THE KING’S BUSINESS
1089
Cyrus to return to their own land. So will it be with the Zionistic movement today. S. It was obeyed. Those who desired to do so, migrated; those who remained at home, provided money and material. Them e: Daniel in th e Lion’s Den. T ext : Daniel 6. I ntroduction . The value of the biographical study of the Bible. God speaks to His people through human life. I. The character of Daniel. 1. Faithful. This is true of his business, political and religious life, as a study of the context shows. He was always true to God and his conscience. Even a seeming disobedi ence to the king was obedience after all. 2. Courageous. It was when he “knew” that the writing was signed that he did as he had done “aforetime.” Daniel was willing not only to strike but to be struck for his religion. 3. Prayerful. Three times a day, openly and fearlessly, he prayed. II. Daniel’s Temptation. Goodness does not exempt from trial but rather incites it. 1. The nature of the temptation. To deny God, to be ashamed of and hide his' religion; to be untrue to his convic tions. 2. The agents in the temptation. (a) The king, unwittingly, and yet really. > (b) His companions who, through envy and jealousy, plotted his downfall. III. Daniel’s Deliverance. God always puts a way of escape beside a temptation (1 Corinthians 10:13). 1. Daniel’s assurance of it. To Daniel, the Most High God ruled and could deliver him should He choose to.
2. Faith won the victory. Through faith, the mouths of lions were stopped (Hebrews 11:33). 3. The deliverance was miraculous. That the lions were hungry is evident by the fact that they ate up Daniel’s adver saries (6:44). That Daniel was not eaten up was due to the supernatural interfer ence of God—“He sent His angel.”
Them e: Forgiveness. T ext : Matt. 18:21-35. I ntroduction .
The important place occupied by the sub ject of forgiving wrongs and enemies in the teaching of our Lord. Christianity is exceptional in this respect. I. The , pattern of forgiveness (w . 23 - 27 ) ■ 1. Man’s need of forgiveness. Sin is a debt. We owe God a perfect life. To come short of it is to be in debt. 2. Man’s inability to pay. The largeness of the debt here indicated shows man’s inability to pay it during his lifé-time. So is, it with us. Forgiveness must be a gracious act of God. 3. God’s forgiveness. It is gracious, unlimited, impartial, com plete. Our forgiveness should be like God’s (Ephesians 5:2). We are constantly wronged and need to cultivate a forgiving spirit; our forgiveness should be gracious. II. The motive of forgiveness. 1. Is based on thè divine forgiveness—* “Even as God for Christ’s sake forgave you.” ' 2. For the purpose of gaining the brother, enemy, friend. To gain a brother is more noble than to ruin him. 3. One’s own pardon, ih a sense, depends upon it or, better, is shown by it. Not that we are forgiven because we for give, but if we are truly forgiven, we will show it by forgiving.
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