“Jehovah’s name be blessed, your task is made easy!”
“My task,” cried Isaiah.
“Yours,” again Daniel’s voice sank low. “This is what is commanded you of God: On the day of the feast of Bel cast all fear from you. Trust in the guardianship of Jehovah. During the festival the customary watch will be relaxed. You know the great tunnel beneath the Euphrates, from the palace to the Eastern City?”
“I have been through it twice. It is treading amongst the dead to traverse it, but I do not fear.”
“By means of it you can pass unnoticed to the very temple of Marduk. Take your stand upon the terrace of the ziggurat, before all the thousands when they approach with the ark of the idol. Cry aloud against Belshazzar, against Avil-Marduk, against the sinful city and its evil gods. For Jehovah commands that they shall not be cut off unwarned. Bid them repent, and to cease the persecution of the Lord God’s people. Nevertheless they will not hear, for they are to be cut short in their sins. But though they rage against you, they shall not harm you. You shall escape. You shall go to Susa, and stand before Cyrus the righteous king, and give him the mandate of Jehovah, for God has summoned him to bring low this Babylon. The words which you shall speak to him, God will put in your mouth in due season; for He has chosen you out of all the sons of Judah for this high honour—the freeing of His people.”
“My father! my father!” again Isaiah fell upon his knees, “who of all am I to do this deed? Again I cry, ‘unworthy.’”
“And again I say to you, not righteousness, but obedience, is demanded. Go forward with all boldness.”
“Hist!” warned Isaiah, “Zerubbabel approaches to warn us that we must part. When shall I see you again?”
“In His own good time,” answered the old man, sweetly; then he laid his fettered hand on Isaiah’s head, “the God of our fathers keep you, my son, in His service, and teach you that nothing truly evil may befall.”