A Table Prepared

At the time that Jehoiakim ruled as king over Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem to make war against it. The city of Jerusalem was beseiged, and the Lord gave them into the hand of the king of Babylon. Babylon was the place where many years before the tower of Babel had been built and where the Lord had come down to cause the confusion of languages. Babylon has always been at war with Jerusalem and always will be as long as the world exists. Babylon is to be viewed as the capital of the worldly kingdom and Jerusalem as the capital of the heavenly kingdom, the king of Babylon as the prince of darkness and the king of Jerusalem as the king of peace. It portrays Satan against Christ.

Daniel and his friends were taken to Babylon as prisoners of war. They were related to the royal family of Judah by birth, and thus were princes in their country. At the time they were very young, perhaps teenagers. They were very fine young people, who remembered the Lord in the days of their youth. Is this not an outstanding blessing for young people?

Daniel and his friends were welcomed as princes in the palace of the king; they were to be instructed and prepared to become nobles of the country of Babylon. The excellent food of the kings table was to be served to Daniel and his friends.

We are inclined to think that this Nebuchadnezzar was a very nice and kind-hearted man. People of the world would say, Notice how kind and good-hearted the king of Babylon is to Daniel and his friends. Many would perhaps say, I see nothing wrong there, and it is narrow-mindedness to be against such a fine opportunity. The purpose of the king of Babylon was not to kill the bodies of Daniel and his friends, but their souls. To succeed in this, they had to be completely conformed to the ways of Babylon. Much had to be changed. The king of Babylon was willing to do everything for Daniel and his friends if they were only willing and able to serve him and not Jehovah.

First of all, their names had to be changed. The names of Daniel and his friends were not pleasing to the ears of the king of Babylon. Their names were a proclamation of Jehovah. Listen to the significance of their names: Daniel means God is my Judge; Hananiah, the grace of the Lord; Mishael, He that is the strong God; and Azariah, the Lord is my help. The new names given them were a revelation of the false gods of Babylon. Notice their significance: Belteshazzar meant the keeper of the hidden treasures of Bel; Shadrach, the inspiration of the sun; Meshach, of the goddess Shack, a name under which Venus was worshipped; and Abednego, the servant of the shining fire. The devil cannot tolerate it that Christians speak about the only true God as a righteous God, a gracious God, the Almighty God, and that He is a God who is a helper in times of trouble for all His people. But the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and is the only protection against the devices of the devil.

The education of Daniel and his friends also had to be changed. They had to learn the language of the Chaldeans and the laws of the country of Babylon. Their subjects were: the history of Babylon, Babylonian philosophy, mathematics, and sciences as taught by the Chaldeans. If we look about us today, millions know the laws of the country very well, but what do we know about the law of our God? Many know the writings of humanists better than the pure Word of God, that can make us wise unto salvation. What shall it profit us to gain the whole world, and lose our soul? What about the means of salvation, such as catechism classes and questions, church, and family worship? Is there no time, no desire, too much involvement in the things of the world?

We read, And the king appointed them a daily provision of the kings meat, and of the wine which he drank. Was Daniel glad with this provision? No, but Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself. Wasnt it foolish of Daniel to refuse those dainties? We would say, What was wrong with it? But it was very wise of Daniel, and was an expression of his faith. You will understand this if you consider the purpose of the king of Babylon. He desired to wean Daniel from his people and country. By accepting these things, he would break with the ceremonial laws of Israel. You must also realize that by the meat and wine was to be understood all the things necessary for the provision of the body.

Daniel humbly and politely requested that he be given pulse to eat and water to drink. Daniel desired the favor of the Lord above all the dainties of the table of the king of Babylon. What is our meat, young friends? What is our drink; what are our customs and our entertainment? At whose table do we sit?

The late Rev. M. Romeyn (19131971) served as pastor of the Netherlands Reformed Congregation at Chilliwack, B.C. (19571971).

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