The Yale expositor., 1905-10-06
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
LESSON II, FOURTH QUARTER, INTER-
NATIONAL SERIES, OCT. 8.

by Rev. ID. NJ. SteGrns.
copyright, 1905, by American Press 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 and Abel, Jo-
seph's brethren ana Joseph, Pharaoh
and Israel, Absalom and David, in our
lesson OF today, notably In the Jews
and Jesus, ana finally in the events
which will take place as recorded in
Rev. xii, II; xvii. II; Xxx, 10.
Daniel continuing, although the king
dom changed hands, IS suggestive of
Him whom Daniel served, who con-
tinues the same amid all changes.
Daniels pre-eminence over all the pres
idents and princes (verse y recalls Col.
i, Is, THAT in all things He might have
the pre-eminence." See also Eph. l.,
21-23, as to His being "far above all''
powers and names in heaven and earth.
There being no error or fault in Daniel
(verse ~ makes us think of Pilates
threefOld testimony concerning Christ,
Il find no fault in Him" Gohn xviii,
3S; xix, 4. O.. 1t is ever true tLat ''the
wicked plotteth against the j. It, and
it is the nature Of the devil 70 accuse
the good" Ps. XXXvii, u; Job i. .; ii, 4),
but the triumphing of the wicked is
short, and the triumph Of the shteous
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 n young
man not to defile himself q, g nor in
any way compromise with the world IS
as bright as ever i'm 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 in his God Oversees 10, 23).
Daniels life was life of prayer all
through and an illustration Of the truth,
THE righteous shall hold on his way,
and he that hath clean hands shall be
stronger and stronger" Dob xvii, %.
Fortified by the word Of God and sus-
tained by the blessed hope of the king
dom, the worlds favors or opposition
were equally vain to move him. See
Acts Xxx, %. But "the wicked watch
eth the righteous and seeketh to slay
him" ops. Sxxvii, 32), and Paul said
that the Spirit testified that bonds and
Affections awaited him everywhere.
The ungodly proSpered, the law that
altcreth not had Daniel in its grasp,
and even the love of Darius could not
deliver, though he did seek to encour-
age Daniel the best he knew. It was n
grand testimony to Daniel, Thy God
whom thou servcst continually" and
he was talking better than he knew
when he said, lie viii deliver thee"
(verse 1G). He had greater assurance
when he wrote in his cpistle to all ma
tions concerning the God OF Daniel,
"He delivercth and rescueth. and He
worketh signs and wonders in heaven
and on earth" Oversees 25-2O. On de-
liverances see II Cor. i, 10; II Tim.
Iv, Il, Is.
Daniel in the den, with a stone upon
the mouth Of ii sealed with the kings
signet, was disposed of as enectually
as the power of man could dispose of
him. So Joseph sold to the Ishmael-
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 derlslon ops.
ii, 1-6; XXXiii, 10, III. Man talks Of
laws and purposes which cannot be
changed, but God alone has the right
to talk thus. See Eph. |, II; iii, II.
The night Of sleepless fasting (verse
1S) indicated the kings love for Dan
iel, 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 Dapiers
place Contrast John iii, 1G; Gal. ii,
20; Iii, 13; l Pet. ii, "a; Rom X, 4;
Isa. lii, 3, 6. Not only did Jesus die
In our stead for our sins, but God
raised Him from the dead and gave
Him glory, and on that resurrection
morning many bodies Of the saints
arose also and appeared to many anI
doubtless accompanied Him TO glory
GEatt. xvii, 30, 53). This morning of
victory in The life Of Daniel, which
proved such a morning Of woe TO his
enemies (verse 24), should set us look
ing up the morning stories and texts of
Scripture such as EX. xiv. q; Mark vi,
4G-4S; rs. xxx. 3; XVI. 8. margin; Xix.
IA; Sam. xiii, 3, 4.
There is class of people for whom
there is no morning Qsa. wifi, 20, Rev.
Ver.). The title servant Of the Living
God" should remind us OF | Sam. xvii,
26, SO; Kings xvii, 1; xviii, 10; III
Kings V, 10; Thess. /, o. 10; Rev. 1. Is.
The Living God is also the Lord of