193. THE JEWS IN EXILE

"By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down, yea we wept, when we remembered Zion" (Psalm 137:1).

Upon being interrupted in the pursuit of the Egyptians by the news of his father's death, Nebuchadnezzar hastily placed Johoiakim under tribute; seized some Temple vessels, and took a few hostages back to Babylon. The young man Daniel, of the royal house of Judah, was amongst those captives of the first deportation. He was to be joined by many others in the following deportations, until David's throne was over­turned, and a 70 year captivity commenced a severe and purging discipline upon Yahweh's rebellious people.

Daniel 1 and 3.

THE DEPORTATION OF THE JEWS.

The overthrow of Judah was not accomplished overnight. The follow­ing list of deportations serves to illustrate the repeated intensity of the overturning process of David's throne (Ezekiel 21:27).

1. In the fourth year of Jehoiakim (Dan. 1:1).

2. 6 years later — 3,023 people taken captive (Jer. 52:28).

3. Next year — 10,000 with Jehoiachin (2 Kings 24:12-16).

4. 10 years later — 832 (Jer. 52:29).

5. Next year — more upper classes (2 Kings 25:11-12).

6. Four years later, corresponding to the 23rd of Nebuchadnezzar — 745 in last deportation (Jer. 52:30).

BABYLON.

Babylon was viewed as "the glory of kingdoms, the beauty of the Chaldees' excellency" (Isaiah 13:19). Herodotus states that Babylon was surrounded by a wall of brick 26.7 metres wide and 107.7 metres high. On top of the walls were two rows of houses with a road between. The entrances to the city were through 100 gates of brass. The Euphrates divided the city into two parts which were joined in the middle by a bridge 9.2 metres wide. Idolatry was found in every part of Babylonian life. Hundreds of temples and altars catered for pilgrims and merchants alike. Temple authorities operated department stores, shopping centres, warehouses, banks and lending institutions. Such was the idolatrous en­vironment that confronted the Jewish captives. Many felt a bitter sense of mourning for their country and Temple. They wept as they remembered Zion (see Psalm 137). As they watched the arrival of more Jewish cap­tives and the humiliation of their leaders, such as Zedekiah, they gradual­ly repented of their nation's wickedness and shunned the idolatry of their captors. They were encouraged by the remarkable prophecies of Isaiah (chapter 13), and Jeremiah (chapter 51), which spoke of the destruction of Babylon. The signs of Ezekiel, and the faith and courage of Daniel and his companions, strengthened their dependence upon Yahweh. Those who were chastened by this captivity returned vigorously to worshipping the one true God.

The Jews who were taken captive lived in small communities throughout the Babylonian Empire. They were encouraged by God to build houses and plant gardens, to marry and raise families (Jer. 29:4-7), because they had to face up to the fact that they would be in captivity for 70 years. Ezekiel the prophet lived with them and endeavored to show them by word and sign that their captivity would be a long one.

DANIEL: PRINCE OF THE PROPHETS.

Another prophet who played an important role in the re-education of God's exiled people, was Daniel. He was of the seed royal and in Daniel 10:11 he is styled as "greatly beloved" of Yahweh. Daniel was taken cap­tive along with others of the royal family. He outlived the 70 year captivi­ty (Dan. 1:21), and therefore the change from being apostate to being a God fearing nation when they returned from captivity is largely due to the long consistently faithful witness of Daniel and others who showed much godliness in a land full of idols. It is thought that Daniel would then have been 17-18 years of age. In Daniel 1:3 the word "children" is "yeled" meaning "a youth". So in his young teenage years Daniel show­ed outstanding faith in the things of God. How important it is for us to remember our Creator in the days of our youth (Eccl. 12:1)!

HEATHEN WISDOM JUDGED. Daniel 1:1-4.

When Nebuchadnezzar invaded Jerusalem he took the vessels out of the Temple and brought them back to Babylon and placed them in the temple of his god. This was an attempt to show the superiority of the god Bel over Yahweh the God of Israel.

Daniel and his three friends, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah were put into the charge of the Chaldeans, that they might learn all the wisdom and tongue of the Babylonians (v.4). Nebuchadnezzar was trying to force upon them the teaching of paganism, that he might draw them away from the Truth. The young captives had names that honoured the God of Israel but Nebuchadnezzar changed their names to honour the gods of Babylon. DANIEL whose name means "judgment of God" was given the name Belteshazzar which means "keeper of the hid treasures of bel". HANANIAH, "Yahweh has been gracious" was changed to Shadrach, "Inspiration of the sun", the sun being one of the gods of Babylon. MISHAEL, "Who is like God" was changed to Meshach "He who belongs to the goddess Shaca" and AZARIAH "helped of Yahweh" to Abednego, "Servant of the shining fire" or "servant of Nebo".

