The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-07-22
Sunday School Lesson for July %.
The Hand Writing ON the Wall.
DAN. V:17-31.
BY J. E. GILBERT d. D., L. D.,
Secretary of American Society of Religious Education

that these garments were made out Of
fabrics wrought by skilled workmen,
dyed in liquid of immense cost. Her
odotus informs us that certain persons
gave their entire time to produce the
material, and certain others were ex
clusively employed in the rinufacture
of the article worn. over this royal
apparel as an ornament was cast a
chain Of gold, thrown about his neck,
falling down over his person, the IN
sigma of wealth. Then came the
heralds, who, obedient to the kings
command, proclaimed Daniel the thirl
ruler in the kingdom. One only stood
between him and Beshazzar. Thus.
Notwithstanding the sentence of God,
the voluptuous ruler rewarded the
man who had revealed the secret, un-
welcome as were the tidings.
FULFILLED CVerses 30 and 3D.
This act of justice to the prophet did
not reverse the sentence upon the wall,
every word of which, as predicted, was
fulfilled. The Scripture story is very
brief. Belshazzar was slain that very
night, and Darius, the Medan, took
the city (B. c. 53S). The splendid en-
pire erected by Nabopolassar (B.
c. $3.50 had fallen, and the
Medo-Persian empire was found
ed. This is all the inspired
record declares. From other sources
we learn that, while the city was given
to revelry on that fateful night, Cy-
prus led his army along the empty bed
of the river from which the water had
6roi ha nd
fed. The more distant portions of the
city We're taken and set on fire long
before the news reached the palace.
perhaps while Daniel was eXpounding
the writing. At last the invading
forces reached the citadel, in the storm
of which Belshazzar, in one last effort
to inspire his troops, fell, being slain
by soldiers who did not know him. The
city's fate fulfilled ancient proprecies
made by Isaiah jeremiah and Ezekiel
Babylon afterward became a type of
worldly splendor and unbridle inso-
lence. (Rev. vXii: 81
REFLECTIONS. - Two important
truths deserve special and careful con-
sideratlon in connection with this les
son: l. The sovereignty of Jehovah is
universal. The heather world sup
posed that each nation had a presiding
divinity. There is good evidence that
this thought had taken possession Of
many in Israel. Such doctrines were
prejudicial to the race. 1t was impos-
sible to teach brotherhood and conse-
qnent duties until q different concep-
ton of the deity should prevail. But
here Hebrew prophet is permitted
to teach Belshazzar on this very topic
and to show him that the empire of
Baby Il was under the control of the
Almighty. 2. The ancient world was
under the dominion of might. The
strongest ruleu and oppressed the
weak. Men trusted in their power, and
kings felt secure because they were
supported by vast armies. The world
needed to know that righteousness is
an element of national, not less than
individual, prosperity. Our lesson fur
nishes this teaching. The empire that
had flouriShed for nearly a hundred
years, subjugating other kingdoms, in
creasing in wealth and luxury, was
utterly destroyed and its ruler was
slain because of it's sins. CProv. xiv:
34) If no other end were gained
through the captivity of Judah the in
culCation of these two lessons in the
thought of mankind would be sufficient
to justify the Supreme Being in allow
ing His people to be carried away into
strange land.