The Crittenden record. [volume] (Marion, Ky.) 1904-1907, 1905-09-29
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
iESsoN /, FOURTH QUARTER, INTER
NATIONAL SERIES, OCT. I.

Memory Verses, 20, 3O-Golden Text.
Ps. xxxiv, IG-COmmentary Prepar-
ed by Rev. ID. VI. stcarns.
ICopy1ght, 1905. BY American Press Association.l
Or. Weston says that we have In the
Scriptures the account Of the conflict
between Christ and Satan for man and
mans Inheritance, the earth. II Is true
also that everywhere In the book we
see God working or the devil In this
book Of Daniel we see God working In
and through Daniel and his compan-
Ions and also by holy angels. On the
side Of the devil we see such as Bel
shazzar and his companions and evil
angels who hindered Gabriel when on
his way TO Daniel | do not wonder
that the wisdom Of this world would
like TO get rid OF this special book, for
In three instances II sets forth the in
ability Of learned men to understand
the things Of God. In chapter II they
could not tell the dream, In chapter "
they could not interpret a dream, and
In this lesson they could neither read
nor interpret four words plainly writ
ten on the wall.
Before Daniel Interpreted the words
he had a little sermon for this wicked
king. the last he would ever hear, for
In that night he was slain Verse 3O)
and went to his own place duke xvi.
%, 23). The name Most High God"
oversees IS, 21) Is first used in Gen. xiv,
IS 10, In connection with this other
title, "the possessor OF heaven and
earth" As such God ruleth In the
Kingdom Of men and giveth II TO whom
soever he will Dan. ". II. %, 32, 34).
Daniel reminded Belshazzar that this
Most High God had given his father all
the power and dominion that he pos
sessed, but that because OF his great
pride, Boosting that he had built Baby
lon by his own power and might Nv.
30), God had by very severe measures
humbled him and taught him to know
the true God.
Belshazzar knew all this, but instead
Of prontlng by his fathers experience
and humbllng himself before God he
lifted up himself against the Lord Of
Heaven and contemptuously blasphem-
ed God He did not believe that "a
mans pride shall bring him low" PROV.
XXX. 23J. perhaps did not know II. nor
that God reslsteth the proud. but Civ.
eth grace unto the humble JAS iv, %.
How apt We all are to fail to glorIfy
Him In whose hand our breath Is and
whose are all our ways. In whom we
live and move and have our being. who
dlrecteth our steps Verse q; Acts xvii.
d; Jer. Z, q; Prov. xvi, %. The word
TO Israel Is a good word for us: Thou
shalt remember all the way which the
Lord thy God led thee. - Beware
that thou forget not the Lord thy God"
Deut. viii. 2, IL. We are here TO hon.
or and exalt Christ. but never self nor
humanity.
The person who wrote these words
upon the wall was not visible nor even
the hand that wrote. hut just n part OF
the hand-thc fingers (ycrscs 2. "a. II
was NJ the messenger. but the words.
that God wanted seen. II Il not the
preacher. but the word Of God. that
does the work Of God. The writing ~.
on the tables o. testimony given 20
Moses was done by the finger Of God
Ex. XXI. Is; XXI. 10; Dcut *. TO-.
and the same finger wrote on the
ground when lie was here as Col
manifest In the flesh John viii. o..
The time Of the duration ofall the king
doms Of this world Is fixed by God. and
the time that the Babylonlan kingdom
should rule was made known 20 Iere
mlah before Judah was carried captive
Jer. XVII. ~. II l. ouJy' when the
kingdoms o. this veg a shall have be.
come the kingdom u our Lord and oi
HIS Christ thai the world shall see a
kingdom without end ucv. ri. ~. tn,
Lord W .ghs our actions, our paths
our spirits q Sam. II. 3. lisa. XVI. !
Prov. xvi, y. and estimates all thing
nj their true value In His sight tn,
widows two mites were Of morc value
according 70 His valuation, than all N,
gifis Of the rich that day. Il Il %,
sible that the seemingly good works o
HIS redeemed people may be- only n
hay, wood aud stuhblc In Ills Sigh,
M only 70 be burned up q Cor. ~. IA
10. When Il Is God who workcth Il
ms. both 10 win and 10 do u Ills GOO,
pleasure u'hll. II. 49,. then the work
viii stand: all else must perish.
The visions Of the second aud IN
seventh chapters, the one given 10
man Of this world aud the other (,
Daniel a man Of God. are Identical an
set forth clearly the succession % the,
Kingdoms. In chapter u Babylon il N
bead Of gold aud Mcyio Persia n
breast and arms % silver. In chapts
VII the same two are represented b
The lion with eagles wings and N
bear with the thrcc ribs IN H. moutl
In chapter vili The Second q, these tyy
Il rcprcscntc,i by a ram with tw
horns, a harmless, domestic ANNA
suggesting the fricndlincss Of the Med,
and Pcrsians TO Danlers people. No
IRON chapters VII, /; viii. /, that the,
two chapters prcccde the one Of o,
lesson In the order Of time. Note al,
NAT TO man u the world like n
king Of Babylon power Is somc;hlr
pcecious as gold or silver. but 10 a ma
q God waiting for the kingdom
God the present governments OF ear
are like devouring wild beasts. viii,
III. ..AI.... .