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 afraid” but to “respect”, “revere”.16 Among the four Hebrews, Daniel was excellent because God gave him the ability to interpret visions and dreams of all kinds. This was unusual in their worship in Babylon. Divine wisdom meets people where they are.17 Daniel was the most learned man in the Old Testament.18 The high point of the final examination, following the three years of training, was an interview with the king himself, whose questions included riddles and difficult problems. Daniel and his associates are compared not only with the other young men who received the same training as they did but also with professional advisors to the king who were already at work in Babylonia.19 God was controlling history from its beginning to its end, even when pagan Babylon conquered the holy land of Judah. “God gave” knowledge and understanding to the four young men. The expression “God gave” has been called “the gospel”20 of the book of Daniel. The words “God gave” are a key theme in the book of Daniel.21 Daniel offers no answer to the question — why are we here in exile? Later on Daniel understood Yahweh was in full control over the events in history and over the day-to-day activities of faithful believers. Only the eye of faith could perceive22 God at work in Babylon. Daniel and his friends were living in a cross-cultural setting, and they learned what it means to be torn between the attitudes of assimilation and separation, of being in the world but not of it. We can see Daniel actively involved and working in the mission and worship of God, in the context of the divine part. Notice a number of parallels between the lives, tests, and triumphs of Joseph in Egypt and Daniel in Babylon. • Both of them were taken to foreign lands • Both were handsome young man Gen. 39:6; Dan. 1:4. • The faith of both was tested Gen. 39:7-12; Dan. 1:14-16. • God showed favor to both before their overseers Gen. 39:21; Dan. 1:9. • Both were given foreign names Gen. 41:45; Dan. 1:20. • Both of them could interpret dreams Gen. 41:15; Dan 1:17. • Both outperformed all the wise men Gen. 41:38; Dan. 1:20. • Both were promoted to serve as a king’s ruler Gen. 41:41 -44; Dan. 2:48. • Both their lives were a school for the worship God. 16 PETERSON, David: Engaging With God: A Biblical Theology of Worship, Downers Grove, IL: Inter- Varsity Press, 1972, 72. 17 NICOL, Francis: The Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, Vol. 4. Washington, DC, Review and Herald, 1955, 767. 18 WALVOORD, John F. Daniel: The Key to Prophetic Revelation, Chicago, Moody Press, 1971,29. 19 PÉTER-CONTESSE, René - ELLINGTON, John: Ibid 27. 20 GOLDINGAY, John E.: Daniel, Word Biblical Commentary, Dallas, Word, 1989, 27. 21 GOLDINGAY, John E.: Ibid, 27. 22 LUCAS, Ernest C.: Daniel, Apollos Old Testament Commentary, Downers Grove, II. InterVarsity Press, 2002, 57. 2016-2 Sárospataki Füzetek 20. évfolyam 91
