Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1917-09-07
Sunday School Lesson
Blu DR.. Marion McH. Hull

When Nebuchadnezzar took Jehoiakim
captive in the third year OF his reign,
he himself vas still cO-regent with his
father. He ala not reign alone until the
next year-the fourth year Of Jeho-
iakfm. Jeremiah. 25:l- He bound Jeho-
iakim with the intention OF taking him
10 Babylon. but changed his mind, and
took the vessels of the Lords house IN
stead and placed them in the temple OF
his god in the land Of Shinar. Uncon-
sciously he was fulfilling the words OF
Isaiah TO Hezekiah spoken nearly
hundred years before
He carried with him. though. some
OF the sons of royalty and nobility
among whom were Daniel. Hananiah,
MishaeI and Azariah. Daniel was in all
probability a grandson Of the good
King Josiah and a nephew of JehO-
iaks.u. IL is also entirely possible that
his three friends were blood relations
Esvfng deported them. Nebuchadnez-
z7rs ue-. move was 20 denaJiOnalize
hem. II was but part OF an effort TO
SO embue them with the spirit OF BAD
won that. as Geuatioualized jews they
could be used TO severn their own peo-
ME in a better capacity. So Nebuchad-
nezzar gave orders that a certain num-
her OF the princes and mobiles who were
good looking, well educated and apt 10
learn should be selected and trained IN
the language and learning OF the Chal-
deans. and further ordered that theN
should be given all that was necessary
10 keen them in the best OF condition
and finish the job in three years
0CPoRTED AND DENATIONALIZED-
The names Of these four princes were Oo-
roxiouS 4, TIE king. however. Zach one re
fs--ST "a the God 81 Israel. Daniel meant
:-t;od is my judse." Michael meant Who Is
ike unto Coz aauaniah and AEarlah ust
-rear name ..Tah-'-The eternal, Seli-eNlsuhe
JehCvsh-and meant respectively whom 1oI
hath favored 80 and Jehovah l. my heipe1.
u would never DO to let them AeeP 49,
names which were constant reminders OF thelr
IL and their nation. ne changed them 70
.Anes with meanings just as near 10 the others
gods Rel and Shack and NebO- Inns Is caIne
out that their names were Beltesha 1LAr.
Shadrack. Meshack ard Abedneso. I Ils
youths were only fourteen years OLD ano NSo-
urha6uezEar was sure that he had fixed the
business now. - that In a few years they NVui,
be 80 cOnformed 10 the land and language Snu
Learning q Babylon they would become Baby
k7isns indeed and forget entirely whence they
had come
Nav Daniel was a young man, but be had
he had given himself wholly 20 God. he was
no Indian givcr either; IL was for good and all
STothsr rFoire-5etween right and wrong; be-
tween what would tickle his palate ana what
would please his Lord: between the thing that
everyone else was doing and the thing tnat
would subject him 10 ridicule ana 10 oelns
called peculiar IL was not hard, Tor Dan
lei purposed in his heart that he would not
defifp himself with the Kings meat, nor win
the wine which he drank."
Now let Is understand Daniel thoroughly
There has been much Temperance teach
ing read into the scriptures that sometimes
YES often. We miss the rial truth No one can
be more in favor Of temperance-yes, total ab-
stInsuc-thsn the writer. but he has no sym
pathy with that kind which peryerts the true
meaning Of the scriptures 20 enforce de-
sired teaching What want is what the
scriptures teach not what We want them 10
teach Unless Daniel had taken the Nazarite
vow he. ss a Jew hsd no compuactton about
taking wine 8 drink. for IL was q common
custom in those days. But what he purposed
was that be. as Jew, given 10 God. would
not defiIe himself by eating meats and drink
ing portions Of wine that hadsbeen dedicated
10 heather gods he could not help being de-
ported: nor could he help the change OF name
that had been given him for denaturs lization;
but be could and would prevent his defilement;
and be had made NJ his mind fully that no
matter what the cost. he would keep himself
clean. he would do the right thing. he would
stand squareiy on the side Of God and against
the heather idols
He was vOnderfuIIy tactful. He would not
accomplish his purpose by fatty refusing 10 do
what he was hidden He requested" the
prince 0f the sunuchs that he might not defile
himself. He wasn't ashamed TO take stand
for God and against the heather gods and tell