The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1905-09-13
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COMMENTS
FOR SEPTEMBER ~.

]. The temptation. These young
men were confronted with a powerful
temptation. A desire to obey the king {
commandment, love Of popularity, ap'
petite, q desire to succeed-these were
strong attractions. They were slaves
in a strange land, and was it not neces-
sary to full in with the customs OF the
people? They were tempted ~ to &c
that which was degrading; 2) to dis
obey the law Of their God; (3) to deny
their religions and God and fall IN
with idolatrous worship.
H. The temptation resisted ". d.
8. "Purposed in his heart" He de.
cided what he would Go and then took
the wIsest possible way to accomplish
it. At first he made only q simple re:
quest. 1t was not political strategy
his actions were not planned to caIch
the.eyes f.the king. The first emotion
of his heart was loyalty to God; this
led to his resolution. Daniel did not
trife with God or his conscience. They
changed his name, but could not
change his nature. Would not dehle
himself" The Hebrew who ate with.
out restriction at Nebuchadnezzar's 8
table could not but defile himself.
Nor with the wine" He feared the
DEGRADATION which would follow from
wine drinking. He requested" OBJ.
serve the courtesy, and yet he was in.
flexible. THE prince etc. Ashpena2
". 81, chief chamberlain. g.. !.
III. The ten days rest Tvs. 9-16l. ..
Into favor" Ashpenaz saw that Dan.
iel was a young man Of integrity ano
noble, loving character. His person
was beautiful and doubtless his man
ners were attractive. The best way te
please others is to please God first. lo
II fear-the king" He does not posi-
lively refuse the favor which Daniel
seeks. This appeal by Ashpenaz was
very persuasive; and while Daniel did
not wish to imperil the life Of his ben
a., efactor. yet he felt that it was safe te
do right and that God would deliver
them. }-'' > z,
II. "Melzar." This is not q proper
name, but should be read "the melzaf,"
the chief butler, or steward, the one
who had charge Of their food. II
prove" Test us; experiment for Q
short time and witch the result. GIVE
US pulse" A vegetable diet, with
water instead Of wine. -. =.
13. "Then-deal with thy servants
These words were spoken with quiel
confidence as to the result. A number
Of other boys besides these four were
undergoing the same training. A fan
test, to place these young abstainers
beside those who partook OF the roya!
banauets, and see which company pre-
sented the most vigorous appearance,
II. "Ten days." This would AFFORD
ample time to show the effect OF
steady good food on their health.
Daniel had, strong faith in God, and ne
felt sure that he and his companions
would present the best appearance
Is. "Fairer and ifatter." The complex:
ion was healthier and clearer. God
meant that If a man would be intem
perate he should himself proclaim 1t te
the world. The glutton, the drunkard,
the debauchee, carry the stamp of theil
deeds upon their features. A deprayed
character corrupts the flesh that car
ries it.
". Honored by God and man Tvs
l7-2O. II. "God gave them knowl.
edge" etc. /. Through the highest
physical condition, which made their
minds clear! g. By imparting it to
them directly, as the visions recorded
later. 8. BY giving His blessing to
their daily studies, aiding their minds
by His Spirit, opening wider doors te
knowledge through His providence. 4
BY keeping them from those vices,
from conceit and selfshness, which
distort the judgment and dim the per-
ception of truth. Whatever we may
give to God of faith, or work, or trust,
or love, or zeal, He gives back again
with large interest, good measure,
pressed down and shaken together and
running oyer-ten, twenty, Thirty, sixty
or All hundred fold, in whatever we
need most from Him. I'm all learn
ing" IN science, astronomy. ]itera.
ture, philosophy, the Chaldeans stood
at this time at the head Of the world.
They had the beginnings of chemistry
and even Of the telescope" In all
visions,n etc. God gave double por'
ton to Daniel. He was endued with
prophetical spirit, by which he was en-.
abled to converse with God and to re-
ceiye the notices Of divine things in
dreams and visions. Z, Visions were rev.
elations to the prophets when awake,
and dreams when asleep. God thus
made one Of the despised covenant
people eclipse the Chaldean sages in
the very science on which they most
prided themselves. So Joseph, IN. the
court of Pharaoh (Gen. 40:5; 41:l-S.
o.. 1s. END of the; days" After three
years ". 81, the time fixed for their
training. i9. 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 OF the
monarch" 90 :" en- times better"
Probably high court Of learning was
held, at which the king presided ana
the mobiles and sages Of the land as
sisted. These proposed difficult ques-
tions. which the youths readily an
swered and were in turn allowed ITO
mt questions which the sages could
not answer. They were better coun-
selors and better informed than the
others. Daniel continued i'll influence
and authority, at different times, dur
ing the whole Of the seventy years of
captivity 1t is commonly believed that
when the captives returned he re-
manned in Chaldea. probably detained
by his employment in the Persian en-
pire, and that he died in Babylon.
Volcano in NevaEn.