Middletown transcript., 1917-09-22
INTERNATIONAL
SUNl6YSQ1OQL:
LESSON
(By REV. P. B. FITZWATER, D. D.,
Teacher of English Bible in the Moody
Bible Institute Of Chicago)
Copyright 1917, Western Newspaper Union)
LESSON FOR SEPTEMBER %
DANIEL IN THE DEN OF LIONS.

him. and delivereth them.-Psalms 34:7.
!. Daniel the Prime Minister Of the
Medo-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.
u. An Occasion Sought Against
Daniel wv. 4-9).
Q) The Reason of-Envy. To
have this foreigner placed over them
aroused the jealousy of the pres
idents and princes of the empire, so
they set about to have him removed.
The presence of envy shows inferior
ity. One never envies those below
him 1t is hard to forgive those Who
have outstripped us and left us be-
hind in the race of life.
(2) The Failure ". ~. Daniels Of
fetal record was blameless. Not even
an error could be found Of which they
could accuse him. Though he was
without fault he had to suffer. Those
who excel in any line are sure to suf-
fer in some way. 1t is true in busl-
ness, the home, the schoo4, politics and
religion.
(3) The Wicked Plot wv. 5-9). Not
being able to find any fault, they
trumped up charge against him on
the ground Of his foreign religion.
II oh ho 10Th.
cd employed, just so their end was at
| tanned.
III. Daniels Noble Confession wv.
10-13) Though Daniel knew that the
wicked decree was signed, he knelt
! before God three times Il 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 strong.
men have little to say. Daniel con-
tinued his usual habit Of prayer, even
though it was q 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
is but one thing to do; that is, to obey
God rather than man.
~. The Foolish Decree Executed.
wv. 14-17). The king was greatly dis
pleased with himself (v. 1D and dill
gently sought to deliver Daniel, but
he was helpless ". 15). The proud
ruler was a slave. Laws which change
not are lf-condemnatory, foolish,
positively wicked. The king was
weak for fear Of others, which Is utter
wickedness. Daniel was cast into the
placed upon the den ". 10. They
were net eeHteHt 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 a poor excuse, but they
were the best that he could offer to
his conscience.
v. Daniel Delivered (vv. 1929.
(1) The Kings Sleepless Night ".
1S). Doubtless Daniel was more COM
Portable in the den of lions than the
king in his palace. His quietude is a
picture Of the safety and peace which
are the portion of those who trust
God and do his will. This is q sample
of what faith can do. "Thou wilt
keep him in perfect peace whose mind
is stayed on thee, because he trusteth
thee"
(2) The Kings Question ". 20). In
the morning the king called to Daniel
in the den Of lions saying, 'Is thy God
able?" This is always the question Of
the unbelieving heart. The believing
heart says, "Our God is able"
(3) Daniels Answer ". 22). "My
God has sent his angel" Angels are
Gods ministering spirits. "The angel
of the Lord encampeth round about
them that fear him, and delivereth
Them" Psalms 34:7.) Many times no
doubt our lives are preserved because
we are guarded by Gods angels. Not
even a sparrow falls to the ground
without the Father, and the very hairs
of our heads are numbered, so we
ought to expect the mouths Of tht
lions to be shut against US.
az Daniel Removed From the Den
". 23). There was no manner Of hurt
upon him. The reason was that "he
believed in his God" The same rea-
son is why the garments and hair Of
his companions were not even singed.
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." Their envy was the
cause Of their own destruction. It.
brought the curse upon themselves,
just as Haman was hanged upon the
very gallOws he prepared for Morde-
cal. Daniel Is preserved alive while
his enemies go into the very trap Of
their own providing. After all, there
is a retributive justice in the provi-
dence of God which will ultimately
even up things.
Daniels God to Be Feared.
VII. Darius Decree (vv. 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.
viii. Daniels Prosperity ". 2S).
Though Daniels enemies perish, he
goes higher and higher in the king
dom, even continuing into the reign Of
Cyrus In all our trials and testings
we should not be moved, for there is
righteous and just God In heaven,
and nothing can occur without him.
Mans schemes shall even continue to
otcn