The Pulpit Commentary — Daniel — Section 76

accoun~ it may be, the royal viande were eupposed to poseees eome special virtue, 'l'hese loye.l servants of Jehovah would not consent to s1mction thie ldolatroue belief. 'l'hcy declined to be partakers in other men's sins. Moreover, God had taken the pains to give to lsrRel minute directions what animals they might eat, and what fiesh they might not E'at. The use of blood in food was prohibited. They were not to ent such animals as had been strangled. Hcnoe Dnniel and the others were bound by an earlier and a higher allcgianoe, which they had resolved not to violate. They hnd not the power of choice left. In religious duty they were bound to the King of heaven. "'l'hey were willing to render unto Cmsar those things which wore Coomr's, but they were determined also to render unto God the things which were God's." We may often obtain by a conciliatory request what we cannot obtain by an imperious demand. Modesty of deportment is a grace peculiarly befitting the young. It is a false estimate of dignity when men suppose they must be self-assertive, arrogant, and unyielding. Persuasive kindness wields the mightiest sceptre. "The meek shall inherit the earth." Sweet amiability in Daniel was blended with firm principle, as luscious dates adorn the stately palm. Very likely Daniel had tacitly resolved not to violate his conscience, whatever the prince of the eunuchs might urge. But he would try gentler measures at first. He would not defeat his own ends by precipit.ate speech. \Vords, once uttered, are not easily recalled. The excellences of Daniel had already gained for him a place in the heart of this chamberlain, and the influence over this officer which Daniel had virtuously gained was used for his companions as much as for himself. The fruits of our good.Less, others share in. We cannot live wholly for ourselves. The human race is an organic body, the several parts of which are united by ligaments of mutual service and reciprocal interest. IV. THE OPERATION OF SELFISH FEAR. This palace officie.l seems to us a man mild and placable, but a slave of formal routine. The maxim of his life was this:- Tbat which has been from time immemorial must continue world without end. To presume to offer a suggestion to his royal master was an offence bordering on treason. It had never occurred to him to question the wisdom of previous kings and chamberlains. Of course viands coming from the royal larder, and consecrated to the gods, must feed and vitalize human brains. It would be rank impiety to doubt it. So men hand down beliefs and customs from age to age, without bringing them to the test of practical utility. Their business runs daily in some narrow groove, and they become so completely the creatures of habit that all the energies of mind are lulled into inglorious sleep. " Let well alone " is one of their easy-going adages; forgetting that there is a "better" and a "best." This subordinate prince does not attempt to reason on the merits of the case. He is not willing to tolerate in these Hebrew youths the exercise of intelligence, judgment, or conscience. At once, he thinks exclusively of the injurious effect upon himself: "I fear my lord the king." Had he argued that he had a duty to the king, which obligation required him to fulfil, there would have been an element of nobleness in his attitude. Or had he showed anxiety for the risk of loss these young men ran, it would have been commendable. But this /ear for himself is mean and de.~picable. Indeed, the service be had engaged to perform was one beyond his power to carry into effect without the consent of these youths themselves. This chamberlain could have spread the students' table with the prescribed food and wine, but no human power could have compelled these youths to partake. With the spreading of the periodic repast, the chamberlain's duty would properly have terminated; but he was confronted with a difficulty he had not expected, and showed the weakness of his character by giving way at once to selfish fear. If he found that his royal master required of him unreasonable or impossible service, he could surely have requtsted his sovereign to relieve him from that post, and place him in some other position. A loss of official station is not necessarily a disgrace : it is often an honour. A good man need fear no one save God. "Fear him, ye saint.s, and yon will then Have nothing else to fear." V. THE EXPERIHENT PROPOSED. Dauiel readily proposed a plan which might quiet the chamberlain's fears. He suggests that an experiment be made for ten days only, during which time he aud his comrades should. di~t on vegetable food and water, Vil, I, 1-21.] 'l'Im BOOK OF DANlEL. .'35