Sárospataki Füzetek 20. (2016)

2016 / 2. szám - MISCELLANEOUS / SONSTIGES - Imre Tokics: Daniel's Worship int he City of Babylon

Daniel's Worship in the City of Babylon

3 DANIEL IN BABYLON

Daniel and his friends were between fifteen and eighteen years old when they were taken to Babylon. A scholar8 has called this “a teachable age”. Joseph was around eighteen when sold into slavery (Gen. 37:2).9

Daniel, as a young man, along with his friends were without any defect. The Bible uses the same language to describe the priests and the sacrifices in the sanctuary Lev. 21:17-23; 22:18-25. The Babylonian diviners were also expected to be “without blemish in body and limbs” when they approached their gods.10 The Chaldeans were the master race in Neo-Babylon, and by profession they were priests of the god Mar- duk. “Without any defect”, means Daniel and his friends had perfect knowledge of Jewish worship.

In accordance with the ancient customs, the king himself provided choice food and wine for those who resided or served at the palace. Before the four Hebrews were exiled, the revealed word of God was the center of their life. Daniel studied the scroll of the prophet Isaiah while in Babylon. One may conclude that the four Jews were well aware of a statement made by Isaiah that put their exile into the perspective of God’s plan for their lives.

The young Hebrew slaves must have clearly understood that their God, the Creator of everything, rather than the King or his god or gods, was the ultimate Provider of all things, whether food, drink, life or wisdom.

Daniel and his friends’ daily living was a perfect example of worship for the Chaldean people.

We must always remember that worship is not about the preacher, musicians, or children’s storyteller. Neither is the principle function of the offertory to raise funds for local church operations, nor should someone render a Scripture reading just because this has become tradition. Instead one of the greatest challenges pastors face is to encourage people to live consecrated lives throughout the week and to celebrate — all God has done for us during the previous six days.11

The young Jewish men’s resistance to the acculturation in Babylon began with their attitude toward the new names given them and their decision not to partake of the rich food and drink that the king generously provided for them. Worship is a special resistance to worldly culture.

All four Hebrew names are theophoric - they contain a form of a divine name in them. Daniel’s name “God is my judge”. The word “judge” is frequently used in the Bible in a positive way, with a meaning to “deliver” or “savior”. Scholars have mentioned Daniel’s name is also found in the fifteenth century B.C. as a “righteous

8 MONTGOMERY, A. James: A Critical and Exegetical Commentary on the Book of Daniel, The International Critical Commentary, EdinburghT.&T. Clark, 1927,120.

9 STEFANOVIC, Zdravko: Ibid 52.

10 COLLINS, J. John, CROSS, Moore Frank, COLLINS, Adela Yarbo: Ibid, 137.

11 HUCSK HE. Willie: Ibid 5.

2016-2 Sárospataki Füzetek 20. évfolyam 89