The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1899-07-06
DANIEL IN BABYLON.
international Sunday school Lessen
for July o, 1s99-Text, Daniel
1iS-21--MemOry Verses 17-2O.

Especially Adapted from Peloubet's Notes.l
GOLDEN TEXT.--Daniel purposed in his
heart that he would not defle himself
Dan. lis.
lesson.
READ the whole chapter.
PLACE IN BIBLE HISTORIC Kings
2:1-6; Chron. S6:1-7.
TIME.-B c. 6O5-3. The beginning of the
70-years' captivity.
PLACE.-Babylon, on the Euphrates, SOC
miles east of Jerusalem.
Rulers.-Jehoiakim, king Of judah; Neb-
uchadnezzar of Babylon.
PROPHETS-Jeremiah and HabakKuk
at Jerusalem at the time Daniel was car
ried captive. and later on Ezekiel among
the captives in Babylonia, and Obadiah in
judah. were contemporaries of Daniel.
Daniel. At this time Ia years old, born
at Jerusalem Of noble parentage, carried
captive to Babylon, where he lived all the
10 years captivity. A great statesman,
learned scientific man, true prophet
till B. c. 53i. and died at the age of IS or
more.
EXPLANATORY.
/. Ihe Tempted.-ln our last lesson
we were looking upon Israel during
the years before it's final captivity, b. G.
722. To-day we pass over more than a
century of time, and into the kingdom
of Judah, and look upon that nation at
the beginning of it's captivity, which
came upon it for the same sins that
ruined the northern kingdom. Among
the FIRST captives were Daniel and three
companions, who were afterwards cast
into the fiery furnace and escaped un-
harmed.
ii. The Temptation.-V.S S. What was
the wrong in eating the kings food?
(D The dietary might comprise arti-
cles of food, such as the hesh of swine.
hnres, etc., which the law interdicted
to the Israelites Uev. q. (2) The flesh
may not have been perfectly cleansed
from blood, and hence forbidden by the
Jewish law (Deut. 12:23-25). Jews, even
at this day, have their own butchers,
and regard as unclean the meat pre-
pared in the ordinary way. (3) The uni.
versal custom among the heather OF
consecrating portion of each meal by
offering a portion of it to their idols,
and pouring out libations of wine in
their honor. (4) The luxurious diet pro.
vided by the king would corrupt the
body and diminish the vigor of the
mind. Nor with the wine. lie had
probably seen it's effects on others, and
the bad company and danger into which
it led. Probably these were far worse
at Babylon than in Palestine.
III. How the Victory Over Tempta.
tion Was Gained.-Vs. s-15. First. He
"purposed in his heart:" They came to
a decision.
Second. They had an early religious
training, as was common among the
best Jews.
Third. Their sudden departure from
home, to be thrown upon their own re.
sources, probably helped them to take
decided stand for their religion and
their God.
Fourth. They used wise means. HE
requested the prince of the eunuchs."
Fifth. The Divine favor was with him
V. 9. Now God had brought Daniel in
to favor and tender love-"
Sixth. By proving the value of his
course. v. IL. "Give US pulse to eats
Leguminous plants or their seed, as
beans, peas, etc. V. Is. AT the end oi
ten days." etc., as short a time as wouic
suffice for thorough test. The result
was all that was claimed.
Nv. The Crown of Victory.-Vs. 1921
There were several jewels in this
| crown.
First Jewel. The best physical con Ii
ton; bodily health, strength, beauty
energy; fitting the body for it's bes,
work and it's highest joys.
| Second Jewel. The finest menta
| powers and highest culture.-V. II.
Third Jewel. The victory over temp
tation improved, strengthened and en-
nobled the character.
Fourth Jewel. High position, like 6
city set upon hill, whence they could
exert the widest influence. vs.. 1920
| "And in all matters of wisdom and un
derstanding:" In everything which re
| quired peculiar wisdom to understand
and to explain. "He found them ter
times better:" Better counselors, bet
ter nformed.-Barnes. Than all the
magicians and astrologers:" The ma
| gicans were the learned class, the
scribes the priestly class. 1.-The astroI
] ogers, "reasoners from the stars" were
the scientific men, versed in magic anc
occult science.
Fifth Jewel. A long life of eminen,
service. V. FL. "Daniel continued ever
unto the first year of King Cyrus" B
c. 534, when Cyrus, having conquered
Babylon, issued his edict for the re
building of the temple. Daniel had thus
about 70 years of public service.
| TEMPERANCE APPLICATION.
Strong drink is one of the NEST pow
erful and most visible of temptations
but temptation appeals to every bodily
appetite and every wrong feeling of tn.
mind. "What shall rule? What shall
be king and sit on the throne of my