Passaic City record., 1892-06-11
SABBATH SCHOOL.
INTERNATIONAL LESSON FOR
JUNE IL.
Lesson Text: "The Dem OF Lionsp
Daniel vi, 16-28-GoIden Text:
+ Daniel vi. 23-Commentary.

{ 16. svThen the king commanSed and tI,ev
brought Daniel and cast him into the den Of
Mons" After the kingdom passed into the
hands OF the Medes Darius made Daniel the
nrst OF three presidents over 100 provinces.
But the princes and other presidents hated
him and sought to accomplish his death, as
ter. Daniel is fearless of man. and faith
fully waits upon his God. The result is
that Daniel is cast into the lions den and
70 ali appearance has perished. The kind
words from the king are q hope that it may
be so.
'17. Sand stone was brought and laid
upon the mouth of the den; and the king
sealed 1t with his own aignet." So the un-
godiy prosper in the world, and the devil is
permitted to put the saints of God in prison
and ofttimes to kill them Ps. lxxiii., 12;
Eey. 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. K, 28;..I Pet. iv., IL 10;
John xvi, II.
18. Then the king went to his palace and
passed the night feasting." Although the
king loved Daniel and labored hard to deliver
MIN lverses IA, 15), 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 anv one
Even the law of God, which is holy and just
and good, cannot give life nor Justify the
sinner tGal. iii. 81; H.. 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
dellverance OF Daniel is very suggestive or q
morning of deliyerance for Daniels people,
which is now drawing nigh. See Pa. XXX.
9; XVI. 8, margin; xix IA; cxxx.. 6; II
Sam. xiii. 8, A. Its also seen in the early
6oli <.f ~rIr - q
There is class Of people, however, for
whom there win be no morning lisa. viii,
20, r. W.
20. 10 Daniel, servant of the living God,
ts thy God, whom thou servest continually,
able to deliver thee from the lionsf" 1t was q
earthly monarch OF the time, q cry Of hope,
but not of assurance. Had he known the
God Of Daniel ami Of David he would not
have asked if God was able to deliver. Read
the experience of David and Paul in / Sam
xviii, 34-S6; II Tim. iv., II, 49, and let your
own heart say, Il am persuaded that He is
81. ssThen 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 hardly dar-
ing to expect reply. But there is a reply
prompt and clear and the kings heart Is
exceedingly glad tverse 23). Whatever may
have been the significance of the words.
Live forever" the believer In Jesus knows
that he has eternal life John ", "a: vi, All
%. my God hath sent His angels, and
hath shut the lions mouths, that they have
not hurt men Blessed be God and blessed
be His holy angels that excel In strength,
doing His commands, hardening to His word
iPs- ciii., 21.22). Consider the power of one
angel as seen in the case Of Hezekiah ana OF
Peter lisa. XXX, 80: Acts xiii, 6-1QD, and
remember that these same angels are your
ministering spirits ever with you, serving
unseen and unthanked (Heb. t., IA.
%. $50 Daniel was taken up out Of the
den, and no manner of hurt was found upon
him, because hebelieved in his God" Daniel,
In a figure, suffered the extreme penalty Of
the law, and came forth from the place Of
death, beyond death and judgment. without
any manner of hurt upon him. 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 ". 24). There is
no condemnation TO them that are in Christ
nothing can separate us from His love, and
in the morning of resurrection it shall be
found that not hair of our head has per-
ished, rom. viii, /. 80; Luke IL, 18l.
"a. ssAnd the king commanded, and they
brought those men which had accused Daniel,
and theycast them into the den Of lions, them,
then childrea and their wives" The
triumphing of the wicked IS short and the
Joy of the hypocrite is but for 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 de-
struction from His presence QI Thess. l., 1-10).
See how many were affected by their sin.
No man liveth unto himself. arealways
affecting others either for good or evil.
Is. "Then King Darius wrote unto all
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 VIII come when
the power of this same God shall be SO msni-
fest ON behalf of all Israel that all nations
shall thus know God and honor Him as the
God of the whole earth tEzek. xxxvii, %
Is; xxxviii. 23.
26. II make decree that in every do
minicn Of my kingdom men tremhe and fear
before the God Of Daniel.n Thus Darius
does the noblest thing any man every did or
could do, he exalts God, be glorifies God be-
fore all nations and speaks OF His eternal
kingdom. He makes us think OF the time
when .sall kings shall fal down before Him;
al nations shall serve Him" FPS. lxzii.. II;
mxxy,.. 9. 1N. ssThe lofty looks of man
shall be humbiei. and the hau ghtiness OF
men shall be bowed down. and the Lord
alone shall be exalted in that DAY" lisa. Il,
b.. aHe 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 tbs 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 q wonoeriul
Cod Wa can tell of daad bodies actually