The Yale expositor., 1919-08-28
LESSON FOR AUGUST 81
SELF CONTROL (Temperanee).
LESSON TExT-Daniel 1:s-2i.

LESSON TExT-Daniel 1:s-21.
GOLDEN TEXT - Every man THAI
striveth for the mastery is temperate in
all things.-I Cor. 9:25.
ADDITIONAL observation-disclosures IA:
1-23; Cor. 9:24-27.
PRIMARY TOPIC-Keeping away from
things which may harm us.
JUNIOR TOPIC-The story of boy
who became a strong man.
INTERMEDIATES TOPIC = Learning
self-mastery
SENIOR AND ADULT ToPIc-self-
control the secret of success
1t is somewhat strange that the les
son committee should select this
Scripture as a temperance lesson, for
II says nothing about temperance as
ordinarily understood. Total absti-
hence from Intoxicating liquor should
be the law Of every Christians life,
but 1t Is not so taught In this Scrip
ture.
I. Daniel Tested (vv. SD.
Daniel, while a tender youth, was
torn from home ties and made a cap
tive In foreign land to be trained for
service at the royal court. In or
der to be Of the largest service 1t was
necessary that he be brought to love
the king and nation, and be detached
from his own people and religion. To
accomplish this they
1. Appointed him daily provis-
Ion Of the kings meat and wine ". 81.
This was for twofold purpose: %
To gain the good will of Daniel and
his friends. Such recognition would
encourage them to give themselves up
TO the kings service. (2) To supply
them with food deemed suitable for
their physical and mental develop
ment. To partake Of the food of.
fered was against Daniels religion.
His conscience would not allow him
TO partake thereof Doubtless the meat
and wine had connection with heather
feasts.
2. Changed name ". y.
The object of this was TO obliterate
national and religious connection, and
to identify them with the heather
people Daniel, which means GOD
is my Judge" was changed to Bette
shazZar, meaning Bells prince; Han
aniah, which means 1.-THE gift of Je-
hovah," TO Shadrach, meaning illu-
mined by the sun god Rak; Mishael.
which means "Who is as God" TO
Meshach. meaning who is like the god
dess Sheshach; AZariah, which means
Jehovah is our help" to Abed-nego,
meaning the servant of Nego. Behind
this change OF names was the attempt
of Satan to wipe from the minds OF
these young men the name OF the true
God and to cause them to lose their
place Of separation.
~. Daniel Standing the Test (vv.
8-14).
Though a captive in a foreign land,
Daniel pproosed 10 his heart that he
would not defle himself with the
kings meat and wine. His home train
ing was such that in this trying hour
he had the decision of character TO
stand firm for his conviction. He
obeyed the dictates of his conscience.
While unfilnchingly loyal to God he
did not lose his gentlemanly courtesy.
He requested to be tested ten days
in the food which the law of his God
allowed, agreeing TO abide by the re-
suits. Loyalty to God and conscience
need not interfere with gentlemanly
behavior.
III. Daniels Reward (vv. 1920.
1. Physical health ". 15). Cody
and temperate living pays. The kings
meat and wine would have been very
palatable, but to have partaken would
have been a compromise with his con-
science. The exercise OF self-control
in this matter kept his conscience
pure, and also improved his physical
health.
2. Mental growth (vv. 1920. He
was ten times the superior Of his as
sociates.
3. Socially ". 49,. He stood before
the king. He not only was next to the
king, but became president Of the coll
lege of wise men, and prime minister
of the empire, continuing through sew
eral dynasties ". Ply.
f. Spiritually ". I'D. God re-
vealed to him Nebuchadnezzar's dream
and gave him visions stretching across
the history of the world.
The secret of Daniels success was
~ conscientiousness (2) loyalty TO
God; (3) decision of character; az
prayerfulness (5) diligence; (6) cour-
tesy.