Page 43 - The Prophet-statesman a Drama of Daniel

Within an hour Arioch was back at the little house on Palace Way. So sure had
Daniel been that he would be allowed to make the request, that he had fully attired
himself for presentation before the King, when Arioch returned.

“Tarry, in prayer for me here, my friends, that I be given wisdom in meeting the
King,” Daniel enjoined as he left the house for the palace in company with Arioch.
“The King is still in dark mood, but when I mentioned your name as making the

request, he seemed to remember you and his manner visibly softened. I have strong
hope that he will grant us the time.” These were the only words spoken by Arioch as
they walked up to the palace. There was no delay in passing the various portals, as
Arioch had full access.

In a matter of minutes Daniel was ushered by a page through the doors of the great
throne-room where sat Nebuchadnezzar.

Half-way across the room Daniel prostrated himself as was the custom and then rose
and with steady step approached the throne.

“Art thou not one of the four whom we graduated summa cum laude from the college,

over a year ago?” Nebuchadnezzar asked. “I am, Your Majesty,” replied Daniel
respectfully.
“Well, what do you wish to request,” asked the King, not unkindly.
“That you will grant to me and the other Wise Men of Babylon a delay of three days,

before Your Majesty’s decree of death be executed. In that time my friends and I will
invoke the power of Jahveh our God in behalf of the King’s matter, and it may well be
that He will reveal it. If so the King’s desire will be fulfilled and the Wise Men will be
saved. If not we may then bear the penalty that the King has imposed.”

“This is the very young man,” Nebuchadnezzar mused to himself, “who by his
demeanor, so greatly interested Rhea. I had overlooked the fact that they would be
involved in the decree. And now here is a test of the power of this Jahveh of whom we
have read.”

“The request for a stay in execution of the Wise Men is granted. We will give an
opportunity to your Hebrew deity to show what He can do. In seventy-two hours from
this time you must present yourself here with the dream and its interpretation, or the

decree will stand as announced. And I warn you, young man,” and his tone grew
suddenly stern. “that there be no fabrications attempts to deceive me. I have forgotten
the dream, but I will know well whether it is correctly reproduced. You are dismissed.
Daniel bowed low and retired. He returned straight to his home, giving thanks for
Jahveh’s favor upon him thus far. “So far, the Lord has answered our prayers, my dear

brothers. Now let us pray to Him and trust Him to grant the greater request that we shall
make these three days.”