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Lives of Great Men
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the reign of successive monarchs, the downfall of the nation, and
the establishment of a rival kingdom, such were his wisdom and
statesmanship, so perfect his tact, courtesy, and genuine goodness
of heart, combined with fidelity to principle, that even his enemies
were forced to say that “they could find no charge or fault, because
he was faithful.”
Daniel 6:4
.
While Daniel clung to God with unwavering trust, the spirit of
prophetic power came upon him. He was honored by God as His am-
bassador and taught to read the mysteries of ages to come. Heathen
monarchs, through association with Heaven’s representative, were
constrained to acknowledge the God of Daniel. Nebuchadnezzar
declared, “Your God is the God of gods, the Lord of kings, and a
revealer of secrets.”
Daniel 2:47
.
True and Honest Men
By their wisdom and justice, by the purity and benevolence of
their daily life, by their devotion to the interests of the people, Joseph
and Daniel proved themselves true to the principles of their early
training, true to Him whose representatives they were. The whole
nation honored these men, both in Egypt and in Babylon. In them a
heathen people saw an illustration of the goodness and kindness of
God, an illustration of the love of Christ.
What a lifework was that of these noble Hebrews! As they bade
farewell to their childhood home, little did they dream of their high
destiny! Faithful and steadfast, they yielded themselves to divine
guidance so that God could fulfill His purpose through them.
The same mighty truths that were revealed through these men,
God desires to reveal through young people today.
The greatest want of the world is the want of those men and
women who will not be bought or sold, those who in their inmost
souls are true and honest, those who do not fear to call sin by its
right name, those whose conscience is as true to duty as the needle
[39]
to the pole, those who will stand for the right though the heavens
fall.
But such a character is not the result of accident. It is not due
to special favors or endowments of Providence. A noble character
is the result of self-discipline, of the subjection of the lower to the