Insane over Religion.—Insanity because of true religion is non-existent. It may be the occasion of the toppling over of some weak mind. A card party, a death, a fire, a Fourth-of-July celebration, or a circus might do the same thing. Each of these would be an occasion, not the cause. True religion ought to rest the troubled heart and soothe the excited nerves; and it will if its consolations are rightly administered. "For God hath . . . given us, the Spirit . . . of power, and of love, and of a sound mind."
Poor Paris
Poor Paris.—God's service always furnishes sufficiently interesting work for every soul who will truly enter it. The live worker may become wearied, but never cloyed; never ennuied. As his work enlarges, his interest deepens. But Paris, beautiful Paris, long ago rejected God; and ever since has endeavored to find something to stimulate her jaded energies given to the world and self. She has had her "Café of Death," with its rattle of bones, and its grinning skulls, a sort of index to her humanly unseen life, but known to God, who sees the harvest in the seed. Now Paris adds another attraction in the "Café Inferno," in which men dressed as red imps and grinning, glaring demons, reckless and noisy, bring the visitors their various drinks on red trays, monstrous serpents are twined and wreathed overhead, and from every corner eyes of demons glare upon the visitor. Realistic scenes of all sorts are enacted to "cheer"(?) the world-wearied habitués of the place, the curious who may enter there. Poor Paris! Poor humanity apart from God!
SOUTH AMERICA.
By F. H. Westfall
THIS vast country consists of eleven different countries, and has an area of 6,800,000 square miles and a population of 33,342,700. The area is about twice as large as that of the United States.
Colombia.
The republic of Colombia occupies the most northwestern part of South America. It has an area of 502,000 square miles, and a population of 3,500,000. Bogota, the capital, has a population of 110,000, and is also the largest city. The laws respecting liberty of worship are somewhat conflicting, and so liberty to engage in evangelical work is a little uncertain. Among the people generally there is a strong feeling favorable towards liberty, light, and progress. What they need is light which the Gospel alone can give.
Venezuela.
This republic is situated in the northern portion of South America, and its area is 594,165 square miles and the population is 2,550,385. Caracas is the capital and has 70,466 inhabitants. Cojedes has 85,678 and is the largest city. The chief industries of the country are cattle raising and agriculture. Many of the inhabitants are composed of friendly Indians, whose hearts are ready to receive the truth.
Guiana.
This country is in the northeastern part of South America, and is divided into British, Dutch, and French Guiana. British Guiana has an area of 76,000 square miles and the population numbers 284,847. The area of Dutch Guiana is 46,072 square miles and has a population of 57,000. The area of French Guiana is 46,890 and the population numbers 25,596.
Brazil.
This republic is by far the largest of South America, and has an area of 3,219,000 square miles, and a population of 14,000,000. It is divided into twenty States. With the exception of some of its conquered territory and the foreigners who have moved into the country, the language that is spoken is the Portuguese, and therefore it is a separate mission field. The people, and especially foreigners who till the soil, are making a fair living. The country, because of its mountains and valleys and torrid location, is most beautiful, and its resources are almost unlimited. About forty natives have embraced the truth and were baptized, but generally our work has progressed mostly among the Germans. Brother W. H. Thurston, the chairman of the Brazil Mission Committee, writes as follows:
A Native of Southern Brazil.
"RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil. "TO THE GENERAL CONFERENCE ASSEMBLED JAN. 25, 1899—Greetings: As we look over the work in Brazil and see what the Lord has done in the short time since laborers were called here to proclaim the message of peace, we feel to exclaim, 'God hath wrought wonderfully.' The work began May, 1893, with one colporter, and others have been added from time to time until we now have ten. About ten thousand dollars' worth of books have been sold, and the Lord has blessed these seeds of truth to the salvation of souls. Aside from the colporters, we have two ministers, one Bible worker, and four teachers, and our little flock now numbers a few over four hundred. "Our tithes are increasing year by year, amounting to over sixteen hundred dollars last year. One hundred and thirty were baptized during the year, and forty-six of these were Brazilians. The work is onward in Brazil, and all are of good cheer. We have many perplexing questions to grapple with, and some things are so void of justice that much patience is needed; but the Lord is our strength, and in Him we trust. In our finances we deal in six different moneys, and all have to be computed into money that has no basis. One month fifty cents may be worth seventy cents, and next month only thirty cents. "Our needs are many, and we are waiting on the Lord to supply them all. We are trying to develop workers here as fast as possible, but we would be pleased to have another German teacher, a man of age and experience in Bible teaching, as well as secular work. The medical missionary work should soon be started in Brazil, and for this work a man of faith and courage is needed. "Now, brethren, if the Lord calls any of you to go to Brazil and labor, please do not be afraid to come to this beautiful, warm country. Be sure that the Lord desires you to go, then come, and the Lord will never leave or forsake you, even in Brazil."
I met Brother Stauffer in Rio on my way here, and he told me to tell the brethren that he was glad to be in Brazil to labor for the Lord. Brother Thurston I also met there. The city of Rio de Janeiro has about 600,000 inhabitants. I traveled in Brazil for four months a few years ago, and enjoyed great blessings. Brother Thurston says that the "medical missionary work should soon be commenced," but a little delay may only be for the lack of means and suitable workers. There is vice and disease enough in Rio to most urgently call for medical missionary work immediately.
Chile.
This country is twenty-eight times longer than its average breadth, and has an area of 290,741 square miles. This includes what it has acquired by conquest from Bolivia and Peru. The national language is Spanish. In 1875 it had a population of 2,065,000. It has increased fifty per cent. since, so that now it has 3,300,000 inhabitants. The chain of the Cordilleras pass through its whole length and leave it but very little arable land, but it has great mineral wealth. The arid, rainless districts yield silver and copper in great abundance. In the north are the deserts of Antofagasta and Tarapaca, which yield nitrate of soda, borax, sulphur, and other minerals. The Lord has also some jewels in this country, and we have already seen the result, to some extent, of earnest missionary work. Brother Baber has reported from time to time, and we know that many are rejoicing in the truth. God has truly a people there that shall shine as bright jewels in His crown.
Bolivia.
This country is situated in the western portion of South America, and has an area of 567,240 square miles and a population of 2,330,000. Agriculture and mining are the chief occupations. It is a little difficult to say what the actual population is, for recent statistics give several of the most important cities only about half of what they were said to have thirty years ago. Potosi, at the census of 1611, had 160,000 inhabitants. Now it is reckoned to have 23,000. Bolivia is very rich in minerals—gold, silver, copper, tin, and lead. The products are chinchona, caoutchouc, amber, indigo, and many others of great value. The development of the country has taken a new start since the war, and it is rapidly increasing in importance. The inhabitants are divided into three classes—the descendents of the Europeans, the mixed class, and the pure Indians. Spanish is the official language, but10Quichua is spoken not only by the Indians, but also by the mixed race, and even the whites. There are about 3,000,000 of these Indians. They have not been taught to read. Near the Lake Titicaca the Aimara takes the place of the Quichua language.
Peru.
This country is in the western part of South America, and has an area of 500,000 square miles. The population is 2,971,844. Fifty-seven per cent. of the settled population are domesticated Indians. These till the land and tend their flocks of alpacas, sheep and llamas. About twenty-three per cent. are mixed race, who speak both Spanish and Quichua or Aimara, while the Indians speak Quichua or Aimara alone. The entire coast of Peru, with the exceptions of the valleys watered by the mountain streams, is rainless and waste. Wherever irrigation can be applied the soil is capable of producing almost anything. A great variety of potatoes and barley are cultivated in the region called Sierra. That is in the valleys and mountains. On the eastern watershed, the vast region called in Peru the Montana, is a great extent of tropical forest abounding in caoutchouc, Peruvian bark, and many other products waiting to be gathered. The gold and silver mines are famous. Progress toward religious liberty has been made, and it seems that the time has come to preach the Gospel in Peru more or less undisturbed. Some of the clergy have been admonished by the authorities to so indoctrinate their members that their faith will not be destroyed by reading the Bible. The Lord has so arranged that all nations offer opportunities to preach the last warning message to the people.
