prophets and kings-第84章

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o　Daniel　the　name　of　Belteshazzar；　and　to　Hananiah；　of　Shadrach；　and　to　Mishael；　of　Meshach；　and　to　Azariah；　of　Abednego。〃

The　king　did　not　compel　the　Hebrew　youth　to　renounce　their　faith　in　favor　of　idolatry；　but　he　hoped　to　bring　this　about　gradually。　By　giving　them　names　significant　of　idolatry；　by　bringing　them　daily　into　close　association　with　idolatrous　customs；　and　under　the　influence　of　the　seductive　rites　of　heathen　worship；　he　hoped　to　induce　them　to　renounce　the　religion　of　their　nation　and　to　unite　with　the　worship　of　the　Babylonians。

At　the　very　outset　of　their　career　there　came　to　them　a　decisive　test　of　character。　It　was　provided　that　they　should　eat　of　the　food　and　drink　of　the　wine　that　came　from　the　king's　table。　In　this　the　king　thought　to　give　them　an　expression　of　his　favor　and　of　his　solicitude　for　their　welfare。　But　a　portion　having　been　offered　to　idols；　the　food　from　the　king's　table　was　consecrated　to　idolatry；　and　one　partaking　of　it　would　be　regarded　as　offering　homage　to　the　gods　of　Babylon。　In　such　homage；　loyalty　to　Jehovah　forbade　Daniel　and　his　companions　to　join。　Even　a　mere　pretense　of　eating　the　food　or　drinking　the　wine　would　be　a　denial　of　their　faith。　To　do　this　would　be　to　array　themselves　with　heathenism　and　to　dishonor　the　principles　of　the　law　of　God。

482


Nor　dared　they　risk　the　enervating　effect　of　luxury　and　dissipation　on　physical；　mental；　and　spiritual　development。　They　were　acquainted　with　the　history　of　Nadab　and　Abihu；　the　record　of　whose　intemperance　and　its　results　had　been　preserved　in　the　parchments　of　the　Pentateuch；　and　they　knew　that　their　own　physical　and　mental　power　would　be　injuriously　affected　by　the　use　of　wine。

Daniel　and　his　associates　had　been　trained　by　their　parents　to　habits　of　strict　temperance。　They　had　been　taught　that　God　would　hold　them　accountable　for　their　capabilities；　and　that　they　must　never　dwarf　or　enfeeble　their　powers。　This　education　was　to　Daniel　and　his　companions　the　means　of　their　preservation　amidst　the　demoralizing　influences　of　the　court　of　Babylon。　Strong　were　the　temptations　surrounding　them　in　that　corrupt　and　luxurious　court；　but　they　remained　uncontaminated。　No　power；　no　influence；　could　sway　them　from　the　principles　they　had　learned　in　early　life　by　a　study　of　the　word　and　works　of　God。

Had　Daniel　so　desired；　he　might　have　found　in　his　surroundings　a　plausible　excuse　for　departing　from　strictly　temperate　habits。　He　might　have　argued　that；　dependent　as　he　was　on　the　king's　favor　and　subject　to　his　power；　there　was　no　other　course　for　him　to　pursue　than　to　eat　of　the　king's　food　and　drink　of　his　wine；　for　should　he　adhere　to　the　divine　teaching；　he　would　offend　the　king　and　probably　lose　his　position　and　his　life。　Should　he　disregard　the　commandment　of　the　Lord　he　would　retain　the　favor　of　the　king　and　secure　for　himself　intellectual　advantages　and　flattering　worldly　prospects。

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But　Daniel　did　not　hesitate。　The　approval　of　God　was　dearer　to　him　than　the　favor　of　the　most　powerful　earthly　potentatedearer　than　life　itself。　He　determined　to　stand　firm　in　his　integrity；　let　the　result　be　what　it　might。　He　〃purposed　in　his　heart　that　he　would　not　defile　himself　with　the　portion　of　the　king's　meat；　nor　with　the　wine　which　he　drank。〃　And　in　this　resolve　he　was　supported　by　his　three　companions。

In　reaching　this　decision；　the　Hebrew　youth　did　not　act　presumptuously　but　in　firm　reliance　upon　God。　They　did　not　choose　to　be　singular；　but　they　would　be　so　rather　than　dishonor　God。　Should　they　compromise　with　wrong　in　this　instance　by　yielding　to　the　pressure　of　circumstances；　their　departure　from　principle　would　weaken　their　sense　of　right　and　their　abhorrence　of　wrong。　The　first　wrong　step　would　lead　to　others；　until；　their　connection　with　Heaven　severed；　they　would　be　swept　away　by　temptation。

