The Pulpit Commentary — Daniel — Section 236

IV, Tmi:m APOBTOLI0 0HARA0TEB. "Are they not all , .. sent forth?" Where ho nppoints, they go. Describe their coming and going as recorded in Scripture But nil this mysterious appearing and disappearing was not at all of their ow~ self-moved will; they were "sent forth." They came on embassage, and the love that sent them was the Lord of angels and ours. V, THEin M!NIBTBATION. 'fhey are "sent forth" to bring us help, to aid the otherwise helpless. Look at this: 1. Negatively. Their main object is not any of the following, though angels have been commissioned for them all. (1) To glorify some g~eat eve~t; e.g. the lnc~rnation. (2) To answer prayer. (Cb. ix. 21.) (3) To terrify enemies. (Matt. xxv1. 53.) (4) To destroy the doomed; e.g. the Assyrian army. (5) To advance their own knowledge. (l Pet. i. 12; Eph. iii. 10.) 2. Posi- tively. To bring help. The lesson for us-not to live in the light that shines from superiors, not to enjoy the company of equals, but to minister to those below. (Why not include in this lesson from the angels, our duty of ministration to races of life be low man ? ) VI. THEIR RELATION TO REDEMPTION AND THE REDEEMED. 1. Their general attitude. (1) With reference to redemption generally. The attitude is one of anxious interest, which was typified in the aspect of the cherubim over the ark, "towards the mercy-seat shall the faces," etc.; and declared in the New Testament (1 Pet. i. 12). (2) With reference to the redeemed particularly. Interested are they in the beginnings and developments of regenerated life (Luke xv. 7, 10; 1 Cor. iv. !:l). 2. Their critical services. Angels are prominent through all the great epochs of Divine revelation-in the patriarchal, legal, and prophetical dispensations. Keep watch and ward about the Person of Christ. (The annunciation to Zecbariah, to Mary ; the anthem at the birth; one in Gethsemane, twelve legions in waiting; two at the sepulchre.) They were active at the founding of the Church; are now agents in providence; will add to the glory of the last assize. 3. Their combined action. Militant action, we may call it. Much in the Bible to imply that the angels are ever exerting, on behalf of the saved, a moral influence, equal in extent, though opposite in kind and greater in degree, to that exerted by evil spirits. They are not idle spectators of the long-drawn-out moral conflict of this earth. 4. Their indi- vidual ministration. (See John i. 51; Matt. xviii. 10; Pss. xuiv. 7; xci. 12; 2 Kings vi. 17; eh. vi. 22; Acts xxvii. 23.) (The "Angel-god" passages not referred to, because his appearances were those of the Lord Jesus.) CONOLUBIONB. 1. The majesty of their King. Christ the Lord. Such a retinue. 2. The greatness of the object of angel solicitude. Salvation. 3. The brightness of the Christian prospect. "Equal unto the angels."-R, Vere. l-9.-The murderous plot of envy. As every climate and every condition of soil are favourable to the propagation of particular weeds, so every state of society offers facility for the growth of some sins. Prosperity bas its dangers as well as adversity. If the refinements of civilization make grosser vices intolerable, the greater encouragement is given for the secret sins of envy, deceit, and uncharitableness. It is never safe for the conscience to fall asleep. I. ENVY 0AN EXIST JN TllE BEST-ORDERED C0MMIJ'NITY, Whatever may have been the faults of Darius, he had a remarkable faculty for wise government. The difficult task of ruling a large empire was distributed among suitable orders of men. He was not only successful in war, but also skilful in council. Unlike many Oriental monarchs, he was neither an autocrat nor a tyrant. He did not suppose that all wisdom resided in himself, nor did he imagine that intelligent beings could be ruled by sheer will. 'Therefore he laid the basis for constitutional government, and appointed a prince in every province of the empire, whose business it would be to maintain the royal authority, and to secure to all subjects rights of freedom and property. But no human government, however wise or good, can check the growth of immoral principles, Human authority, at the most, can deal with overt crimes; it cl\nnot check or punish the iniquities in the human heart. There is need for higher authority-for a heart-searching God-to control the tempers and passions of the soul. II, ENVY IB EXCITED BY THE SIGHT OF SUPERIOR GOODNESS IN OTHERS, It is fl strnnge phenomenon thut virtue iu oue should be the occasion of vice in others. Yet  202 THE BOOK OF DANIEL. [CH, VI, 1-28,