a law of the Medes and Persians, that no decree nor statute which the king establisheth may be changed." C. DANIEL DELIVERED FROM THE LIONS 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 ?" Then said Daniel unto the king, "O king, live for ever. 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." Then was the king exceeding glad, and com manded 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. And the king commanded, and they brought those men which had accused Daniel, and they cast them into the den of lions, them, their children, and their wives; and the lions had the mastery of them, and break all their bones in pieces, or ever they came at the bottom of the den. D. THE PROSPERITY OF DANIEL Then king Darius wrote unto all the peoples, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth; "Peace be multiplied unto you. I make a decree, that in all the dominion of my kingdom men tremble and fear before the God of Daniel: for he is the living God, and stedfast for ever, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed, and his dominion shall be even unto the end: he delivereth and rescueth, and he worked signs and wonders in heaven and in earth; who hath delivered Daniel from the power of the lions." So this Daniel prospered in the reign of Darius, and in the reign of Cyrus the Persian. THE MEANING OF THE STORY 367. In the last chapter we studied the bitter persecution of the Jews in the time of Antiochus. God sent them a great deliverer in Judas the Hammerer. He also sent them a helper who told them heroic stories of the olden time to encourage them to believe that God would surely deliver them. These stories were of Daniel and his three friends who were taken to Babylon in the captivity. They were under great temptation to be untrue to their religion. We can see how these stories would help the people to be faithful. 368 (§98). In the old times the food and wine for the king's table would first be offered to the heathen gods, so Daniel felt that he would really be an idolator if he took them. What request did he make? How did the master think it would be discovered that he had not fed them on rich food? What test did Daniel propose? How did it turn out? Of course it was really much more healthy for the young men to live simply. It took some courage to stand out against the officer, but it was a matter of conscience with Daniel and his friends. 369 (§99A). Imagine the great golden image 100 feet high. What was the king's command to the people? What was to be the penalty if they refused to obey? How would a faithful servant of the Lord feel about it? Daniel was at this 370 ($99B). We do not know where time, but what did his three friends do? say to them? What did they answer him? that they said they were sure God could whether he did or not they would be faithful. God does not always save people from death. have been faithful unto death. good out of their sufferings. The noble army of martyrs But God has always brought 371 ($99C). Describe the scene when these men were thrown into the furnace? What did the king think he saw ? What did he do to the three? What impression did it make on the king? We can understand how the Jews would have told such a wonderful story as this to cheer those who were under great temptation to give up their faith. 372 (§100A). Long after, when Daniel was an old man, another great danger arose. He had meantime been promoted to the highest station. Great men always have many enemies who are jealous of them. All our great Americans have had those who envied them. What foolish thing did Daniel's enemies persuade the king to do? There seems to have been a rule that if the king gave an order it could not be changed. 373 (§100B). What had been Daniel's custom regarding prayer? How did he change it when he heard of the decree? Would he have been wiser to pray secretly? Some of our soldier boys that went to the war were ashamed to kneel down and pray at night, but some of them were not afraid even when their companions jeered them. Do you remember a story like that in Tom Brown at Rugby? How did the king feel when he found that Daniel had refused to obey the decree? Why could not the king pardon him? Notice how bitterly his enemies insisted on the penalty. 374 (§100C). What did the king say to Daniel? How did the king pass the night? What happened in the morning? What was done to his enemies? 375 (§100D). What message did the king send to his people? Daniel's bravery made the king respect his religion. What was the result of all this to Daniel? Suppose Daniel had been killed by the lions, what would you think of him ? WRITTEN REVIEW You have Think about Daniel's refusal to do wrong. probably known one of your companions who refused to do some wrong when it was hard to refuse. Young people can be heroes in standing up for duty. Write about anybody whom you have known who did this. Or perhaps you will find somebody actually doing such a thing now. Make a good story of it for your notebook. |