prophets and kings-第75节

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lizing　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

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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。

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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　of　the　Holy　Spirit。　They　placed　themselves　in　connection　with　the　Source　of　all　wisdom；　making　the　knowledge　of　God　the　foundation　of　their　education。　In　faith　they　prayed　for　wisdom；　and　they　lived　their　prayers。　They　placed　themselves　where　God　could　bless　them。　They　avoided　that　which　would　weaken　their　powers；　and　improved　every　opportunity　to　become　intelligent　in　all　lines　of　learning。　They　followed　the　rules　of　life　that　could　not　fail　to　give　them　strength　of　intellect。　They　sought　to　acquire　knowledge　for　one　purposethat　they　might　honor　God。　They　realized　that　in　order　to　stand　as　representatives　of　true　religion　amid　the　false　religions　of　heathenism　they　must　have　clearness　of　intellect　and　must　perfect　a　Christian　character。　And　God　Himself　was　their　teacher。　Constantly　praying；　conscientiously　studying；　keeping　in　touch　with　the　Unseen；　they　walked　with　God　as　did　Enoch。

True　success　in　any　line　of　work　is　not　the　result　of　chance　or　accident　or　destiny。　It　is　the　outworking　of　God's　providences；　the　reward　of　faith　and　discretion；　of　virtue　and　perseverance。　Fine　mental　qualities　and　a　high　moral　tone　are　not　the　result　of　accident。　God　gives　opportunities；　success　depends　upon　the　use　made　of　them。

While　God　was　working　in　Daniel　and　his　companions　〃to　will　and　to　do　of　His　good　pleasure；〃　they　were　working　out　their　own　salvation。　Philippians　2：13。　Herein　is　revealed

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the　outworking　of　the　divine　principle　of　co…operation；　without　which　no　true　success　can　be　attained。　Human　effort　avails　nothing　without　divine　power；　and　without　human　endeavor；　divine　effort　is　with　many　of　no　avail。　To　make　God's　grace　our　own；　we　must　act　our　part。　His　grace　is　given　to　work　in　us　to　will　and　to　do；　but　never　as　a　substitute　for　our　effort。

As　the　Lord　co…operated　with　Daniel　and　his　fellows；　so　He　will　co…operate　with　all　who　strive　to　do　His　will。　And　by　the　impartation　of　His　Spirit　He　will　strengthen　every　true　purpose；　every　noble　resolution。　Those　who　walk　in　the　path　of　obedience　will　encounter　many　hindrances。　Strong；　subtle　influences　may　bind　them　to　the　world；　but　the　Lord　is　able　to　render　futile　every　agency　that　works　for　the　defeat　of　His　chosen　ones；　in　His　strength　they　may　overcome　every　temptation；　conquer　every　difficulty。

God　brought　Daniel　and　his　associates　into　connection　with　the　great　men　of　Babylon；　that　in　the　midst　of　a　nation　of　idolaters　they　might　represent　His　character。　How　did　they　become　fitted　for　a　position　of　so　great　trust　and　honor？　It　was　faithfulness　in　little　things　that　gave　complexion　to　their　whole　life。　They　honored　God　in　the　smallest　duties；　as　well　as　in　the　larger　responsibilities。

As　God　called　Daniel　to　witness　for　Him　in　Babylon；　so　He　calls　us　to　be　His　witnesses　in　the　world　today。　In　the　smallest　as　well　as　the　largest　affairs　of　life；　He　desires　us　to　reveal　to　men　the　principles　of　His　kingdom。　Many　are　waiting　for　some　great　work　to　be　brought　to　them；　while　da