I would like to look at Daniel, not as a prophet, but as a saint and a servant of God. In him we get the moral features brought out that should always mark the servant in a day of ruin and confusion among God’s people. As we see the outward ruin of the church, many a heart has said, “I give up.” But we may be a Daniel in this day of confusion and ruin, if we only have faith and purpose like his. Ten points strike me in Daniel’s history.
1. a Separate Man
Nothing could exceed the ruin in Daniel’s day. God’s people were in captivity. The temple was destroyed and its vessels taken to Babylon. Daniel and his friends were captives of King Nebuchadnezzar, a godless monarch, who cared nothing for God or for His people. They had to undergo a three years’ curriculum at the college of Babylon, with all the surroundings of idolatry, and be subject to immense temptation to give up their faith and their Nazariteship.
This is where Daniel made his first stand. “Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself” (Dan. 1:88But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king's meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself. (Daniel 1:8)). In plain language, he was a separate man.
Having refused the king’s portion, Daniel chooses, and is allowed, pulse and water. His action emboldens his fellows to join him, and we find God blesses them. “As for these four children, God gave them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom; and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams” (Dan. 1:1717As for these four children, God gave them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom: and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams. (Daniel 1:17)). Their education was from God.
2. an Enlightened Man
“At the end of the days that the king had said he should bring them in, then the prince of the eunuchs brought them in before Nebuchadnezzar. And the king communed with them; and among them all was found none like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah: therefore stood they before the king. And in all matters of wisdom and understanding, that the king inquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers that were in his realm” (Dan. 1:18-2018Now at the end of the days that the king had said he should bring them in, then the prince of the eunuchs brought them in before Nebuchadnezzar. 19And the king communed with them; and among them all was found none like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah: therefore stood they before the king. 20And in all matters of wisdom and understanding, that the king inquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers that were in all his realm. (Daniel 1:18‑20)). The examination day came, and these four young men came out at the top of the class.
The place these captive students get is a great encouragement. A devoted saint, in the long run, is ten times better than the most instructed worldly man, because he has light from God.
3. a Prayerful Man
When you come to the second chapter, you find Daniel in difficulties. The king had asked the most preposterous thing: He called on his wise men to recall and interpret a dream. All the wise men were to be cut off if they could not declare it. Unless they could meet this difficulty, there was nothing for them but the sword. But we find a very nice thing; Daniel goes to the king for time and to God for light. Daniel got his brethren together, and they had a prayer meeting. Are there difficulties in your way? Have a prayer meeting. He tells his brethren the difficulty, and they pray.
What is the result? “Then was the secret revealed unto Daniel in a night vision. Then Daniel blessed the God of heaven” (Dan. 2:1919Then was the secret revealed unto Daniel in a night vision. Then Daniel blessed the God of heaven. (Daniel 2:19)). And what is the next thing? We see beautiful order in his soul.
4. a Praiseful Man
He has a worship meeting next; he blesses God. “Daniel answered and said, Blessed be the name of God forever and ever: for wisdom and might are His: and He changeth the times and seasons: He removeth kings, and setteth up kings: He giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding: He revealeth the deep and secret things: He knoweth what is in the darkness, and the light dwelleth with Him. I thank Thee, and praise Thee, O Thou God of my fathers, who hast given me wisdom and might, and hast made known unto me now what we desired of Thee: for Thou hast now made known unto us the king’s matter” (Dan. 2:20-2320Daniel answered and said, Blessed be the name of God for ever and ever: for wisdom and might are his: 21And he changeth the times and the seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up kings: he giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding: 22He revealeth the deep and secret things: he knoweth what is in the darkness, and the light dwelleth with him. 23I thank thee, and praise thee, O thou God of my fathers, who hast given me wisdom and might, and hast made known unto me now what we desired of thee: for thou hast now made known unto us the king's matter. (Daniel 2:20‑23)). He had sought the fellowship of his brethren in the matter of prayer, and in his thanks to God he takes his brethren in. He has a deep sense in his soul of the blessedness of having to do with God.
5. a Prosperous Man
“Then the king made Daniel a great man, and gave him many great gifts, and made him ruler over the whole province of Babylon, and chief of the governors over all the wise men of Babylon. Then Daniel requested of the king, and he set Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, over the affairs of the province of Babylon: but Daniel sat in the gate of the king” (Dan. 2:48-4948Then the king made Daniel a great man, and gave him many great gifts, and made him ruler over the whole province of Babylon, and chief of the governors over all the wise men of Babylon. 49Then Daniel requested of the king, and he set Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, over the affairs of the province of Babylon: but Daniel sat in the gate of the king. (Daniel 2:48‑49)). Rewarded and exalted himself, he does not forget those who were at the prayer meeting. Everything is shared with them.
