Page:PracticalCommentaryOnHolyScripture.djvu/386

 the den,  to  whom  they  gave  two  carcasses  every  day,  and  two sheep; but  now  nothing  was  given  them,  that  they  might  devour Daniel. Yet Daniel  remained  unhurt.

Daniel having  been  for  some  time  in  the  lions’  den,  needed food. Now there  was  at  that  time  in  Judaea  a prophet  named Habacuc, who  carried  food  to  the  field  for  the  reapers. The angel of  the  Lord  appeared  to  him  and  said:  “Carry  thy  dinner to Daniel  who  is  in  the  lions’  den  at  Babylon.”

Habacuc replied:  “Lord,  I never  saw  Babylon,  nor  do  I know  the  den.”  Then  the  angel  took  him  by  the  hair  of  his head, carried  him  in  an  instant  to  Babylon,  and  placed  him over the  den  of  lions. And Habacuc  called  to  Daniel :  “Thou servant of  God,  take  the  dinner  that  God  has  sent  thee!”  Daniel exclaimed: “Thou  hast  remembered  me,  O God,  and  Thou  hast not forsaken  them  that  love  Thee.”  Then  he  arose  and  ate.

But the  angel  of  the  Lord  carried  Habacuc  back  to  his  own place. On the  seventh  day  the  king  came  to  bewail  Daniel. And standing  near  the  den  he  looked  in  and  saw  Daniel  sitting amongst the  lions,  and  he  cried  with  a loud  voice:  “Great  art Thou, O Lord,  the  God  of  Daniel!”

Immediately he  drew  Daniel  out  of  the  den,  but  those  who had desired  the  prophet’s  death  he  threw  in,  and  they  were devoured by  the  lions  in  a moment. Then the  king  said:  “Let all the  inhabitants  of  the  whole  earth  fear  the  God  of  Daniel,  for He is  the  Saviour,  working  signs  and  wonders.”

The Goodness  of  God.  Not  only  did  the  Lord  God  protect  His  faithful servant from  the  fury  of  the  hungry  lions,  but  he  fed  him  during  his captivity in  the  den  in  the  most  wonderful  way,  sending  him  food  by Habacuc. Full of  thankfulness,  Daniel  exclaimed: “Thou  hast  remembered me, O God,  and  Thou  hast  not  forsaken  them  that  love  Thee.”

The Omnipotence  of  God  worked  two  miracles  on  behalf  of  Daniel. It was  miraculous  that  the  wild  beasts  should  remain  ravenously  hungry rather than  devour  Daniel. It was  also  miraculous  that  Habacuc  should in one  moment  be  translated  from  Judaea  to  Babylon,  and  back  again.