Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1905-10-05
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COMMENTS
FOR OCTOBER 8.

vi, 1O-23-tiolden Text, Pisa. xxxiv.'
-Memory Verses, 21-23-CommentarJ
on the Days Lesson.
/. Daniel praying ". 10y.
10. when Daniel knew" etc. Dam
lei knew that the kings edicts were
irreversible. "Open-toward Jefnsa'
lem." This was not an act OF super
stition, but recognition OF Gods
promise to Solomon Il Kings S;3o-44',
who had in his prayer at the dedlca'
ton of the temple entreated Goa 10
hear the prayers of those VINO mlei.
he in strange lands or in captivity
when they should turn their faces TO-
ward their own land and city and the
temple. 1t was an aid to the spirit o!
devotion. "Kneeled." Compare
Kings S:54; Ezra 90; Eph. 3I4.
Kneeling is q fitting attitude for hum
bic prayer. "Three times a day. see
Psa. 55:17. The three hours of prayer
were the same as the hours OF sacriilce
in the temple. las he did aforetime.'
He did not swerve a hairs breadth.
He could have prayed in secret ana
been heard, but that course would have
been public confession of want or
faith in God and of yielding to the en-
envy. Daniel simply went on his daily
path of life as if no such order had
been given. There was no time when
he needed to pray more than at TINS
time.
III. Wicked men plotting Tvs. 11-l5).
II. "Thcse men, The princes VINO
had been plotting against DANIEL
"Asscmbled' Ean hastily. so as TO
come upon Daniel suddenly and detect
him in the act. They had heard his
voice and now rushed in upon him.
-. "Law-which altereth not 1t
was quite common III ancient times 10
worship the king. To alter the law
would be confession Of fallibility,
and an abrogation of godhead.
13. THAT Daniel" etc. The accds'
crs do not mention the high official sta.
ton of Daniel and his intimate official
relations with the king. but merely re-
fer to his foreign birth in order that
they may thereby bring his conduct
under the suspicion of being poiitlcai
act of rebellion against the royal all'
thority. H. sore displcascd.' NeXed
at thus being ovcrreachcd; for he saw
that it was enmity toward Daniel and
not anxiety for the maintenance OF his
authority which had led to the plot,
"I.abored. Eideavoring to find some
way to cvade the execution of the SEN
fence, II. "Know, o king Their
tone was masterful now, for they felt
able to compel the king to work their
will. Kings are the slaves OF their
tattcrers. These wicked men were
determined to get rid of the holy Dan
icl They hated him,
III. Daniel among the lions Tvs. To-
1S,. Ii. "They brought Daniel Ac-
cOrdng to Oriental custom the sem
tencc was carried ont on the evening
of the same day in which the accusa'
ton was made. THY Goodwill de-
liver" The heather believed in The
interpoSition of the gods in times or
calamity. While Darius did not rec.
oguize Daniels God as the true God.
vet he was ~ god" and Daniels char.
acter WAS such that the king believed
his God would deliver him. IL.
Sealed it, In the days WHEN very
few could read or write signcts We're
used instead of writing the name. Is.
PASSED the night fasting The soul
of the plcasurc-loving king was so
stirred that he had no care for food or
sleep. His grief was greatly increased
by his consciousness that this evil
came from his own weakness and sin.
". Daniels delivcrancc Tvs. 'o-23l
~. Went in haste \ strange spec
taclc for monarch of the world thus
to he attending upon Il condemned SER
want of God. Yet the king had never
appeared to such Il good advantage.
20. "Lamcntable voice" Deeply DIS
treSScd and in an agony of anxiety.
He cried out between hope and fear.
Servant of the living Cod Darius
borrowed this phrase from Daniel
God cXtortcd from an idolattr con-
fcSsiOn of the truth. is thy God .
able" Full Of concern, he trembcS to
ask the question. tearing TO be an
swcred with the roaring Of the lions
after more prey. u. 20 king, live
forever" The common Salutation III
addressing king, Daniel might have
INDUCED in anger ut the king, but did
not. His sole thought was that Gods
glory had been set forth In his deliver
ancc -. Sent His angel Daniel
had company in the den OF lions. There
was no music nor gladncSS in the PAL
ace. but celestial joy in the intercourse
between Daniel and the angel III the
den. Daniel takes care To aSCribe his
dclverancc to the living God, that lie
may not be COMPOUNDED W tn the fails"
gods of the heather. He speaks of the
angel as Gods instrument, not the au,
thor Of his deiivcrancc. shut the
lions mouths" Angels had held the
lions Jaws and paws and made them
praceablc companions aEl harmless rs
doves. This was new ami wonderful
experience for Daniel. He delighted
to relate it to the king, whose voice be-
trayed his agony. "lnn"1ency was
found" BY this wonderful deliver
ancc Daniel learned how God esti.
mated faithfulneSs and how He is
pleased to reward it. God had shown
Daniel that his diSobcdicnce to II
heather king was not sin. He mad
been faithful in what he believed ia
be right. and in the test God declared
him innocent by his wonderful deliv
erance. "No hurt" Daniel had been
misrepresented before the king as hay
ing evil designs against his authority
but to the king himself Daniel de
carcs he could not be guilty of such
designs when he was faithful to his
Goa.
%. Exceeding glad" That the evi
consequences of his folly had beer
warded off; that his best counselor
was left to stand at the head of III:
government.