BE FULL OF CARE ABOUT WHAT YOU TAKE INTO YOUR BODY

04-26-20 This message may be viewed live streaming video at youtube.com and tabernacleofmoses.org today Sunday at 11:00 am, and repeated 24/7 thereafter. The video, audio, and study notes are archived.

God is Thought. The brightness of our revelations depends upon the correctness of our doctrines, our building blocks, our Godly Thoughts laid one upon another, ascending into the mind of Christ.

(Dan 1:1,2) In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah [Heb: celebrated /// the hand] came Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon [Heb: overflow with confusion] [1] unto Jerusalem [Heb: dual] [perhaps an allusion to natual man, spiritual man; and soul, spirit], and besieged it [Heb: to cramp, confine: adversary, assulted, bound (up), distressed, inclosed, lay siege] [about 587 B.C.]. And the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his [Nebuchadnezzar’s] hand [Heb: power], with part of the vessels [containers] of the house of God: which he carried into the land of Shinar [Heb: a plain in Babylon] [modern Iraq] to the house of his god; and he brought the vessels into the treasure house of his god.

1.    confuse = Dict: 1. to mix up; jumble together; put into disorder. 2. to mix up mentally; specif., a. to bewilder; perplex. b. to embarrass; disconcert; abash. c. to fail to distinguish between; mistake the identity of – syn: puzzle.

(Dan 1:3-5) And the king spake unto Ashpenaz the master of his eunuchs [castrated men servants], that he should bring certain of the children of Israel, and of the king's seed, and of the princes; Children in whom was no blemish, but well favoured, and skilful in all wisdom, and cunning in knowledge, and understanding science, and such as had ability in them to stand in the king's palace, and whom they might teach the learning and the tongue of the Chaldeans [Heb: astrologers]. And the king appointed them a daily provision of the king's meat, and of the wine which he drank: so nourishing them three years, that at the end thereof they might stand before the king.

(Dan 1:6,7) Now among these were of the children of Judah, Daniel [Heb: judge of God], Hananiah [Heb: Jah has favored], Mishael [Heb: who is what God is?], and Azariah [Heb: Jah has helped]: Unto whom the prince of the eunuchs gave [Chaldean] names: for he gave unto Daniel [Heb: judge of God] the name of Belteshazzar; and to Hananiah [Heb: Jah has favored], of Shadrach; and to Mishael [Heb: who is what God is?], of Meshach; and to Azariah [Heb: Jah has helped], of Abednego.

(Dan 1:8) But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself [Heb: soil, desecrate: pollute, stain] [Lev 11] with the portion of the king's meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile [Heb: soil, desecrate: pollute, stain] himself.

(Dan 1:9,10) Now God [who is in control] had brought Daniel into favour and tender love [Heb: compassion] with the prince of the eunuchs. And the prince of the eunuchs said unto Daniel, I fear my lord the king, who hath appointed your meat and your drink [from his own table, in both a specific sense and a general sense]: for why should he see your faces worse liking [in a much less heathy appearance] than the [other] children which are of your sort [grade, educational class, group]? then shall ye make me endanger [“off with his head”] my head to the king.

(Dan 1:11-13) Then said Daniel to Melzar [Heb: the butler], whom the prince of the eunuchs [Ashpenaz] had set over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, Prove [Heb: test] thy servants, I beseech thee, ten days [(here we learn that the number 10 can often symbolize “testing” in the Bible)]; and let them give us pulse [Heb: something sown; grains or vegetables (as food)] to eat, and water to drink. Then let our countenances [Heb: appearances] be looked upon before thee, and the countenance of the children that eat of the portion of the king's meat: and as thou seest, deal with thy servants.

(Dan 1:14,15) So he consented to them in this matter, and proved [Heb: tested] them ten days. And at the end of ten days their countenances appeared fairer [Heb: good(er): better, fairer, pleasanter, cheerful, more kindly, loving, favoured] and fatter [Heb: plump: plenteous] in flesh than all the children which did eat the portion of the king's meat.

(Dan 1:16,17) Thus Melzar took away the portion of their meat, and the wine that they should drink; and gave them pulse [and water]. As for these four children, God gave them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom: and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams.

(Dan 1:18-21) Now at the end of the days that the king had said he should bring them in, then the prince of the eunuchs [Ashpenaz] brought them in before Nebuchadnezzar. And the king communed with them [he spoke with them all in a subdued intimate but friendly manner]; and among them all was found none like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah: therefore stood they before the king [they were honored to be allowed to stand before the king]. And in all matters of wisdom and understanding, that the king enquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers that were in all his realm. And Daniel continued even unto the first year of king Cyrus.

A SPIRITUAL APPLICATION: HEED THIS PROPHECY

(Dan 5:1-6) Belshazzar the king made a great feast to a thousand of his lords, and drank wine before the thousand. Belshazzar, whiles he tasted the wine [i.e., he was drunk], commanded to bring the golden and silver vessels which his [grand] father Nebuchadnezzar had taken out of the temple [of God] which was in Jerusalem; that the king, and his princes, his wives, and his concubines, might drink therein. Then they brought the golden vessels that were taken out of the temple of the house of God which was at Jerusalem; and the king, and his princes, his wives, and his concubines, drank in them. They drank wine, and praised the gods of gold, and of silver, of brass, of iron, of wood, and of stone [i.e., the things of this world]. In the same hour came forth fingers of a man's hand, and wrote over against the candlestick [a] upon the plaister [Heb: plaster] of the wall of the king's palace: and the king saw the part of the hand [of God] that wrote. Then the king's countenance [Heb: (appearance); fig. cheerfulness: brightness] was changed [Heb: altered], and his thoughts troubled [Heb: terrified] him, so that the joints of his loins were loosed [i.e., he “wet” himself], and his knees smote [Heb: knocked] one against another.

1.    Commentary: “over against the candlestick” = Inside the tabernacle of Moses, the golden candlestick represents the Holy Spirit whose (fire) light shines upon (illuminates) the twelve loaves of bread set upon the table of shewbread which altogether symbolize Jesus Christ (“I am the bread of life” (John 6:35,41 & John 1:14, i.e., the Bible). The table of shewbread is located directly across from (“over against”) the illuminating light of the golden candlestick. By drinking out of the holy vessels (fig. containers of God’s words – the wine) while praising false gods, Belshazzar was not only polluting God’s words (the wine) but defying God’s existence.

(Dan 5:22-28) [Daniel interpreted the vision to Belshazzar] And thou his son [Nebuchadnezzar’s grandson], O Belshazzar, hast not humbled thine heart [i.e., his pride], though thou knewest all this; But hast lifted up thyself against the Lord of heaven; and they have brought the vessels of his house before thee, and thou, and thy lords, thy wives, and thy concubines, have drunk wine in them; and thou hast praised the gods of silver, and gold, of brass, iron, wood, and stone, which see not, nor hear, nor know: and the God in whose hand thy breath is, and whose are all thy ways, hast thou not glorified: Then was the part of the hand [ministry, that’s us, “part of the Hand” Ministry (Eph 4:11,12)] sent from him; and this writing was written. And this is the writing that was written, MENE [Heb: numbered], MENE [Heb: numbered], TEKEL [Heb: weighed], UPHARSIN [Heb: divided]. This is the interpretation of the thing: MENE; God hath numbered thy kingdom, and finished it. TEKEL; Thou art weighed in the balances, and art found wanting. PERES; Thy kingdom is divided, and given to the Medes and Persians [modern Iran, i.e., middle eastern countries, Moslems – Islamic nations].