The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1899-07-07
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL,
LESSON u, THIRD QUARTER, INTERNA-
TIoNAl SERIES, JULY 9.


ory Verses, ,17-2O-GoIden Text, Dan.
Rev. ID. NJ. Stearns.
Copyright. 1899. by ID. NJ. Stearns.l
8. "Daniel purposcd in his heart that
he would not dcfilc himself" Tho verso
selected for the golden tcxt does not always
seem to reach tho heart of tho lesson, but
in this case think it docs. Daniel may
truly be said to have been n man of holy
purposes and desires. In chapter K II,
~, he is called a man greatly beloved and
tho margin says man of desires. In
chapter TX, 3, he says, ~ set my facc unto
the Lord God, to seek by prayer and sup
plications, with fasting and sackcloth and
ashes" Ho purposcd Mt all cost to know
the God of Israel and live only for Him.
o. Now God had brought Daniel into
favor and tender love with the prince of
tho cunuchs." 1t is most profitable to
note in this prophecy and in all Scripture
tho working of God and to yield ourselves
fully to Him that Hc may work in us Is
the secret OF tho best possible Christian
life. In verse Q it is said that the Lord
gave Jchoiakim and the holy vessels into
the hand of the king of Babylon. and in
verse II God gavc Daniel and his friends
knowledge and skill in all learning and
wisdom. We learned last quarter in Johns
gospel that all circumstances arc intended
to give God an opportunity to be gloriflcd
(John IA, g; xi, ~.
10. And the prince of the cunuchs said
unto Daniel, l fear my lord the king"
Tho fear of man bringcth snare but
whose trustcth in the Lord happy is he
Tho prince feared man, for he did not
know God. Daniel know God and feared
no man. Wo may hope that through
Daniel the prince came to know tho God
of Daniel Unless through us those who
know not God arc learning to know Him,
our testimony is not as good as it might
be-
IL, 12. Prove thy servants, bcsccch
thee, ten days, and let them give us pulse
to cat and water to drink" Tho blessing
OF the Lord upon very plain food will do
more for our health than tho richest food
without His blessing. Man doth not live
by bread alone, but by every word of God
(Math. iv, ~. Daniel did not live to cat
Howould not bow down to idols and prob
ably rcfrnincd from tho vino and meat
from the kings table because it was dcdi-
Gated to idols. In chapter X, 3, it is i'm
Piled that he did both cat meat and drink
wine, except when specially waiting upon
God
13, IA. so he consented to them in this
matter, and proved them ten days"
Daniel was willing that he and his friends
should DO judged by tho outward evil
.dcnces. Our Lord said that His works
boro witness of Him (.John V, 36). We are
His workmanship that we may glorify
Him by good works which men can sec
(Eph. ii, 10; Titus iii, s.; MIath. V. l6), and
although thcro may be no sin in eating
meat or drinking wine, yet to cause an
other to stumble by doing either, or by at
tending the opera or the thcatcr intlulg-
ing In tho dance or tho card table, is
wrong before God Usom. xiv, 2I. The
child OF God does not need tho things of
this world to satisfy his soul He becomes
abundantly satisfied with Him who Is al
together lovely.
l5. "Faircr and fattor in Ccsh than all
tho children" This was tho condition
Of Daniel and his friends at tho end of ten
days. as compared with the others who
were chosen with them to stand i'm tho
kings palace. IL was manifest in their
case that the blessing of tho Lord mado
rich oven in the matter of flesh and blood
(Proy. X, 22). Tho eyes of tho Lord run
to and fro throughout tho whole Garth to
show himself strong on behalf Of those
whose hearts are whole toward Him OH
Chron. xvi, 9).
l6 THUS Mclzar took away the portion
of their meat and the vino that they should
drink and gave them pulse" And some
would say that they were altogether too
narrow minded, and should havo eaten
what was set before them, asking no qucs-
tions, but 1t was to honor the God of Is
racl that they did it. Somc Christians arc
now considered very odd indeed because
they have adopted as life motto "What
would Jesus do?'
II. 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" Why ho
should have tho latter wc shall sec rs we
go on. In a<tnngo land, where tho truo
God was not known, they desired to mako
Him known by their lives and testimony,
and God honorcd them by giving them
that which would most glorify Him Whcr-
ever He secs heart willing to bo wholly
His Hcwill sec to it that the heart is filled
with Himself and with His Spirit for His
service He knows all tho circumstances
In which wc will ever be placed, and Ho
will not fail to meet all our need that He
may be gloriflcd (Phil. iv, 10) The first
"behold" in tho Bible is in connection
with giving, and God said, Behold, / hayo
given" (Gen. 4, 29).
Is, 10. Among them all was found
none like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishacl and
Azariah; therefore stood they before tho
king AS they had cxccllcd before in
body, SO now they cxccllcd in learning and
wisdom, and it was all tho Lords doing,
because they trusted in Him and desired
to glorify Him. While outwarlly they
stood before the king of Babylon they
could truly say with Elijah Tho Lord
God ofIsracl livcth before whom stand"
Il Kings xvii, u, and with Paul "God
whose l am and whom l servo" tActs
xvii, P3). They stood bcforo the king of
Babylon In the namo of the Lord God of
Israel, believing that therefore they were
there
go. "Ten times better than all tho ma
gicians and astrologcrs that were in all
his realm" Thus tho king of Babylon
found thcm unnn examination Innn,,ro