LESSON V.—SUNDAY, JULY 30, 1899.
DANIEL IN THE LIONS' DEN.
NOTE.— From last week's lesson we learned that Darius the Median took the kingdom, when Belshazzar, the last of the Babylonian monarchs, was slain by the Medo-Persian army under Cyrus. By reading the first nine verses of this lesson chapter it will be seen that the incident here recorded occurred in the second year of Darius' reign. There were one hundred and twenty princes over the various provinces; over these were three presidents, of which Daniel was first. Practically he was next to the king in the empire, and the fact that he was one of the exiled Jews excited a spirit of envy against him on the part of the other officials. So they made great pretense of loyalty to the king, and flattered him with the suggestion that a decree be issued that no one should “ask a petition of any god or man for thirty days,” excepting of the king. Of course this pleased the old man's vanity, and he signed the decree. 10 “And when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house (now his windows were open in his chamber toward Jerusalem); and he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime. Then these men assembled together, and found Daniel making petition and supplication before his God. Then they came near, and spake before the king concerning the king's interdict: Hast thou not signed an interdict, that every man that shall make petition unto any god or man within thirty days, save unto thee, O king, shall he be cast into the den of lions? The king answered and said, The thing is true, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which altereth not. Then answered they and said before the king, That Daniel, which is of the children of the captivity of Judah, regardeth not thee, O king, nor the interdict that thou hast signed, but maketh his petition three times a day. Then the king, when he heard these words, was sore displeased, and set his heart on Daniel to deliver him; and he labored till the going down of the sun to deliver him. Then these men assembled together unto the king, and said unto the king, Know, O king, that it is a law of the Medes and Persians, that no interdict nor statute which the king establisheth may be changed. Then the king commanded, and they brought Daniel, and cast him into the den of lions. Now the king spake and said unto Daniel, Thy God whom thou servest continually, He will deliver thee. And a stone was brought, and laid upon the mouth of the den; and the king sealed it with his own signet, and with the signet of his lords; that nothing might be changed concerning Daniel. Then the king went to his palace, and passed the night fasting: neither were instruments of music brought before him; and his sleep fled from him. Then the king arose very early in the morning, and went in haste unto the den of lions. And when he came near unto the den to Daniel, he cried with a lamentable voice: the king spake and said to Daniel, O Daniel, servant of the living God, is thy God, whom thou servest continually, able to deliver thee from the lions? 21 Then said Daniel unto the king, O king, live forever. 22 My God hath sent His angel, and hath shut the lions' mouths, and they have not hurt me; forasmuch as before Him innocency was found in me; and also before thee, O king, have I done no hurt. 23 Then was the king exceeding glad, and commanded that they should take Daniel up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no manner of hurt was found upon him, because he had trusted in his God.” Golden Text: “The Lord is thy keeper.” Ps. 121:5. (1) What circumstances led up to the incident described in this lesson? See introductory note. (2) When Daniel learned of the decree, what course did he pursue? V. 10. Note 1. (3) What did his enemies soon find out? V. 11. (4) To whom did they report the matter? In what cautious manner did they broach the subject? What was the king's answer? V. 12. (5) Then what charge was boldly brought against Daniel? V. 13. (6) How did the king feel when he heard this report? What steps did he take in the matter? V. 14. Note 2. (7) How did Daniel's accusers still urge their case? V. 15. (8) What then did the king command? As Daniel was being put into the den of lions, what did the king say to him? V. 16. (9) How was the den and the decree further secured? V. 17. (10) How did the king further manifest his deep concern for Daniel? V. 18. (11) What did he do in the morning? V. 19. (12) How did he express his feelings as he came near to the den? What did he say? V. 20. (13) What was Daniel's reply? Vs. 21, 22. Note 3. (14) Then how did the king feel? What command did he give? V. 23. 1. Daniel's honesty.—Daniel was honest with God, honest with the government, and honest with himself. He would not defraud the Lord of the honor due to His name; he would not defraud the government or the king by secretly disobeying the law while publicly professing to observe it; he would not defraud himself by depriving himself of the blessings of faithfulness in all things. It was this “excellent spirit” that procured for him his position, that “the king should have no damage.” In ancient times it was customary for governors of provinces to fraudulently enrich themselves at the expense of the general government; and one in Daniel's position could have gained wealth and friendship by allowing such things to pass without note or comment. The king knew this tendency on the part of officials, and knew that Daniel would conscientiously look out for the public weal. Hence the king's confidence, and hence the animosity of presidents and princes whose official acts and financial accounts were closely scrutinized. 2. The king's displeasure.—He “was sore displeased with himself” (A.V.). When Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego disobeyed the decree of Nebuchadnezzar, he was “full of fury” toward the men who disregarded his power. But Darius was displeased with himself because he had unwittingly allowed himself to become a tool of designing men. 3. “Shut the lions' mouths.”—The writer of the epistle to the Hebrews refers to the prophets “who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the violence of fire,” etc. The Angel of deliverance still lives, and faith is as effectual to invoke the power of God as ever it was; for our God is “the same yesterday, to-day, and forever.”