Ecuador.
This republic is in the northwestern part of South America, lying to the south of Colombia. The area is 120,000 square miles and has a population of 1,200,000. Quito, the capital, has a population of 40,000, and Guayaquil, the chief seaport town, has 50,000 inhabitants. Liberty of worship is now offered by a new constitution that has been proclaimed. The vast Spanish territory has been wrenched from old Spain and doors have been opened for the last great work to be done among the children of men. By continued defeats the Spanish people have also been humbled and now is the time to lead them to the Saviour. F. H. WESTFALL.
THE VOICE OF THE GUIDE.
By Margaret E. Sangster
WALKING through an unknown region—
Tangled thicket, brier, and thorn,
Weaving barriers dark and legion,
Shadows on the face of morn;
Noontide hid in brooding tempests,
Nightfall coming cold and gray;
Lord, we thank Thee for the promise,
Starlike in Thy Word to-day!
Give us listening ears to hear it,
Give us faith to follow on
Tho the clouds, unrifted, cover
All the glory of the sun.
"Thou shalt hear a voice behind thee!"
Do we, waiting as we pray,
Sweet from heaven discern its cadence—
"Tread with courage, this the way"?
Lord, so many thoughts beset us;
Lord, so many whispers press
On the silence of the spirit,
Pilgrim in this wilderness;
Only as Thy voice commands us,
Only as our hearts obey,
We are safe, and sure of reaching
Home, at ending of the way.
Lord, when we are worn and weary,
Lord, when faith is weak and faint,
Give us then, we pray, to hear Thee,
Hush the moaning of complaint.
"Thou shalt hear a voice behind thee!"
Starlike beams the word to-day;
And we listen, and we journey,
God Himself our strength and stay.
—Margaret E. Sangster.
OUR WORK AND WORKERS.
FIVE candidates were baptized at Beverly, Kansas, in May, by Brother J. W. Westphal.
It has been decided by North Pacific Conference to open a mission in Seattle at the earliest opportunity.
BROTHER C. M. GARDNER, who recently came from Utah to labor in the California Conference, has located in Alameda.
MEETINGS were held at Farmington, N. M., May 20-24, when six candidates were baptized, and the new house of worship was dedicated. Brother H. L. Hoover conducted the services.
BROTHER T. E. BOWEN, who has long been connected with the West Virginia Tract Society, has gone to New York to labor in connection with that conference, with headquarters at Rome, 317 W. Bloomfield Street.
FORTY-TWO of the spring class of nurses from the Sanitarium school at Battle Creek, Mich., are now in Chicago for a summer sojourn and labor in practical missionary work. Dr. David Paulson and Mrs. Paulson accompany the class. This raises the number of laborers of all classes to about one hundred, in that city.
AT the late session of Iowa Conference the following officers were chosen: President, Clarence Santee; secretary, L. Flora Plummer; treasurer, C. F. Stevens; executive committee—C. Santee, C. F. Stevens, P. A. Hansen, J. W. Dorcas, Wm. Guthrie; missionary secretary, Jessie V. Bosworth; State canvassing agent, W. L. Manfull.
We find this note from Brother J. A. Leland, of Buenos Ayres, Argentina, in the Echoes, of Denver, Colo.:
"I praise the Lord for the aid He has been to me in learning Spanish. To me it appears really wonderful. Of course I do not speak it perfectly, and practise is needed. I think our school in Entre Rios will be a great help to this field. Schooling is at a low ebb here. There are thousands of children who do not know anything of school. Our own people are very backward also, but we hope much for the school, and believe there will be much interest in it, and plenty of money to carry it on. It is away from any city, in a colony of Russians. It will seem almost like burying Professor DeLearsy, but that is a missionary's lot."
