Daniel 6:11-14 Then these men assembled, and found Daniel praying and making supplication before his God.… Study the character of Darius. I. HIS VANITY. He was proud of his position and power. He was attacked on his weak side. He would not make himself a god, but merely assumes God's prerogative for thirty days. But the one bad step brought its calamity; for sins are social — one of them is never alone. One of his presidents would worship his God all the time. The king sees the evil, but too late. He had done wrong, and he is now the slave of wrong. So with every man. Selfishness is his weakness. If he gives way, the first stone of his dungeon is laid. Then comes the unexpected evil; that one sin brings another. In any crisis, small or great, when the question is between Christ and ourselves, if we do not crucify self, we open the long avenues of guilt, of which often there is no shutting afterwards. II. HIS PERPLEXITY. The king's conscience is aroused. Daniel! he cannot do such a thing with him, he must not do it. But he cannot help it. Surely Daniel can be saved. No — not even that. Then comes the actual evil. He cannot go back, he must go forward. He sinks lower, to sins of deed — weakness, cowardice, and even blasphemy. III. HIS REMORSE AND GOOD INTENTIONS. The king was sorry. Surely he was penitent. Now the tide was turned. Darius makes a new decree: the God of Daniel must be served, and no other. But we are not told that he turned to the Lord, that he learned His law, or kept it. So with us when the cloud breaks and the passion has spent its force, then the reaction comes, and repentance and remorse. If we repent partially, not because we have sinned against God, but have disturbed our own conscience or brought disgrace upon ourselves, if we are ready to go back to temptation afresh, then a new cloud hangs, threatening night. Come, not to boast, but to be forgiven; not to offer, but to receive. (W. Murdoch Johnston, M.A.) Parallel Verses KJV: Then these men assembled, and found Daniel praying and making supplication before his God.WEB: Then these men assembled together, and found Daniel making petition and supplication before his God. |
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