Page 155 - The Prophet-statesman a Drama of Daniel

But on the occasion of the great reception for King Cyrus by the lords and ladies
of Babylon all was decorum and dignity and sobriety, as the continency of Cyrus was
well-known and such was the manner of the government that had been headed by

Darius and Daniel.

The first two to be introduced to Cyrus by Darius were the prophet-statesman
Daniel and the venerable Queen Rhea.

As Daniel bowed before Cyrus in the proper attitude that the subject should
display toward a sovereign, Cyrus had exactly the same sensation that had come over
Darius at his first meeting with this man “in whom there dwelt the Spirit of a Holy

God.” Darius had told him of the venerable Hebrew—his spotless character, his
gentility of bearing, his sagacity in government, but most of all of the faith in his God,
Who had miraculously preserved him from the power of the lions—but still Cyrus was
unprepared for this deep sense of reverence that came over him in the presence of this

man, for the consciousness (for the first time in his life) that he was confronting a man
immeasurably his superior. He returned Daniel’s greeting and said: “I have heard
much of you, Lord Daniel, and am looking forward to close association with you and
to imbibing freely from the fount of your wisdom.”

I fear our gracious King Darius has spoken of me more highly than I deserve, but
it will be my pleasure to assist you to the limit of the time yet allotted to me and my
humble ability. I have also some interesting intelligence to convey to you of the

revelation of my God concerning you, as you may have the willingness and
opportunity to receive it.”
“I shall be glad to hear you, Lord Daniel, at the earliest possible opportunity, after
I have acquainted myself with the obligations and responsibilities of government.”

Then turning to Queen Rhea, Cyrus said: “I am also happy to know you as the
kinswoman of my good friend Darius, and also as the widow of the great King
Nebuchadnezzar, of whose might and wisdom I have heard from my youth. I am told

that you are a wise counsellor yourself. Happy are you and we that your life has been
spared this long.”

Such was the grace and clemency of Cyrus the Persian. Small wonder that an
omniscient God had long since foreordained him as a chosen vessel and as an
instrument for His specific purpose!