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International S. S. Lessons

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Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Sep 10, 1894

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 20, No. 44.

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International S. S. Lessons.

By Editor

"So they read in the book in the law of God distinctly, and gave the sense, and caused them to understand the reading."—Neh. 8:8
LESSON XIII.—SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 1894.

TOTAL ABSTINENCE.

[NOTE.—The questions which follow are merely suggestive for the student on the leading points of the lesson; it is presumed that the thorough student will think of many more as he studies the subject. References, where verses alone are given, always refer to the lesson scripture printed above. All other references are given in book, chapter, and verse. The text printed is that of the Revised Version, not because it is especially preferred, but because it is not found in every family, as is the common version.]

Lesson Scripture, Dan. 1:8-20.

  1. But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the king's meat, nor with the wine which he drank; therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.
  2. Now God made Daniel to find favor and compassion in the sight of the prince of the eunuchs.
  3. And the prince of the eunuchs said unto Daniel, I fear my lord the king, who hath appointed your meat and your drink; for why should he see your faces worse liking than the youths which are of your own age? so should ye endanger my head with the king.
  4. Then said Daniel to the steward, whom the prince of the eunuchs had appointed over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah:
  5. Prove thy servants, I beseech thee, ten days; and let them give us pulse to eat, and water to drink.
  6. Then let our countenance be looked upon before thee, and the countenance of the youths that eat of the king's meat; and as thou seest, deal with thy servants.
  7. So he hearkened unto them in this matter, and proved them ten days.
  8. And at the end of ten days their countenances appeared fairer, and they were fatter in flesh, than all the youths which did eat of the king's meat.
  9. So the steward took away their meat, and the wine that they should drink, and gave them pulse.
  10. Now as for these four youths, God gave them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom; and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams.
  11. And at the end of the days which the king had appointed for bringing them in, the prince of the eunuchs brought them in before Nebuchadnezzar.
  12. And the king communed with them, and among them all was found none like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah; therefore stood they before the king.
  13. And in every matter of wisdom and understanding, concerning which the king inquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters that were in all his realm.
Golden Text: "But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself." Verse 8.
OUR lesson for this week is a temperance lesson, and one of the most interesting which the Scriptures give us. The scene of the lesson is in Babylon. The time, about B.C. 605-603, at the beginning of the seventy years' captivity. Nebuchadnezzar was king of Babylon. Just previous to this he had taken captive many of the children of Judah, and among them were young men from the royal family, and of the nobility, "youths in whom was no blemish, but well favored, and skillful in all wisdom, and cunning in knowledge, and understanding science, such as had ability to stand in the king's palace." That is, these youths were well educated in the learning of that time. These the king chose that he might teach them also the learning and the tongue of the Chaldeans; and, in order that they might be well nourished, he gave them what he supposed was the very best food, a daily portion of the king's meat, and the wine which he drank. After such nourishment and education for three years, they were to be brought before the king. Four of these young men were especially prominent —namely, Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, each of these names having reference to the true God. According to heathen customs, the king changed their names so that they would refer to the heathen gods, and called them respectively, Belteshazzar, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego.

SUGGESTIVE QUESTIONS.

  1. When Daniel knew that the king's meat and wine were appointed for his diet, what decision did he make? Verse 8. Note 1.
  2. What did Daniel request of the prince of the eunuchs? Verse 8, last part.
  3. How was he regarded by this official? and why? Verse 9.
  4. What reply did he make to Daniel? Verse 10, first part.
  5. Why did he refuse to grant Daniel's request? Verse 10, last part. Note 2.
  6. What request did Daniel then make to the steward? Verses 11, 12. 7. What did he ask should be given them during the ten days? Verse 12, last part.
  7. Then what comparison did he say should be made? Verse 13.
  8. How did the steward regard Daniel's proposition? Verse 14.
  9. What was the result at the end of the ten days? Verse 15. Note 3.
  10. What course did the steward then take after this trial was over? Verse 16.
  11. How did the Lord show his approval of the course of these four youths? Verse 17, first part.
  12. What special gifts did he bestow upon Daniel? Verse 17, last part.
  13. At the end of the three years what was done? Verse 18. Note 4.
  14. How did the king find him as he communed with him? Verse 19, first part.
  15. Whom therefore did he choose to minister before him? Verse 19, last part.
  16. What is said of their wisdom? Verse 20.