By changing their names Nebuchadnezzar wanted them to identify themselves with the worship of Babylon, and if they conformed to this learning, then he would honour them. This is a warning to all young peo­ple — the world is ever trying to entice you into their evil ways — be strong and resist the temptation and God will bless you as He did Daniel and his three friends.

DANIEL AND HIS THREE FRIENDS REFUSE MEAT AND WINE. Daniel 1:5-21.

Daniel and his friends were appointed a daily provision of the kings meat and wine (v.5). But Daniel "purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself" (v.8). The meat and wine which was given to them had been first offered to idols and Daniel determined that he would have nothing to do with such meat and wine. To eat such meat would show that he was a worshipper of the idols and he was going to "abstain from every appearance of evil" (c.p. Acts 15:29 and 1 Cor. 8:10; 10:28).

So Daniel asked the chief of the stewards to give them pulse to eat and water to drink. But the steward was reluctant to do this because he feared the king. He did not want them to look unwell compared to the others who ate meat. But it was agreed that for 10 days they would eat pulse (vegetables, grain and fruit) and drink water, and at the end of this time they would compare their countenance with the others.

Then "at the end of 10 days their countenances appeared fairer and fatter in flesh than all the children which did eat the portion of the king's meat" (v.15). So, young people we are assured that if we acknowledge Yahweh in all our ways, He shall direct and prosper our path (c.p. Prov. 3:1-6).

God blessed Daniel and his three friends "and gave them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom" (v.17).

HEATHEN WORSHIP JUDGED. Daniel 3.

After Nebuchadnezzar's dream (which we will learn about in detail in the next lesson) he set up an image of gold and commanded that everyone worship it or face the penalty of death. This placed Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego in a difficult position.

The three friends went to the dedication, submitting to the ordinance of the King to attend (cp. 1 Peter 2:13-15), but when commanded to wor­ship the image, they decided to obey God rather than man (Acts 5:29; Deut. 5:6-10). They stood out conspicuously as they refused to prostrate themselves before the flesh-glorifying idol. They were conscientious ob­jectors. There are times too when we must not flinch from our convic­tions, despite the reproach it may bring. Let us be strengthened in our faith by this outstanding example of courage in the face of persecution.

Their defiance filled the king with rage and fury. He was not prepared to tolerate any disobedience. He called them before him and gave them one last chance to submit and if they did not they would be thrown into the burning, fiery furnace. "Who is that God that shall deliver you out of my hands" he said (v.15).

Calmly and courageously they answered the king "If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning, fiery furnace and He will deliver us out of thine hand, O king. But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden im­age which thou hast set up" (v.17, 18).

Nebuchadnezzar flew into a terrible rage and commanded that the fur­nace be heated 7 times hotter than normal. They were bound and thrown into the fire; but those that threw them in were themselves slain by the heat.

Then as Nebuchadnezzar peered into the furnace he was filled with amazement. He said "Did not we cast 3 men bound into the midst of the fire? Lo, I see four men loose" (v.24-25). God had sent His angel to save His servants, and in so doing vindicate the faith of His servants.

Then Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego came forth out of the fire. The amazed Babylonians found that the fire had no power over them, nor was their hair singed, neither was the smell of fire upon them (v.27). In a wonderful way the angel of God had "encamped around about them that feared Him and delivered them" (Psalm 34:7).

The king acknowledged that the God of Israel was the all powerful God. He therefore made a decree that the God of Israel was to be honoured "because there is no other God that can deliver after this sort" (v.29).

LESSON FOR US:

The 70 year captivity chastened and purged the Jews in exile. They went into captivity steeped in the worship of their idols and trusting in the arm of flesh, and during their time there they underwent a tremendous change. They had been taken into captivity for their own good so that they might return to their land strong in faith. They were encouraged by Jeremiah, Ezekiel and Daniel. We too should live as sojourners and pilgrims with our hope being centered on Zion. We are encouraged by these men of faith to maintain our separateness from the ungodly world about us, and to look forward with eager anticipation to the dramatic ad­vent of the Lord Jesus Christ who comes to judge the world in righteousness and to reward the faithful remnant.

REFERENCE LIBRARY:

"Story of the Bible" (H.P. Mansfield)—Vol. 6. Nos. 9-11.

PARAGRAPH QUESTIONS:

1. How did Nebuchadnezzar try and force upon Daniel and his three friends his pagan beliefs?

2. Why wouldn't Daniel and his three friends partake of the king's meat and wine?

3. Show how Daniel's three friends obeyed God rather than man.

ESSAY QUESTIONS:

1. Describe how and why Daniel and his three friends refused to par­ take of the king's diet and the lessons we learn from this?

2. Tell why Daniel's friends were cast into the fiery furnace and tell how and why they were delivered.