Page 126 - The Prophet-statesman a Drama of Daniel

two decades ago, had the statesman-prophet ascended the stone steps to the palace.
Soon he was ushered into the banquet-hall and became the cynosure of all of the
eyes in the hall as he walked with stately tread toward Belshazzar, who was still very

ill-at-ease as he sat at the head table.

As he entered the hall, Daniel, now more than four-score years of age, cast a
glance around him. The evidences of sin and debauchery were present on every side

and were a great offense to this man who had walked in holiness and sobriety all the
days of his life. His hair and beard were both snow-white and yet there was an
agelessness, a vigor about this man, a dignity in his demeanor, a majesty in his
presence and carriage that cast a spell over the dissipated revelers who had already

been sobered by their fears. It could be said of this peerless man, scholar, statesman,
saint. as it was said of his spiritual forebear, Moses, that “His eye was not dimmed,
nor his natural force abated.”

Even though he did not at this time intend it so, Belshazzar’s uncouthness and lack
of a sense of real values became apparent at his opening address to the prophet: “Art
thou that Daniel, which art of the children of the captivity of Judah, whom the king,
my father brought out of Jewry?” He still characterized this nobleman who had been

repeatedly and for many years Prime Minister of all of the Babylonian Empire, one of
“the children of the captivity of Judah.” But he continued in more courteous tone: “I
have even heard of thee, that the spirit of the gods is in thee, and that light and
understanding and excellent wisdom is found in thee. And now the wise men, the

astrologers, have been brought in before me, that they should read this writing, and
make known unto me the interpretation thereof: but they could not shew the
interpretation of the thing: And I have heard of thee, that thou canst make
interpretations, and dissolve doubts; now if thou canst read the writing, and make

known to me the interpretation thereof, thou shalt be clothed with scarlet, and have a
chain of gold about thy neck, and shalt be the third ruler in the kingdom.”

Daniel ignored the first question concerning his origins, and did not comment on

the king’s words of approbation, but began where the king left off: “Let the gifts be to
thyself, and give thy rewards to another; yet I will read the writing unto the king, and
make known to him the interpretation. O thou king, the most high God gave

Nebuchadnezzar, thy father, a kingdom, and majesty, and glory, and honour: And for
the majesty that he gave him, all people, nations, and languages, trembled and feared
before him: whom he would he slew; and whom he would he kept alive; and whom he
would he set up; and whom he would he put down. But when his heart was lifted up,
and his mind hardened in pride, he was deposed from his kingly throne, and they took

his glory from him: And he was driven from the sons of man; and his heart was made
like the beasts, and his dwelling was with the wild asses; they fed him with grass like