The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1899-07-19
THE SABBATH SCHOOL,
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COMMENTS
FOR JULY 20.

Subject: The Handwriting on the Wall,
Daniel ", 1T-31- Golden Text: "God
Is the Judge" Psalms lxxv., 7-Com-
mentary OH the Days Lesson.
II. "Let thy gifts be to thyself." Read
carefully the verses preceding our lesson.
Belshazzar. only sixteen or seventeen years
old, was the ruling king In the city Of
therefore he engaged In revelry at feast
which he made to thousand OF his lords.
In his drunken folly and wickedness be
called for the golden and silver vessels
which had been taken from the temple at
Jerusalem, that he might drink from them
as token that his gods had given victory
over the GOD of the Jews. During this
profane revelry a hand appeared and
wrote upon the wall. This filled the king
with fears, and he declared that the wise
man who should interpret the meaning
should be clothed in scarlet and have o
chain of gold, and be third ruler in the
kingdom. When all had failed, the queen,
mother OF Belshazzar, came In and per-
suaded her son to send for Daniel, to
whom, when he came, the king repeated
his promise made to the wise men.
1S. "The most high God" Whom Dan
lei proclaimed as the only God, and whose
the.deliverance of the Hebrews ont OF the
furnace. "Thy father" Grandfather.
Majesty" In the eyes Of his subjects.
"Glory." From his victories. Honor"
From the enlargement and decoration Of
the city.
10. Whom he would be slew" In dis
pensing punishments he condemned or ac-
quilted at pleasure; and in dispensing re-
wards he granted or denied preferments.
I1Cha,, id t,ao ~ ftal, t.
pride and arrogance, wilful and obstinate.
fHe was deposed." This occurred not by
the rebellion OF his people, but by the d.
rect visitation Of God. He became insane;
and the relns of government were taken
out Of his hands.
21. "He was driven" The madness that
fell upon him induced him to forsake So
ciety and to run to the woods and deserts,
where he lived like wild beast. His case
gospel, whose dwelling was among tho
tombs and in the mountains, and who
Stunned the society OF men.
%. "Thou hast not humbled thine heart,
though thou knewest ALL" Thou hast erred,
not through ignorance, but through delib-
crate contempt.of God regardless Of all
warning.
29. Against the Lord OF heaven" As il
thou hadst been equal or even superior to
Him In wisdom and power. Thou has taken
up arms against His crown and dignity, in
that thou hast profaued the vessels Of the
house in actual designed contempt Of Him
in the praise of idols as preferred before
God. This young man had not lived for
the end which God had created him, and It
were better that such life close early.
"a. "Hand sent from Him." From God.
This naughty young king lifted up his
heart against God, and mocked Him and
insulted Him publicly. Therefore the hand
of God was against bis ways, and his doom
25. "Mene." This word Is repeated to
give emphasis and impressiveness. Tick
el." Belsnazzar had been weighed as to
his moral character and actions. he had
not come up to the standard required. God
had tested him. and he had failed. He
represented the Babylonian people, and II
It were also to apply to them it was surely
true, and their overthrow was as certain as
that OF tho king.
%. "Peres." The singular form of the
word OF which Upharsin Is the plural.
"Medes." Media was large country ly-
ing east OF Assyria. north Of Persia, and
southwest Of the Caspian Sea. Persia was
q smaller and more mountainous country
living east OF Chaldea. south and east OF
Media, and north Of the Persian Gulf.
These nations had been combined into one
kingdom hv Cyrus who at this time was
besieging I. .bylon.
To come from the presence Of prince In
dress presented to the wearer as dis
tinction is still held in great honor In the
East. Daniel was thus restored to q
similar rank to that fe had held under
Nebuchadnezzar. As to Daniels reasons
for now accepting what he had at first
denied, the insignia OF honor wouldebe Wit
ness for Gods glory to the world.
80. I'm that night" It must be under,
through the midst Of Babylon. Cyrus for
some time had been planning to draw away
the voter OF the river, and enter the city
through the bed of the river. When oil
was prepared he waited for the great
feast. When 1t came. all the leaders were
reveling in the palace. Elsewhere the
population was occupied with feasting ana
iancing. Jer. H., SO. Drunken riot and
mad excitement held possession OF the
precautions, as the closing Of the river
gates Elsa. XIV, II, were neglected. The
undefended gateways we're seized, war
shout was raised: the alarm was spread.
The drunken revelers could make no re-
sistance. The king, paraIyzed with fear at
the handwriting which had warned him OF
his peril, could do nothing to check the
progress Of the assailants, who carried all
before them everywhere. Bursting into
the palace, band Of Persians made their
way into the presence OF the king and
slew him.
81. "D DARIUS took the kingdom" Cyrus
vas son-in-law and nephew to Darius, to
whom the title Of king and the civil
authority belonged until his death two
years later; but Cyrus retained the com:
mapd OF the army. Dan. vi, % shows that
In the capture OF Babylon. Isaidh kill, II
and xxi.,2 confirm Daniel in making the
Medes the leading nation in destroying
Babylon.