Chapter XX

True Principle Taught to Medo-Persia

     The night in which Babylon fell Daniel had been appointed by King Belshazzar "the third ruler in the kingdom," because of his interpretation of the terrible handwriting on the wall. The highest honor that could be bestowed on him was that of third ruler because Belshazzar was only associate king with his father. This gave two kings, and so a first and second ruler; and another could not be higher than third ruler.

     Thus it was with Daniel. That same night when Babylon fell, Belshazzar was slain, and his father was a prisoner, and no longer king. This left Daniel as the chief official, the one with whom the conquerors could communicate in rearranging the affairs of the Babylonian State. Because of this, and more particularly "because an excellent spirit was in him,"^{121 Daniel 6:3} the king of conquering Media and Persia thought to set him over "the whole realm." Thus "this Daniel was preferred above the presidents and princes."

     When all the other presidents, princes, governors, and captains saw that Daniel, a captive Jew, was preferred before themselves, who were high and mighty Medes and Persians, they were much dissatisfied. And when they discovered that he was likely to be yet further promoted, they determined to break him down utterly. Therefore they formed a conspiracy, and diligently "sought to find occasion against Daniel concerning the kingdom."^{122 Daniel 6:4}

     But with all their diligence, and with all their suspicions and prejudiced care, "they could find no occasion nor fault; forasmuch as he was faithful, neither was there any error or fault found in him."^{123 Daniel 6:4} There was, however, one last resource, which, by a trick, they might employ. They knew that he feared God. They knew that his service to the Lord was actuated by such firm principle that, in rendering that service, he would not dodge, nor compromise, nor swerve at a hair's breadth, upon any issue that might be raised:

     But even in this there was nothing upon which they might "find" an "occasion." In order to find it they must create it; and create it they did. Pretending to be great lovers of their king and country, and much sincere concern for the honor of the king and the preservation of the State, "they assembled together to the king," and proposed "to establish a royal statute, and to make a firm decree," that whosoever should ask any petition of any god or man for thirty days, save of King Darius, should be cast into the den of lions. They presented the case in such a plausible way, and with such evident care for the public good, that Darius was completely hoodwinked. He "signed the writing and the decree." Thus the invention of the conspirators became the law of the land.^{125 Daniel 6:7-9} Daniel knew that the writing was signed. He knew that it was now the law - the law of the Medes and Persians, which could not be altered. Yet, knowing this, "he went into his house" and "kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime."^{126 Daniel 6:10} He knew perfectly that no law of the Medes and Persians, nor of any other earthly power, could ever, of right, have anything to say or do with any man's service to God. He went on just as aforetime, because, practically, and in principle, all things were just as aforetime. So far as concerned the conduct of the man who feared God, any law on that subject was no more than no law on that subject.

     In the Medes and Persians a new set of men had come upon the world's stage; the power of empire had passed into new hands. And these new rulers, as well as Nebuchadnezzar, must be taught the truth of the separation of religion and the State. And in order that they should have opportunity to learn this, Daniel, who was the possessor and representative of this great truth must stand, unswervingly, to the principle. And so he did.

     "Then these men assembled, and found Daniel praying and making supplication before his God." They expected to find him praying; that was exactly what they "assembled" for.^{127 Daniel 6:11} And Daniel was not afraid that they would find him doing so. They immediately hurried away to the king, and asked him:

     Then the king suddenly awoke to the fact that he had been duped. And "he was sore displeased with himself, and set his heart on Daniel to deliver him; and he labored till the going down of the sun to deliver him."^{129 Daniel 6:14} But it was all to no avail; the conspirators were persistent to frustrate every effort which the king could make. And they had a ready and conclusive argument against everything that might be proposed. That argument was "the law":

      There was no remedy; the law must be enforced. Accordingly, though most reluctantly, "the king commanded, and they brought Daniel, and cast him into the den of lions."^{131 Daniel 6:16}

     The king passed the night in fasting and sleeplessness, and very early in the morning went in haste to the den of lions, and "cried with a lamentable voice, . . . O Daniel, servant of the living God, is thy God, whom thou servest continually, able to deliver thee from the lions?" To the infinite delight of the king, Daniel answered:

     That is divine testimony, published to all the world, that innocence before God is found in the man who disregards any human law that interferes with his service to God. It is also divine testimony that the man who disregards such laws, in so doing does "no hurt" to the king, to the State, nor to society.

     Thus God taught to the rulers of the Medo-Persian Empire the separation of religion and the State; that is, rulers and States are to have nothing whatever to do with men's relationship to God. And it was written for the instruction of all rulers and States unto the world's end.

     In these two experiences recorded in the book of Daniel - the one of Nebuchadnezzar and the worship of his great golden image, the other of the conspirators against Daniel's service to God - all people are taught that the God of heaven forbids any ruler to require his subjects to conform to his ideas in religion, and forbids all people to frame any law on any subject touching man's relation to God. In these two experiences the God of heaven teaches all people that in the presence of men's relationship to God, and in all matters of religion, the word and authority of every king or ruler must give way. All laws framed, which touch in any manner men's relationship to God, are simply naught. In it all, the God of heaven also teaches to all that He vindicates and declares innocent all who refuse obedience to such decrees of kings and rulers, all who utterly disregard all such laws. He also certifies to all kings and people that those who do disregard all such laws do "no hurt" to either king, ruler, or people.

     And thus by the word and work of God in the book of Daniel, there is taught to all kings and all people unto the end of the world, the total separation of religion and State.

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