Evening star., 1922-07-22

Sunday School Lesson

arbitrary authority" His inner life
called for its own self-reali.at ton. He
turned toward Jerusalem with a faith
IN the return of his brethren from the
pondage of exile and confidence in
JehoVahs sustaining and saving
power He cried to Him not simply
as the Supreme Being, but by turning
his face toward the site of the temple
tnat by its sacrifices foreshadowed
the coming of the Messiah he indi-
Gated that he was praying to Him as
the eternal God who was propitiated
ny sacrinces. His facing Jerusalem
was substantially the same thing for
Daniel and other pious Jewish exiles
as IL Is FOR modern Christians to seek
forgiveness through Jesus Christ
!" men the enemies reported to Darius
tnat his chief executive was guilty of
olsobeying the royal edicts concern
ing public worship. then the king
recognized that he bad been caught in
the snare of politicians, who had
framed up program to secure
Daniefs death They demanded that
the law be obeyed. They insisted that
II one holding such an eminent place.
as the premier was allowed to violate
the nations laws. that their ciyiliZa-
ton would perish. We recognize the
saneness of their argument today.
when the greatest danger confronting
modern civilization is the tendency of
people to wink at the violation of the
nations constitution and laws Darius
realized too late that the law had
been voted by Daniels enemies with
no intention of requiring public obedi-
ence but to secure the shaving Of his
nobiest servant and truest friend He
tried Throughout the day to find soms.
way by which he could save the great
statesman, but the laws of the nation
were Interchangeable and he could find
no way to hinder the sentence being
II ...vfI
the law that the king could do no
wrong. Like PLATE he did not dare
to stand up for the right
II was probably after a conference
with Daniel that Darius ordered the
edict carried out. The kings partinf-
message TO the venerable seer Was a
prayer that Jehovah would protect
and deliver His faithful worshiper.
When the sentence was pronounced
Daniel walked quietly along with The
soldiers to the den of lions When
he reached il he leaped down among
the savage beasts who had tasted
the blood of men who had been CON
demned to die. There was something
about the look of the newcomer that
mastered the fierce beasts Sealing
the stone by the king and his officials
did not seal Daniels fate. The faith
that he possessed in the sustaining
grace of God to protect His servant
from death. or to enable them to die
for his glory. filled the soul of Daniel.
with such confidence that he was
master of the situation throughout
the watches of the night. Some one
has suggested that the lions could
not eat Daniel because he was two
thirds grit and the balance back
bone. The prophet gave Jehovah
credit for his protection because He
guarded him with His angels from
danger.
While Daniel fought the good fight
Of faith throughout the night in the
Mons den, Darius in his palace was
remorse. His troubled conscience
kept him from sleeping. so that his
bedroom became for the king a cham
Der of horrors. Dawn witnessed him
calling for his chariot and speeding
to the den. where his friend had
been imprisoned. 1t was a strange
spectacle for the ruler OF a world
kingdom to he attending one whom
he had condemned only the night
previous for no other crime than
worshiping God lie revealed his
deem distress and the agony OF
anxiety. when he called Daniel whose
answer brought great relief to the
troubled sovereign. He Immediately
ordered the prisoner released.
Upon his delivercnce from the lions
den. the aged and heroic soul thanked
God for his triumph. just as he had
praised Him when he faced the dan
ger of the prayer test. One of the
first results Of the triumph of Daniel
was seen in this savage vengeance
that Darius took upon the con-
spirators. The psalmist speaks of
the wicked falling into the pit which
they had prepared for others. Envy
always brings back upon itself the
curse with which they seek to crush
others. Haman was hanged upon
the gallows he prepared for the ex-
ecution of Mordecai. Darius ordered
the leaders and their families to he
summoned from their slumbers and
to pay the penalty that they had
planned to destroy Daniel.
The wonderful deliverance of Gods
servant stirred Darius to publicly ac-
knowledge Jehovah in language.
which the prophets did not surpass
He sent forth his confession to the
reigning monarchs of the world, when
"Peisistratus was tyrant at Athens:
Servius Tullius was reigninE at Rome:
the Cathaginians We're in great pow
er: the commerce of Tyre and Sidon
was still fiourishing. Pythagoras
was on his travels gathering material
for his remarkable system Of philos-
ophy; the disciples of Buddha were
spreading their masters doctrines in
India. and Confucius was teaching in
China" The world powers were reign
ing in religion. philosophy and poll
tics when Darius sent forth his testi-
mony concerning Jehovah as the Nv
ing God and Universal King. inform
ing them at the same time concerning
the marvellous deliverance of Daniel.
which had inspired his public teSti-
monial to the power of Jehovah. Tn
fortunately. Darius failed to live M tu
the truth. which he proclaimed to the
nations of the earth that summoned
them. as ii does US, to put our trust in
the Lord, who enabled the prophets
through faith" Ito subdue Kingdoms
and to stop the mouths of lions"