The Farmville herald. [volume] (Farmville, Va.) 1890-1934, 1905-10-06
DANIEL in THE
LIONS DEN
Sunday School Lesson Tor Oct. 8. 1905
Specially Prepared fer This Paper.

ti.I
TINE About h. c. 59s. within year OF
two of iast Sundays lesson.
pLACE.-Uncertain. but one Of the cap
itals Of the Persian empire.
/ SCRIPTURE PREFERENCES Promises
10 Gods Children IN Troubls-Pfa N.3-7'
k2-29. $40: Al-3; 5ol5; 81 II; 81; lsa to.zs-
81; a: Matt 6.3g. I'll: l0.29-Sl; PROV. sic.
l6 Il: Rom s2S. 81. G-Ss; Jas. liz, prom
Uses 20 the oyeroomer. Rev. . and }. Rev
fl3-H
Those who have trusted God: Abra-
ham (Gen l2I-s), Elijah q Kinks chaps. ~
lg). Peter (Acts chaps. 8 ana l2)i Moan
(Gen chaps 6-S); Joseph (Gen. chaps. ~
and 4D. Shadrach, Meshach and ADed-
nogo Dan 81. John (Acts 81. stephen IAcs
y; Paul (Acts i6.l6-i0 20; Moses (hN-
and Heb. ll.G-2sl; David q sam chaps ~
a and %, Gideon Judg. chaps. 6 and o.
Read Heb. H.
Comment and Suggestive Thought.
INTRODUCTORY Daniel, the wise
man, after many years Of unrecorded
usefulness or Of retirement TO private
life. IS now an old man OF so or 30 years.
again brought into political prominence
by the same guiding Providence. Three
great cabinet officers were placed over
the 120 provinces, and Of these Daniel
was the chief. Though an exile he had
risen 10 power and prosperity. lie had
maintained his religion and his In
tegrity. The severe trials 10 which he
had been subjected not only resulted IN
raising him 70 higher honors and
spheres Of usefulness. but had confirmed
him IN bis religion. in his integrity and
IN his courage. But the higher one
.iclimbs the fercer the storms, and Daniel
felt their full force. C) He was Jew,
a foreigner. exalted over natives, who
wanted the place, on account OF his ma
tive force Of personality and strong
character. What right had he TO be
placed over them? Envy was sharper
than a serpents TOOTH" (2) Daniels
character was a perpetual reproof. They
we're tired OF seeing his good deeds and
hearing his praise: as the Athenian
lvoted for the condemnation OF Aristides
the Just. simply because he was weary
Of hearing him called the Just. CD lie
stood in the way Of their dishonest
gains. Such officers IN those times al
most always made their position
means OF wealth.
V. TO- Nov" better And even
when Daniel knew that the writ
ing was signed inscribed. made
permanent as an official document
Daniel knew that he was walking amid
many pitfali many a snare" "And
his windows being open in bis cham
ber:" etc. More clearly and more ex'
actly now he had in his roof-chambei
open windows fronting Jerusalem. This
clause IS parenthetical, and describes
the constant and habitual arrangement
OF Daniels windows-Prof. Driver.
"Kneeled upon his knees" A fitting at
ltltude for humble prayer. favoring tha
spirit Of devotion. Three times day."
Like the psalmist Psa. 55:lO.
WI. Then these mem" The princes
who had planned the plot assembled"
10 know the facts personally, and make
lthe proof complete.
V. u. THE law OF tho Medes and
.Perslans which altereth not:" In this
two principles are involved: one, the
existence OF a settled law or rule by
which the king himself. theoretically at
any rate. is bound, and which he cannot
alter; the other, the Inclusion, under
this law OF rule, Of the irreyocability OF
a royal decree, or promise.
Y. H. The king was sors
displeased labored TIL the 90.
ing down OF the sun TO deliver him.
But he failed on account Of the unalter
able law.
V. IS. They brought Daniel, and cas-
him into the den Of lions" This was ac-
cordlng 10 oriental custom on the even.
Ing Of the same day. The story Of the
den Of lions IS strictly IN keeping with
Babylonian usages. Thy God
He will deliver thee:" The king knew
70 much Of what God had done for Dan.
iel in the past, that he encouraged him.
self and Daniel by the hope OF deliver
ance.
| V. H. stone laid upon thu
mouth Of the den:" The mouth was u.
door through which the animals were
put into the den. Sealed II with hi
own signet." IF the access TO the lions
den was arranged like that Of a sepul
cher. a bar would be fixed across the
front OF the stone, fastened 10 either
side Of the doorway by thongs, the knot
ting Of which was sealed with was
stamped with a signet."-Tristram
And with the signet Of his lords:" So
that neither party could tamper with IL
V. 10. The king arose very early:-
Literally in the dawn, in the first glim'
mering OF light. -
V. CO. Cried with a lamentabla
voice." Full Of grief and anxiety.
V. %. MY God hath sent His angel"
As one like the Son Of God was in the
, lhery furnace with the three whom
lNebuchadnezzar had cast into the
flames.
@. And no manner Of hurt was found
upon him. because he believed" (had
trusted "in his Cod" God never falls
those who trust IN Him.
Two Ways Of Deliverance.
= 1. There is sometimes immediate re-
, lief from persecution and death, as In
the case Of Daniel, and the three men In
the fiery furnace. and Peter in prison In
Jerusalem, and Paul and silss IN Phil
fpDi
2. On the other hand. equally good
men we're not delivered In that way
. a long list Of prophets, many Of tho
apostles, John the Baptist, James, Ste
/, phen, and even Christ Himself. Were
not these delivered too, and glori'
|, onsly. because their death wrought more
for the cause they loved than longer
life could have dons9