Daniel 6:21-22 Then said Daniel to the king, O king, live for ever.… These words are Daniel's religious and thankful acknowledgment of his deliverance. 1. Here is a reverend compellation. "O king." Darius was a heathen prince; an enemy to God's people; and he here makes a wicked law, forbidding religion, and inforcing to idolatry. Yet the prophet acknowledges and honours him, as his king and sovereign. 2. A loyal and pious salutation. "Live for ever." He prays for him, wishes him both length and prosperity of life here, and eternity of life and felicity hereafter. He upbraids not the king with tyranny and impiety; charges him not with the cruelty of his usage; threatens him not with vengeance, and judgments from God. He will not pray to the king, but he ceases not to pray for him. 3. Thankful declaration of his marvellous deliverance. (1) The author; "My God." Two things: his helper — God. His hold that he lays upon this helper. "My God," by special service and religion, the God of my faith, and piety, and devotion; by special trust and affiance; by present evidence and experience; by resolution, and engagements of holy thankfulness. (2) The Instrument. "Sent His angel." Not my angel, but God's angel. It is not "the angel came," but God sent him. This ministry of an angel, in the delivering of Daniel, adds unto it three excellencies. It makes a comfortable deliverance. As a forlorn and forsaken man, he is visited by an angel. It makes a glorious deliverance. Such a saint shall have not only safety, but honour. It makes an irresistible deliverance. There is no disappointing of this salvation. (3) The manner of this deliverance: how it was wrought. "He shut the mouths of the lions." God delivers not from the den, but when in it. How did he shut the mouths? By a secret power, weakening or restraining them; or by taming and allaying their fierceness; or restraining or slaking their hunger; or by making the prophet appear awful and dreadful to them. (4) The measure of the deliverance. Complete. (5) The motive which God graciously respected. A double innocence of the prophet. General, and particulars to this incident. (Geo. Stradling.) Parallel Verses KJV: Then said Daniel unto the king, O king, live for ever. |
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