LESSON III.—SABBATH, JULY 15, 1899.
FEEDING THE FOUR THOUSAND; HEALING OF BLIND, DEAF, AND DUMB.
Phenicia, Decapolis, Gennesaret, and Bethsaida, A.D. 30.
29 “And Jesus departed thence, and came nigh unto the Sea of Galilee; and He went up into the mountain, and sat there. 30 And there came unto Him great multitudes, having with them the lame, blind, dumb, maimed, and many others, and they 31 cast them down at His feet; and He healed them; insomuch that the multitude wondered, when they saw the dumb speaking, the maimed whole, and the lame walking, and the blind seeing; and they glorified the God of Israel.
32 “And Jesus called unto Him His disciples, and said, I have compassion on the multitude, because they continue with Me now three days and have nothing to eat; and I would not send 33 them away fasting, lest haply they faint in the way. And the disciples say unto Him, Whence should we have so many 34 loaves in a desert place, as to fill so great a multitude? And Jesus saith unto them, How many loaves have ye? And they 35 said, Seven, and a few small fishes. And He commanded the 36 multitude to sit down on the ground; and He took the seven loaves and the fishes; and He gave thanks and brake, and gave to the disciples, and the disciples to the multitudes. 37 And they did all eat, and were filled; and they took up that which remained over of the broken pieces, seven baskets full. 38 And they that did eat were four thousand men, beside women 39 and children. And He sent away the multitudes, and entered into the boat, and came into the borders of Magadan.”
1 “And the Pharisees and Sadducees came, and tempting 2 Him asked Him to show them a sign from heaven. But He answered and said unto them, When it is evening, ye say, It 3 will be fair weather; for the heaven is red. And in the morning, It will be foul weather to-day; for the heaven is red and 4 lowering. Ye know how to discern the face of the heaven; but ye can not discern the signs of the times. An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given unto it, but the sign of Jonah. And He left them, and departed.”
5 “And the disciples came to the other side and forgot to take 6 bread. And Jesus said unto them, Take heed and beware of 7 the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees. And they reasoned among themselves, saying, We took no bread. And 8 Jesus perceiving it said, O ye of little faith, why reason ye 9 among yourselves, because ye have no bread? Do ye not yet perceive, neither remember the five loaves of the five thousand, 10 and how many baskets ye took up? Neither the seven 11 loaves of the four thousand, and how many baskets ye took up? How is it that ye do not perceive that I spake not to you 12 concerning bread? But beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees. Then understood they how that He bade them not beware of the leaven of bread, but of the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.”
32 “And they bring unto Him one that was deaf, and had an 33 impediment in his speech; and they beseech Him to lay His 34 hand upon him. And He took him aside from the multitude 35 privately, and put His fingers into his ears, and He spat, and touched his tongue, and looking up to heaven, He sighed, and saith unto him, Ephphatha, that is, Be opened. And his ears were opened, and the bond of his tongue was loosed, and he spake plain.”
13 “And He left them, and again entering into the boat departed 14 to the other side. “And they forgot to take bread; and they had not in the boat 22 with them more than one loaf.” “And they come unto Bethsaida. And they bring to Him a 23 blind man, and beseech Him to touch him. And He took hold 24 of the blind man by the hand, and brought him out of the village; and when He had spit on his eyes, and laid His hands 25 upon him, He asked him, Seest thou aught? And he looked11up, and said, I see men; for I behold them as trees, walking. 26 Then again He laid His hands upon his eyes; and he looked steadfastly, and was restored, and saw all things clearly. He sent him away to his home, saying, Do not even enter into the village.”
NOTE.—The texts inclosed in marks of parentheses, while not essential to the lesson study, will be found to throw much light upon the lesson, and are suggested for those who wish to study further.
SUGGESTIVE QUESTIONS.
