Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
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Daniel
Book: Daniel
Chapter: 6
Overview:
The malice of
Daniel's enemies.
(1-5) His constancy in
Prayer.
(6-10) He is cast into the lion's
Den.
(11-17) His miraculous
preservation.
(18-24) The decree of
Darius.
(25-28)
1-5 We notice to the
Glory of
God, that though
Daniel was now
very old, yet he was able for business, and had continued
Faithful to his religion. It is for the
Glory of
God, when those
who profess religion, conduct themselves
So that their most
watchful enemies may find
No occasion for blaming them, save
only in the matters of their
God, in which they walk according
to their consciences.
6-10 To forbid
Prayer for thirty days, is, for
So long, to rob
God of all the
Tribute he has from
Man, and to rob
Man of all
the comfort he has in
God. Does not every
Man's
Heart direct
him, when in want or distress, to
Call upon
God? We could not
live a
Day without
God; and can men live thirty days without
Prayer? Yet it is to be feared that those who, without any
decree forbidding them, present
No hearty, serious petitions to
God for more than thirty days together, are far more numerous
than those who serve him continually, with humble, thankful
hearts. Persecuting laws are always made
On false pretences; but
it does not become Christians to make
Bitter complaints, or to
indulge in revilings. It is good to have hours for
Prayer.
Daniel prayed openly and avowedly; and though a
Man of vast
business, he did not think that would excuse him from daily
exercises of devotion. How inexcusable are those who have but
little to do in the world, yet will not do thus much for their
souls! In trying times we must take heed, lest, under pretence
of discretion, we are guilty of cowardice in the cause of
God.
All who throw away their souls, as those certainly do that live
without
Prayer, even if it be to save their lives, at the
End
will be found to be fools. Nor did
Daniel only pray, and not
give thanks,
Cutting off some part of the service to make the
time of danger shorter; but he performed the whole. In a
Word,
the duty of
Prayer is founded upon the sufficiency of
God as an
almighty Creator and
Redeemer, and upon our wants as sinful
creatures. To
Christ we must turn our eyes. Thither let the
Christian look, thither let him pray, in this land of his
Captivity.
11-17 It is
No new thing for what is done faithfully, in
Conscience toward
God, to be misrepresented as done obstinately,
and in contempt of the civil powers. Through want of due
thought, we often do that which afterwards, like
Darius, we see
cause a thousand times to wish undone again.
Daniel, that
venerable
Man, is brought as the vilest of malefactors, and is
thrown into the
Den of
Lions, to be devoured, only for
worshipping his
God.
No doubt the placing the
Stone was ordered
By the
Providence of
God, that the
Miracle of
Daniel's
deliverance might appear more
Plain; and the
King sealed it with
his own
Signet, probably lest
Daniel's enemies should kill him.
Let us commit our lives and souls unto
God, in
Well-doing. We
cannot place full confidence even in men whom we faithfully
serve; but believers may, in all cases, be sure of the Divine
favour and consolation.
18-24 The best way to have a good night, is to keep a good
Conscience. We are sure of what the
King doubted, that the
servants of the living
God have a Master
Well able to protect
them. See the power of
God over the fiercest creatures, and
believe his power to restrain the roaring lion that goeth about
continually seeking to devour.
Daniel was kept perfectly safe,
because he believed in his
God. Those who boldly and cheerfully
trust in
God to protect them in the way of duty, shall always
find him a present help. Thus the righteous is delivered out of
trouble, and the wicked cometh in his stead. The short triumph
of the wicked will
End in their ruin.
25-28 If we live in the fear of
God, and walk according to that
rule, peace shall be upon us. The kingdom, the power, and the
Glory, for ever, are the
Lord's; but many are employed in making
known his wonderful
Works to others, who themselves remain
strangers to his saving
Grace. May we be doers, as
Well as
believers of his
Word, least at the last we should be found to
have deceived ourselves.