We are called to the enjoyment of God’s things, and to share these things with others is of immense importance. We are only vessels, and God puts the light in us; hence, whether it is the gospel or the truth connected with the church, we are responsible to circulate and pass it on.
6. a Faithful Man
The fifth and sixth chapters go together in illustrating this point. In the fifth he is brought in before King Belshazzar, and he is faithful indeed, as he foretells his doom. I am not speaking now of Daniel as a prophet, but as a saint. He is a fearless and faithful man; he is dependent on the Lord alone. He receives everything from the Lord for himself, and he has something for everybody else.
7. a Hated Man
Daniel’s faithfulness, trustworthiness and consequent promotion led to his being hated. The root of the hatred against Daniel was his ever-increasing promotion by the successive monarchs he served so faithfully. He was not only a man of excellent spirit, but a man of moral uprightness and integrity. “Then the presidents and princes sought to find occasion against Daniel concerning the kingdom; but they could find none occasion nor fault; forasmuch as he was faithful, neither was there any error or fault found in him” (Dan. 6:44Then the presidents and princes sought to find occasion against Daniel concerning the kingdom; but they could find none occasion nor fault; forasmuch as he was faithful, neither was there any error or fault found in him. (Daniel 6:4)). What a lovely character! Oh, how like Christ! “I find no fault in this man” was said about the blessed Lord, and here is His servant morally like Him.
Foiled in their effort to lower him in matters relating to the kingdom, his enemies take another course, and King Darius is tricked into signing a decree forbidding prayer to anyone but him. What effect has this edict on Daniel? None whatever! He does not alter his course but trusts in God.
8. a Preserved Man
“When Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and, his windows being open in his chamber towards Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime. Then these men assembled, and found Daniel praying and making supplication before his God” (Dan. 6:10-1110Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime. 11Then these men assembled, and found Daniel praying and making supplication before his God. (Daniel 6:10‑11)). Daniel’s action was based on the Word of God, which said that if His people were in captivity, they were to pray to Him and to look toward His house. As a result, he is cast into the den of lions. But the devoted man is the delivered man, and “no manner of hurt was found upon him, because he believed in his God” (Dan. 6:2323Then was the king exceeding glad for him, and commanded that they should take Daniel up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no manner of hurt was found upon him, because he believed in his God. (Daniel 6:23)).
9. a Man Identified
With God’s People
Chapter 9 shows us Daniel again in prayer and deep humiliation before God on account of the sins and transgressions of His people. Nothing could exceed the moral beauty of this prayer. The one who is most clear of the sins confessed is the one who confesses them in the most reality to God. The sins of all Israel he owns as his, and while speaking in prayer, he is visited by Gabriel and sweetly instructed as to Israel’s full restoration (see Dan. 9:21-2721Yea, whiles I was speaking in prayer, even the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision at the beginning, being caused to fly swiftly, touched me about the time of the evening oblation. 22And he informed me, and talked with me, and said, O Daniel, I am now come forth to give thee skill and understanding. 23At the beginning of thy supplications the commandment came forth, and I am come to show thee; for thou art greatly beloved: therefore understand the matter, and consider the vision. 24Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy. 25Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times. 26And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined. 27And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate. (Daniel 9:21‑27)). He really eats the sin offering before God.
10. a Man Greatly Beloved
In Daniel 10 he gets a wonderful revelation from the Lord. “Behold, a hand touched me, which set me upon my knees and upon the palms of my hands. And he said unto me, O Daniel, a man greatly beloved, understand the words that I speak unto thee, and stand upright: for unto thee am I now sent” (Dan. 10:10-1110And, behold, an hand touched me, which set me upon my knees and upon the palms of my hands. 11And he said unto me, O Daniel, a man greatly beloved, understand the words that I speak unto thee, and stand upright: for unto thee am I now sent. And when he had spoken this word unto me, I stood trembling. (Daniel 10:10‑11)). How near the Lord comes to him, as he says to him, “O Daniel, a man greatly beloved”! He entered into the sense of how deeply the Lord loved him. The sense of the love of God is deep joy to the soul.
May the Lord give us to be encouraged, as we see how God preserved this man who was devoted and separate and how God instructed, used and comforted him.
W. T. P. Wolston, adapted