1. Having to leave Phenicia, after the incident with the heathen woman, into what parts did the Saviour go? Matt. 15:29. Note 1. (Mark 7:31.)
2. What demonstration occurred in the place of His retirement? Verses 30, 31. Note 2. (Isa. 35:4-6.)
3. Relate the circumstances of one special case of healing which was then effected. Mark 7:32-35.
4. What led Jesus to decide to feed the multitude, who had been three days with Him? Matt. 15:32. (Ps. 86:15.)
5. How great was the company to be fed? Verse 38.
6. What amount of food was at hand, with which to feed so many? Verses 34-36. (John 6:32, 33.)
7. Was this amount sufficient for the occasion? Verse 37. (Ps. 37:3; 23:5.)
8. After sending away the people, to what point did the Saviour then go? Verse 39. (Mark 8:10.)
9. Who visited Him there? For what purpose? Matt. 16:1. Note 3.
10. What reproof did He administer in reply to such a demand? Verses 2, 3.
11. What class of people seek for miraculous signs in order to believe? Verse 4. (Matt. 12:38-40.)
12. After this brief but plain talk to His auditors, to what point did Jesus go? Mark 8:13.
13. When His disciples met Him there, of what were they reminded? Verse 14.
14. What made them think that Jesus was referring to their neglect? Matt. 16:6, 7.
15. To show them that He had no reference to their lack of material bread, to what did He call their attention? Verses 8-11. Note 4.
16. By this reminder what was made to dawn upon their minds? Verse 12.
17. Where is Christ next found? Who was there brought to Him for a blessing? Mark 8:22.
18. What did He do to the blind man? Verse 23.
19. What effect did this have upon the sufferer? Verse 24.
20. When Christ put His hands again on the partially-opened eyes, what took place? Verse 25. (Isa. 42:6, 7.)
21. With what charge did Christ then send him home? Verse 26. Note 5. (Isa. 42:2.)
Side Lights.—"Desire of Ages," chapter 44.
NOTES.
1. Decapolis means "ten cities." Nine of these lay east of the Jordan, and one on the west. The country round about these cities was therefore called Decapolis. From Matt. 4:23-25 and Mark 7:31 it would appear that this general appellation was given to quite a large district extending along both sides of the Jordan. According to Pliny, it was confined to the eastern side of the river, and extended from Damascus on the north to the brook Jabbok on the south. This was a region particularly disliked by the Jews, because ten cities therein located had municipal governments distinct from Jewish interference—tho in Palestine—and had joined together in a political alliance against all Israel. They afterward perished by fire and sword, and the entire region, once so densely populated, is said to be now almost without inhabitants.
2. Then came unto Him.—This reveals how impossible it was for the Son of God to be hid. The popular excitement, however, only served to make His enemies hate Him the more, because the people were not only enjoying the rich blessings of His spiritual teaching, but were also experiencing the power of heaven in healing their maladies, which was a foretaste of the kingdom of God restored.
3. Tempting Him.—The word "tempt" as here used means to try or prove. It appears that they were not satisfied with His past demonstrations of infinite power, and would have others to gratify their own curiosity. Christ, however, would throw away no miracles on these agnostics. They would not have believed had their request been granted. It is evident that the two parties united on this occasion for a mischievous purpose.
4. Beware of the leaven.—Strange that they should so soon forget that Christ Himself was living bread, and that those who possessed Him could never hunger. John 6:35, 36. His reminder of the two miracles, when food was created for the multitude, was to impress the thought that where He is there can be no lack, because He is living bread, and that His spoken word can, when necessary, take material form, and become a nourishing substance for the body.
5. Sent Him away.—It must be remembered that Christ was a fugitive from the malice of His enemies, and so the less publicity given to His acts and words the safer He would be, until the hour should come for Him to be delivered up. Luke 22:53.
LESSON III.—SUNDAY, JULY 16, 1899.
THE HEBREWS IN THE FIERY FURNACE.
