The Schools of the Prophets
By M. E. Cady
I CANNOT refrain from mentioning the names of three more students, who, though not educated in the schools of the prophets, yet in the home school were educated according to the divine plan. Exiles from their native land, they early in life were connected with kings' palaces in Babylon and Medo-Persia. There, with unswerving loyalty to the King of kings, and uncompromising fidelity to the principles of truth taught them in their childhood, these youth lived such lives and wrought such deeds that they were highly honored and respected throughout the realms of these great world empires. I refer to Queen Esther, Nehemiah, and Daniel. It is interesting and encouraging to note that women as well as men when truly educated are fitted to occupy high and exalted positions of trust and responsibility. It was not only for Joseph and Daniel to stand "next to the king," but this was also the privilege of Queen Esther. God as well as man could trust her in that high position, for she was beautiful and queenly in character. Humility and loyalty were the twin virtues that shone most brightly in her life. When being prepared for presentation to the king, she "required nothing" in apparel outside of what had been appointed her. When her people were about to be destroyed, she, contrary to a law whose penalty was death, obeyed the command of Mordecai, "like as when she was brought up with him," and uninvited went into the presence of the king and saved her nation. Having learned loyalty and obedience at home under the training of Mordecai, she was loyal and obedient both to him and to God, "choosing," like Moses, "rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season." Mordecai had not neglected Esther's physical education, for the maid was fair of form and of good countenance. Her intellectual powers must have been highly developed to enable her to act as queen of a mighty empire. With great wisdom and prudence she went in and out before the people; and the divine record says, "Esther obtained favor in the sight of all them that looked upon her." Esther 2: 15. As already noticed, her moral and spiritual powers were strongly developed and mightily exercised in behalf of the people of God in their persecutions and sufferings. Esther was a "finished product of God's system of education." What does her life's work say for the system? We find this young man occupying the honored position of cupbearer in the royal palace of King Ahasuerus. He learns through some of his own people that the work of restoring Jerusalem is at a standstill. He is much grieved by this report, and spends much time praying, fasting, and weeping. He is willing to give up his position of honor and ease to go to Jerusalem and superintend the work himself. He is filling his present position well, and the king and queen are loath to let him go. They finally consent after he sets a time of returning. He spends many years in earnest, vigilant toil; and the walls are finished, in spite of all that Tobiah, Sanballat, and others of his enemies could do to hinder the work. They tried several times to entice him away from the walls, but each time he sent back the word, "I am doing a great work, so that I cannot come down: why should the work cease, whilst I leave it, and come down to you?" Neh. 6: 3. Not only did he rebuild the walls of Jerusalem, but acted as governor of Israel for several years. To organize and establish a government with laws, and administer these with wisdom and justice, requires a high degree of mental attainment. Had he not possessed a remarkable degree of culture he would never have been called to serve as cupbearer in the court of Persia. As with Joseph and Moses, his early education resulted in the harmonious development of his threefold powers and their dedication to the service of God. His life's work, as attested to in sacred biography, vindicates the system of education that developed a man of marvelous daring and doing powers, ready for service in every good work. This young man and three other young men, when hardly out of their teens, were carried captive from their Judean homes to the land of Babylon. Of their educational attainments the divine testimony is, "Children in whom was no blemish, but well favored, and skillful in all wisdom, and cunning in knowledge, and understanding science, and such as had ability in them to stand in the king's palace." With their physical and intellectual inheritance from the home school, is it any wonder that, after attending the Babylonian university for three years, "in all matters of wisdom and understanding, that the king inquired of them, he found them ten times better" than all the educated men in his realm? The6testimony quoted says nothing of their spiritual attainments, but they must have been of high character, for we learn that for their God and their religion they shrank not from the fiery furnace, nor from the lions' den, and were miraculously delivered. After their remarkable deliverance these men were exalted to high positions of trust and responsibility in governmental affairs, Daniel standing next to the king both in Babylon and Medo-Persia. Notice how thorough was their physical education, "children in whom was no blemish, but well favored." The principles of health and physical preservation learned in childhood they would not violate, though their diet was prescribed by the king. "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." Acting as mouthpiece for his companions, he made request for a different diet. His congenial spirit and frank, straightforward manner "brought Daniel into favor and tender love with the prince of the eunuchs," and the request was granted. Daniel's physical and intellectual training had qualified him to solve successfully the industrial and commercial problems of great empires. He was prime minister of Babylon and chief of the governors over all the wise men of Babylon. When Babylon was overthrown by Medo-Persia, Daniel's services were in great demand, and he was appointed prime minister by King Darius. Daniel was chosen to this position from three presidents, he being the choice "because an excellent spirit was in him, and the king thought to set him over the whole realm." Because of jealousy the two presidents and one hundred and twenty princes sought to find fault with Daniel's administration of the affairs of the kingdom. "But they could find none occasion nor fault; forasmuch as he was faithful, neither was there any error or fault found in him." Dan. 6: 4. What an illustrious example of the proper blending and union of the physical, intellectual, and spiritual powers in effective and efficient ministry to his fellow beings does the life of Daniel bring to view! He who was permitted to behold the visions of God until his physical being gave way, afterward "rose up, and did the king's business." What does the life work of these students of the schools of Israel testify with reference to the value and efficiency of the system of education given by God to the ancient Jewish nation? Let us hear the answer of the learned apostle Paul: "What advantage then hath the Jew? . . . Much every way: chiefly, because that unto them were committed the oracles of God:" "to whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises." Rom. 3: 2; 9: 4.