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difference to him. God was enthroned in his life arid, of course, he considered his duty to God first. At the regular time of his devotions he went to his accustomed place of prayer, which was before a win dow of his house which faced Jerusalem. There he knelt and prayed to God, giving thanks as he had done formerly. His enemies placed themselves in such a posi tion that they could find him in the very act of worship. Daniel knew from the very beginning that he would be involved in trouble the very moment it became known that he continued his devotional exercises to God. He would not be discouraged or intimi dated by the thought of trouble. His faith was so very firmly rooted in God’s over ruling providence that he, undisturbed, continued his devotional exercises as formerly. Many a more fearful spirit would have worshiped in secret. Daniel was bold and fearless because of his loy alty to God and his conviction that his God was able to deliver him. Daniel’s secret, conniving enemies, as soon as they had the evidence that he dis regarded the interdict and worshiped his God contrary to the decree, appeared be fore the king and very diplomatically and psychologically p r e s e n t e d their case against Daniel. In the first place, they asked him if he had not made the decree that the one who made request of anyone except of him should be cast into the den of lions. To this question he an swered in the affirmative, stating that the law of the Medes and Persians could not be changed. According to verse 13 they indicted Daniel for his disobedience to the decree. It is quite evident that they presented sufficiently strong evidence to convince the king that their testimony was true, for, upon hearing their report he “was sore displeased, and set his heart on Daniel to deliver him; and he labored till the going down of the sun to rescue him.” The king had been ensnared by the stratagem of Daniel’s enemies. The more Darius endeavored to prevent the execu tion of the decree, the more determined were these men that the decree should be executed. The question frequently is asked, “If a person in innocency of heart is ensnared to make a promise which involves a wrong or injustice to another, is the one thus entrapped in honor bound to fulfill his pledge or promise?” To this question the answer seems to be that all the persons involved should come together and try to ascertain all of the facts and render a decision which is in keeping with the spirit of justice and righteousness. The solution of this question involves the dis tinction between the letter and the spirit of the law. It also involves a matter of making rash promises. Darius, being bound by the unalterable laws of the Medes and Persians, endeavored to hold to the letter of the law and at the same time to work in accordance with the spirit of the law and to deliver Daniel. In this case the letter of the law was so ironclad that there was no flexibility for any spir itual interpretation; hence, execution of the decree was inevitable. III. Daniel’s Miraculous Deliverance. Vs. 16-23. Being unable to deliver Daniel and at the same time observe the unalterable customs, he gave the order for Daniel to be cast into the den of lions. The king’s
faith was that the God to whom Daniel had been true, even at the sacrifice of life itself, was able to deliver him. This fact shows that Daniel’s life was such that God had honored His servant in signal ways prior to this time. God is able to deliver His people from all dangers. Such was the faith of the three Hebrews of the fiery furnace (Dan. 3 :17; cf. 2 Cor. 9:8). The decree was executed, a stone was laid upon the mouth of the den, and the entrance was sealed with the royal signet. That night was a sleepless one for the king (v. 18). Next morning the king rushed to the lions’ den and with a wavering faith cried out, “O Daniel, ser vant o f the living God, is thy God, whom thou servest continually, able to deliver thee from the lions?" To this query Dan iel answered, “My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions’ mouths, and they harve not hurt .me; forasmuch as before him innocency was found in me; and also before thee, O king, have I done no hurt.” Daniel’s reply rejoiced the king. His life had been preserved be cause he had trusted in his God (v. 23). God never disappoints faith. IV. The Execution of Daniel’s Ene mies. V. 24. The king’s indignation was aroused and he immediately gave orders that Daniel’s enemies, with their families, should be cast into the lions’ den. This decree was executed and they were immediately slain by the ferocious beasts. V. The Decree of Darius. Vs. 2S-27. The experience of such a miraculous escape from death brought new light to this heathen monarch. Then he issued the decree that throughout his domains the God of Daniel should be feared, for He is the true and the living God—the One who performs signs and wonders and delivers His servants. VI. The Prosperity of Daniel. V. 28. God always honors His servants who put their trust in Him. According to this verse Daniel prospered during the two years of Darius and in the reign of Cyrus the Persian. God used this faithful ser vant in a pronounced way as a statesman during the seventy years of captivity and up into the reign of Cyrus. August 18, 1929 T h e R e tu rn from Captivity Jer. 29:10-14; Ezra 1:1-11; Psa. 126:1-6. Devotional Reading: Psa. 124. Golden Text: “Jehovah hath done great things for us, Whereof we are glad” (Psa. 126:3). L esson in O u tl in e Introduction: Historical Setting. I. Jeremiah’s Letter to the Captives. Jer. 29:10-14. II. The Return. Ezra 1:1-11. 1. The Proclamation. Vs. 1-4. 2. The Response to the Proclama tion. Vs. 5-11. III. Joy of the Returned Exiles. Psa. 126.
FRED S. SHEPARD ’S BLACKBOARD OUTL INE P REDICTION ' ROCLAMATION ERFORMANCE Jehovah hath done great things for us. —Ps. 126:3. Introduction: Historical Setting. J N the fourth year of Jehoiakim, son of Josiah, Jeremiah, who had begun his prophetic ministry in the thirteenth year of Josiah, prophesied that the in ken in three different installments or deputations. Daniel and his companions had been taken by Nebuchadnezzar the year prior to this prophecy. The second deputation, when Jehoiachin, who was the successor of Jehoiakim, and who reigned only three months, was taken to Babylon, occurred in the year 597 B. C. The third and last deputation was carried away at the final siege and destruction of the city in the year 586 B. C. I. Jeremiah’s letter to the Captives. Jer. 29: 10-14. Jeremiah 29 is a letter which the prophet, who remained at Jerusalem, wrote to the captives in Babylon just af ter the second deputation was carried there. There had arisen false prophets among the Jewish community in Babylon and also among the remnant that re mained in the land. Among those at Jeru salem was Hananiah, who opposed Jere miah openly. These false prophets both in Palestine and in Babylon were an end less source of confusion to the Hebrew people. They were constantly saying that the_ captives should not settle down in their new homes and pursue peaceful oc cupations because they were to return soon to Jerusalem. The prophets in Jeru salem likewise were in constant communi cation with the exiles, promising them that they would shortly return. All of these predictions were exactly contrary to the predictions of Jeremiah, who had said that they would be there in Babylon for seventy years. Jeremiah wrote this letter to these captives, urging them that they should ac cept the situation in which they found themselves as brought about by the over ruling providence of God; that they should settle down, building houses and planting gardens; that they should give their sons and daughters in marriage; and that they should pray for the peace of the communities in which they lived in order that they might have peace. Fur thermore, lie warned them against the false p r o p h e t s and the dreamers of dreams who were in the midst of them for the purpose of deceiving them. According to verse 10 they were to ac cept their new homes and fit into this en vironment because, by the providence of God, they were to remain there for sev- habitants of Jeru salem and the chil dren of J u d a h s h o u l d be carried i n t o captivity in Babylon and there remain s e v e n t y y e a r s (Jer. 25:1- 26). They Were ta
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