gives us these talents and the power to use them. Daniel, like Joseph of old, was also given the ability to in terpret dreams and visions. This dou ble portion he probably received be cause he was the leader of the little group. This ability was to play an important part in his life in the days to come.” The closing scene of the chapter takes the reader forward three years in time to the presentation before the king. At the end of the prescribed course of study, the king personally examined all the young men with re gard to “all matters of wisdom and understanding.” Nebuchadnezzar must have been a man of real learning to have possessed the ability to question these scholarly boys so carefully. He did not bring them to Babylon in order that they might amuse him, with entertaining stories. He was not looking for jesters but for wise coun selors; he was searching not for wit but for wisdom. A great nation is for tunate when it has leaders who seek out such assistance. In this examina tion Daniel and his friends not only excelled their own companions, but were “ten times better” than all the magicians and astrologers who were supposedly the wisest men in the realm. Again is the eternal principle illustrated that God honors those who honor Him (I Sam. 2:30). Talbot, “Since the Book of Daniel is pre-eminently a prophetic writing, the reader should expect to find some element of prediction along the line of type or foreshadowing even in the historical section. Daniel and his three friends have been thought in chap ter 1 to be a type or illustration of the faithful portion of Israel during the yet future Great Tribulation. When the beast-king of the last days (directly foretold by Daniel in ch. 7 ff.) arises on the earth demanding divine worship for himself, there will be faithful Israelites who will refuse to defile themselves, but will instead courageously bear witness to the true God during those awful days. Many details of this period are revealed by Daniel in later chapters of the book.” 32
determined to ‘look not upon the wine when it is red’ (Prov. 23:31). Possi bly Daniel had taken the vows of a Nazarite (see Num. 6) which re quired abstinence from both ‘wine and strong drink.’ ” When men make a stand for God, then He works for them. Daniel was a fine boy of a lovable character. But that in itself was not enough and might indeed have merely antagon ized this idolatrous prince. Verse 9 makes it clear that it was not Daniel’s character that produced the result, but God’s mysterious working. He can turn even the hearts of unsaved men in order to work out His own pur poses. However through fear Ashpe- naz objected to Daniel’s request. But in the end he granted it. Surely God was dealing with this man’s heart! A new character is now mentioned (v. 11). Melzar means steward or butler and is probably a title rather than an actual name. Melzar was the one who brought the food to the young men. Daniel asked this man for a test — that he and his three friends be allowed to eat pulse (the original word signifies vegetable food in gen eral) and drink water for ten days, instead of partaking of the king’s meat and wine. It is not likely Melzar would have agreed to this proposition as he did if Ashpenaz had not been favorable to it. At the end of the ten-day period, Daniel and his friends were found to be “fairer and fatter” than all their comrades. “This was in part a natural effect of their temperance, but it must be ascribed to the special blessing of God, which will make a little go a great way, a dinner of herbs better than a stalled ox” (Matthew Henry). From this time on no question was raised and the four friends were al lowed to choose their own diet. Gabelien, “Their attainments were mental as well as physical (v. 17). Surely Daniel and his three com panions applied themselves diligently to their studies, but again the result is ascribed to God. Even if native abilities bring us success, let us al ways remember that it is God who
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