, “Daniel, Oh Daniel, servant of the living God, is thy God, whom
thou servest continually, able to deliver thee from the lions?”
Verse 20
.
The voice of the prophet was heard in reply, “Oh king, live for ever.
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, Oh 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.”
Verses 22, 23
. Thus was the servant of God
delivered. And the snare which his enemies had laid for his destruction
proved to be their own ruin. At the command of the king they were
cast into the den, and instantly devoured by the wild beasts.
As the time approached for the close of the seventy years’ captiv-
ity, Daniel’s mind became greatly exercised upon the prophecies of
Jeremiah.
Daniel does not proclaim his own fidelity before the Lord. Instead
of claiming to be pure and holy, this honored prophet humbly identifies
himself with the really sinful of Israel. The wisdom which God had
imparted to him was as far superior to the wisdom of the great men