The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1892-06-08

Memory Verses. 1o-22-Golden Text.
Dan. vi. as-Commentary by the Rev.
ID. NJ. stearns-
16 "Then the king commanded, and
they brought Daniel and cast him into the
den of lions" After the kingdom passed
into the hands of the Modes, Darius made
Daniel the first of three presidents over 10
provinces. But the princes and other
presidents hated him and sought to accom-
pIish his DEATH as recorded in the previous
part of this chapter Daniel is fearless of
man. and faithfully waits upon his God.
The result is that Daniel is cast into the
lions den, and to all appearance has
perished The kind words from the king
are a hope that il may be so. rather than
an assurance that it will be so.
Il And a stone was brought and laid
upon the mouth of the den; and the king
sealed it with his signet." So the
ungodly prosper in the world, and the
devil is permitted to put the saints Of God
in prison and Outlines TO kill them Ops.
lxxiii ~; Rev. ii, 10; John xvi, p. But
the child Of God is TO be prepared for these
things, and not TO think them strange nor
be offended when they come (Math. X, %;
Pet. iv, IL, 10; John xvi, u.
and passed the night fasting" Although
the king loved Daniel and labored hard to
deliver him verses IA, 49,, yet even the
king, with all his power, was powerless
against the law. from which let us learn
that love cannot always deliver nor can
the law save any one Even the law of
God, which is holy and just and good. can
not give life nor Justify the sinner (Gal. iii,
81; ii, 16: Rom. iii, 20).
10. "Then the king arose very early in
the morning and went in haste unto the
den of lions" This early morning victory
and deliverance of Daniel is very sug-
gestive of a morning Of deliverance for
Daniels people, which is now drawing
nigh. See Ps. xxx, 5; XVI, 5, margin; xix,
IA, cxxx, o; II Sam. xiii, 3, (. us also seen
in the early morning deliverance of Mark
vi, 1913 There Is a class of people, how
ever for whom there will be no morning
lisa. viii, 90 r. ".
90. 20 Daniel servant of the living God,
is thy God, whom thou servest continually,
able to deliver thee from the lions" 1t
was great and lamentable cry from the
greatest earthly monarch of the time;
cry of hope, but not of assurance. Had he
known the God of Daniel and of David he
would not have asked if God was able to
deliver Read the experience of David and
Paul in sam xvii, 1886; II Tim. iv, II, is,
and let your own heart say, II am per
suaded that He is able'' II Tim. i, 12).
81. 'Then said Daniel unto the king, o
king live forever" With what eagerness
must the king have listened for a reply
from the den, family hoping for yet hard
~ daring 10 expect reply. But there is
a reply prompt and clear and the kings
heart is exceeding glad Verse 23). What
A. L. Il a.. u.
words, Live forever" the believer in Jesus
knows that he has eternal life John V, "a;
vi, 40.
%. "My God hath sent His angel, and
hath shut the lions mouths. that they have
not hurt me-" Blessed be God and blessed
be His holy angels that excel in strength,
doing His commands hearkening to His
word Ops. CHI, u, ~. Consider the power
of one angel "a seen in the case of Hezekiah
and Of Peter asa xxxvii, IS; Acts xii, CLIO,
and remember that these same angels are
your ministering spirits ever with you,
serving unseen and unthanked (Heb. i, 1G.
%. 80 Daniel was taken up out of the den,
and no Of hurt was found upon him,
because he believed in his God" Daniel,
in figure suffered the extreme penalty of
the law, and came forth from the place of
death, beyond death and judgment, with
OUT any UlduucT OF nlTJ upon ullu. Every
true believer in Jesus is now dead with
Christ, risen with Christ and has passed
from death unto life Col. iii, 1-3; John V,
24. There is no condemnation to them
that are in Christ, nothing can separate us
from His love, and in the morning of resuF-
rection it shall be found that not hair Of
our head has persisted (Rom. viii, l, 80;
Luke ii, 49,.
"a. And the king commanded, and they
brought those men which had accused
Daniel, and they cast them into the den
Of lions, them. their children and their
wives" The triumphing of the wicked
is short, and the Joy Of the hypocrite
is but for a moment Job Xxx, 81 This
is a sample of those for whom there is no
morning. or who in the morning of victory
of those who trust in the Lord shall be
punished with everlasting destruction
from his presence QI Thess. j, l-lU. See
how many were affected by their sin. No
man liveth unto himself. We are always
affecting others either for good OF evil.
25. Then King Darius wrote unto all
people nations and languages that dwell
in all the earth, Peace be multiplied unto
you" That which caused Darius TO make
this proclamation TO all nations was the
power of the God Of Israel manifested on
behalf of Daniel. the jew. The time will
come when the power of this same God
shall be 50 manifest on behalf of all Israel
that all nations shall thus know God and
honor Him as the God of the whole earth
(Ezek. xxxvii, 26-2s; xxxviii, 23).
20. Il make a decree, that in every do
minion Of nv kingdom men tremble and
fear before the God of Daniel" Thus
Darius does tie noblest thing any man ever
did or could do he exaltS God, he gloriiies
God before all nations, and speaks of His
eternal kingdom He makes US think of
the time when "all kings shall fall down
before Him; all nations shall serve Him"
Cps. Xxi, IL; lxxxvi, 9, 10). THE lofty
looks of man shall be humbled, and the
haughtinesS Of men shall be bowed down,
and the Lord alone shall be exalted in that
day" lisa. ii, IL, 10
%. HE delivereth and rescueth, and He
worketh signs and wonders in heaven and
in earth, who hath delivered Daniel from
the power of the lions" Darius had seen
the deliverance of one man from lions
den; but Daniel could tell of the deliver
ance of millions from the bondage of
Egypt, of their food coming from heaven
every day for forty years, of sea and river
divided for them TO pass through on dry
land, of walled cities falling down as men
shouted, and many such wonderful works
of wonderful God. We can tell of dead
bodies actually raised from their graves as
Lazarus and others. and Of time when
all in their graves shall come forth, and of