NOTE.—In the second chapter of Daniel we have the record of a dream of Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, in which he was shown a great image whose head was of gold, its breast and arms of silver, its body and thighs of brass, the legs of iron, and the feet of iron and clay. The interpretation given by Daniel was that the head of gold represented the kingdom of Nebuchadnezzar, or Babylon, and the other metals denoted succeeding kingdoms. Nebuchadnezzar was evidently not pleased with the thought of his kingdom, or dynasty, coming to an end. So he set up an image that was all gold, and called for the leading officials from all parts of the empire to come at a certain time to establish the worship of this image. By this means he hoped to inculcate the religious duty of the people to sustain the kingdom of Babylon for all time. But when the time came, and the signal was given for the officers of the kingdom to fall down and worship the golden image, three of them refused to obey the command. These were the companions of Daniel mentioned in the last lesson—Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah; but, on entering the service of the king, their names had been changed to Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, respectively.
14 “Nebuchadnezzar answered and said unto them, Is it not of purpose, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, that ye serve not my god, nor worship the golden image which I have set 15 up? Now if ye be ready that at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of music, ye fall down and worship the image which I have made, well; but if ye worship not, ye shall be cast the same hour into the midst of a burning fiery furnace; and who 16 is that God that shall deliver you out of my hands? Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer thee in this mat- 17 ter. If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace; and He will deliver us out of 18 thine hand, O king. But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image 19 which thou hast set up. Then was Nebuchadnezzar full of fury, and the form of his visage was changed against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego; therefore he spake, and commanded that they should heat the furnace seven times more 20 than it was wont to be heated. And he commanded certain mighty men that were in his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, and to cast them into the burning fiery furnace. 21 Then these men were bound in their hosen, their tunics, and their mantles, and their other garments, and were cast into the 22 midst of the burning fiery furnace. Therefore because the king's commandment was urgent, and the furnace exceeding hot, the flame of the fire slew those men that took up Shad- 23 rach, Meshach, and Abed-nego. And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, fell down bound into the 24 midst of the burning fiery furnace. Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astonished, and rose up in haste; he spake and said unto his counselors, Did not we cast three men 25 bound into the midst of the fire? They answered and said unto the king, True, O king. He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the aspect of the fourth is like a son of the 26 gods. Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the mouth of the burning fiery furnace; he spake and said, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, ye servants of the Most High God, come 27 forth, and come hither. Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, came forth out of the midst of the fire. And the satraps, the deputies, and the governors, and the king's counselors, being gathered together, saw these men, that the fire had no power upon their bodies, nor was the hair of their head singed, neither were their hosen changed, nor had the smell of fire 28 passed on them. Nebuchadnezzar spake and said, Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, who hath sent His angel, and delivered His servants that trusted in Him, and have changed the king's word, and have yielded their bodies, that they might not serve nor worship any god, except their own God.”
Golden Text: “Our God whom we serve is able to deliver us.” Verse 17.
SUGGESTIVE QUESTIONS.
(1) What was the cause of the controversy recorded in this lesson? See note. (2) What censorious inquiry did Nebuchadnezzar make of his unyielding servants? V. 14. (3) What further opportunity did he give them? and what would be the penalty of disobedience? V. 15. Note 1. (4) How did the three men answer the king? V. 16. (5) Who did they say was able to deliver them? V. 17. (6) But what was their determination even if not delivered? V. 18. Note 2. (7) How did this bold stand affect Nebuchadnezzar? What rash command did he give? Vs. 19, 20. (8) What further preparation was made for the execution? V. 21. (9) What was the nature of the king's command? What was the first result of the intense heat? V. 22.
(10) When the executioners were slain by the fire, what happened to Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego? V. 23. (11) What sensation suddenly came upon the king? What did he say to his counselors? What did they reply? V. 24. (12) Then what did the king say? V. 25. (13) Seeing the men were unharmed, what did Nebuchadnezzar do? How did they respond to the call? V. 26. (14) Who besides the king saw this wonderful deliverance? How completely was the fury of the flames checked? V. 27. (15) Then what confession did the king make? V. 28. Note 3.
