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THE TRUE HIGHER EDUCATION STANDS THE TEST IN BABYLON

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Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Mar 6, 1900

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 77, No. 10.

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THE TRUE HIGHER EDUCATION STANDS THE TEST IN BABYLON.

By William Warren Prescott

Daniel and his companions are now students in the schools of Babylon, but not by their own choice. In his providence the Lord has brought them to Babylon, that as loyal subjects of his kingdom they may impart the knowledge of him, the only true knowledge, to the heathen world. They have been chosen to be witnesses in their own experiences to the superiority of the kingdom of God over the kingdom of the world.
By the test through which they have passed in the matter of eating and drinking, convincing testimony has been borne that the provision which the King of heaven has made for imparting life and health to his children is better than that which the king of Babylon has substituted for it; and this experience has far-reaching consequences. Following the divine plan in their diet not only results in their appearing “fairer and fatter in flesh” than the others, but also in giving them clearness and power of mind.
When the system is nourished with simple food, and the brain is not beclouded with the poisons that are either introduced into the body or formed within it by a gross diet, then the way is prepared for the life of God to reveal itself unhindered in its own living temple, and thus to make manifest the divine attributes, the glory of God. Thus it was when “the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father), full of grace and truth.” And as these young men recognized and maintained their standing in the kingdom of heaven although they were captives in the kingdom of Babylon, the King of heaven recognized them, and bestowed upon them the privileges of the kingdom.
“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.”
The divine way of imparting knowledge and wisdom is clearly set forth through the words of Solomon: “My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and hide my commandments with thee; so that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding; yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding; if thou seekest for her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures; then shalt thou understand the fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God. For the Lord giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding.” Prov. 2:1–6.
To be in direct communication with the source of all wisdom is not intended to be a substitute for earnest application, but rather an incentive to it. As in the natural world, so it is in the intellectual. “These all wait upon thee; that thou mayest give them their meat in due season. That thou givest them they gather.” Ps. 104:27, 28. But the gathering involves the preparation of the soil, the sowing and the care of the growing crop. It is a law of the kingdom that every result must grow out of some definite effort. It is thus that we co-operate with God in receiving that which he gives. There is no room for idlers in the kingdom of God. “My Father worketh hitherto, and I work,” said Jesus; and every true son of the King will bear the same testimony.
The knowledge that God gives is the knowledge of the truth, that which is real and enduring, as opposed to that which only appears to be, and soon passes away. In other words, he imparts a knowledge of the laws and principles of the heavenly and eternal kingdom, and makes known the reality, which lies behind all observed facts and phenomena.This brings man into direct touch with the divine mind, and gives him a clear view of the great King as he administers the affairs of his universal kingdom. “For the invisible things of him since the creation of the world are clearly seen, being perceived through the things that are made, even his everlasting power and divinity.” Rom. 1:20, R. V.
It is sin which has cast a shadow over the face of nature, and drawn a veil over the mind of man, so that he does not recognize the Master Workman in and through his works. But “blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.” Faith is therefore the key to all true knowledge, since it is through faith that the heart is purified (Acts 15:9), and “through faith we understand.” That same faith in God and the principles of his kingdom which was shown by Daniel and his companions in their test over the question of eating and drinking, prepared the way for them to receive the gift of knowledge, and is also the key that unlocks the treasure-house itself.
“Now at the end of the days that the king had said he should bring them in, then the prince of the eunuchs brought them in before Nebuchadnezzar. And the king communed with them; and among them all was found none like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah: therefore stood they before the king. And in all matters of wisdom and understanding, that the king inquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers that were in all his realm.”
In the experience of these four children the gospel of the kingdom of God was being preached in the courts of Babylon. It was being clearly demonstrated that the principles of the heavenly kingdom are superior to those of the kingdom of the world. First it was the matter of diet: and those who followed God’s bill of fare, as given to man in the beginning, gave every evidence of being in better health than those who preferred the Babylonish diet.
Next it was the question of the best education and how to obtain it, and the king of Babylon was himself allowed to be the judge. This really resolved itself into a question between the true and the false religion; between the God of heaven and the gods of the heathen; for the magicians and the astrologers claimed to have communion with “the gods,” and thus to have access to a source of wisdom that was not available for ordinary mortals.
These Hebrew captives, being citizens of the heavenly kingdom, and recognizing God as their wisdom, were by his Spirit guided into all truth. Through their faithfulness to the commandments of the true God, they experienced the fulfillment of the words spoken so long before: “Keep therefore and do them; for this is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the nations.” Deut. 4:6. This wisdom is that righteousness by faith which enables one to do the right thing in the right way and at the right time. It is a practical wisdom, and applies to the whole conduct of life. And in this case, as always, it was found to be “ten times better” than the wisdom of this world.
Daniel and his fellows are now classed among “the wise men,” and stand before the king. The wisdom that comes from above, and the truth that makes free, have brought them to this position, that they may make known to the king the knowledge of the true God. The kingdom of God, which is within them, will reveal itself. It can not be hidden. Through them the gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world for a witness.
Men are asking to-day, What is the true higher education? The answer is found in this experience in Babylon. “For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God.” “Therefore let no man glory in men.” That is the true higher education which imparts the knowledge of the Most High, and makes one familiar with the principles of the higher, the heavenly, kingdom. Such an education will stand the test of time and eternity. “And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.” “Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding.” This is the lesson from the experience of Daniel and his companions.
“And Daniel continued even unto the first year of king Cyrus.” The significance of this brief statement is appreciated when we consider the lesson of Daniel’s life. One question to be answered by the teaching of this book is, What kingdom will stand? It is answered by the facts of experience here recorded, and not by a theoretical deduction from an abstract statement of principles. Babylon was the outward kingdom, the visible, having universal dominion, and every prospect of enduring for ages. It had apparently triumphed over the kingdom of God; for Jerusalem had been conquered by it, and “part of the vessels of the house of God” had been brought to Babylon, and were displayed in triumph in the house of the god of the heathen king. But Jerusalem fell because the people had already fallen, and the kingdom of God was no longer within them. There were some faithful ones still left, however, and Daniel was among them. Although a captive in Babylon, he was a living representative of the kingdom of God. In his own experience was to be preached the everlasting gospel of the kingdom that “shall stand forever.” And so Babylon, “the glory of kingdoms, the beauty of the Chaldees’ excellency,” fell to rise no more; but “Daniel continued.”
It will be seen, however, in the sequel, that although Babylon, the outward kingdom, passed away many centuries ago, the real Babylon is still here, and the same questions are pressing for a settlement. Who will yield to the principles of the kingdom of God as opposed to the kingdom of Babylon, acknowledge the kingdom of God to be within him, and so continue not merely “unto the first year of king Cyrus,” but to the first, the eternal, year of that One greater than Cyrus, and of whom Cyrus was a type. Isa. 44:28; Zech. 6:12, 13; Isa. 45:13; 49:24–26. “The world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth forever.”
W. W. P.