Evening star., 1922-07-08

Citations, Ills.
Important divine messages have
been communicated to men by dreams
The mysterious phenomena presented
by these mental visions, that come
to men in their sleep. has been
studied by eminent philosophers
psychologists and psychologists. They
have approached the study from diff
ferent angles and have partially
solved the problem presented by
dreams. The scientific men of the
Babylonian court were bafled when
Nebuchadnezzar summoned them to
interpret a forgotten dream, which
troubled him. 1t was in the second
or. according to Ferrar Fenton's
translation. the twelfth year of Nebu.
chadnezzar's reign, when pressing
problems concerning the empires fu-
| ture probably demanded solution
that he had this vision. 1t was nat
ural under such circumstances for
! him TO dream concerning the world
policy and future power Of his king
dom.
The court officials, who were ac-
customed to interpreting dreams by
mechanical process, were unable
70 coHpiy WIN tne king unredsond-
BILE demands. They could not recall
the forgotten dream and give him its
correct Interpretation. When we ap-
proach the study of the lesson we
are called upon to solve difficulties
due to apparent discrepancies These
probably were not considered to be
such when the Book of Daniel was
written. 1t is not necessary that we
master them to understand the mes
sage of the book and the lesson. 1t
was written to inspire the crushed
and afflicted Jewish people to place
their unshaken confidence in God.
Its philosophy of history has given
the book of Daniel a powerful in
fuence over Christian thought and
conduct One needs to study care
fully the revelations. recorded in the
seventh, eighth, eleventh and twelfth
chapters OF Daniel, IL we are to un-
derstand Nebuchadnezzar's forgotten
dream. -
We are all probably familiar with
the psychological conditions of the
king. who awoke with a tremor. The
terrifying experience left an impress
sion which filled his mind with ter
ror- He feared that something ter
rible was about to happen. His anx-
iety was greater because he could
not recall the frightful dream. He
was frightened because he thought
the forgotten vision contained some
divine message concerning the fu-
ture. He summoned his magicians,
astrologers. sorcerers and scholars.
He ordered them to inform him con-
cerning the vision and its interpre-
tation.
The wise men insisted that it was i'm
possible for them to comply with the
kings request which they claimed was
unreasonable Sebuchadnezzar Informed
them that If they failed to comply
with his commands. that they should
be put to death in disgraceful manner
and all of their property destroyed,
while if they obeyed his commands. they
would be rewarded with appropriate
gifts and given great honors in appre-
citation Of their services.
When the scientists failed to comply
with his commands, the oriental despot
issued orders that they be destroyed. In
this crisis, Daniel became the man Of the
hour. This young Jewish prince was
among the first captives whom Nebuch-
adnezzar had brought from Judah. He
had surpassed his fellow students in the
Imperial University. just as many of his
race are doing today by utilizing the
opportunities given to all to secure
an education in our land. His col
lege record revealed that he was a
young man of purpose, prayer and
PERCEPTION. He never failed in his
loyalty to Jehovah. He won as re-
suit of his character. capacity and
culture a high place in the nation S
affairs. Daniel learned of the kings
order, when he and his three faith
full friends were sought in an effort
to comply with the kings command
that all the scientists should be de-
stroyed. The eminent Jewish scholar
protested against NebuchadneZzar' s
edct and requested that he and his
friends be allowed a fixed time within
which to make known to the king the
&c
ton. This reasonable request was
granted. Daniel and his :hree loyal
friends united in prayer requesting
the God of heaven to make known
to them the dream and its interpreta- :
ton so that the lives of those who
stroyed in accordance with the king s
orders that all the scientists should
perish.
In answer to the prayer Of the four
friends. who had proven their loyalty
to JehQyah by their fidelity to His
student days. the forgotten dream and
its Interpretation were communicated
to Daniel. He poured out his heart
in Thanksgiving for this divine reve-
lation. He humbly pointed out, when
standing before the king, to make
known the dream and its interpreta-
tion, that it was not due to any per-
sonal excellence which he possessed
that caused the Lord to reveal unto
him the philosophy of history, which
God had communicated to the king in
his dream concerning the world king
doms.
The image Of the huge colossus was
similar to those that Nebuchadnezzar
had seen daily in the statues that
beautified the public buildings OF
Babylon. While there is some differ
ence among scholars as to what ma
tions are meant by the different divi-
sions Of the image. We follow the
usual interpretations. The lesson
makes 1t clear that the golden head
refers to Babylon. The silver arms
and breast represented the Medo-Per-
slams. Greece was portrayed by the
belly and thighs of brass" Rome was
indicated by the iron legs. Babylo-
mans were characterized by their
love Of pleasure. Medo-Persians were
marked by their desire for glory.
Greeks placed their emphasis upon
the culture of the intellect. Rome was
noted for the power of it's iron rule.
The four Kingdoms of the huge
image revealed the fact that history
followed a divine plan. Daniel in
terpreted them to be world powers.
Its unity represents the fact that
the different empires of the earth
are only parts of one great whole.
They are all animated by the same