T H E K I N G ’S B U S I N E S S v. 13. They said before the king. In trying to blast Daniel they bore testi mony to all ages to his devotion. They laid their plans well, but they left God out of account. No matter how shrewdly we lay our plans, if we do not take God into account, the plans will come to nothing.— Torrey. v. 16. Cast Daniel into den of lions. Daniel is cast into the lions’ den as our Lord was given to the lions (Ps. 22:21), and a stone is laid upon the mouth of thè den and it is sealed with the king’s signet. He is, so to speak, in a grave, as good as dead in the eyes of the world. All this brings before .us that other place, a tomb in the garden, where Christ was laid and the stone before it which bore the seal of the Roman world power. As Daniel could not be hurt by the lions, so He who went into the jaws o f death could not be holden of death. — Gaebelein. Darius’ conduct to Daniel was like Herod’s to John the Baptist and Pilate’s to Jesus. In all the cases the judges were .convinced of the victims’ innocence and would have saved them, but fear of others biased justice, and from selfish motives they let fierce hatred have its way. To be weak is the same as to be wicked. He who has a sidelong eye to his supposed in terest will never see the path of duty plainly.— Maclaren. Thy God will de liver thee. Darius recognized Daniel’s God as a god, but not as the only true God. He had heard of the deliverance of the three youths in chapter three and hence augurs Daniel’s deliverance. I am not my own master and cannot de liver thee, however much I wish it. Thy God will deliver thee. Kings are the slaves of their flatterers. Men admire piety to God in others» however disre garding Him themselves.— Jhmieson. v. 18. His sleep went from him. The king had a bad night of it and he de served to have. Daniel had a far better time in the lions’ den than the king had In his palace. It is far better to be in the lions’ den with God than in the pal ace with a guilty conscience.— Torrey. There are many ' such halters between good and bad who are ill at ease in their sins, yet go forward in them, and are drawn on by others.—-Brown. v. 22. Sent His angel. Dare to be lieve that the ministering angels though unseen engirdle you and intercept the blows and plots of your adversaries. Walk before God in righteousness and peace, and be sure that you are immor tal till your work is done.— Meyer.
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Many times was Daniel visited by mes sengers from heaven. Sometimes they were sent to explain the- import of his dreams (Dan. 9:20-22). What Chris tian can deny that the angel of the Lord encampeth round about those who fear Him, and delivereth them?4i?-Farr. Have not hurt me. Daniel’s fate came upon him and there was a point at which there was nothing between him and destruction but God. It is well to be shut up with God and to God. Men begin to pray when the rock closes in upon them and they can see no pathway through it or over it. Then the rock becomes a real altar. Have we been shut up to God?— People’s Bible. v. 23. He believed in his God. This is the basis of the reference in Heb. 11:33:- “ through faith stopped the mouths of lions.”— Alexander. •S!*. a s Pictorial Questions Who was Darius? Whom did he slay to secure the kingdom? What govern ment officials did he appoint? What responsible position did Daniel fill? What kind of a spirit LESSON did Daniel have? What QUESTIONS kind of a character did W. H. Pike Daniel display? What decree did- the king make? Who persuaded the king to make this decree? What was Daniel’s custom in private devotions? Did this decree affect his devotion to God? What ,did the king do when he found his decree had convicted Daniel? What did the king say to Daniel when he was cast into the den of lions? What did the king do during the night when Dan iel was in the den? What did the king do in the morning? When Daniel was taken out who was put in? What did the king do at the end? Under what kings did Daniel serve? Practical Questions Where did Daniel get his excellent spirit? How was this excellent spirit maintained? What method of private devotion did he follow? Does it pay to live an out and out Christian life? Will every devoted Christian have test ing times? Will God deliver if the
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