Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1911-09-20
SUNDAY SCHOOL.
Lesson xIII.--Third Quarter, For
Sept. "a, 1911.
THE INTERNATIONAL SERIES.

ieSt or the Lesson, Dan. vi, 10 %.
Memory Verses, 21-23-Golden Text,
Ps. sxxiv, documentary Prepared
by Rev. D. N. Stearns.
These historical lessons from the
book OF Daniel are most fascinating
and most practically helpful. mas.
much as the God OF Daniel and his
friends Is none other than our Lord
Jesus Christ, who Is the same yester.
day. today and forever and always
ready to hold strongly with all whose
hearts are wholly for Him. not keep
ing us from trials. but manifesting
His presence with us in the trial and
bringing us through to His glory.
Men and women who believe God
were never more needed than now.
Oh, for a testimony such as was
given concerning Daniel, even by his
enemies! We shall not find any occa.
sion against him, except we find it
concerning the law of his God oversees
1. 81. Knowing something of his hab
1t Of prayer, they asked the king to
sign a decree that no one should ask
a petition of any god or man save
Darius for thirty days under penalty
of being east TO the lions.
Although . Daniel knew the decree
had been signed. he kept on as afore
time, kneeling upon his knees in
prayer three times q day, with his
windows open toward Jerusalem. re-
Numbering l Kings viii. 4T-49. His
enemies did not need to watch long In
order TO catch him In their net, and
the king was promptly informed that
that Daniel of the captivity Of Judah
regardeth not thee. o king, nor the
decree that thou hast signed (verSe
49,. II the king had not before seen
the design OF his presidents and
princes against Daniel he saw 1t now
and was sore displeased. not with
Daniel. but with himself that he had
not seen through this plot before sign
ing the decree.
He labored In vain to deliver his
prime minister. whom he evidently
esteemed and loved, but even the law
OF God. which is holy and just and
good. cannot save any one. much less
this law of the Modes and Persians,
which was only a great iniquity. Our
deliverance from the condemnation Of
the holy law Of God is accomplished
only by sinless person taking the
place Of the guilty and suffering In
our stead QI Cor. V. 81; Rom. iii,
1924, Y, A..
We do not read that Darius so loved
Daniel that he gave himself for him
and went to the den OF lions in his
stead. but we do read just that vir-
tually of Jesus Christ Il Pet. il, "a;
Gal. ii. 20, |. c.. Daniel was cast to
the lions probably not very gently. a
stone laid upon the mouth OF the den
and sealed with the signet of the
king and his lords. Imagine the re-
joicing on the part of his enemies be-
cause they were now rid of him. and
no doubt they ridhuled the God of
Daniel who could not deliver him
from the lions nor from their power.
After night OF sleeplessnesS and
fasting very early in the morning the
king IS found ut the den of lions call
Ing aloud to Daniel il perchance he
may still be alive. Surely Darius
must have learned something of the
power Of Daniels God to be able to
Imagine such a thing possible and to
encourage him as he did on his way
TO the den. With what joy and graf
itude the king must have heard the
voice Of Daniel and the words, My
God hath sent His angel and hath
shut the lions mouths that they have
not hurt me" (22).
So Daniel was taken up out of the
den, and no manner of hurt was found
upon him because he believed In his
God (23).
Thus shall it be in the morning of
the first resurrection. No matter
what the saints have suffered here in
their mortal bodies. the resurrection
body will be perfect. for we shall be
like Him q John iii. y. The accusers
OF Daniel were then cast into the den
Of lions, with their wives and chill
dren, and there was no deliverance
for them
AS to the righteous and the wicked.
we read in rs. xix. H. that the
upright shall have dominion over them
In the morning. Study the morning
deliverances OF Scripture, but note
that there will be no morning for the
enemies of God lisa. viii, 20, II. W.
In verses % to p see how by world
wide decree the living God, the God
of Daniel, was magnified. How tell
ing are the words in verse %. so this
Daniel prospered." and according to
the last sentence In his book we shall
find him In his appointed place In the
kingdom-that kingdom under the
whole heaven which is to be given to
the people of the saints of the Most
High, when all dominions shall serve