Article December 8, 1917 Issue

Daniel and King Darius

HORACE C. JENKINS

Daniel's experiences in the den of lions have held the interest of mankind for centuries; but when understood in the light which Christian Science sheds upon them, they are seen to be surcharged with possibilities for present day achievement and demonstration. For instance, a recent study of the account brought to the writer's thought the attitude of King Darius. Caught in the trap of mortal mind's demand for a consistent adherence to its own statutes and decrees, the king "was sore displeased with himself, and set his heart on Daniel to deliver him." His regret over the mistake was evidently sincere, for we read that he "laboured till the going down of the sun to deliver him."

Like all the so-called laws of mortal mind, this decree became operative only when consented to by that which is acknowledged as having authority. Strangely enough, while the king had power "to establish a royal stature, and to make a firm decree," he might not annul it. His efforts to do so were met by the argument, based on firmly intrenched belief, that the law of the Medes and Persians "altereth not." The king consequently found himself in the pitiable condition of one who has become convinced that his illness is an incurable one. But then,—just as so often happens now,—when the extremity of human ingenuity had been reached, there dawned a faint gleam of hope in God. Immediately following the statement, "Then the king commanded, and they brought Daniel, and cast him into the den of lions," we read, "Now the king spake and said unto Daniel, Thy God whom thou servest continually, he will deliver thee."

These words of Darius have the ring of sincerity and conviction, yet he was apparently so unused to placing his trust in God that he experienced little of the calmness and peace of mind which come to those who abide in spiritual consciousness. After a sleepless night of fasting he "arose very early in the morning, and went in haste unto the den of lions," to learn the news about Daniel. His wavering hope seems to have been inspired by Daniel's steadfast reliance upon God, for he asks, "O Daniel, servant of the living God, is thy God, whom thou servest continually, able to deliver thee from the lions?" The king's joy on hearing Daniel's reply and his accompanying explanation of his deliverance was at once expressed in the complete destruction of Daniel's enemies, and in a decree written to "all people, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth," exhorting them to turn unreservedly to "the God of Daniel: for he is the living God."

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