〃God　had　brought　Daniel　into　favor　and　tender　love　with　the　prince　of　the　eunuchs；〃　and　the　request　that　he　might　not　defile　himself　was　received　with　respect。　Yet　the　prince　hesitated　to　grant　it。　〃I　fear　my　lord　the　king；　who　hath　appointed　your　meat　and　your　drink；〃　he　explained　to　Daniel；　〃for　why　should　he　see　your　faces　worse　liking　than　the　children　which　are　of　your　sort？　then　shall　ye　make　me　endanger　my　head　to　the　king。〃

Daniel　then　appealed　to　Melzar；　the　officer　in　special　charge　of　the　Hebrew　youth；　requesting　that　they　might　be　excused　from　eating　the　king's　meat　and　drinking　his　wine。　He　asked　that　the　matter　be　tested　by　a　ten　days'　trial；　the

484

Hebrew　youth　during　this　time　being　supplied　with　simple　food；　while　their　companions　ate　of　the　king's　dainties。

Melzar；　though　fearful　that　by　complying　with　this　request　he　would　incur　the　displeasure　of　the　king；　nevertheless　consented；　and　Daniel　knew　that　his　case　was　won。　At　the　end　of　the　ten　days'　trial　the　result　was　found　to　be　the　opposite　of　the　prince's　fears。　〃Their　countenances　appeared　fairer　and　fatter　in　flesh　than　all　the　children　which　did　eat　the　portion　of　the　king's　meat。〃　In　personal　appearance　the　Hebrew　youth　showed　a　marked　superiority　over　their　companions。　As　a　result；　Daniel　and　his　associates　were　permitted　to　continue　their　simple　diet　during　their　entire　course　of　training。

For　three　years　the　Hebrew　youth　studied　to　acquire　〃the　learning　and　the　tongue　of　the　Chaldeans。〃　During　this　time　they　held　fast　their　allegiance　to　God　and　depended　constantly　upon　His　power。　With　their　habits　of　self…denial　they　united　earnestness　of　purpose；　diligence；　and　steadfastness。　It　was　not　pride　or　ambition　that　had　brought　them　into　the　king's　court；　into　companionship　with　those　who　neither　knew　nor　feared　God；　they　were　captives　in　a　strange　land；　placed　there　by　Infinite　Wisdom。　Separated　from　home　influences　and　sacred　associations；　they　sought　to　acquit　themselves　creditably；　for　the　honor　of　their　down…trodden　people；　and　for　the　glory　of　Him　whose　servants　they　were。

The　Lord　regarded　with　approval　the　firmness　and　self…denial　of　the　Hebrew　youth；　and　their　purity　of　motive；　and　His　blessing　attended　them。　He　〃gave　them　knowledge　and　skill　in　all　learning　and　wisdom：　and　Daniel　had　understanding

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in　all　visions　and　dreams。〃　The　promise　was　fulfilled；　〃Them　that　honor　Me　I　will　honor。〃　1　Samuel　2：30。　As　Daniel　clung　to　God　with　unwavering　trust；　the　spirit　of　prophetic　power　came　upon　him。　While　receiving　instruction　from　man　in　the　duties　of　court　life；　he　was　being　taught　by　God　to　read　the　mysteries　of　the　future　and　to　record　for　coming　generations；　through　figures　and　symbols；　events　covering　the　history　of　this　world　till　the　close　of　time。

When　the　time　came　for　the　youth　in　training　to　be　tested；　the　Hebrews　were　examined；　with　other　candidates；　for　the　service　of　the　kingdom。　But　〃among　them　all　was　found　none　like　Daniel；　Hananiah；　Mishael；　and　Azariah。〃　Their　keen　comprehension；　their　wide　knowledge；　their　choice　and　exact　language；　testified　to　the　unimpaired　strength　and　vigor　of　their　mental　powers。　〃In　all　matters　of　wisdom　and　understanding；　that　the　king　inquired　of　them；　he　found　them　ten　times　better　than　all　the　magicians　and　astrologers　that　were　in　all　his　realm；〃　〃therefore　stood　they　before　the　king。〃

At　the　court　of　Babylon　were　gathered　representatives　from　all　lands；　men　of　the　highest　talent；　men　the　most　richly　endowed　with　natural　gifts；　and　possessed　of　the　broadest　culture　that　the　world　could　bestow；　yet　among　them　all；　the　Hebrew　youth　were　without　a　peer。　In　physical　strength　and　beauty；　in　mental　vigor　and　literary　attainment；　they　stood　unrivaled。　The　erect　form；　the　firm；　elastic　step；　the　fair　countenance；　the　undimmed　senses；　the　untainted　breathall　were　so　many　certificates　of　good　habits；　insignia　of　the　nobility　with　which　nature　honors　those　who　are　obedient　to　her　laws。

486


In　acquiring　the　wisdom　of　the　Babylonians；　Daniel　and　his　companions　were　far　more　successful　than　their　fellow　students；　but　their　learning　did　not　come　by　chance。　They　obtained　their　knowledge　by　the　faithful　use　of　their　powers；　under　the　guidance