The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1905-10-06

private life, is now an old man of
eighty or ninety years, again brought
into political prominence by the same
guiding providence. Three great cab
met officers were placed over the one
hundred and twenty provinces, and Of
these Daniel was the chief.
But the higher one climbs the
fiercer the storms, and Daniel felt
their full force. He was Jew, a for
eigner, exalted over natives, who
wanted the place, on account Of his
native force Of personality and strong
character. What right had he to be
placed over them? Daniels character
was a perpetual reproof- They were
tired Of seeing his good deeds and
hearing his praise. He stood In the
way of their dishonest gains.
Whosoever does well, and Is faith
full and true, where others are dishon-
est and false, must expect to be OPP
posed and hated.
II. The Conspiracy Against Daniel.
VS.. 49, Having made up their
minds 10 put Daniel out OF the way
the other officers devised two plans,
The first plan was to find some
wrongdoing on Daniels part, Of which
TO accuse him to the king. They
scrutinized his conduct through the
keen microscope Of malice" but failed
to find any fault. This plan was a
complete failure.
The second plan was based on Dan
iel's well-known religious convictions.
They persuaded the king to make a
decree that no one should ask any fa-
vor OF God Or Of man, except OF the
king himself for a month, on penalty
OF being thrown into the den Of lions.
They knew that Daniel was accus'
toned to pray to his God, and from his
character they judged that no decree
and no danger could stop him. This
decree appealed to the kings vanity
and self-concelt, and he doubtless
imagined no great harm could come
from 1t, and that he would not enforce
Il. II was a kind Of joke, piece Of
fun, "a freak OF humor."
III Daniel Faithful and True.-V.
10. Now" better And" 'eyen, "
when Daniel knew that the writing
was signed" Inscribed, made perma-
nent as an official document. Daniel
knew that be was walking amid many
a pitfall. many a snare" but the
knowledge made no difference. He
said, "Get thee behind me, Satan" 1t
..-..ta ..~& ha..n 1ovn ~ oxvarvQ a
hairs breadth. He could have prayed
in secret. and been heard BY God, but
that course would have been public
confession Of want Of faith in God,
and OF yielding to the enemy. He
would say as Nehemiah said to She
maiah, Should such man as fiea?'
tNeh. 6: III. Daniel made no show
OF his religion. but simply went on his
daily path OF life, as il no such order
had been given. A failure. or even a
seeming failure. on Daniels part would
have had disastrous effect on the re-
ligious principles OF the exiles A man
in his position had better die thou
sand deaths than to falter and fall.
windows being open
toward Jerusalem with his face
toward Jerusalem, the seat Of the tenn
pie. where Jehovah was peculiarly
present-an ALTITUDE still observed BY
Jews all over the world. as all Mo
hammedans. in the same way, tura
their face In prayer towards Mecca.
In every synagogue. and In every
mosque. there Is always a mark In the
wall. showing the direction OF the holy
place. .H-Geikie Praying toward Je-
rusalem was not an act OF supersti.
tion. but an aid to devotion "Kneeled
upon his knees" A fitting attitude for
humble prayer. favoring the spirit Of
devotion Three times a day" Like
the psaimist (Psa SIS. I'D.
"As he did aforetime." He simply
made no change in his habits and
plans. He did not Haunt his non-con-
formity. he made no parade OF his
prayers. Maclaren.
Note that Daniel "did not deviate
a hairs-breadth from his usual prac.
tice. nor hesitate for moment what
to do. When we take counsel Of con-
science OILY. the road is generally
wonderfully plain. It is the bringing
in OF considerations OF expediency and
personal advantage that introduces be-
wildering complexities.
w The Trap Sprung Upon Daniel.
VS.. 11-15. II. "Then these men.
The princes who had planned the plot,
Assembled" to know the facts per
sonally, and make the proof complete.
y. Having heard Daniel pray,
-'they came near" to the king Hast
thou not signedg" They first get the
king to commit himself to their posi-
tion. Then they spring their trap.
~The law Of the Medes and Persians
which altereth not" ITO alter 1t
would be for the king confession OF
falIibility and, therefore, an abnega-
tion Of godheadl dl"-Farrar.
IS. The leaders were now sure OF
their case. Every door Of escape was
shut against Daniel. They had simply
to announce to thes king that Daniel
was guilty.
IA. "The king was sore
displeased labored till the go
ing down Of the sun to deliver him.