NOTES.
1. Who shall deliver?—Nebuchadnezzar did not understand that it was the God of Israel who had given His people into the hands of Babylon's king, and was able also to deliver them. Altho after the interpretation of his dream he had acknowledged that Daniel's God was "a God of gods, and a Lord of kings," his egotism now led him to imagine himself above all power, because he had become a universal ruler. But he was afterward made to realize that "the Most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever He will."
2. The spirit of resignation.—It was not deliverance that these three Hebrews were seeking. There was no selfishness in their appeal from the king's sentence. They were actuated solely by a desire to honor the God of Israel. Otherwise their profession of faith would not have been honored. They would not dishonor Him even if He did not deem it best to grant temporal deliverance at that time. They stood on the same ground on which Paul stood when he wrote, "Christ shall be magnified in my body whether it be by life, or by death." Phil. 1:20.
3. Convinced, but not converted.—Nebuchadnezzar was convinced of the power of the Most High God, and as he was desirous of having power on his side, he readily acknowledged the superiority of the God of the Hebrews. But that his recognition was of the same spirit of the modern "National Reform" movement, is shown by the decree, which immediately follows the lesson scripture, and is necessary to make the lesson complete: "Therefore I make a decree, That every people, nation, and language, which speak anything amiss against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, shall be cut in pieces, and their houses shall be made a dunghill; because there is no other God that can deliver after this sort." Nebuchadnezzar had to have another experience (recorded in chapter 4) before he learned the lesson of humility that marks the converted man, and learned that the Most High is a God of mercy as well as of power.
LESSON IV.—SUNDAY, JULY 23, 1899
THE HANDWRITING ON THE WALL.
NOTE.—Nabonidos was king of Babylon. Having associated with him in the throne his son Belshazzar, the latter was left in charge of the capital while the father was in some other part of the empire, perhaps in command of an army. Cyrus, in command of the combined armies of the Medes and Persians, was besieging the city; but Belshazzar, feeling secure within the massive walls, had given himself up to revelry. He had made a great feast to a thousand of his lords, and had brought out for the occasion the golden vessels that had been taken from the house of the Lord in Jerusalem. In the midst of the exciting hilarity, the king saw a mysterious hand writing on the wall of the palace. He was unable to read the writing, and called in the wise men; but, tho offered great reward, they could not read or interpret the inscription. At last the king’s mother reminded him of Daniel and his extraordinary wisdom, as manifested on former occasions. So Daniel was called, and the rewards of wealth and honor were offered to him if he would “read the writing and make known the interpretation.”
17 “Then Daniel answered and said before the king, Let thy gifts be to thyself, and give thy rewards to another; nevertheless I will read the writing unto the king, and make known to him the interpretation. O thou king, the Most High God gave Nebuchadnezzar thy father the kingdom, and greatness, and glory, and majesty; and because of the greatness that He gave him, all the peoples, nations, and languages trembled and feared before him; whom he would he slew, and whom he would he kept alive; and whom he would he raised up, and whom he would he put down. But when his heart was lifted up, and his spirit was hardened that he dealt proudly, he was deposed from his kingly throne, and they took his glory from him; and he was driven from the sons of men; and his heart was made like the beasts, and his dwelling was with the wild asses; he was fed with grass like oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven; until he knew that the Most High God ruleth in the kingdom of men, and that He setteth up over it whosoever He will. And thou his son, O Belshazzar, hast not humbled thine heart, though thou knewest all this; but hast lifted up thyself against the Lord of heaven; and they have brought the vessels of His house before thee, and thou and thy lords, thy wives and thy concubines, have drunk wine in them; and thou hast praised the gods of silver, and gold, of brass, iron, wood, and stone, which see not, nor hear, nor know; and the God in whose hand thy breath is, and whose are all thy ways, hast thou not glorified; then was the part of the hand sent from before Him, and this writing was inscribed. And this is the writing that was inscribed, MENE, MENE, TEKEL, UPHARSIN. This is the interpretation of the thing: MENE; God hath numbered thy kingdom, and brought it to an end. TEKEL; thou art weighed in the balances, and art found wanting. PERES; thy kingdom is divided, and given to the Medes and Persians. Then commanded Belshazzar, and they clothed Daniel with purple, and put a chain of gold about his neck, and made proclamation concerning him, that he should be the third ruler in the kingdom. In that night Belshazzar the Chaldean king was slain. And Darius the Mede received the kingdom, being about threescore and two years old.”
