Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1911-09-04
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BIBLE STUDIES.
THE WISDOM FROM ABOVE.
Daniel !, 49, 2o-Sept. 10.

IL Is SO0u neither 10 eat ile9h ~
to Drink vino. nor anything whereby
thy brother stumbleth. "-Romans XIV.
n.
We have noted the cruelty OF the
kings of olden times. 1t is appfopr-
ate. therefore, that we note also cer
tain instances in which they MINI
Tested great breadth Of generosity an"
wisdom. Todays study iliuStfate@
this. Amongst the earlier capi'ee9
brought by NebuchadnezZar from
Jerusalem some twenty years heloie
its destruction, were four young men
Of evidently noble birth and religious
training. Daniel, Han3niai, Mlshaei
and AZarfah These captives were
mol mattreated nor ensiaVed, IN the
ordinary sense OF the term. Their IN
tcilectual qualities were dfseefned,
and they were put into a superior
school that they, with others, might
he fitted to constitute a board of wise
men. eolinselors of the king. SO dill
ferent is all this from the nepotism,
graft" and pool of our day that it
seems almost incomprehensibie.
At the same time the instance was
an overriding of Divine providence by
which. not merely rebels against God
in Israel were suffered to be captured
ard deported. but seme also who Were
most loyal of heart to the principles
of the Divine Law. We may here
learn a lesson of how God is able to
make even the disasters of life work
out blessings for those who are truly
loyal To Him. even as Daniel and ms
companions were blessed and pros
pered in the enemies land. and adj
Nanced to positions far higher tran
they would ever have attained IN
their own land.
Advantages of Abstemiousness.
The Young Hebrews We're attached
to the Kings household and were pro-
vided with extraordinary delicacies
including spirituous liquors. The pol
icy of the king in providing sufnpte-
cusly for all the students WAS that,
being well nourished, they might be
in their best physical and mental
condition This lesson shows that it
is a mistake to suppose that high liv-
ing is specially conducive to intellect
uality--not To mention spirituality.
From the beginning, under God )
providence. the department of Dan
! ieI brought him into special favor VII
the prince Of the eunuchs, who had II
| charge the temperatures of these stu
dents There is something in meet
and quiet spirit that is impressive.
! and as q rule such q spirit comes only
| from proper religious training. t.
| this eunuch Daniel, and his associ-
ates through him. appealed. request
| ing that instead of the fine food and
liquors provided. they might have a
plain, vegetable diet.
The eunueh replied that he would
| be very glad Ia comply with the re-
quest, only he feared that, when eX-
animation time should come, these
| foar Hebrews. fed upon the palmer
| fare. would appear to a disadvantage
| and cause a reflection upon himself
| and possibly cost the loss of his posi-
| ton if not indeed the loss Of his life.
| Daniel. however. appealed for trial
of The matter for ten days, agreeing
| to abide by the results Al The end
Of this short time, comparison showed
| that the -four Young men who pfacuced
| nbste,nioHsness were fairer and fatter
| in fesn than We're those who shared
| the kings bounty; So the di t was
| continued
- the cid Of the period Of their
| preparation. The king eommuned with
the students and among them al
was found none like Daniel, Hananiah
| Mishael and Azariah; and in
every matter of wisdom and under
standing concerning which the king
| inquired OF them he found ttem ten
times better than all the magicians
and enchanters that were in his
| realm"