Strict compliance with the requirements of Heaven brings temporal as well as spiritual blessings. Unwavering in his allegiance to God, unyielding in his mastery of self, Daniel, by his noble dignity and unswerving integrity, while yet a young man, won the "favor and tender love" of the heathen officer in whose charge he had been placed. Daniel 1:9. The same characteristics marked his afterlife. He rose speedily to the position of prime minister of the kingdom of Babylon. Through the reign of successive monarchs, the downfall of the nation, and the establishment of another world empire, such were his wisdom and statesmanship, so perfect his tact, his courtesy, his genuine goodness of heart, his fidelity to principle, that even his enemies were forced to the confession that "they could find none occasion nor fault; forasmuch as he was faithful." 547

Den, der retter sig fuldstændig efter Himmelens love, høster både timelige og åndelige velsignelser. Allerede som ganske ung fandt Daniel "yndest og velvilje" hos den hedenske embedsmand, som havde fået ansvaret for ham. Dan. 1,9. Han vandt denne mand ved sin ædle og værdige optræden og sin kompromisløse retskaffenhed. Lige fra begyndelsen viste han en ubrydelig troskab imod Gud, ligesom han havde fuldstændigt herredømme over sig selv. De samme egenskaber prægede ham resten af livet. Han avancerede hurtigt til stillingen som førsteminister i Babylon. Under de skiftende kongers regering, rigets fald og det nye verdensriges opkomst lagde han en sådan visdom og statsmandskunst for dagen, en så fuldkommen takt og høflighed, et så ægte hjertelag og en så ubrydelig principfasthed, at selv hans fjender var nødt til at indrømme, at de ikke kunne "finde nogen brøde eller brist, da han var tro".