(1) How did Daniel regard the king’s offers of reward? However, what did he propose to do? V. 17. Note 1. (2) Of what did Daniel then remind the king? V. 18. Note 2. (3) What was the extent of the authority that God had given Nebuchadnezzar? V. 19. (4) How did this great honor affect him? What was the result? V. 20. Note 3. (5) How was he further degraded? Till what time was he so humiliated? V. 21. (6) Altho knowing of this experience, what had Belshazzar failed to do? V. 22. Note 4. (7) In what was his presumption especially manifested? V. 23. (8) Then what wonderful thing occurred? Vs. 24, 25. (9) What was the interpretation of “mene”? Of “tekel”? Of “peres” (or “upharsin,” plural of the same word)? Vs. 26-28. (10) What did Belshazzar then command? V. 29. Note 5. (11) In that night what befell Belshazzar? V. 30. Note 6. (12) Who then became king? What was his age? V. 31. Note 7.
NOTES.
1. Spurned the gifts.—Daniel, as a true prophet of God, did not care for the king’s rewards. He was only mindful of the glory of the God of Israel, from whom he received wisdom to interpret mysteries. He was unlike Balaam, who would fain have cursed Israel for the rewards offered by Balak. If the Babylonian wise men could have read the writing, they probably would not have dared to interpret it truthfully for fear of the king’s wrath. It took one who feared God to have the courage to face the king with a message of unpopular truth. We have like characters in Moses, Nathan, Elijah, Jeremiah, John the Baptist, Peter, Paul, Luther, and others.
2. “Thy father.”—Nebuchadnezzar was the grandfather of Belshazzar, the term “father” being used in an accommodated sense, according to the custom of calling ancestors fathers, however remote the actual relationship.
3. “He was deposed.”—This experience of Nebuchadnezzar, the cause of it, and the dream which foretold it, are all detailed in chapter 4.
4. Belshazzar’s presumption.—He was aware of the humiliation of Nebuchadnezzar, and the reason for it. Yet his presumption was carried even beyond that of his grandfather; for his daring to publicly defile the vessels of the Lord’s house was evidently intended to insult the God who had thus humiliated the renowned Nebuchadnezzar. Such is the influence of the excessive use of strong drink, and a dependence upon the defenses set up by human hands.
5. “Third ruler.”—This was the highest position then available in the kingdom. There was (1) the king, Nabonidos, and (2) the co-regent, Belshazzar, both of whom would naturally rank before Daniel.
6. The kingdom falls.—The handwriting on the wall was fulfilled that very night. Cyrus’ army was awaiting a favorable opportunity to strike a decisive blow. All preparation had been made for turning the channel of the river, which ran under the walls and through the midst of the city. On either side of the river across the city were walls with strong gates, which were usually locked and guarded at night. But on this night, when the officials were feasting, the whole city was in a condition of reckless abandon, and the ordinary precautions were neglected. Cyrus, being apprised of the situation, turned off the water from the river, marched his army under the walls and through the open inner gates to the very palace doors. Thus taking the city by night, the king was slain, and the mighty empire of Babylon was no more.
7. “Darius the Median.”—The Medes and Persians had united to overthrow Babylon. Darius was king of the Medes, and Cyrus, his nephew, commanded the combined armies. When Babylon fell, Darius became the first king of the universal empire of Medo-Persia. However, his reign was short (about two years), and Cyrus became king.