NOTES.

1. THE king's meat consisted of wheaten bread, meats of various kinds, highly seasoned, fruits, fish and game, while the usual beverage was imported wine. For meat the Revised Version has in the margin "dainties." God had given special instruction on this point in the Proverbs and other scriptures, and Daniel, learned in the Hebrew, had no doubt laid these lessons up in his heart. The wise man had told him to "be not desirous of his dainties, for they are deceitful meat." Prov. 23:3. And he intimates in the same chapter that it would be better to put a knife to one's throat than to yield to appetite in such respects. He also classes riotous eaters of flesh with the drunkard and the glutton. Prov. 23:21. Daniel was at this time supposed to be from fourteen to twenty years of age, and the noble stand which he took reveals to us the secret of the noble character which he manifested all through his life. This trial, coming at the beginning of his public career, fitted him to endure the still severer trial coming at its close, as recorded in chapter 6. True temperance is based on just as unswerving principles as was manifested in Daniel. There were doubtless, also, unclean meats used by the king, which, if Daniel had partaken, would have been a violation of the law which God had given in Leviticus 11.
2. THE idea of the prince of the eunuchs, like the ideas of many in these days, was that simple food was not nourishing. He thought that if Daniel should refuse to eat the king's meat he would be in such a condition when presented before the king that his own life would be endangered because he had not better cared for those that were placed in his charge. He thought, Surely the meat which the king eats and the wine which he drinks must be better than all other foods; and so many of the poor think as regards the rich.
3. TEN days was certainly a limited time for such a trial. Evidently Daniel believed if he obeyed God that God would work for him. The food which he asked was the very simplest—an humble vegetarian diet. The Hebrew word itself means wheat, barley, peas, lentils, etc. The result was all that could be hoped for. It demonstrated at least two things: That the simple diet which Daniel chose was better than that which the king desired to give him, and, second, that God approved of the course which his young servant took in standing so faithful and true. It is just this principle that God demands of his people to-day. There are thousands of Christians who admit the rightfulness of many things, and their duty to do them, but fashions of the world, their own appetite and desires, and the influence of worldly companions, are yielded to, while principle and duty are permitted to die or be crushed out by constant sinning. Mark, also, that the diet which Daniel chose, was not for ten days. The experiment lasted only ten days, but the choice of Daniel and his fellows was for three years—doubtless during life.
4. THOSE who were at that time brought in before the King Nebuchadnezzar were not simply Daniel and his three companions, but they included all of the other young men who were in training with Daniel and his companions at that time. It will be seen by the tenth verse that there were others who ate of the king's meat and drank of his wine, so that at the end of three years there was the comparison not simply as regarded their physical condition but as regarded their mental condition also. The first ten days demonstrated the superiority of Daniel's food in a physical sense; the three years demonstrated its superiority in a mental and spiritual sense, of course counting God's blessing upon it, for God always blesses that which is good.
LESSON XII.—SABBATH, SEPTEMBER 22, 1894.

A SON OF ABRAHAM.

Lesson Scripture, Luke 19: 1-27.

