The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1905-10-04
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FOR OCTOBER 8.

]. Daniel praying ". 10).
10. when Daniel knew" etc. Dan
lei knew that the kings edicts were
irreversible. "Open-toward Jerusa-
lem." This was not an act of super
stition, but q recognition of Gods
promise to Solomon Il Kings S:35-4),
who had in his prayer at the dedica-
ton of the temple entreated God to
hear the prayers of those who might
be 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 Of
devotion. "Kneeled." Compare l
Kings 1854: Ezra 9:5; Eph. 3:14.
Ilneelilg is fitting attitude for hum
BILE prayer. "Three times day." See
'Psa. 55:17. Tie three hours of prayer
were the same az the hours of sacrifice
in the temple. "As he did 'aforetinle."
He did not swerve hairs breadth.
He could have prayed in secret and
been heard, but that course would have
been a public confession of want Of
faith in God and of yielding to- the en-
emy. Daniel simply, went on mis- daily
path of life, as if no such order had
been given. There was no time when
he needed to pray more than at this
time.
II. Wicked men plotting Tvs. 11-15).
II. "These men," The princes who
had been plotting against Daniel.
Assembled" Ran 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 in ancient times to
worship the king. To alter the law
would be confession of fallibility,
and an abrogation Of godhead.
13. THAT Daniel" etc. The. accus-
ers 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 a political
act of rebellion against the. royal au-
thority. II. Sore displeased." Vexed
at thus being oyerreached; for hersaw
that it was enmity toward Daniel and
not anxiety for the maintenance of his
authority which had led to the plot.
"Labored." Endcavoring to find some
way to evade the execution Of the SEN
.tence. 10. 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
fatterers. Taese wicked men were
determined to get rid Of the holy Dan.
lei. They hated him.
III. Daniel among the lions Tvs. 49,
18). 16. "Tbey brought Daniel" Ac-
cording to Oriental custom the SEN
tence was carried out on the evening
Of the same day in which the accusa-
ton was made. Thy. Goodwill de-
;iiver." The heather. believed in the
interposition Of The gods in times of
calamity. While Darius did not rec
ognize Daniels God as the true God,
yet he was "a god,' and Danieps char
acter was such that the king believed
his God would deliver him. II.
Sealed it." In the days when very
few could read or write signets were
used instead of writing the name. 1S.
Passed the night fasting" The soul
of the pleasure-loying 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.
Nv. Daniels deliverance Tvs. 1929.
10. "Went in haste" A strange spec
tacle for a monarch Of the world thus
to be attending upon condemned SER
want Of God. Yet the king had never
appeared to such a good advantage.
20. "Lamentable voice." Deeply dis
tressed and in an agony Of anxiety.
He cried out between hope and fear
Servant of the living God" Darius
borrowed this phrase from Daniel.
God extorted from an idolater a con-
fession Of the truth. as thy God
able" Full of concern, he trembles to
ask the question, fearing to be an
swered with the roaring Of the lions
after more prey. 81. 20 king, live
forever" The common salutation in
addressing a king. Daniel might have
indulged in anger at the king, but did
not. His sole thought was that Gods
glory had been set forth in his deliver
ance. %. "Sent His angel" Daniel
had company in the den Of lions. There
was no music nor gladness in the pal
ace, but celestial Joy in the intercourse
between Daniel and the angel in the
den. Daniel takes care to aScribe his
deliverance to the living God, that He
may not be confounded with the false
gods Of the heathen. He speaks Of the
angel as Gods instrument, not the au-
thor of his deliverance. "Shut the
lions mouths. Angels had held the
lions jaws and paws"and made them
peaceable companions and harmless as
doves. This was a new and wonderful
experience for Daniel. He delighted
to relate it to the king, whose voice be-
trayed his agony. "Innocency was
found" By this wonderful deliver
ance Daniel learned how God esti-
mated fa;thfulness and how He is
pleased to reward it. God had shown
Daniel that his disobedience to a
heather king was not sin. He mad
been faithful in what he believed to
be right, and in the test God declared
him innocent by his wonderful deliv-
erance. mo hurt" Daniel had been
misrepreseltcd before the king as hav-
ing evil designs against his authority,
but to the king himself Daniel de-
clarcs he could not be guilty Of such
designs when he was faithful to his
Co.
23. Exceeding glad" That the evil
consequences Of his folly had been
warded off; that mis- best counselor
was left to stand ut the head OF his