Abbeville progress. (Abbeville, Vermilion Parish, La.) 1913-1944, 1917-09-22
LESSON FOR SEPTEMBER %
DANIEL IN THE DEN OF LIONS.
LESSON TFXT-Danirl 6.


him, and Gelivereth them-Psalms 34:7.
|. Daniel the Prime Minister of the
Mcdo-Persian Empire Wv. 1-3).
Daniels sterling worth brought him
To the front and kept him there. The
new king was quick to discern his
merits and to give them recognition by
placing him at the head of affairs in
his kingdom.
II. An Occasion Sought Against
Daniel wv. 40.
Cd The Reason of-Envy. To
have this foreigner placed over them
aroused the jealousy of the pres
idcEts and princes of the empire, 50
they set about to have him removed.
The presence of envy shows inferior
ity. one never enyioS those below
him IT is hard to forgive those who
have outstrippcd Us and left US be-
hind in the race of life.
(2) The Failure ". ~. Daniels Of
Gcia! record was b,amclcss. Not even
IN error could Ec found Of which they
could accuse him. Though he was
without fault lie hal TO suffer. Those
who excel in any line are sure TO Suf-
fer in so'dc way. 1t is true in bust
ness, the home. the school, politics and
religion.
CD Tie Wicked T!ot Wv. J-9). Not
being able to li.d any fault. they
trumped up a charge AGAINST him on
the ground of his foreign religion.
They were not careful about the meth
Cd employed, just so their end was at
tanned.
III. Daniels Noble Confession wv.
1919. Though Daniel knew that the
wicked decree was signed, he knelt
before God three times day as usual.
He went quietly about his affairs, at
tended to his regular devOtiOns, be-
cause he trusted God. There Is al
ways a marked silence about hero
ism. Weak men buster, but stro1g
men have little to say. Daniel con-
tinued his usual habit of prayer, even
though it was a violation of the civil
law, because he knew that Gods law
was first. When the laws of earth
conflict with the laws of heaven there
Il but one thing to do; that Is, to obey
God rather than man.
w. The Foolish Decree Executed.
(vy. 14-17). The king was greatly dis.
pleased with himself ". 14) and dill
gently sought to deliver Daniel. but
he was helpless ". 49,. The proud
ruler was slave. Laws which change
rot are selsncopdesnatory, foolish.
kaAkr..1,s--~--a1 ur1innuuucuuun.
weak for fear Of other. WnicI1 w Aollef
wickedness. Dnniel was cast into the
den of lions ". 16) and double seal
placed upon the den ". ~. They
were not content with the kings seal
alone, which shows that one rascal
will not trust another. The kings
words, "Thy God, whom thou servest
continually, he will deliver thee" to
Daniel were poor excuse. but they
were the best that he could offer to
his conscience.
v. Daniel Delivered wv. 1929.
% The Kings Sleepless Night ".
49,. Doubtless Daniel was more com.
Portable in the den of lions than the
king In his palace. His qglctude Is n
picture of the safety and peace which
are the portion of those who trust
God and do his will. This Is sample
of what faith can do. Thou wilt
keep him in perfect peace whose mind
Is stayed Oh thee, because he trusteth
thee"
(2) The Kings Question ". 20). In
the morning the king called to Daniel
in the den Of lions saying, rs thy God
ablc?" This is always the question Of
the unhelleving heart. The believing
heart snys, "Our God is able
(3) Daniels Answer ". 22). my
God has sent lis angel" Angels are
Gods ministcrtng spirits, "Thc angel
Of The LORD cucampcth round about
theln that fear hin, and Gellrereth
them" (psalms 34:7) Mnrv dimes no
! tOtlbt our lives are presc ID because
we are guarded by Gods aAgc.s. Rot
even sparrow falls TO the ground
without the Father, and the very hairs
of our heads are numbered, 80 We
ought to expect the mouths CT tie
: lions TO be shut against Us.
(4) Daniel Removed From the Den
. ". 23). There was no manner of hurt
upon him. The reason was that che
believed In his God" The same rea'
son Is Why the garments and hair OF
his companions were not even slnged
VI. Doom Of Daniels Accusers "
24). They were cast into the den of
lions "and the lions had the mastery
Of them. and brake all their bones In
pieces or ever they came at the bot
tom of the den."
Daniels God to Be Feared.
vi. Darius Decree wv. 25.27). He
decreed that In all parts of his king
dom men of all peoples and tongues
should tremble and fear before the
God Of Daniel,
VII. Daniels Prosperity u. 2S)
Though Daniels enemies perish be
goes higher and higher ID the King
dom. even continuing into the reign OF
CYRUS. In all our trials md testing'
we should not be moved, for there Ii
righteous and just God In heaven
and nothing can occur without bin
Mans schemes shall even continue q