The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1892-05-18
DANIELS INTEGRITY.
LESSON VIII, SECOND QUARTER, IN
TERNATIONAL SERIES, MAY o2.

3. but Daniel purposed in his heart that
he would not defile himself with the por-
ton of the kings meat nor with the wine
which he drank" This portion of the first
verse of our lesson is the Golden Text for
the day; we therefore give little extra
space To it, We see Daniel one of a COM
pany of young Jews, carried captive in the
third year of Jehoiakim in the palace of
the king of Babylon, in training to stand
In due time before the king as one of his
wise men. While being taught the wis
dom of the Chaldeans they are to be nour-
ished with food and wine from the kings
table Daniel determines that he and his
companions will not deile themselves with
food which has been offered to idols. for
they are true worshipers of the only living
and true God. and understand that what
ever is not offered TO Him is offered to
devils Q4ev xvii, 1; Deut. xxi, IL; | Cor.
X, 30. All true believers are commanded
TO do all things, even their eating and
drinking, to the glory of God q Cor. X, 3D.
and this one command covers the whole
temperance question for the Christian.
O. Now God had brought Daniel into
favor and tender love with the prince of
the eunuchs." When any one determines
to glorify God and serve Him only. the
way will be prepared. When mans
ways please the Lord he maketh even his
enemies TO be at peace with him prov
xvi. q. See the story of Joseph, Gen.
xxx, 81; Acts vii. 9, TO- and remember
that the eyes of the Lord run to and fro
throughout the whole earth to show Him.
self strong on behalf of all who trust in
Him I'll Chron. xvi, 81.
10. And the prince of the eunuchs said
unto Daniel. fear my lord the king"
Daniel feared no man, neither did he fear
death, but he did fear to offend his God.
The fear of man bringeth snare, but
whose putteth his trust in the Lord shall
be safe prov. xxx, 25) How often the
fear Of man or the desire to please man
leads people into sin; the only remedy is to
know the liviis; God and live only to please
Him
II. ~ Prove thy servants, l beseech
thee, ten days. and let them give us pulse
to eat and water to drink" A simple
vegetable fare which they could be sure
had not come from the kings table, nor
been dedicated to devils. On such food
Daniel felt he, could ask the blessing of
his God and expect it. Let Christians test
all their eating and drinking, all their
home entertainment and church enter
tainments, by the honest question from the
heart, Can conscientiously ask the bless
make all these more simple and for the
glory of God. Daniels conduct made him
seem very peculiar in the eyes of some
others, but he remembered that Israel was
to be peculiar treasure unto God above
all people ok. xix, 81. And he sought
above all things to please God
l3 Then 1T our countenances be looked
upon before thee and as thou seest, deal
with thy servants" The child of God may
be sure that the blessing of God shall be
made manifest. so that others shall be COM
PEELED to behold it. As surely as the work of
the devil is manifest in those who are given
to strong drink, so surely shall the work of
God be manifest in those who honor Him
even in their eating and drinking. The
testimony of Jesus is, If any man serve
me, him will my Father honor John xii,
26).
"A. 80 he consented TO them in this
matter and proved them ten days" The
church at Smyrna was to be tried ten days
(Rev. ii, l0), Signfying perfect trial The
ten plaques upon Egypt, the parallels of
the ten pounds and the ten virgins seem to
indicate responsibility, and judgment in
proportion to responsibility. AS the num-
Der seven indicates perfection in reference
to God. it may be that the numbers four,
ten, twelve refer to perfect dealing with
man in various ways
ID. 16 And at the end of ten days their
countenances appeared fairer and fatter in
flesh than all the children" The blessing
of God will be manifest even in our bodies.
1t is marvelously manifest in the appear
ance Of those whose bodies were once given
to strong drink and sin in the service OF
the devil but who have been rescued by
the grace of God and made servants of
Christ. Being made free from sin and
become servants to God. they now bear
fruit unto holiness and are ashamed of
the former things, the end of which was
death from. vi, 81. 22). AS to the mani
festation of Christ in such as are possessed
by Him, see how they glorifed God in
Paul (Gal. i, 16, "a and how they took
knowledge of the apostles that they had
been with Jesus (Acts iv, 13).
IL. LAS for these four children, God gave
them knowledge and skill in all learning
and wisdom, and Daniel had understand
ing in all visions and dreams" No doubt
they studied, but He that is perfect in
knowledge was with them Job xXxvi, ~
and helped them and taught them many
things not to be found in any books of the
Chaldeans. God is no respecter of persons;
He still giveth wisdom to all who sincerely
ask Him (Jas i, 3D. There is no capital
that can compare with a heart and head
right with God; pure heart and a clear
head sanctified and enlightened by the
Holy Spirit through the merits of the Lord
Jesus Christ is the greatest of blessings.
But this no one can have who is given to
much wine (Sph. V, IS; Cor. vi, l0).
Is, TO- Nov at the end Of the days, the
prince of the eunuchs brought them in
before Nebuchadnezzar, and among them
all was found none like Daniel, Ham
aniah, Mishael and Azariah therefore
stood they before the king" The food and
wine from the kings table, and all the wis
dom of Babylon, could not do for the Others
what the God of Daniel could and did do
for those who relied upon Him and yielded
their bodies to Him. Happy are those who
can truly say, my soul, wait thou only
upon God, for my expectation is from Him"
Cps. xii, 81. Then as to standing before
the king Of Babylon, they were conscious
that they stood also before the King of
Kings, and could say, with Elijah, THE
Lord God of Israel liveth before whom
stand' q Kings xvii, |. See also Luke j. 19).
90. And in all matters of wisdom he
found them ten times better than all the
magicians and astrologers that were in all
his realm" In reference to the dreams
and the writing on The wall of chapters ii,
iv. v, there was no comparison, for all the
magicians failed and only the God of
heaven gave the Interpretation through
His servant Daniel. There are those who
think that a little stimulant in the form OF