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16. 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.

17. 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 the purpose might not be changed concerning Daniel.

18. Then the king went to his palace, and passed the night fasting: neither were instruments of musick brought before him: and his sleep went from him.

19. Then the king arose very early in the morning, and went in haste unto the den of lions.

20. And when he came to the den, he cried with a lamentable voice unto Daniel and 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 for ever.

22. My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions' mouths, that 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.

16. They brought Daniel, and cast him into the den of lions. This was according to Oriental custom on the evening of the same day. The story of the den of lions is strictly in keeping with Babylonian usages. Assurbanipal says in his annals, "The rest of the people I threw alive into the midst of the bulls and lions, as Sen

A Clay Document Signed by a Seal. From a clay tablet in the author's study.

nacherib, my grandfather, used to do."

17. Stone... laid upon the mouth of the den. The mouth was the door through which the animals were put into the den.

A great stone is still an ordinary way of securing a doorway in the East, as we know it for closing tombs." Sealed it with his own signet. Clay was plastered on the stone where it joined the opening, and the king's seal was stamped on the clay by rolling it over the adjoining surface.

"Seals were in common use alike among the Assyrians, Babylonians, and Persians. Herodotus (1 195) says that every one had a seal. The signet cylinder of Darius Hystaspis represented the king as engaged in a lion hunt (Rawlinson, Anc. Monarchies, III: 226, 227). Many thousands of these cylinder seals have been brought from those regions to the various museums and private collections.". That the Professor Driver. purpose (Am. R., " that nothing") might (not) be changed.

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18. The king was so troubled that his sleep went (Am. R., "fled ") from him, and he passed the night fasting, without any of his usual recreations.

V. GOD'S ANGEL OF DELIVERANCE, vs. 19-23. The King. The king arose very early. Literally, "in the dawning, in the glimmer of morning." Arose with trepidation as well as haste; so the word implies, and went in haste unto the den of lions (20), and cried with a lamentable voice, full of anxiety mingled with hope, Is thy God whom thou servest continually, able to deliver thee from the lions ? Daniel, speaking from the den amid the lions. O king, live for ever.

My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions' mouths, that 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 for him, 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 believed in his God.

23. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no manner of hurt was found upon him, because he believed (Am. R., "had trusted ") in his God.

God's Angels. It would be strange if angelic beings were not around us, ready to help us in our hours of need. Throughout the Bible we learn of the ministry of God's angels; who, we are told in Hebrews 1: 14, are all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of Salvation.

"Flitting, flitting, ever near thee,

Sitting, sitting by thy side,

Like yon shadow all unweary,

Angel beings guard and guide."

"Millions of spiritual creatures walk the earth
Unseen, both when we wake and when we sleep."

In Whittier's Poems, "The Angel of St. Mark" gives a beautiful story of angelic deliverance.

"Oh, weary one; ye may not see

Your helpers in their downward flight;
Nor hear the sound of silver wings

Slow beating through the hush of night!

"There are who, like the seer of old,

Can see the helpers God has sent,
And how life's rugged mountain side
Is white with many an angel tent."

Dore's Ad Leones. One of Doré's most characteristic pictures is called Ad Leones, "To the Lions." The scene is in a Roman amphitheatre, where Christians are being torn to pieces by lions, before the heathen crowd. But above, unseen by their persecutors, are multitudes of angels, welcoming to the joys of heaven those who are being destroyed below.

Dare to be a Daniel. There are many faithful Daniels whose names are not written in history. There are martyrs in almost every town and village, crucified on unseen crosses, burned with invisible flames, shut up in spiritual dens of lions.

"Standing by a purpose true,
Heeding God's command,

Honor them, the faithful few,

All hail to Daniel's Band!

"Many mighty men are lost,
Daring not to stand,

Who for God had been a host,
By joining Daniel's Band.'

For the Exiles. The end of the Exile was drawing near. The 70 years of Jeremiah had almost been fulfilled. The king named in the book of Isaiah as the one who would send those who desired back to Palestine was on the throne. Daniel's won

derful deliverance from the lions was full of inspiration to Faith and Hope. The conditions of Daniel's deliverance were very plain for all the Jews, - he was faithful to God and man. He served God at whatever cost. He was delivered because he believed in God, and prayed daily with his face and heart toward Jerusalem.

LESSON XIV.

September 30.

REVIEW: THE GOODNESS AND SEVERITY OF GOD.

READ Daniel 9:3-19.

GOLDEN TEXT. - The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy. - PSALMS 103: 8.

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The Map. A study of the map is essential to our understanding of the meaning of the movement of the history in God's providence, and the moral applications to them and to us. Palestine was the best place in the world, practically the only place, for the training of a nation in true religion, the worship of the true God, and the morals, righteousness, and character, which are the essentials of the development of mankind into the true kingdom of God. It was a small, secluded country, defended by the Mediterranean on the west, mountains on the north, deserts and the Jordan ravine on the east, and the vast Arabian desert on the south.

It has been wonderfully kept for the Jews, and the Jews have been wonderfully kept for the land.

Babylonia's treasures have also been kept for ages safely, waiting for the use that can in these days be made of the ruins, to throw light on the Bible.

Place modern maps beside the Biblical one.

Ancient Illustrations of Modern Duties.

Note 1, in this history, what were the things that urged or attracted the nation to the downward course.

2. What was the essential element that would have enabled the nation to move upward to true success and character? No nation and no individual can attain the highest good from life without supreme consecration to God, a lofty ideal, and a holy enthusiasm in the service of God and man.

3. Trace in the history what God did for the people to inspire and move them to the upward course, as prophets, written scriptures, revivals, prosperity, rewards of obedience.

4. What obstacles did God put in the way of the downward course of the nation, and puts them in the way of sinners to-day; as warnings, adversity, losses, the fate of others?

"The rise and fall" of Israel is a picture of what is going on continually among individuals. The whole course of the history is a magic mirror in which sinners may see themselves; a panorama of their own lives, their bright hopes, and possibilities. 5. From the following brief hints on each lesson recall the facts and the teachings to be applied to our own lives, and to our country.

1. Isaiah's Vision of God. A Call to Service. "Here am I; send me." Illustration. Stay on earth a little longer, to help others.

2. The Man who ruined his country. In what ways? How are some people now working to ruin our country?

Illustration. The change in the Chinese flag.

3. How a good king saved his country. How did he do it? Religion, Church Service, Inviting others, a Revival, Consecration.

Illustration. A Quaker's Dream.

4. A marvellous victory over enemies. Sennacherib. Prayer-meeting of Isaiah and Hezekiah.

Poem: "The Assyrian came down like the wolf on the fold."

5. God's Invitation. Ho! every one that thirsteth. Seek the Lord. Let the wicked forsake his way.

Illustration. Story of a young man and his uncle.

6. Story of a bad boy, who became a bad king. Poem. "The God of another chance."

7. Story of a good boy, who became king.

Repairing the Temple.

Illustration. The Boy Police of New York.

Consecration. Adventures in reform.

8. Finding the Book of the Law. Bible study and its power. A Modern Example. Effect of Bible reading on the people. 9. Captivity of the Jews. A punishment for disobeying God. training, a hope. A vision, a promise, a goal.

Seven rays of Hope.

10. The Good Shepherd, and his flock.

Psalm 23.

II. Daniel the young Hero; victory over himself. 12. Three heroes in the fiery furnace.

13. Daniel in the den of lions.

A discipline, a

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