Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1905-12-28
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COMMENTS
FOR DECEMBER 81

Review OF tho lessons For the Last
Quarter of the Year - Read Psalm
oxxvi - Golden Text, Psa. lxv., IL -
Summaries.
Lesson 1. Topic: Divine judgment
against sin. Place: Babylon. Belshaz-
Ear, only sixteen or seventeen years
Old was the ruling king in the city or
Babylon. In his drunken folly ana
wckedness he called for the golden
and silver vessels which had been tax
en- from the temple at Jerusalem that
he might drink from them as to-
ken that his gods had given victory
over the God of the Jews. During this
profane revelry a hand appeared and
wrote upon the wall. This filled the
king with fears, and he declared that
the wise man who should interpret the
meaning should be clothed with scar
let and have chain of gold and be
third ruler in the Kingdom. When all
had failed, the queen. mother OF Bel
shazzar, came in and persuaded her
son to send for Daniel. to whom. when
lie came, the king repeated his promise
made to the wise men.
II. Topic: Divine deliverance or the
righteous. Place: Babylon. Daniers
enemies knew 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 constant reproof. Ihey
persuaded the king to make decree
that no one should ask favor of God
or of man except Of the king himseif
for a month, on penalty Of being cast
among the lions.
III. Topic: Gracious life provdences.
Places: Babylon and Jerusalem. When
the Jews from Jerusalem were led cap
tive by ACKNOWLEDGMENT. Babylon was
the world kingdom. In the year h. Z.
53S the Medo-Persian kingdom arose
under Cyrus and conquered Bhbylo-
MIA. Things went better with the cap
! tivcs. But change of government
| was not the only help, for the prophets
warned and entreated the people. Eze-
| kicl. who himself was taken captive III
| tire second siege against Jerusalem.
preached TO the people upon the neeu
| of Il new heart and changed life. Dan
| icl's example and influence helped TO
| turn the hearts of his people TO Goa.
Isaah's prophecies gave Inspiration
and hope.
". Topic: Building the house OF
| God. Place: Jerusalem. After IA long.
hard march from Babylon. distance
| of 800 to 100 miles the eNiles reached
Jerusalem where they found the city
in ruins as il had lain since its deS'rnr-
ton by NebUchadnezzar. Their tirSt
stpp was TO rebuild the altar OF sac
rtice.
V. Topic: A study of the Holy Spirit.
| Place. Jerusalem. Ierubbabel was
| building the second temple at ]erlSa-
lem amid difficulties and discourage
monts. At this time God gave the pro-
phet Zechariall series of visions. mat
| he might encourage the people. lie
! smoke to Ierubbabel of the golden cam
| dlestick and the olive trees. lie as
| sured him that lie should finish the
| temple.
vi. Topic: Fidelity to duty. Place:
| Shushan. The history contained III the
| book Of Esther belongs i'll the time be-
tween the dedication of the second
temple aud the coming of Ezra TO Ju'
! dea. The great danger OF the Jews,
| the opportunity Esther had to protect
them, and the defeat Of u wicked enc
my all 20 TO make up thrilling his
| tory showing Gods great love ana care
| of His children.
VII, Topic: Vital principles in life's
Journeys. Places: Jerusalem and Baby
| lonia. In this lesson we have Ezra s
account of his mission to Jerusalem.
BY prayer and fasting he prepared Tor
the Journey He set apart priests 10
have charge of the valuable vessels
and money. The journey was made
under Gods guidance,
VIII. Topic: a study of prayer.
Place: Shushau. Nehemiah was a no
BILE example Of Christian patriotisn.
He was man of profound piety, con-
Meeting everything. great ana small
with the will Of God. His prudence
was equally marked. and there is 10
better example of constant dependence
on God united with practical fore
thought. He was unseihsh.
TX. Topic: Self-sacritice for the good
of others Place: Ephesus. The church
in Corinth was founded in a. ID. %, o5.
by Paul while on his second missionary
tourney. The church was little band
In a city of 100000 Inhabitants; gem
in a city of iniuuity. The early train
ing the former habits. the surrounding
influences of a city which. even i'll tie
! Gentle world. was fa.Aous for driink-
enness, made it difficult to live true
Christian life.
X. Topic: Important principles in
lfe's battle Place: Jerusalem. Nthe-
miah had the cause of his people at
heart. He had left his position OF trust
TO 90 with the despised and prosecuted
Jews who were struggling TO protect
their city by secure wall. He estap-
lished prayer among the laborers. ana
thus kept the work going on regardless
OF opposition. NIT,
Xi. Topic: How to study the Bible.
Place: Jerusalem. When the city was
enclosed by wall. though it had been
built under great difficulties. the people
trrned their attention to Gods WORD
XII. Topic: The coming Messiah.
Place Jerusalem. The history or the
Jewish nation shows how often they
were allured into sin. Severe chastise-
ments were sent upon them. They
were reduced as a nation.
XIII. Topic: Vision of Christ the
Messiah. Place: Jerusalem. The peo'
pln of Judah were at this time under
two.fold darkness: /. The darkness or
outward trouble 3 They were in
moral darkness. But the prophet saw
into the future when Christ should
come and His gospel should be preached
and all nations be bleSt.