The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1905-09-15
DANIEL IN
q BABYLON
Sunday School Lesson Tor Sept. H.is0o
Specially Prepared tor This Paper.
,ssoN TExT-Daniel 1870, Memory
Specially Prepared tor This Paper.

his heart that he would not uehie hA"S0''
Daniel is
TIME.-soon after the attack Of Ne
buchadnezzar upon Jehoiakim, king or
Judah, b. c. 6O5. when Daniel was made
captive
PLACE-Babylon on the Euphrates. 500
miles east OF Jerusalem.
SCRIPTURAL REFERENCES.-Ret
ences TO Daniel in Eek l4:14, 90; 2s:Si refer-
ences TO jeremiah in Dan. 90. Compare
Matt 24:l5 with Dan. 9;27 Compare Dan
7:13, IA with Matt. 1854; Mark 1852; Luke
22:69; 2l:27; Rev 14:l4. AS specimens or
the relation between Daniel and REVEAL
ton, compare Rev. liza with Dan. 1885, Rev.
Ills with Dan. 1876; Rev. LIZ with Dan. 3;
IS; Rev. 5:11 with Dan. 7:lO; Rev. 1874 with
Dan. 1925; 1874, 8; Rev. l7:12 with Dan. 7:20;
Rev. POLO with Dan. I'll. Read Chron.
S6:5-S. for the circumstances Of Daniels
exile
Comment and Suggestive Thought.
V. s. But" Although, as has just
been stated, everything was done to
make the captives forget their land
and their God Daniel" He was
about II years old at this time "Pur-
posed in his heart" Formed a 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 CD 1t
would most probably include some ar
ticles of food prohibited by Gods law
(Lev. IL. (2) The Babylonians did
not conform to the Jewish laws in
regard to killing animals to be used
for food, hence they would be unclean
n ha II ha cV- to IF
the heather then, as in Pauls time
to offer a 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. ca
Pampering the body with luxurious
food weakens ones moral purpose.
renders him more liable to sim
V. 9. Into favor" God influenced
the heart of the eunuch, and others, to
favor Daniel. Undoubtedly He did
this by making Daniel pleasing in
his character and manners. 1t was all
the harder for the captives to oppose
a master who was kind to them.
v 10. Il fear the king"
The eunuch was willing to grant Dan
iels strange request, but hesitated lest
the plain food might have 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 it 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;"
These were the Jewish names of these
youths. On coming to Babylon they
had been named Belteshazzar, Shad-
rach, Meshach and Abednego.
V. u. 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 in
this term
V. Is. "As thou seest:" He could
then note what effect the chosen diet
had upon their physical constitution.
V. II. Consented TO them" Let
them have such food as they had re-
quested.
" 10. "Countenances fair
er and fatter:" The result of
the trial was most gratifying
V. Is. Took away the portion:"
The Hebrews were no longer asked to
eat of the defling food. Note that the
Revised Version translates this:
Took away their dainties:' Think
of the heroism on the part of grow
ing boys in voluntarily depriving
themselves of dainties.
V. II. God gave them knowledge:"
Throughout this book, intellectual en-
dowments and attainments are again
and again ascribed to God Some of
these, like the visions, came directly
from God; but others, like the knowl-
edge here mentioned, were bestowed
by God upon the young students
through their own faithful study.
V. Is. AT the end of the days."
Their training continued three years.
Bring them in" When they should
appear before the king for their ex.
animation.
V. ~. 'COmmuned with them"
He tested their attachments in knowl-
edge Among them ALL" In all the
large class receiving this physical and
intellectual training.
V. 90. Matters of wisdom" Diff
ficult 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 20
years. Then. as now, temperate liv.
ing was conducive to long life.
Practical Points.
V. s. Dare to be a Daniel: dare
to have a purpose true; dare to make
il known. Acts 11:23.
V. s. Sinful indulgence defiles both
hofV and SOul II Cor o.1-