very successful

October 7, 2017

Israel grew rich with many altars (Hos 10:1-10:1)

“Israel is

A luxuriant vine

That yields its fruit.

The more his fruit

Increased,

The more altars

He built.

As his country improved,

He improved

His pillars.”

Israel was very successful after its entry into Canaan. They had great vineyards with abundant fruit. However, as their wealth increased, the Israelites built more altars to the various Canaanite gods. As the country improved, they set up more sacred pillars for foreign gods. Thus, the more that they enjoyed the wealth of the land, the more that they sinned in seeking false gods.

July 30, 2017

The four successful court attendants (Dan 1:19-1:21)

“The king spoke

With them.

Among them all,

No one was found

To compare with

Daniel,

Hananiah,

Mishael,

Azariah.

Therefore,

They were stationed

In the king’s court.

In every matter

Of wisdom,

Of understanding,

Concerning

What the king inquired of them,

He found them

Ten times better

Than all the magicians,

All the enchanters

In his whole kingdom.

Daniel continued there

Until the first year

Of King Cyrus.”

The Babylonian king spoke with all his new young court people. These 4 young Israelite royal students, Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah were very successful, since no one could compare to them. Thus, they were stationed in the king’s court. In anything about wisdom and understanding, these 4 court attendants were 10 times better than the more traditional Babylonian court magicians and enchanters. These 4 young men became the favorites of King Nebuchadnezzar. Daniel, in fact, stayed the whole time in the royal court until King Cyrus of Persia took over around 538 BCE. Thus, Daniel would have spent pretty much his entire life in the Babylonian royal court, about 70 years.