Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1915-11-10
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL
LESSON FOR NOV. a.
EXCLUSIVELY BY THE
BANNER FOR ITS MANY
READERS
ACCORDING TO The
INTERNATIONAL SERIES
Text of the Lesson, Dan. /, 500
Memory Verses, 15-Golden Text,
l Cor. XVI, 13-Commentary Pre-
pared by Rev. ID. Nj. Stearns.

1 am very glad to have the privilege
or writing lesson on Daniel, even
though Ii be what is called q temper.
ance lesson. for we shall find much
more In 1T than appears on the surface.
He is mentioned in Eek xiv, IA. 20.
with Noah and Job as noted for their
righteousness. He is mentioned by
the Lord Jesus in Matt. xiv, 10. in
connection with the great tribulation
at the end OF this age Immediately
preceding the return OF the Lord in
His glory, 10 which Daniel also refers
In chapters tx. 81 Xii. l. We recently
saw a little captive maid clarifying
the God Of Israel under very trying
circumstances. and in this lesson we
see four captive young men clarifying
the God OF Israel under difficulties
The Lord permitted this oppression
and captivity because Of the sin of
judah and gave Jehoiakim and some
of his people and some of the vessels
Of the house of God into the hand of
Observation-Disclosures. king of Babylon, and
among the captives were these four
young men Of royal blood. who were
chosen to stand In the kings palace
and TO be taught the learning and
tongue of the Chaldeans that they
might stand before the king oversees
800.
They we're 10 have n three years
course of preparation for their calling,
and as TO their food they were nour-
ished from the kings table daily the
same meat and wine which he ate and
drank. At least that was the provi-
sion made for them. 1t was humiliat-
ing for an Israelite TO be a captive 1t
was humiliating 10 have their beauti-
full Jewish names, each Of which had
in them q suggestion Of the true God
of Jehovah, changed to names sugges-
tive of idols oversees 6, y. But this
they could bear without any sin OH
their part. Our Lord Jesus Christ
Himself was taken prisoner, bound
and led by His captors as they pleased
They also called Him a devil and
Beelzebub and said that He was be
side Himself So in these two partic-
ferings of Christ.
When we suffer in these ways we
have fellowship with Him in His suf
ferings. When it came TO eating and
drinking that which had been offered
to idols Daniel purposed in his heart
that he would not defile himself, and
no doubt he had prayed to his God
about this. He asked permission of the
prince of the eunuchs that he and his
friends might be excused from receiv
ing the food from the kings table and
be given very plain fare, which had not
passed that way, asking that they
might be proved for ten days. The
same God who permitted them thus
far to suffer for His sake now gave
them favor in the sight of this man.
and he consented to prove them. Al
the end of ten days they were fairer
and fatter in flesh than those who did
eat the portion OF the kings meat. so
1t was kept from them. and they were
given the plain fare. which had not
been offered TO idols. See Deut. xxi.
81. SO. If this is a temperance Lesson
the same principle applies 10 food aS 10
drink.
To my mind it is II lesson on the ne
cessity of keeping ones self wholly
FOR God in every particular and of be
Ing willing 10 submit cheerfully 10 diff |
icult circumstances for His sake. In /
chapter Y. >, 3. Daniel says that for
three weeks he did without pleasant
bread or flesh or wine. while he mourn
ed and waited upon God for IL special
purpose. implying that he did not al
ways see the necessity of denying him
self food that could have the blessing
II God. AS TO the sin of intemperance
,r self indulgence in any matter. the
eaching Of scripture Is very plain. and
he filthiness and beastliness of strong
rink could scarcely be more wildly
described or condemned than in lisa. V,
i, II, %, %; xviii. 4. 8. The only
emedy is I'm Christ Jesus, who alone
an forgive sin and give the sinner
lew nature and such purpose to
.eep ones self wholly for Him as
Daniel had.
Though he stood before the earthly
Ing III u pIdCe Ol HOHOT. lie SlOOu more
onsciously before the King of kings.
or whose sake he I'm his old age went
D the lions den rather than dishonor
i'm by any fear of man. for whose
axe his three friends went to the fiery
rather than bow down TO any
mage which man might set up. No
oubt Daniel and his friends were
rayerfully dillgent I'm their Chaldean
tudies. but God gave them knowledge .
nd skill in all learning and wisdom.
nd He gave Daniel understanding i'm [
II visions and dreams. so that these {
Dung men were ten times better than {
II the magicians and astrologers I'm !
he whole realm oversees II. 20. On )
Tree different occasions related in this
ook, when all the wisdom of Baby r
ms wise men failed, Daniel did not I
III once because his God never failed |
Inn. Any believer who is willing TO t
~ the price by self denial and indif- I
renee TO what others say or think of I
ou and a purpose of heart to see no :
lie but Jesus only and covet only His !
h. - |