UNIV. OF The Layman's Handbook of Daniel B. THE MESSAGE OF THE BOOK I. The Historical Part. 1:1-6:28 (By Chapters.) CHAPTER ONE THEME "Not Like Other People. 1:1-21. Divisional Words-Position-Purpose-Promotion. (a) POSITION. 1:1-7. In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah came Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon unto Jerusalem, and besieged it. 2 And the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, with part of the vessels of the house of God: which he carried into the land of Shinar to the house of his god; and he brought the vessels into the treasure house of his god. 3.And the King spake unto Ashpenaz the master of his eunuchs, that he should bring certain of the children of Israel, and of the king's seed, and of the princes; 4 Children in whom was no blemish, but well favoured, and skilfull in all wisdom, and cunning in knowledge, and understanding science, and such as had ability in them to stand in the king's palace, and whom they might teach the learning and the tongue of the Chaldeans. 5 And the king appointed them a daily provision of the king's meat, and of the wine which he drank; so nourishing them three years, that at the end thereof they might stand before the king. 6. Now among these were of the children of Judah, Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah: 7 Unto whom the prince of the eunuchs gave names: for he gave unto Daniel the name of Belteshazzar; and to Hananiah, of Shadrach; and to Mishael, of Meshach; and to Azarlah, of Abed-nego. Daniel was a captive far from home. Dwelling midst hostile people he maintained his position as a member of God's chosen race. Like Daniel, Christ's disciples are strangers in an alien country. The world offers the believer its life, wisdom and prosperity. Some years ago a minister the friend of President Cleveland, was crossing the campus of Princeton University. Half way across the campus he met the President, whose home was at Princeton. As the preacher approached Mr. Cleveland, the President lifted his hat and bowed. Interested in knowing the reason for this action the man of God interrogated the President and to his questioning Mr. Cleveland made answer as follows: "I am the President of the United States, you sir, hold a higher position than do I, for you are an ambassador of the king of kings and lord of lords. There is no higher office and none to which greater respect should be given. Followers of the Master ought ever to keep in mind their exalted and royal position, endeavoring to genuinely represent him as ambassadors. (b) PURPOSE. 1:8-16. .8 But Daniel 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: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself. 9 Now God had brought Daniel into favour and tender love with the prince of the eunuchs. 10 And the prince of the eunuchs said unto Daniel, I fear my lord the king, who hath appointed your meat and your drink: 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. 11 Then said Daniel to Melzar, whom the prince of the eunuchs had set over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, 12 Prove thy servants, I beseech thee, ten days; and let them give us pulse to eat, and water to drink. 13 Then let our countenances be looked upon before thee, and the countenance of the children that eat of the portion of the king's meat: and as thou seest, deal with thy servants. 14 So he consented to them in this matter, and proved them ten days. 15 And at the end of ten days their countenances appeared fairer and fatter in flesh than all the children which did eat the portion of the king's meat. 16 Thus Melzar took away the portion of their meat, and the wine that they should drink; and gave them pulse. Daniel purposed in his heart he would not be like other people. He determined to glorify God in every department of life. Recognizing that man could not live by bread alone, he refused food offered as a libation to idols. Daniel was as wise as he was prudent. He proposes a test to the king's chamberlain. Heroism is not rudeness. Because of his quiet firmness, Daniel and his companions were permitted to follow the dictates of conscience. Such determination of purpose oftimes necessitates personal suffering. During the great Welsh revival a little lad came to the knowledge of Christ. Hearing that the boy had accepted the Saviour, the father a great, rough, intemperate man, punished him so severely that the blood oozed from the stripes made upon his back. A little later as the father passed by the room of the lad, he heard him praying. Quietly opening the door and looking in the father saw the boy with tears streaming down his cheeks holding up in supplication his blood stained shirt and saying, "O Jesus, you did so much for me, I am glad that I have been able to make some sacrifice for you. It was too much for the father. Constrained by the Spirit of God he there and then committed his life to the Master. We, like Daniel, should purpose in our hearts that in spite of fire, dungeon and sword we will be true to Him till death. We are not to be like other people for the Master said: "They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world." (c) PROMOTION. 1:17-21. 17 As for these four children, God gave them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom: and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams. 18 Now at the end of the days that the king had said he should bring them in, then the prince of the eunuchs brought them in before Nebuchadnezzar. 19 And the king communed with them; and among them all was found none like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah: therefore stood they before the king. 20 And 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. 21 And Daniel continued even unto the first year of king Cyrus. Because of his faithfulness, Daniel was made Prime Minister of the empire. Entering the captivity of Babylon at fourteen years of age, he spent the major portion of seventy years as an official of that land. The days in which he lived were the most brilliant the world has ever known. He never returned to Judea, dying in Shushan or Susa, Persia, about 534 B. C. He witnessed the overthrow of the kingdom by Cyrus. Only three Hebrew prophets succeeded him-Haggai, Zechariah and Malachi. Because of financial stress a gentleman was compelled to leave California with his family, to seek a position elsewhere. He was a man of great executive ability. Arriving in Chicago with his wife and three children, he found himself upon the streets of that city practically penniless. Through the General Delivery he received a letter asking him to come at once to a certain corporation's offices to discuss the matter of assuming a very responsible position. At the company's headquarters he was offered a contract the acceptance of which by him meant a very large annual salary. In looking over the contract he noticed that it involved his working on certain Sabbaths of the year. Quietly assuring the management of his appreciation of their offer he requested that that portion of the contract be stricken out. This the management refused to do, with the result that the gentleman, for conscience sake, was compelled to decline the position. But God is not unmindful of his own and He had better things in store. That same afternoon the gentleman received another letter offering him a splendid position in a great bank, without any Sunday work, and with a salary that was half again as large as offered in the contract which he refused to sign. Let the believer in Christ hold to his exalted position as the representative of God, purposing in all his ways to acknowledge Him, and he will reap the reward, for "godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come." CHAPTER TWO THEME “Our Christ and the Kingdoms of this World." 2:1-49. Divisional Words Providence-Prayer-Prophecy. (a) PROVIDENCE. 2:1-13. And in the second year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar dreamed 2 Then the king commanded to call the magicians, and the astrologers, and the sorcerers, and the Chaldeans, for to shew the king his dreams. So they came and stood before the king. 3 And the king said unto them, I have dreamed a dream, and my spirit was troubled to know the dream. 4 Then spake the Chaldeans to the king in Syraic, O king, live for ever: tell thy servants the dream, and we will shew the interpretation. 5 The king answered and said to the Chaldeans, The thing is gone from me: if ye will not make known unto me the dream, with the interpretation thereof, ye shall be cut in pieces, and your houses shall be made a dunghill. 6 But if ye shew the dream, and the interpretation thereof, ye shall receive of me gifts and rewards and great honour: therefore shew me the dream, and the interpretation thereof. 7 They answered again and said, Let the king tell his servants the dream, and we will shew the interpretation of it. 8 The king answered and said, I know of certainty that ye would gain the time, because ye see the thing is gone from me. 9 But if ye will not make known unto me the dream, there is but one decree for you: for ye have prepared lying and corrupt words to speak before me, till the time be changed: there |