The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1899-07-28

/
Doing Right az Any Cost; Examples
Peter Joseph. John the Baptist, Abraham,
! Moses. Gideon. Elijah. ShAlrlch. Mcshach.
| Aht.nego Promises of 'I1ivurange. ~.
| Chror 2pl5. II. psa- ~ ISL, - sol5. q a.
Z tSJ. JOB. i.io lsa. ia.@l-Si. illi. l., dis.
I Rom S.se. q. 81. Eph C.>. l Pet s.i.. Is :
Pet ~. Rev $40, John is.l. y. =.
TlME.-lsetWefn s.N-sc6 the two years
during which Darius was reisning under
cyrus.
PLACE.-Iahy.cn!a part onl: 81 the
great empire OF cyrus
THE JEWS ~ ENILE.-The exile had
now continued nearly years. arc the time
Of the return was near AT hand.
RULERS Cyrus king 81 me 'shole en-
pire OF the Melts ana rersians. Darius
the Mede. king AZ Babylon. subject TO cy-
fus. Canon Trstram thinks he e3as placed
there at the request of the Nsdss. TO paclfy
Them. aud says: This Darius Is only once
alluded TO ia the Greek classicsl"
EXPLANATORY.
!. Daniels Past ENpericr ce.-Daniel
must have been between so and 90 years
old at this time. lie had haze many trials
Of his character and his faithfulness
The severe trials TO which he had been
subjected had hitherto resulted only
in raising him 10 higher honors and
success. l. In his Diet ,rmination 10
keep from defling his religion (chap.
-. .. In his faithful presentation of the
true God to Nebuchgdnezzar, telling
him the most terrible truths (chap. ~.
4. In his faithful reEroof and warning
of Belshazzar (chap. 81.
ii. The Trap.-Under Darius. Daniel
was recognized as a man OF great abil-
ity and integrity. and one who could bc
trusted implicitly. Accordingly. he
made him one of the three presidents
over 100 governors OF "a many prov
inces into which the kin ydom was 81 y
divided. IL was not long before lie
other officers determined that in some
way or other, by fair means or foul.
they must get rid of Daniel
III. Daniel Goes Straight On in the
Way of Duty. 20. wow when Dan
lei knew that the writing was signed"
1t made no difference as TO his conduct.
lie would say as Nehemiah said TO
Shcmaiah:" should such q man as
nee?" Neh. GID Windows being
open toward Jerusalem" Pray
ing toward Jerusalem was not an act
of superstition. IL was CD a recogni-
tion Of Gods promise 10 solomon in IA
vor OF those who looked toward this
center of His worship q Kings -:3J-44).
te) IL was a recognition OF the God of
Israel. and OF lis promise that His peo-
pie should return 10 their home. t3)
Ii was an aid to the spirit Of devotion.
The place and its associations have an
influence upon our spirits. and give
them wings. or weigh on them like
burden. "kneeling upon his knees"
\ fitting attitude for humble prayer.
favoring the spirit of devotion. Three
times a day." Like the psalmist (Psa.
55:lO.
". The Trap sprung.-Ns li-i5. VII.
"Then these mem" The princes who
had been plotting against Daniel. AS
semb' ed:" As it, '. 6. assembled or
ran hastily" so as to come upon Daniel
suddenly and detect him in the act. IL.
And spoke before the king. :. Has.
thou not etc. A soon ~ they Lad the
proofs they presented them TO the
slams. which altcreth not:' In this
two principles are involved: one. the
existence Of settled law or rule by
which the king himself. theoretically at
any rate. is bound. and which he can
not alter. the other. the inclusion. I'M
der this law or rule. of the irrevoca-
bility Of "A royal decree, or promise. v.
:. 4
ease. Every door of escape was shut
against Daniel. They had simply to
TO the king that Daniel was
guilty.
Y. Daniel in the Lions Den.-Ns. 1G-
Il. Y. i6. They brought Daniel and
east him into the den Of lions" This
was according TO oriental custom on
the evening of the same day. The
story of the den of lions is strictly in
keeping with Babvlonian usages. "The
king spake:" As they were putting Dan
Eel into the den. Whom thou seryest
continually" A precious testimony to
the religious character and fidelity OF
the prophet. Compare Matt. 2-:42.
John is:3s. Todd. VIZ. "Stone
laid upon the mouth OF the den:" The 1
mouth was the door through which the |
animals were put into the den. Is.
The king passed the night fast I
Ing" The idea that lies al the basis Of /
fasting Is grief SO deep that il takes 1
away the desire for food.
VI The Deliverance.-Ns. 1929. v. I
TO- THE king arose very early" Lit \
rally lin the dawning. in the glimmer 1
Of morning" Y. %. MY God hath sent
His angel" Daniel does not say wheth- \
er the angel was visible or not. The
winds and the lightning are Gods an
gels. according TO the psalmist. limo
'ency was found in NEE" Daniel de-
.lares that he had been faithful 10 God
md 10 the king. and hence God had
seen fit to deliver him. v. %. "Bc-
cause he believed" and had shown IL
~ doing right at all costs God never
ails those who trust in Him.
VII. Retribution.-T who were
instrumental in the attempt upon Dan
els life were cast themselves into the
len OF lions, with all their families.