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Tuesday
The First
Lesson
Daniel 4:19-27
19 Then Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, was astonied for
one hour, and his thoughts troubled him. The king spake, and
said, Belteshazzar, let not the dream, or the interpretation
thereof, trouble thee. Belteshazzar answered and said, My lord,
the dream be to them that hate thee, and the interpretation thereof
to thine enemies.
20 The tree that thou sawest, which grew, and was strong, whose
height reached unto the heaven, and the sight thereof to all
the earth;
21 Whose leaves were fair, and the fruit thereof much, and in
it was meat for all; under which the beasts of the field dwelt,
and upon whose branches the fowls of the heaven had their habitation:
22 It is thou, O king, that art grown and become strong: for
thy greatness is grown, and reacheth unto heaven, and thy dominion
to the end of the earth.
23 And whereas the king saw a watcher and an holy one coming
down from heaven, and saying, Hew the tree down, and destroy
it; yet leave the stump of the roots thereof in the earth, even
with a band of iron and brass, in the tender grass of the field;
and let it be wet with the dew of heaven, and let his portion
be with the beasts of the field, till seven times pass over him;
24 This is the interpretation, O king, and this is the decree
of the most High, which is come upon my lord the king:
25 That they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall
be with the beasts of the field, and they shall make thee to
eat grass as oxen, and they shall wet thee with the dew of heaven,
and seven times shall pass over thee, till thou know that the
most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever
he will.
26 And whereas they commanded to leave the stump of the tree
roots; thy kingdom shall be sure unto thee, after that thou shalt
have known that the heavens do rule.
27 Wherefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable unto thee,
and break off thy sins by righteousness, and thine iniquities
by showing mercy to the poor; if it may be a lengthening of thy
tranquillity.
1st Lesson Questions -
Had I been the king, what would my response have been to Daniel's interpretation? RESOLVE.
The Second
Lesson
Acts 23:12-24
12 And when it was day, certain of the Jews banded together,
and bound themselves under a curse, saying that they would neither
eat nor drink till they had killed Paul.
13 And they were more than forty which had made this conspiracy.
14 And they came to the chief priests and elders, and said, We
have bound ourselves under a great curse, that we will eat nothing
until we have slain Paul.
15 Now therefore ye with the council signify to the chief captain
that he bring him down unto you tomorrow, as though ye would
inquire something more perfectly concerning him: and we, or ever
he come near, are ready to kill him.
16 And when Paul's sister's son heard of their lying in wait,
he went and entered into the castle, and told Paul.
17 Then Paul called one of the centurions unto him, and said,
Bring this young man unto the chief captain: for he hath a certain
thing to tell him.
18 So he took him, and brought him to the chief captain, and
said, Paul the prisoner called me unto him, and prayed me to
bring this young man unto thee, who hath something to say unto
thee.
19 Then the chief captain took him by the hand, and went with
him aside privately, and asked him, What is that thou hast to
tell me?
20 And he said, The Jews have agreed to desire thee that thou
wouldest bring down Paul tomorrow into the council, as though
they would inquire somewhat of him more perfectly.
21 But do not thou yield unto them: for there lie in wait for
him of them more than forty men, which have bound themselves
with an oath, that they will neither eat nor drink till they
have killed him: and now are they ready, looking for a promise
from thee.
22 So the chief captain then let the young man depart, and charged
him, See thou tell no man that thou hast shown these things to
me.
23 And he called unto him two centurions, saying, Make ready
two hundred soldiers to go to Caesarea, and horsemen threescore
and ten, and spearmen two hundred, at the third hour of the night;
24 And provide them beasts, that they may set Paul on, and bring
him safe unto Felix the governor.
2nd Lesson Questions -
Paul's life wasn't easy. Is my life like his, in this respect? RESOLVE.