p. 13 | SUGGESTIVE QUESTIONS

Pacific Press Publishing Company · MOUNTAIN VIEW, CALIFORNIA · Sep 6, 1905

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 31, No. 36.

SUGGESTIVE QUESTIONS

LESSON 12.—SEPTEMBER 17.—DANIEL IN BABYLON.

Lesson Scripture, Dan. 1: 8-20, A. R. V.

(8) "BUT Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the king's dainties, 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 made Daniel to find kindness and compassion in the sight of 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 food and your drink; for why should he see your faces worse looking than the youths that are of your own age? so would ye endanger my head with the king. (11) Then said Daniel to the steward whom the prince of the eunuchs had appointed 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 youths that eat of the king's dainties; and as thou seest, deal with thy servants.

(14) "So he hearkened unto them in this matter, and proved them ten days. (15) And at the end of ten days their countenances appeared fairer, and they were fatter in flesh, than all the youths that did eat of the king's dainties. (16) So the steward took away their dainties, and the wine that they should drink, and gave them pulse.

(17) "Now as for these four youths, God gave them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom; and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams. (18) And at the end of the days which the king had appointed for bringing them in, 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 every matter of wisdom and understanding, concerning which the king inquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters that were in all his realm."

Golden Text.—"Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself." Verse 8.

SUGGESTIVE QUESTIONS.

(1) What did Daniel purpose in his heart? What request did he make? Verse 8. Note 1. (2) How did God especially work for His young servant? Verse 9. Note 2. (3) What reply did the prince make to Daniel's request? Verse 10. Note 3. (4) Who were immediately associated with Daniel in the king's school? Under whose special charge were these students placed? Verse 11. (5) What test did Daniel propose to the steward? Verse 12. Note 4. (6) What showed Daniel's faith in the superiority of the vegetarian diet? Verse 13. (7) How did the steward regard Daniel's proposition? Verse 14. (8) At the end of the ten days, what was the result of the test? Verse 15. Note 5. (9) How did the steward manifest his satisfaction with the result? Verse 16. Note 6. (10) What further blessing did God add to His faithful children? What special gift was bestowed upon Daniel? Verse 17. Note 7. (11) At the end of the school course, before whom were the students brought for examination? Verse 18. (12) How did Daniel and his three companions compare with the other students in scholarship? And how were they rewarded? Verse 19. Note 8. (13) How did these young Hebrews compare in wisdom with the older scholars and magicians of Babylon? Verse 20. Note 9.

NOTES.

1. Daniel was one of the young princes who had been brought to Babylon by Nebuchadnezzar with the first instalment of Jewish captives. The king selected some of the fairest and most intellectual of these men to be specially educated for his service in the kingdom. They were to be fed in royal style, and to have every supposed advantage. But there were things prepared by the king's cooks that Daniel, as a conscientious Jew, could not conscientiously eat or drink. So he "purposed in his heart," at all hazard, "not to defile himself," and made a request not to be required to do so. Daniel was evidently a rare exception in the royal family that had become so corrupt, and had so corrupted the people, that God had felt obliged to subject them to the chastisement of bondage. But he had learned the counsel of the wise man, "Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life." Prov. 4: 23.

2. Because Daniel had set his heart to do right at any cost, the Lord paved the way for him. No doubt Daniel made his request in such a respectful manner that he in turn won the respect of the prince, who was then influenced by the Spirit of God to look with favor upon him. A defiant attitude in the captive would have steeled the heart of the prince against any impression by the Spirit. A very little impertinence on Daniel's part would have quenched the Spirit in the prince's heart, and grieved it toward Daniel. 1 Thess. 5: 19; Eph. 4: 30.

3. The prince had good reason to fear such a king as Nebuchadnezzar; for neither would the prince nor Daniel have stood long before him, had his fury been once aroused by disobedience of his order. Besides, the prince, like the king, was actuated by what he supposed was for the good of the young men, both physically and mentally.

4. "Pulse."—The Cambridge Bible says, "Rather, vegetable food in general; there is no reason for restricting the Hebrew word used to leguminous fruits, such as beans and peas, which is what the term 'pulse' properly denotes." Water is the drink nature supplies for all her creatures, and is therefore the best. If this diet were lacking in nutritive qualities, it would begin to be manifest in ten days.

5. The striking result of the ten-days' test was no doubt due to the blessing of God upon the diet more than to the diet itself; because it was probably little, if any, change from the young men's ordinary food. There is no doubt that they had, as Jesus said to His disciples, "meat to eat" that the steward knew not of; for they fed on the Word of God, and their "meat" was to do His will. See John 4: 31-34.

6. The steward had no more fear regarding the diet question. There was no danger of the appearance of the young men bringing his action into question. He evidently saw, too, that their God was intervening in their behalf.

7. The God of Daniel and his companions not only blessed them physically for their fidelity to His cause, but His blessing upon them intellectually and spiritually was added in great measure.

8. Standing before the king was a position of high honor. They were personal attendants, assistants, counselors. To attain such a position, after an educational course of only three years (verse 5), in a strange country, being obliged to master a strange language also, was a most remarkable feat of learning.

9. Thus a great temperance victory was won by four young men under the most trying circumstances, because they depended upon God for help. And this is the only way in which any Christian victory can be won. "Without Me ye can do nothing," says the Master. Daniel succeeded because he was greatly beloved; and he was greatly beloved because of his faith and consequent obedience.