The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-02-07

Sunday-School Lesson for Feb. IA, 1886.
THE HANDWRITING ON THE WALL.-Dan. v, 1-12
1928.
GOLDEN TExT.-Thou art weighed in the balances
and art found wanting.-Dan. v, 27.
The f--eat king Nebuchadnezzar died about
SCI B. c.. and within the next FIVE years Baby
Ian had three rulers the last having been put to
death by conspiracy among the mobiles.
Nabonadius, who was their choice, reigned
about seventeen years, and held the throne
until 538 B. c., when the city was captured by
Cyrus. Daniel says: Darius, the Median. took
the kingdom, being about threescore and two
years old" 1t is one of the puzzles of history
who this Darius was, but it seems probable
that he was descendant from the royal Median
line whom Cyrus elevated to the throne Of Baby
Ion, as he was not yet ready to assume the king
ship of what soon became the great united
Medo-Persian empire. Nabonadius, or Naboni-
dus, raised his son to share with him his throne,
and this son was Belshazzar, the hero of this
lesson.
The period of time we have now reached marks
the close of what is known as ancient history,
and the prominence Of the great Semitic nations
in Asia. and it marks the beginning of modern
history with the nations of Europe for the
Aryan blood coming TO the front, and being
henceforth the great controlling forces of the
world the centers of intellectual activity and
political power moved westward, and within a
few years the Greek and the Roman became the
foremost figures among the nations
PRACTICAL LESSONS.
/. Belshazzars sins were the same as those
most common in our day-iove of pleasure,
PRIDE incompetence and impiety.
e. Pleasure blinds men to their peril and
leads them into all sorts of follies. His intern
perance cost him his kingdom. The whole city
seems to have been intoxicated on this festival
day, and the enemy, watching and waiting for
this opportunity, marches in from the river
gates that night and gains an otherwise impres-
nable city.
8. The sin of impiety. The light and careless
treatment of sacred things, the habit of joking
and punnng with the Scriptures, is unworthy Of
men who believe in inspiration.
4. Men in our time do not need any Scriptures
written especially for themselves by the fingers
of God, for their fate is clearly declared in the
word Of God, so that he who runs may read.
Except We repent and be converted ye shall
likewise perish"
5. There is great need Of those who will faith
fully interpret and boldly apply what God has
declared concerning sinners. 1t is not always
easy to be thoroughly true when sent for as
Daniel was.
THE GREAT TEACHING.
For Belief.-As the young King. Belshazzar,
settled his destiny before he was twenty years
of age so there are multitudes of young people
to-day who so give themselves up to life OF
pleasure and indulgence that they early settle
for themselves the question of their future fail
ure They become light weight" and are
found wanting" They are not sought out or
trusted for any serious business. We weigh and
judge men. and treat them according to their
moral weight. They may not be bad o. base,
but they lack the qualities that give weight,
and they early lose the thrones of power they
might have held Babylon was said to have
been stored for twenty years siege, and was
impregnable to all direct attack, but was lost
through that one night of folly.
For Practice. Make the King of heaven your
friend. Be good steward of God and you shall
hold your crown, and perpetually enlarge your
kingdom of power and pleasure. You owe
everything that you possess to his goodness
Put integrity and character into your work
Smart men, educated men, are plenty, but mer
of steady, strong purpose, with conscience be-
hind it, are rare. Good men are the trusted
men, and, even in this life, are adjudged worthy
of honor and power