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Fundamentals of Christian Education
Hearing of this decree, “Daniel went in, and desired of the king
that he would give him time, and that he would show the king the
interpretation. Then Daniel went to his house, and made the thing
known to Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, his companions: that they
would desire mercies of the God of heaven concerning this secret.”
The Spirit of the Lord rested upon Daniel and his fellows, and the
secret was revealed to Daniel in a night vision. As he related the
facts, the dream came fresh to the king’s mind, and the interpretation
was given, showing the remarkable events that were to transpire in
prophetic history.
The Lord was working in the Babylonian kingdom, communicat-
ing light to the four Hebrew captives, that He might represent His
work before the people. He would reveal that He had power over
the kingdoms of the world, to set up kings and to throw down kings.
The King over all kings was communicating great truth to the king of
Babylon, awakening in his mind a sense of his responsibility to God.
He saw the contrast between the wisdom of God and the wisdom of
the most learned men in his kingdom.
The Lord gave His faithful representatives lessons from heaven,
and Daniel declared before the great men of the king of Babylon,
“Blessed be the name of God forever and ever: for wisdom and might
are His: and He changeth the times and the seasons: He removeth
kings, and setteth up kings: He giveth wisdom unto the wise, and
knowledge to them that know understanding: He revealeth the deep
and secret things: He knoweth what is in the darkness, and the light
dwelleth with Him.” “There is a God in heaven that revealeth secrets,
and maketh known to the king Nebuchadnezzar what shall be in the
latter days.” Glory was not given to the men who stood as oracles
in the kingdom; but the men who put their entire trust in God, seek-
ing for grace and strength and divine enlightenment, were chosen as
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representatives of the kingdom of God in wicked, idolatrous Babylon.
The historic events related in the king’s dream were of consequence
to him; but the dream was taken from him, that the wise men by their
claimed understanding of mysteries, should not place upon it a false
interpretation. The lessons taught in it were given by God for those
who live in our day. The inability of the wise men to tell the dream,
is a representation of the wise men of the present day, who have not
discernment and learning and knowledge from the Most High, and