The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1905-09-21
DANIEL IN
b A BYLON
suaday sehsol Lessen for Sept. l7.lsos
sssoN rExr.-paniel 1880. Memory
Specially Prepared for This Paper.

verses, Is, H.
GOLDEN TExT.-"DanieI purposed in
his heart that he would not defile himself
Daniel lis
buchadnezzar upon Jehoiakim. King OF
judah, b. c. COS. when Daniel was made
captive.
PLACE.-Babylon on the Euphrates, 600
miles east OF Jerusalem.
SCRIPTURAL REFERENCES.-4ae |
ences to Daniel in Ezek 14:14, 20; 2s:3: refer |
ences to jeremiah In Dan. S:2. Compare
Matt. 2:15 with Dan. 9:27 Compare Dan.
1913. II with Matt. 1884: Mark 1892: Luke
22:6s; H.H; Rev. AH As specimens of
the relation between Daniel and Revela-
tion, compare Rev. 1:14 with Dan 7:e; Rev.
Ills with Dan 1876; Rev. LII with Dan. 8:
IS; Rev. Sill with Dan. 7:10; Rev. 1914 with
Dan. s:26; 1874, Q; Rev. 1872 with Dan 1920;
Rev 20:iO with Dan. 7:11 Read 2 Chron.
36:5-S, for the circumstances Of Daniels
exile.
Comment and Suggestive Thought.
v. 8. But" Although, as has just
been stated, everything was done to
make the captives forget their land
and their God. Daniel" He was
about IA years old at this time. "Pur.
posed In his heart" Formed q firm
resolution. His three friends shared
in the purpose. would not defile
himself" The young Jews looked
upon food from the table Of the king
Of Babylon as defiling because () II
would most probably include some ar
ticles of food prohibited by Gods law
(Lev. 1D. (2) The Babylonians did
n0t conform to the Jewish laws in
regard to killing animals to be used
for food, hence they would be unclean
to the Jew. (3) 1t was the custom of
the heather then, as In Paul's time.
to offer q portion of the food OF each
meal to their gods, and eating of this
food would be looked upon as partici.
pating in idolatrous worship. (D
Pampering the body with luxurious
food weakens one's moral purpose
renders him more liable to sin.
v. 8. "Iaae favor" God Influenced
the heart Of The eunuch, and others, to
favor Dantel. Undoubtedly He did
this by making Daniel pleasing in
his character and manners. It was all
the harder for the captives to oppose
a master who was kind to them.
| v. 10. II fear the king"
The eunuch was willing to grant Dan
iel's strange request, but hesitated lest
the plain food might have a bad effect
upon the health Of his charges. He
probably entertained the erroneous
idea, still held by many, that wine was
good for the health Of body and mind
All experience proves that 1t in
jures both.
v. II. "Melzar:" Rev. Yer. the
steward" The one who attended per
sonally to the distribution of food
The eunuch's name was Ashpenaz
Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, Azariah: y
These were the Jewish names Of these
youths. On coming to Babylon they
had been named Belteshazzar, Shad
rach, Meshach and Abednego.
v. IL. Prove thy servants" Give
us a trial to test the matter. pulse:
The seeds of certain leguminous
plants, much like beans; or, vegetable
food of any sort may be included II
this term. ''-"s.s, - -. u ~
v. 13. "As thou seest:" He coult
then note what effect the chosen die
had upon their physical constitution
v. IA. Consented to them" LIE
them have such food as they had re
quested rsbsa-, .Gn6~ai1.-..--.-
v. Is. "Countenances fair
er and fatter:" The result o.
the trial was most gratifying
v. 16. "Took away the portiorl:'
The Hebrews were no longer asked e
eat Of the defiling food. Note that the
Revised Version translates this
"Toek away their dainties:" Think
Of the heroism on the part of grow
ing boys in voluntarily deprivinl
themselves of dainties!
v. II. God gave them knowledge:' >
Throughout this book, intellectual en-
dowmeats and attainments are again
and again ascribed to God. Some Of
these. like the visions, came directly
from God: but others, like the knowi
edge here mentioned, were bestowed
by God upon the young students
through their own faithful study.
v. 18. "At the end Of the days.
Their training continued three years
Bring them in:" When they should
appear before the king for their Ok
animation.
v. 10. "Communed with them:' .
He tested their attainments in knowl
edge. Among them all:" In all the
large class receiving this physical and
Intellectual training
v. 20, Matters of wisdom" Dif
Acult questions concerning which the
king consulted the most learned men
Of his court. "Magicians:" A priest
ly class. skilled In reading the mys
tic writings. "Astrologers: Men
who studied science, especially astron
omy, and the superstitions of astrol
ogy, which at that time were closely
attached to the study of the heavenly
bodies The next verse tells that Dan.
lei continued in the public service OF
the kings of Babylon for about 70
years. Then, as now. temperate liv.
Ing was conducive to long life.
Practical Points.
v. 8. Dare to be Q Daniel; dare
to have purpose true; dare to make
It known."-Acts 1928.
| " 8. Sinful indulgence defiles both
body and SOUL Cor. 3:17.
| v. 8. Polite and courteous treat.
ment Of others Is Christian duty.
Love as brethren. be pitiful. be cour.
teous."--1 Pet. 3:8.
v. 8. The sure way OF winning true
friends Is to show the spirit of Christ.
"A man that hath friends must show
A-I-