November 6

"There is a God in heaven that revealeth secrets." Daniel 2:28.

DANIEL was perhaps the most blameless character recorded in the Scriptures. Of course He is excepted from the comparison, who was "fairer than the children of men." Neither do we mean to intimate that Daniel was sinless. He had an evil heart to lament before God: but with regard to his conduct before men, as a professor of religion, nothing is laid to his charge. And what an honor was it to be spoken of, while living, and while young too, by a prophet, in company with Noah and Job, as one of those who were most likely to have power with God as intercessors.

Here we see his humility. The king said unto him, "Art thou able to make known unto me the dream which I have seen, and the interpretation thereof? Daniel answered in the presence of the king, and said, The secret which the king hath demanded cannot the wise men, the astrologers, the magicians, the soothsayers, show unto the king: but there is a God in heaven that revealeth secrets." Why does he mention this, but because he would prevent the commendation of himself, and that the only wise God should have the glory that was due unto his holy name? And thus another fine character, jealous of the divine honor, said to his sovereign, "It is not in me. God shall give Pharaoh an answer of peace." The most eminent of all characters in the Christian church also said, "By the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me." Contrast with these, two of the most famous of the heathen philosophers and moralists: one of whom said, "That we have riches, is of the gods; but that we have wisdom, is of ourselves." And the other, "A good man is, in one respect, above the gods themselves; for they are good by the necessity of nature, but he is good by choice."

But what is the praise that Daniel transfers from himself to God? The revelation of secrets. Men are fond of secrets. With regard to themselves, they are always wishful to pry into futurity. Almanacs must therefore have something to feed this humor, or half their number would not be sold. Mistresses as well as servant-maids, the old as well as the young, would show their palms to the fortune-teller, were it not for the fear of ridicule. Were the witch of Endor alive, many would repair to her; and like Saul, consult the devil himself at second-hand. Envy makes us inquisitive with regard to rivals; fear, with regard to enemies; and love, with regard to friends. It was curiosity, operating in a way of attachment, that led Peter to inquire after the destination of John: "Lord, and what shall this man do?" But the Lord did not even encourage this: "What is that to thee? follow thou me."

The secret things belong unto God, but things that are revealed are for us, and for our children. Concerning many things he is silent; and where he says nothing, we are not to be wise above what is written.

But He can reveal secret. His understanding is infinite. Hell is naked before him, and destruction hath no covering. "Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and open unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do."

He has revealed secrets. He enabled Daniel to explain the import of Nebuchadnezzar's dream, and foretell the succession of the four monarchies. He showed Moses what the Jews would be at this very hour. What a divine prerogative was prophecy! We may conjecture, but we really know not what a day may bring forth. We may argue from causes to effects, but the existence and operation of the causes themselves depend upon the will of another. We may infer from probabilities, but the natural tendencies of things are liable to accidental derangement: and the race is not always to the swift, nor the battle to the strong. Besides, as to the predictions of Scripture, many of them regarded things so remote, that what immediately preceded them could not possibly be discerned. And others regarded events the most unlikely to take place of all occurrences in the world. And yet, when we look into history, we see how it accords with these announcements. How can we account for this, but by admitting that prophecy came not in old time by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Ghost?

He does reveal secrets. How many now living has he called out of darkness into his marvellous light. Not that he has communicated to their minds things new in themselves, but they were new to them. The sun had been shining, but they had been in the dark, because they were blind. All the doctrine was in the Bible before, but he now leads them into all truth, and shows them not only the reality of divine things, but their importance and glory. Give a man a taste for a book of music, or science of any kind, and he will see a thousand things entirely new to him, though he possessed the work before. So "the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness unto him; neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned: but the spiritual judgeth all things." So the secret of the Lord is with them that fear him: and he shows them his covenant, and their interest in its engagements and provisions. And what a discovery is this. How anxious will every awakened mind be to possess it. Say unto my soul, I am thy salvation. And what is the promise? "I will give him to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it." He also shows them the secrets of his providence, as well as of his grace. They know what he is doing, and what he will do. They know that he is fulfilling his own word, and making all things to work together for their good. They know that "behind a frowning providence he hides a smiling face," and that, even when he slays them, they have reason to trust in him. "Who is wise, and he shall understand these things? prudent, and he shall know them? for the ways of the Lord are right, and the just shall walk in them; but the transgressors shall fall therein."

He will reveal secrets. Yes; there is "a day, in the which," says the apostle, "God will judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ, according to my gospel." Then will be developed dreadful secrets. Then many who had a name here, will be disowned. They had honored him with their lips, and gained the notice of their fellow-creatures, but their hearts had been far from him. And what is the hope of the hypocrite, though he hath gained, when God taketh away his soul? Pleasing secrets. Then they who are now deemed the enemies of the cross of Christ, will be found to have been its friends. Then they who are now considered as indifferent to holiness and good works, will appear to have mourned for sin, and prayed for purity. Then the tear dropped upon the Bible in the closet, the private act of charity, the frequent intercession for others, will be displayed and commended. "He will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and make manifest the counsels of the hearts; and then shall every man have praise of God." Divine secrets. He will show why he permitted the entrance of moral evil, delayed so long the coming of his Son, suffered his gospel to be so impeded, and his church to be so afflicted; and more than justify all his ways to men: what is now perplexing will be made plain; what now seems disorderly will be arranged; what now seems jarring will be harmonized; what now seems defective will be complete. And then, not as now, from faith, but from sight the acknowledgment will be made, "He is the Rock, his work is perfect; for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth, and without iniquity: just and right is he." To many these mysteries are already explained. When shall we have an inheritance with the saints in light?