The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-10-12
&% SUNDAY-SCHOOL LESSON FOR TOMORROW.
BY !. E. GIL BERT, IL. D.,

Y, ton with the spiritual world There were 1 no matcrialists in those days. Philosophy had not robbed men of their faith in the ! unseen and immaterial realities. They also felt impressed with the phenomenal | character of the representations so novel and interesting, quite beyond the range of parable, Withal. they were in sus- pense, for they knew no one who could in- I terpret to them. It is possible that they | sought the advice of sooth-sayers and 1 failed, although probably they were con- I yinced that the matters were beyond the knowledge of any of the wise men of Egypt When the morning came their l faces showed the state of their minds, and | Joseph eneuired why they appeared 90 to do good scrvice for God, and he re- ouested that the substance of the dreams should be given to him that he might make explanation. at the same time dis I only could intrepret. CDan. fl, 2S) REC1TED.-tVerses to 11.) The chief butler was the first to give account of his dream, which was in the line of his &C., as to appeal to the imagination. He served Pharaoh with the wine cup as in other days, but by a. new process in which the preparation for the service was presented in panorama. He had first seen vine. then he observed that there We're three branches, that these branches buddea and put forth blossoms and then clusters u s of ripe grapes appeared. With
 
 grapes int1 the cup and delivered it to the king. That was the highest kind Of of- l hctal service. By 1t the best quality of beverage was provided. It Is possible that plea1cd the king, that the butler saw him. self D. rforin;ng faithfully and well what before he had done imperfectly. what had | led to his Imprisonment. Its interest was measurabiy increased as he recalled snd | recited the facts before Joseph, a pris- oner, Hebrew servant. known as a child ] EXPLAINED. -tverses F to i5j Joseph then interpreted the dream, which was a symbolic representation of what would l soon occur. The butler would be restored capricious king who frowned one day | and smiled the next would recall his of- 1 fcer to service. The delivery of this com- forting information. made by the Hebrew | accompanied by request. Joseph thought 1t a favorable time to assert his inno ;ence and to declare the manner of leaving his kindred. His own words and spirit would help to convince the buteler that his staments were truthful The obs ligation under which the latter was placed by the good service rendered warranted the hope that there might be some inter position in his behalf at the court His desire was frankly stated-to be brought out of priscn. However useful he might be there he longed for liberty and for Vindcation. It was the natural impulse
 
 and among men.
 REFLECTIONS.-Our lesson is incom- plete, a mere fragment of the history of the pdrest man in patriarchal times. That prison experience may be considered as a blessing both in its immediate and re- mote influences. It brought Joseph into favor with the captain of the guard and made him a kind of missionary to an Egyptian officer. If the chief element in the life of a good man is usefulness there was no reason to feel that the days of confinement were wasted. y Surely, no other illustration of the fact that God protects his own q Pet. iii, 13) The ex- perience must have had a salutary influ- to rely more fully upon God. But the eff feet upon his after career was immeas- urably greater than any present gain. It may be safely affirmed that If Joseph had not gone to the prison he would not af- terward have been elevated to the chief place of authority.