Daniel 6:10 Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem… God's people are not often found in the high places of the earth. They do not covet such distinctions. But when he is pleased to call them to posts of worldly honour, he gives them strength according to their day. Daniel's elevation was remarkable. What a testimony do worldly men sometimes give to the value of religious characters! Darius the Mede soon found out his value. But he had enemies. He had only one vulnerable point — one point in which his character was open to attack from an ungodly world. His enemies said, "We shall not find any occasion against this Daniel except we find it against him concerning the law of his God.'" What a testimony did these men give unconsciously to the character of him they hated. But how could these men make Daniel's religious character a handle against him? Explain their ingenius plot. How did Daniel meet it? He was a man of prayer — he lived by prayer — he was frequent, fervent, zealous in the exercise — his hours of prayer were his most precious hours — and as for parting with this privilege, as for laying it aside for thirty days together, he would sooner part with life itself. Let worldly people plead necessity as an excuse for interrupting their devotions; the godly man knows no necessity so great as that of seeking God from day to day. Might not Daniel have evaded such a law as this, by praying to God in secret? He evidently felt that this was an occasion to show that he was not ashamed of his religion, and not to be deterred from it. He would not even seem to be obedient to a wicked law which went to rob the God of heaven of the worship due to him. Note the description given of Daniel's prayers. One thing to remark, upon, is their frequeney — three times a day. Another thing is, he prayed before his God — prayed as in God s presence, as one who was really speaking to his God. Daniel's prayers were attended with thanksgiving. This is the Apostle's rule. (Philippians 4:6). Notice his posture. "Kneeled." A posture surely best befitting creatures like ourselves when we go as beggars to our Great Creator. Daniel prayed with his face toward Jerusalem. That circumstance in his devotions we are not called to imitate. The rule for us to follow is to have an eye to Christ in all our prayers. The rest of Daniel's history is a grand exhibition of what the Lord can do both in his saints and for them. Questions. 1. What do you think of Daniel? 2. What do you think of Daniel's God? (A. Roberts, M.A.) Parallel Verses KJV: Now 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. |
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