  1. AND he entered and was passing through Jericho.
  2. And behold, a man called by name Zacchaeus; and he was a chief publican, and he was rich.
  3. And he sought to see Jesus who he was; and could not for the crowd, because he was little of stature.
  4. And he ran on before, and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see him; for he was to pass that way.
  5. And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up, and said unto him, Zacchaeus, make haste, and come down; for to-day I must abide at thy house.
  6. And he made haste, and came down, and received him joyfully.
  7. And when they saw it, they all murmured, saying, He is gone in to lodge with a man that is a sinner.
  8. And Zacchaeus stood, and said unto the Lord, Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have wrongfully exacted aught of any man, I restore fourfold.
  9. And Jesus said unto him, To-day is salvation come to this house, forasmuch as he also is a son of Abraham.
  10. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save that which was lost.
  11. And as they heard these things, he added and spake a parable, because he was nigh to Jerusalem, and because they supposed that the kingdom of God was immediately to appear.
  12. He said therefore, A certain nobleman went into a far country, to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return.
  13. And he called ten servants of his, and gave them ten pounds, and said unto them, Trade ye herewith till I come.
  14. But his citizens hated him, and sent an ambassage after him, saying, We will not that this man reign over us.
  15. And it came to pass, when he was come back again, having received the kingdom, that he commanded these servants, unto whom he had given the money, to be called to him, that he might know what they had gained by trading.
  16. And the first came before him, saying, Lord, thy pound hath made ten pounds more.
  17. And he said unto him, Well done, thou good servant; because thou wast found faithful in a very little, have thou authority over ten cities.
  18. And the second came, saying, Thy pound, Lord, hath made five pounds.
  19. And he said unto him, Be thou also over five cities.
  20. And another came, saying, Lord, behold, here is thy pound, which I kept laid up in a napkin;
  21. For I feared thee, because thou art an austere man; thou takest up that thou layedst not down, and reapest that thou didst not sow.
  22. He saith unto him, Out of thine own mouth will I judge thee, thou wicked servant. Thou knewest that I am an austere man, taking up that I laid not down, and reaping that I did not sow;
  23. Thou wherefore gavest thou not my money into the bank, and I at my coming should have required it with interest?
  24. And he said unto them that stood by, Take away from him the pound, and give it unto him that hath the ten pounds.
  25. And they said unto him, Lord, he hath ten pounds.
  26. I say unto you, that unto everyone that hath shall be given; but from him that hath not, even that which he hath shall be taken away from him.
  27. Howbeit these mine enemies, which would not that I should reign over them, bring hither, and slay them before me.
Do not forget to review the chapters that have already been passed over. Repetition and continual association are the secret of success in learning. Not only frequently read the entire book, from the beginning up to the place of present study, but think as you read, and exercise yourself in recalling the subjects contained in any particular chapter. Here is the Bible rule for studying the word of God: "Thou shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up." This lesson is so simple in outline that the student will be left to analyze it for himself.
  1. As Jesus entered and passed through Jericho, who desired to see him?
  2. What was this man's standing in society?
  3. What difficulty did he find in seeing Jesus?
  4. How did he get a view of him?
  5. What did Jesus do when he reached the place where Zacchaeus was?
  6. How did Zacchaeus receive the Lord?
  7. What did the people say when they saw it?
  8. What did Zacchaeus say when Jesus came to his house?
  9. What assurance did Jesus give him?
  10. For what purpose did he say he had come?
  11. What did Jesus then proceed to give?
  12. Why was this parable given?
  13. Relate the parable in detail. If any hesitate in this narrative, or lose the connection, let the teacher prompt them, not by telling the thing, but by asking questions.

NOTES.

1. "And Jesus said unto him, This day is salvation come to this house, forasmuch as he also is a son of Abraham." Zacchaeus was no more a lineal descendant of Abraham than were those to whom John the Baptist and Jesus spoke when they told them that they were not Abraham's children. See Luke 3:8; John 8:33-44. What constituted him a son of Abraham? Was it what Zacchaeus had done? He had done nothing good. Was it because of his promise? We have no record that even Abraham ever made any promises to the Lord. We have only the record of the promises of God to Abraham. The secret lies in the fact that Zacchaeus gladly received the Lord. He was a sinner, but the Lord seeks to come in and dwell with just such people. Rev. 3:17-20. The receiving of Jesus brings salvation, and makes one a child of Abraham. "If ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise." Gal. 3:29. "They which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham." Verse 7.
2. THE parable of the pounds is an illustration of the kingdom of God, for the Saviour gave it for the express purpose of correcting some wrong ideas concerning the kingdom. From it we may learn that Christ did not have his kingdom when he was here on earth. He was like a nobleman who went to receive a kingdom and to return. When he returns, it will be in his kingdom. See Matt. 25:31, 34; 2 Tim. 4:1. We are also to learn that no one here has anything that he has not received, and therefore no one has any right to boast over another. See 1 Cor. 4:7. Compare Luke 19:26 with Luke 8:18. That which is taken away from men at the last is not that which they have in their own right, but that which has been lent them to trade with, and which they have not used. They only seem to have it. No injustice is done them, for they never had anything of their own, and they refused the capital which was provided them.