manifested Himself, where the temple, the type of Christ, by whom only we are accept- ed of God, ideally, if not literally, stood, from whence all hope shone) he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed and gave thanks before his God AS HE DID AFORETIME." Not in defiance of Darius, but in deference to Jehovah, who is "the only Potentate" (1 Tim. 6:15). 2. The sub- stance of his prayer may be found in Chap- ter 9:3-19. V. THE ACCUSATION OF THE NOBLES AND THE DISTRESS OF DARIUS. 1. Contrast the meanness of Daniel's per- secutors, who, having plotted against him, now spy upon his privacy (v. 11). It is an old story, oft repeated in the annals of the ma r t y rs who, refusing to offer incense to Caesar, have been betrayed and cast to the lions. 2. Taking Daniel in the act, as they k n ew they should, they made haste to de- nounce him to the king ( w . 12-15). 3. Darius gave sentence against Daniel, and with the same breath encouraged him to trust in his God. H a p py for Daniel t h at he had chosen to obey the King t h at could save him, for Darius could not (v. 17). 4. While Daniel communed with the Lord in the company of His angel (v. 22), or pillowed his -head on the shoulder of the king of beasts, Darius, in distress, refused all com- fort, cursing his folly, his counsellors, and finding no peace to his conscience. PITH AN The story of Daniel astounds us. He was without a Bible such as we possess, in a strange land with no fellowship such as we possess, yet he had such conscious touch with God and such sublime faith as to humiliate us who live in this Christian age. It takes a great crisis in h uman life to produce a great character. Hardships a re essential in the making of men. Daniel came to his own through the dangers which beset his path. How could Daniel stand alone against a king and kingdom? We have known men to wrap their Bibles in a news- paper to carry down street, not to save the Bible but to save their world's pride. We fail to let our light shine in the social g a t h- ering or to breathe His name in business life. Christians can be found who would die for their country, who would not spend a night in prayer. The Conviction of Faith. Daniel believed God's Word. He would pray to no potentate. He worshipped the God of Israel. To him "thè statutes of the Lord were right, rejoicing his heart." He believed in prayer. He believed God heard and answered prayer. He knew t h at Moses prayed and God answered his prayer, Num 11:2. P e r h a ps he had prayed for the three who were cast into the furnace and God had responded to his cry. Daniel had not signed a card promising to pray, but prayer to him was a p a rt of his very life. The Courage of Faith. Daniel believed in prayer and he practiced it. He was not ashamed n o r' afraid t h at people should know t h at he prayed. He prayed with his window open toward J e r u s a- lem and his heart open toward God. He
VI. DANIEL DELIVERED. 1. Daniel was waked from a restful slum- ber, if the sweet fellowship of t h at night permitted sleep, by the "lamentable voice" of the king, "O Daniel, servant of the Liv- ing God, Is thy God, whom thou servest con- tinually, able to deliver thee from the lions?" H e ar the answer: "My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions' mouths, that they have not hurt me: for as much as be- fore Him innocence was found In me: and also before thee, O king, have I done no hurt." A magnificent testimony confirming the king's ascriptions to the "Living God." Daniel had no regrets, no remorse, but a clear conscience before God and man. VII. THE CONSPIRATORS' PUNISH- MENT. They met the fate they assigned to Daniel and were caught in the trap they themselves had set. "The angel of the pit" does not deliver t h em t h at serve him. VIII. THESE THINGS HAPPENED AT THE DAWN OF GENTILE DOMIN- ION AND WERE RECORDED: (1) To m a rk the beginning and character of "the times of the Gentiles" (Luke 21:24). (2) To instruct and warn the Gentiles, t h at they might be "without excuse" (Rom. 1:20). (3) And for "our admonition upon whom the ends of the age are come" (1 Cor. 10:11). D PIVOT. was . a loyal subject of the king, b ut he would not allow even a. king to interfere with his relation to the King of Kings. They couldn't frighten Daniel by threats of a lion's den. Daniel knew t h at it was not necessary for him to live, but t h at it was absolutely necessary for him to pray, and he prayed in the open. The Consistency of Faith. Daniel prayed three times a. day, as did David, who said, "Evening, morhing and at noon will I pray." He had a time and a place for prayer .and h e l d ' himself to it Great business, cares and affairs could not separate him from the privilege of prayer. As he felt the pressure of these burdens he no doubt prayed the more. He owed something to God, something to his own soul and something to the world in which he lived; and he prayed. He pro- fessed to believe in the God of Israel and he To the anxious inquiry of the king he replied. "My God h a th sent his a n g e l" The lion's mouth is set with sharp teeth but a Daniel is safe in a lion's den. The king had no rest by reason of unbelief, but Daniel was not afraid to pillow his head on the body of the lion. The devil is a roaring hungry lion, but we need not fear him! Submit yourselves unto God, resist the devil and he will flee from you." The Christian who believes in God's Son a nd God's Word will bow his knee to Him onlv, but he will bow it to Him and in spite of all difficulties and dangers and doubts will lift his soul in thanksgiving and his heart ni prayer. . made his profession' good. The Confidence of Faith.
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