The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1905-12-27
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COMMENTS
FOR DECEMBER 81.

Lesson !. "IopIc:' Divine judgment
against sin. Place: Babylon. BelshaZ-
Ear, only sixteen or seventeen years
old, was the ruling king in the city of
Babylon. Ill his drunken folly and
wickedness he called fer the golden
and silver vessels which had been TAX
en- from the temple at Jerusalem that
he might drink from them as a to-.
ken that his gods had given victory
over the God of the Jews. During this
profane revelry n hand appeared and
wrote upon the wall. This filled the
king with fears, and he declared that
the wise maj who should interpret the
meaning should be clothed with scar
let and have a chain of gold and be
third ruler in the kingdom. When all
had failed, the queen, mother Of Bel
slEazzar, came In and persuaded her,
son to send for Daniel, to whom when
he came, the, king repeated his promise
MADE to the wise men.
II. Topic: Divine deliyerance of the
righteous. Place: Babylon. Daniels
enemies k1few that he was accustomed
to pray to his God, and they were as
sured that no decree and no danger
could stop him, and by foul means
they could secure his sentence to be
thrown in the den Of lions. His char
acter was a constant reproof. They
persuaded the king to make a decree
| that no one should ask a favor Of God
or of man except Of the king himself
for q month, on penalty of being cast
among the lions.
III. Topic: Graciouslife p%revidenres.
Places: Babylon and Jerusalem. When
the Jews from Jerusalem were led cap
| tive by NebuchadneZzar, Babylon was
the world kingdom. In the year B. G.
53S the Medo-P Persian kingdom arose
under Cyrus and conquered Babylo-
nin. Things went better With the cap
tives. But O change of government.
was not the only help, FOR the prophets
warned and entreated the peopNEze
vkiel, who himself was taken capf38&zan'
| the second siege. against JerAs4as1tS
preached to the people upon th$sneeA.
CT a new heart and changed life. EB4fl-
.iel's example and influence helpeuAtB
| turn the hearts Of his people to God.
Isaiah's prophecies gave inspiration
and hope.
". Topic: Building the house of
God. Place: Jerusalem. After q long,
hard march from Babylon, a distance
Of 500 to 100 miles, theEexiles reached
Jerusalem. where they found the city
in ruins as it had lain since its destruc-
ton by ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. Their FIRST
step was to rebuild. the altar OF sac
riice.
v. Topic: A study of the Holy Spirit.
| Place: Jerusalem. Zerubbabel was
| building the second temple at Jerusa-
| lem amid difficulties and discourage
ments. At this time God gave the pro-
! phet 2echariah q series Of visions, that
lie might encourage the people. He
| spoke to Zerubbabel OF the golden an
! dlestick and the olive trees. BE as
sured him that he should finish the
temple i
VI. Topic: Fidelity to duty. Place:
Shushan. The history contained in the
book of Esther belongs in the time be-
tween the dedication of the second
temple and the coming OF Ezra to Ju-
Gea. The great danger OF the Jews,
the opportunity Esther had to protect
| them, and the Gefeat Of a wicked enc
my all 20 to make up a thrilling his
tory showing Gods great love and care
Of His children.
VII. Topic: Vital principles in life's
Journeys. Places: Jerusalem and Baby-
louia. In this lesson we have Ezra's'
account Of his mission to Jerusalem.
BY pray: md fasting he prepared for
the journe, He set apart priests TO
have charg. the. valuable vessels
and money. The journey was made
under Gods guidance.
VII, Topic: A study Of prayer.
| Place: Shushan. Nehemiah was a no
BILE example of Christian patriotism.
He was q man Of. profound plety, cor
| Meeting everything, great ana small,
With the will Of God. His prudence
was equally marked, and there Is no
letter example of constant dependence
OH God united with practical fore
thought. He was unselfish.
TX. Topic: Self-sacrlfce for the good
Of others. Place: Ephesus. The church
in Corinth was founded in A. d. 81, d.
by Paul while on his second missionary
tourney. The church was q little band
in q city of 400, coo inhabitants; a gem
in 4 city Of iniquity. The early train
ing. the former habits, the surrounding
| influences of 4 city which, even III the
| GENTLE world. was famous for drunk
enness, made it difficult to live a true
Christian life.
Y. Topic: Important principles IN
lise's battle. Place: Jerusalem. Meme
nial had the cause of his people at
heart. He had left his position ct trust
TO 60 with the despised and prosecuted
Jews who were struggling to protect
! their city by a secure wall. He estaD-
| lished prayer among the laborers, and
7 thus kept the work going on regardless.
of opposition. ,
| Place: Jerusalem. When the city was
| enclosed by n wall, though it had been
built under great difficulties, the people
turned their attention to Gods word.
MI. Topic: The coming Messiah.
| Place: Jerusalem. The history OF the
Jewish nation shows low often they
were allured into sin. Severe chastise-
ments were sent upon them. IEey
were reduced as a nation.
XIII. Topic: Vision of Christ tie
Messiah. Place: Jerusalem. The peo-
! Mic of Judah were at this time 1nde l
tU.c.fcld darkness: ]. The darkness OF
outward trouble. 2. They were in
moral darkness. But the prophet saw
I into tie future when Christ should
come and His gospel should be preached
! and al nations be blest.
/ A Mystery Solved.
r.-2 ~ 1Joc1.tpc n f,0TnhQnf III