The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1905-10-04
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
LESSON Ii, FOURTH QUARTER, INTER-
NATIONAL SERIES, OCT. 8.

NATIONAL SERIES, OCT. 8.
Text OF the Lesson, paE. vi, 1928
Memory Verses, ,2I-23-GoIden Text
Ps. xxxiv, documentary Prepared
by Rev. Z. ID. stearns.
Copyright, 1905, by American ,ss Association
Throughout the whole Bible story,
which covers the whole history. Of the
earth, it is ever manifest that there is
a deadly conflict between the seed Of
the serpent and the seed of the woman,
some special manifestations of the
same being seen in Cain Sad Abel, Jo-
seph's brethren and Joseph, Pharaoh
and Israel, Absalom and David, in our
lesson Of today, notably in the Jews
and Jesus, and finally in the events
which will take place as recorded in
Rev. xii, II; xvii, Il; Xxx, 10.
Daniel continuing. although the king
dom changed hands, is suggestive Of
Him whom Daniel served, who con-
ttnues the same amid all changes.
Daniels pre-eminence over all the pres
idents and princes (verse 81 recalls Col.
/, 1S, 'That In ali things he might have
the pre-eminence" See also Eph. /,
21-8, as to His being "far above alP'
powers and names In heaven and earth.
There being no error or fault in Daniel
(verse 4) makes us think Of Pilates
threefoid testimony concerning Christ,
"I find no fault in Him" John xviii,
IS; XIX, 4, .6). It is ever true that "the
wicked plotteth against the just, and
it Is the nature Of the devil to accuse
the good" CPS. 1xxvii, u; Job /, 8; ii, y,
bat the riumphing Of the wicked is
short, and the triumph Of the righteous
is sure and eternal.
Daniel was strengthened for this
great trial by the visions granted him
In the reign of Belshazzar Chapters vii
and viiD, as Abraham was strength
ened to resist the temptation from the
king Of Sodom by the appearance Of
and blessing from Melchizedek. We
all need the light Of prophecy and the
realities of the future glory to enable
US to overcome in the daily conflict
Daniels purpose Of heart as a young
man not to defle himself Il, 3 cor in
any way compromise with the world IS
as bright as ever in his advanced years,
and although he knew that the writing
had been signed by the king which
meant his death If he proved faithful
to his God he continued openly to pray
and give thanks as aforetime because
he believed tn his God (verses 10, 23).
Daniels life was life Of prayer all
through and an Illustration Of the truth,
1.-The righteous shall hold on his way,
and he that hath clean hands shall be
stronger and stronger Dob xvii, 81.
Fortified by the word Of God and sus-
tanned by the blessed hope Of the king
dom, the worlds favors or opposition
were equally vain to move him. See
Acts *, q But 'the wicked watch
eth the righteous and seeketh to slay
him. Cps. xxxvii, 32), and Paul said
that the Spirit testified that bonds and
Affections awaited him everywhere.
The ungodly prospered, the law that
altereth not had Daniel In It's grasp,
and even the love Of Darius could not
deliver, though he did seek to encour-
age Daniel the best he knew. It was a
grand testimony to Daniel, 'eThy God
whom thou seryest continually" and
he was talking better than he knew
when he said, 'sHe will deliver thee"
(verse 16). he had greater assurance
when, he wrote In his epistle to all na-
lions concerning the God Of Daniel,
"He delivereth and rescueth, and He
worketh signs and wonders In heaven
and on earth" (verses 25-2D. On de-
liverances see II Cor. !, TO-; II Tim.
iv, II, .18.
Daniel. IN the den, with stone upon
the mouth Of il sealed with the kings
signet, was disposed Of as efectually
as the power. Of man could dispose Of
him. So Joseph sold to the 1shmael-
ties, Daniels friends in the furnace,
the Lord Jesus in Joseph's tomb, but
people always imagine vain things, at
which He that stitch In the heavens
laughs and holds them in der!sion (Ps.
Ii, 49,. xxxiii, 10, III. Man. talks Of
laws. and purposes which cannot be
changed, but God alone has the right
to ta.k thus. See Eph 1, II; iii, IL
The night Of sleepless fasting (verse
1g indicated the kings love for Dan
lei, but love could not deliver unless it
provided one on whom the law could
take effect, and we do not read that
Darius was willing to take Daniels
place. Contrast John iii, 16; Gal. II,
20; Ill, 13; Pet. II, a; Rom <, a;
lisa. liii, 5, 6. Not only did Jesus die
in our stead for our sins, but God
raised Him from the dead and gave
Him glory, and OF that resurrection
morning many bodies Of the saints
arose also and appeared to many and
doubtless accompanied Him to glory
(Iatt. xvii, 52. 53). This morning Of
victory in the life Of Daniel, which
proved such a morning Of woe to his
enemies (verse ~, should set us look
ing up the morning stories and texts Of
Scripture such as Ex. xiv, "a; Marx vi,
IS 44s; Ps. Xxx, S; XVI, s, margin; xix.
IL; Sam. xiii, 8, 4.
There is q class Of people for whom
there is no morning Qsa. viii, 20, Rev.
yer.). The title servant os the Living
God" should remind Us Of Sam. xvii,
26, SO; l Kings xvii. I; xviii, 10; II
Kings V, is; Thess. i, 8, 10; Rev. J, Is.
The Living God is also the Lord OF
Hosts, hosts Of angels and redeemed
people and worlds, and since one angel
has the power here set forth (verse 29
and also in lisa. xHvA, 36; Acts xii,
6-10, and these angels delight to obey
Gods word and minister to His saints