The Pulpit Commentary — Daniel — Section 128

Vera. 14-23.-A spedfe remedy for ku'TTl,(1,n distress. The immoderate anger of the king had only aggravated his trouble without bringing a remedy. Uncontrollable temper is suicidal. It robbed Nebuchadnezzar of his kingly dignity, of the use of reason, of the power of memory. For the time being he ha.d forgotten that, in all matters of practical wisdom, he had found Daniel to surpa9s all other state councillors. Now he was on the point of staining hie conscience and his throne with wanton cruelty, with the waste of life, with the mo;t precious blood that Babylon held. I. IT wAS A CASE OF BEAL EM_EBGENOY, The terror of the king, caused by his midnight scare, had only an imaginary foundation. Natural oheerfulness was enough to drive that spectre of evil out of the royal chamber. He might have lau·ghed it out of existence. But now a real distress impended over Daniel and all the wise men of Babylon. It was not merely a fear of future disaster; reputation, property, life, were in imminent peril. The royal edict ha.d gone forth for their summary destruction. The exEcutioner was already preparing the murderous weapons, Before another dawn the die might be cast-the deed be beyond recall. Daniel's anxiety was awakened es much for others as himself. With bis devout trust in God, death was not to him draped in sable gloom. There wue worse evils, in bis regard, than violent death. To die in defence of truth; to die in vindication of God's cause, was a noble deed. But other,, not so pre1Jared for the tremendous change, were included in the peril. Eternal shame wculd cover the king. The foundations of the throne might be sapped. The fortunes of God's people might sink into a yet deeper night. Israel's prospects might suffer a blacker eclipse. The mind of Daniel would be impressed with the folly of putting trust in man. The king ha.d, not long before, shown him special favour- had expressed both regard and frieudship; yet now, Daniel is condemned to death unheard, unjudged. More fickle than the vernal sunshine is the ephemeral smile of royalty. "Put not your trust in princes." II. THE TBUX OBAOLE SOUGHT. Whether the magicians and sorcerers adopted any measures to avert the approachin~ calamity, we are not told. Possibly they were paralyzed with fear, and could only bide their heads in cowardly shame. Now the worth and power of true piety emerge into the light, Jn the darkest hours of trouble, religion shines in brightest colours. There was: 1. An exercise of preventive prudence, Huwever imperative be the duty of prayer, there are other duties which must not be neglectt:d. The want of practical prudence often robs prayer of its efficacious iasues.  'I'llE BOOK OF DANlRL.