The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1905-09-14
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COMMENTS
FOR SEPTEMBER II.
Subject: Daniel in Babylon, Dan. l., $40
-GoIden Text, Dan. l., - Memory
Verses, 1917 - Commentary on the


Subject: Daniel IN BABYLON, ban' i'' "--o
-GoIden Text, Dan. l., - Memory
Verses, 1917 - Commentary on the
Days Temperance Lesson.
l. The temptation. These young
men were confronted with I powerlul
temptation. \ desire 10 obey the King =
commandment, love OF popularity, APP
petite. Il desire to Succeed-these were
strong attractions. They were slaves
in Il strange land, and was it not neces-
Sary 10 fail in with the customs OF the
people: They were tempted " 10 90
that which was degrading; (2J to dis
obey the law OF their God; W to deny
their religions and God and fall Ill
with idola lrOuS worship.
III. The Temptation resisted ". 81.
s. "Purposed i'll his heart He de-
cided what he would do and then took
the wisest possible way TO accomplish
il. At first he made only Il simple re-
quest. 1t was not political strategy;
his actions were not planned to eaten
the eyes of the king. The first emotion
or his heart was loyalty 10 God; this
led 10 his resolution. Daniel dld hot
trite with God OF his conscience. Ihey
changed his name, but could not
change his nature. Would not denie
himself" The Hebrew who ale With
out restriction at NebuchaGa2ZZar
table could not but deile EimSsii.
Nor with the wine" He feared the
degradation which would follow from
wine drinking. He requested o.
serve the courtesy, and yet he was III
flexible. The prince etc. As12enaz
". 81, chief chamberlain.
III. The ten days rest Tvs. 9-lu ..
Into favor" Ashpenaz saw tEat NH
iel was I young man OF integrity ana
noble. loving character. His person
WAS beautiful and doubtless his NAH
ners were attractive. The best way to
please others is to please GOO first. ~.
Il fear-tha king" He does not pos
lively refuse the favor which Dame!
seeks. This appeal by Ashpena2 was
very persuasive; and While Daniel d!u
not wish to imperil the lie OF his CEN
efactor, yet he felt that it was SAFE 20
60 right and that God would denver
them.
II. "2lelzar.' This is not 4 proper
name. but should be read the melZaf'
the chief butler, or steward. the one
who had charge Of their food. l..
prove" Test us: experiment for ]
short tiNc and watch the result. Give
US pulse" \ vegetable diet, WIN
water instead Of wine. -,
IL. "Then-deal with Thy servants.
These words were spoken with quiet
confidence as 10 the result. \ number
of other boys besides these four We're
undergoing the same training. A fatf
test. to place these young abstalnefs
beside those who partook OF he royal
baEouets. and see which company pre-
scented the most vigorous appearance.
Il. Ten days" This would aEord
ample time to show the effect OF
steady. good food on their health.
Daniel had strong faith in God, ana lie
felt sure that he and. his companions
would present the best appearance.
ID. "Fairer and fatter." The complex
ion was healthier and clearer. tSd
meant that if man would be intem-
perate he shoald himself proclaim it to
the world. The glutton. the drunkard.
the debauchee, carry the stamp Oh tne.f
deeds upon their features. y depraved
character corrupts the flesh that car
rieS it.
". Honored by God and man Tvs.
1920. II. God gave them knowl-
edge" ETC. /. Through the highest
physical condition. which made their
minds clear. =. BY impartinS it TO
them directly. as the visions recorded
later. 8. By giving His blessing to
their daily studies, aiding Their mines
by His Spirit, opening wider doors TO
Knowledge through His providence. 4.
By keeping them from those vices,
from conceit and seltishneSs, which
distort the Judgment and dim the per-
.eption of truth. Whatever we may
give 20 God of faith, or work, or trust
or love. OF zeal, He gives back again
with large interest. good measure,
pressed down and shaken together ana
running over-ten, twenty, thirty. SIXTY
or IN hundred fold. in whatever we
need most from Him. I'm all learn
ing" In science, astronomy, literG-
ture, philosophy, the Chaldeans stood
az this time at the head Of the world.
They had the beginnings of chemistry
and even Of the telescope" In al
visions" ETC. God gave double por-
ton 10 Daniel. lie was endued with
prophetical spirit, by which he was en-
abied to converse with God and to re-
ceive the notices OF divine things Ill
dreams and visions. Visions were rev.
elations to the prophets when aT%&e'
and dreams when asleep. God tnuS
made one of the despised covenant
people eclipse the Chaldean sa5es IN
tLe very science on which they mos
nrided themselves. So Joseph. i'll tie
court of Pharaoh (Gen. 40:5; 41:1-S,.
IS. End OF the days" After three
wears ". 81. the time fixed for their
training. 19. King communed.'
Talked with them. tested their prog
ress, learning and talents, He put
them through test examination. be,
fore the king" ITO be his personal
advisers and among the leading officers
of the kingdom. All officers and serv-
ants stood when in the presence or the
monarch" 20. Ten times better.
Probably high court Of learning was
held. Mt which the king presided and
the mobiles and sages of the Nnd as
sisted. These proposed difficult ques-
tions. which the youths readily an
swered and were in turn allowed 10
put questions which the saSes couid
not answer. They were better coun-
selors and better Informed than the
others. Daniel continued in influence
and authority. at different times. dur
ing the whole Of the seventy years or
captivity. 1t is commonly believed that
when the captives returned he re.
maincd in Chaldea. probably detained
BY his employment in the Persian en-
IL. L. iod In 20 hy lon