The National tribune., 1892-05-12
SUNDAY }MlDITA1l0N.
A Study of ther International Sunday
School Lesson Appointed for May
%, 1892.

~, IO92. ~
L. l..
Subject: Daniel aa Example for Young Men
in Decision of Character. Daniel, L; S-si.
Zone reading these notes should first carefully
study the paragraph from the Holy Scriptures as
| indicated above! tf,r sssj
INTRODUCTION.
The prophetic part of the Old Testament
reaches from the Book Of Isaiah to that OF
Malachi, inclusive. There are II such books.
| The first fve viz, ISAIAH jeremiah, Iamenta-
| tons. Ezekiel, and Daniel, arc known as the
Greater Prophecies; the last IL are called the
Lesser Prophecies. The Book of Daniel is
hence the last book of the Minor Prophets.
We not;ce that the Exodus was grand start
| point for the Isracites, and that period was
marked by the prominence of young Hebrew,
Joseph, captive an interpreter of dream S,
and at length Prime Minister of Pharaoh.
Thus began the political history of the Israel
| ties As the Exodus marked the beginnings of
national life FOR the 1sraeites. so the Captivity
was the feature of its practical end. And the
| termination was also characterized by the ap-
pearance of captive Jew. an interpreter of
dreams, one who became Prime Minister Of
! Northumberland The two Joseph and Daniel,
| were separated by the distance between Egypt
and Babylon, and by the interval between l49l
B. c., and 600 B. c.. or by about 800 years.
| The history of Daniel has given rise in Eng
| land to a sect called the Danielites. Two lead
| ing ideas with them are-first. the existence of
God as Supreme, and, secondly, the adoption of
| vegetable diet. From the emphasis put by
| them on the second item one would think they
attach most Importance to it. The Society
is secret No persons are admitted who do not
| first pledge themselves to abstain from fish,
aesh, fowl, liquors, both malt and spirituou5,
snuff, and tobacco.
The history of Daniel has been great in
spiration to the Church. and of special en-
couragement to young men. The song titled,
q" Dare to be Daniel" is hymn much sung
at religious gatherings. The example of the
Babylonian captive is kept fresh in the minds
of youth.
EXPLANATION OF DAM, 1 81
Daniel was of the first company of the King
dom of Judah to be taken captive. The time
at which he was seized and borne off from Je-
rusalem to Babylon gives date to what is known
as the Captivity of Judah, viz, B. G. GOA. Neb-
uchadneZzar made many captives 1t had been
prophecied by Isaiah the Judahites should be
/. thus punished. (2 XII, 20: ID; Is, 80: ~ Dan
lei was but boy when made prisoner of war
being less than Ia years old. 1t was hard for
one so young to be carried away from home and
country. Nebuchadnezzar ordered the most
promising of the Jewish captives TO be put into
a college and prepared to be Of service in the
royal court. Dan, i: 4, furnishes an idea of
the personal appearance of the young Hebrew
captive. Plato tells us the age of students en- ter
ing the royal schools in Persia was about IA
The course of study covered three years. Keno
phon gives the age Of II as that at which young
men arrived when entering on the position of
attendants on the King. Daniel would soon
graduate and be in readiness for regal service
During the events OF the lesson Jehoiaki i'm
was King of judah.
We find ourselves in Babylon 500 miles east
of Jerusalem 1t was the Capital of CIlaldea
II miles square, surrounded by wall 300 feet
high and so feet wide. From the wall rose $50
towers; 100 gates gave insress and egress Walls
and buildings were made Of brick man featured
from clay at handi while bitumen served for
mortar.
To this city the captives from Jerusalem were
taken. Among them was Daniel. The King Of
Babylon needed court attendants. He wanted
men of ability. Snch could be found among
tho Chaldean youth. He, however, had apprc-
tensions that young men from the leading
families of his own kingdom might. in their
ambition, prove troublesome TO him. He judged
il best to raise up royal attendants the nobest
abest, wisest of his foreign subjects. Such
would not be so likely to become factious or
rebellious. He bad school for training such,
so that they might become familiar with the
Babylonian language, literature, history and
customs Four were chosen from the Jewish
captives Daniel, Sbadrach, Mesbach and Abcd-
nego.
Nebuchadnezzar was anxious the students at
his political school should have the best of
preparation, not only Of mind but of body. He
ordered his servants (eunuchs) to provide
them with bills of fare corresponding to his
own nenn He wished them TO have royal pro-
visions and beverages. Such food and drink
were therefore served to Daniel. But he ut
terly refused to partake of either. The Jews
were very particular as to diet. This was a
result of instructions given by tho Lawgiver of
Heaven through his Prophet Moses. Certain
kinds OF food were forbidden, o. g., that Of
swine. Then animals the flesh of which could
be eaten must be killed in a prescribed form,
and hence Jews had and have their own butch
ers. Greatest care was taken to have all blood
thoroGr hly washed off the meat (Deu., 10: %
3d. me Prophet Ezekiel was conscientious as
to his food. "a: 1314.) So was Peter. (Acts,
10: a. The custom of Offering sacrifices by
the heather to their gods made the matter
still more complex. Ifone ate viands or drank
beverages on which pagan priests had asked
heather blessing, or which had been borne
from idolatrous affairs to the dining rooms, he
would be practically joining in the worship of
such pagan deities. Daniel could not thus
even indirectly give countenance to heather
devotion. (Hos., 8: 3, 4; Acts, Is: 20l 1t
seems also that Daniel might have objected to
a dietary so rich as that of the court He fore
saw efemnacy in luxuriance.
While Daniel was firm he courteous
Before declining outright he kindly requested
the lord chamberlain to permit him to eat more
plain diet. 1t is we'll to try TO prevent any un-
pleasantness.
Daniel saw that to observe NcbnchadneZzar's
requirement was TO disobey God, 10 compromise
the true religion, to be disloyal to his own Ma
ton. Though so kindly in manner as 10 win
the love and favor of the eunuchs (seryants) of
the King, yet he was so determinat in matters
Of conscience that nothing could move nor in
timidate him.
When the chief officer having in charge the
dietary OF the college expresses fears of being
beheaded if the students fail to maintain good
health and fine appearance, Daniel proposes q
test. Instead Of rich meats and wines, he sug-
gests trial for 10 days pulse and water.
surfing Melzar the Jewish captivcs would be
better off in flesh and strength than they who
followed the royal diet. BY pulse we mean
beans, peas, vegetables, herbs, as contrasted
with diet of flesh, game, fish. The four Jew
ish captives were permitted to use a vegeta-
Rams bill Of fare. At the end Of 10 days Mel
Ear was pleased with the result. The Hebrew
youths were more rudy, fresh and healthful
in appearance than they who followed the
heather menu. Afterward MelZar granted
Daniel and his three companions privilege to
have their chosen dishes. After the three
years had passed (V. 81, the four graduates,
Daniel and his three fellow captves, were
presented to ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. The King
found they excelled all the rest of the school.
He hence selected them rs his special advisers.