Vere, 14-30.-The dreamfownd. "Then we.a the secret revealed unto Daniel in 11, nigM vi.Bion."In this section Daniel is the principal actor; and as be moves throuoh the successive scenes of tl,ie part of the sacred drama, his character shines like the ligM, o.nd mny illumine for us the path of life. We shall, therefore, keep him promi- nent throughout. Observe Daniel- l. IN THE BHADE, 1. The position. Although Daniel had been trained for dis- tinguished services, pronounced by the king to excel all the magi (eh. i. 20), be wa~ forgotten by the king, ignored by hie fellows of the magian college through jealr,usy, only discovered to share a common ruin. This was a picture of the trials of bis wbr,le career. Daniel the eminent had to contend with the jealousy of the mean, 'l'his spirit begot the attempt to cast hie companions into the burning fiery furnace. Years after it throws him to the lions. So now the captain of the king's guard "sought Daniel and hie fellows to be slain." 2. The moral attitude. Daniel was ever animated by a sense of duty, and more by a readiness to serve those who either neglected or opposed him, 3. The providential call. At the critical moment God, in wisdom and love, supervened and intervened; broke the meshes of the confining net; and ealled the saint out into that ministry for which he was intellectually and spiritually fit, and also morally ready. II. AT THE KING'S GATE. 1. The calm spirit of Daniel. There was much to exasperate in the whole situation. Cruel death was impending. But Daniel lived high above events in a serene heaven of the soul, and was, therefore, prepared to come down into the incidents of life, and act with the best effect. 2. His use of means. To act well in great emergencies requires the coolness of spiritual wisdom. Daniel: (I) Had conference with Arioch. (2) Sent a respectful message to the king. (We under- stand that Daniel did not go himself, till later, actually into the presence of the king, but sent in the request by the proper officer.) 3. His success. This may be attributed especially to three causes, note specially the last: (1) The king's remembrance of Daniel. (2) The awakening of a great hope in the king's breast. (3) TM heart, of men are in the kuping of God. III. WITH ms owN COMPANY, 1. The prayer. Here observe: (1) Daniel di,d, not delay. He lost no time. He did not go to consnlt with the magi, whether there was anything in their art, in their books, that might be of use in the matter. With some men prayer is the last resort instead of the first. (2) Resolved to make the difficulty a matter of prayer. (3) Fell back into the sool-fellowship to which he belonged (ver. 17). ( 4) Secured the power of united supplication. In the prayer itself the following specialities are suggestive: (1) It kept prominent the exalted supremacy of God. (2) It appealed to his "mercies." (3) It went upon the principle of committing all that troubles us to God. (4) It concerned a great public interest. But (5) one in which the private safety of the petitioners was involved. 2. The prevalence. The all- important fact is that the prayer was answered. The answer was revealed either in a dream, or more probably in a waking vision of the night; and the vision was no doubt accompanied by a clear attestation of the truth of it. Can any one doubt the possibility of such revelation, who has realized to himself the nearness of the Eternal to the human mind? 3. The praise. This was: (1) Instantaneous. Daniel did not wait till he had verified the dream by audience with the king. ~ soon as ever he received the mercy, he was ready to praise. (2) Full. Matthew Henry puts it well. (a) Daniel gives to God the glory of what he is in himself. (b) Of what he is lo the world of mankind. (c) Of this particular di,scovery. (3) Sympathetic. Friend:! wero associated in the praise, as in the prayer. IV. IN THE KING'S CLOSET, Here we have Daniel, the living representative of what a true prophet shonld be. He is not only a type of him whom technically we call a prophet., but of every one who is for God the mouthpiece of vital truth to man. Before the king: 1. He sinks liimself. (Ver. 30.) 2. H11 forgi11es personal adver- saries, (Ver. 24.) 3. He is forward to put down all that ezalt• itself against God. (Ver. 27.) 4. He has a sense of the moment of his message. (Vt!rS. 1:8, 29.) 5. He glorifies God, (Ver. 2B.}-R.
Vers. 31-33, 37-43.-'.I'hc imiversal world-powers. "Thol\, '.J king, sawest, and l>ehold an imago, one und grand" (ver. 31). Seize first the imagery of the dream. THE BOOK OF DANIEL. [on. 11. 1-49,