The Denver star., 1915-11-06
SUNDAY SCHOOL.
THE INTERNATIONAL SERIES.
Lesson vII.-Fourth Quarter, For
Nov. IA, 1915.

Nov. IA, 1915.
ory Verse, 15-GoIdsn Text, I Cor. xvi,
13-commentary Prepared by Rev.
D. M. Stearns.
am very glad to have the privilege
Of writing lesson on Daniel. even
though 1t be what Is called a temper
ance lesson. for we shall find much
more In it 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, Is, in
connection with the great tribulation
at the end of this age Immediately
preceding the return of the Lord in
His glory. to which Daniel also refers
In chapters tx. 27; xii. 1. We recently
saw a little captive maid glorifying
the God Of Israel under very trying
circumstances, and in this lesson we
see four captive young men glorifying
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 hard of
Nebuchadnezzar, 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
tho -t,,<y (x-ar
3-5).
They we're to have a 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 proyi-
sion made for them. 1t was humiliat-
Ing for an Israelite to lie a captive. 1t
was humiliating to have their beauti-
full Jewish names, each of which had
in them a suggestion Of the true God
of Jehovah, changed to names sugges-
tive of idols (verses 6, q. But this
they could bear without any sin on
their Fart Our Lord Jesus Christ
Himself was taken prisoner. bound
and led by His captors as they pleased
Beelzebub and said that He was be-
side Himself. So in these two parhc-
ulars they were foreshadowins the suf-
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 def1le 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 he 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. At
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 no.
been offered to idols. See Deut. xxxii.
a.,
the same principle applies to food as tc
drink
To my mind 1t Is n lesson on the ne
cessity of keeping ones self wholly
| for God In every particular and of be-
ing willing to submit cheerfully to diff
fcult circumstances for His sake. In
chapter <, ., 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
OF God. As to the sin of intemperance
or self Indulgence in any matter. the
teaching of scripture is very plain. ana
the filthiness and beastliness OF strong
drink could scarcely be more vivilly
described or condemned than in lisa. V.
IL. IL. %, %: xviii, Z, g. The only
remedy is in Christ Jesus, who alone
can forgive sin and give the sinner n
new nature and such a purpose to
keep ones self wholly for Him as
Daniel had.
Though he stood before the earthly
king in a place of honor. he stood more
consciously before the King Of kings
for whose sake he in his old age went
to the lions den rather than dishonor
him by any fear Of man. for whose
sake his three friends went to the fiery
furnace rather than bow down to any
image which man might set up. No
doubt Daniel and his friends were
prayerfully diligent in their Chaldean
studies. but God gave them knowledge
and skill in all learning and wisdom
and He gave Daniel understanding In
oil visions and dreams, 30 that these