The National tribune., 1886-02-04
SUNDAY MEDITATION.

Practical Duties Taught by Study Of the Inter
national Sunday School Lesson Appointed for
Feb. Ii. Dan. lie. 1928.
Zone reading these notes should first carefully
study the paragraph from the Holy Scriptures
indicated above.
The Bible is real, earnest, serious. There is
little room in it for comedy, but it has much of
tragedy. There is something tragic in the ac-
count of the handwriting on the walls OF the
palace at Babylon.
We reach the year B. c. 539 Daniel has be-
come an old man-two years passed being an
octogcnarian. Nabonidus and his son, Bel
shazzar, are jointly ruling Babylonia
Nabonidus it is believed married daughter
Of Nebuchadnczzar. Belshazzar was the son of
Nabondus, and so grandson of Nebuchadnez-
gar. The 20 years captivity Of the Kingdom Of
Judah were nearly completed.
Our former lesson related to the burning,
fiery furnace. A period of about so years from
then brings US to the present lesson. The event
Of importance intervening is the wonderful
dream of Nebuchadnezzar narrated in the fourth
chapter of Daniel. That happened probably
something more than so years after the dedca-
ton of the image erected in honor of the god
Bel. The only Interpreter to be found was
Daniel. So for half a century of the life Of the
Prophet we have no record save the fact he
explained that dream.
The rising figure during the reign of Naboni-
dus was Cyrus. He was King of Persia and
Medea. He determined to exterminate the
BabylOnian Empire. When our lesson opens
he had been for two years with great army
about Babylon besieging it.
1t is matter of interest that we have to de-
pend not only on the biblical record for facts.
The BabylonianS recorded history on clay slabs
or cylinders, which were afterwards baked and
became Stonelike. Many such inscriptions
engraving5, etc, are still preserved. A key to
their reading is known. Such records can to-
day be seen in the British Museum.
At the time we study, Nabonidus was at
Borsppa and Belshazzar in Babylon. The
father was forced to surrender, but the son re-
manned within the walls of his capital.
Northumberland built the walls of Babylon.
Other Kings strengthened the walls by adding
Notifications.
We cannot do better than give the graphic
account furnished by Prof Rawlinson:
When all was prepared, Cyrus determined to wait
tor the arrival of certain festival during which the
whole population were wont to engage in drinking
and rcveng and then silently in the dead of night
to turn the water OF the river and make his attack
All fell ont "a he hoped and wished. The festival
was held with even greater pomp and splendor than
usual for Belshazzar, with the natural insoence of
| youth, to mark his contempt for the besicging
army, abandoned himself wholly to the delights of
| the season, and himself entertained n thousand
lords i'll his palace Elsewhere the rest of the pop-
| ulation were occupied in feasting and dancing
Drunken riot and mad excitement held possession
| of the town; the siege was forgotten; ordinary
7
pie of their King, the Babyonians gave themselves
up for the night TO orgies in which religious frenzy
| aud drunken excitement formed a strange and
| revolving medley.
Meanwhile outside the city, in silence and dark
ness the Pcrsians watched at the two points where
the Euphrates entered and left the walls. Anxiously
they noted the gradual sinking of the water in the
| river-bed still more anxiously they watched to
sec if those within the walls would observe the sus-
picious circumstances, and sound an alarm through
the town. Should such an alarm be given, all their
| laoors wouia DE loss. But as they watched
noise of reve and riot, which showed that the I'M
| happy townsmen were quite unconscious of the
! approach Of danger.
At last shadowy forms began TO emerge from the
obscurty of the deep rivcr-bed, and Oh the landing
places opposite the river gates scattered clusters o
men grew into solid columns, the undcfcnded gate.
ways were seized, a war shout was raised the alarm
was taken and spread and swift runners started
Off to show the King of Babylon that his city was
taken 1T one end. In the darkness and confusion o.
the night a terrible massacre enSued. The drunken
jewellers could make no resistance. The King par
ayzed with fear ut the awful handwriting on the
wall which too late had warned him of his peril
could do nothing even TO check the progress OF the
assailan:s who carried all before them everywhere
Bursting into the palace. band of Persans made
their way to the presence of the monarch, and slew
him on the scene Of his impious reyelry Other
bands carried IRE and sword through the town
When morning came Cyrus found himself I'm
! disputed master OF the city.
| Let each one remember he is being weighed
Society has scales, and every one passes for hi
value. Ones conscience is as scales. And Goo
is to weigh us at the judgment.
| And must be to judgment brought,
| And answer in that day
| For every vain aud idle thought,
And every word say?
| Yes, every secret of my heart
| Shall shortly be made known,
And receive my just desert
For all that have done.