#79 -- Gospel and Spiritual Growth

Valley – March 2, 2003 p.m.

THE INVOLVEMENT OF THE SECULAR EDUCATION OF THE WORLD SYSTEM IN BABYLON

This message material evaluates secular education in Babylon during the era of Daniel. There are some interesting elements of education in the world system evident in the book of Daniel. Secular education often pursues the best and the brightest within its own country and then from any element of civilization from which it might gain the best and brightest. Most often secular education in the world system has been designed to provide personnel for its governments and its religions almost to the exclusion of supporting its other elements. Levels of education contribute to specialty fields with specific purposes that support the system and its goals. Babylon quickly developed an elitist educated class that had its own strata of value and importance. Babylonian civilization was built on the accumulation of knowledge that was expanded by a written record and an educated element in its society.

Daniel one describes the Babylonian practice of bringing captured foreign intellectuals into its educational system to give educated support of the kingdom. This practice took leaders from conquered lands and peoples preventing their leadership at home and incorporating their skills in support of the Babylon culture and government. Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah were taken from the sons of Israel, from the royal seed and from among the nobles of Judah. They looked good (1:4) and had the ability to communicate knowledge and to understand that knowledge. They were capable of standing in the court of the king. The Babylonians took them with the purpose of teaching them the learning or book of the Chaldeans who were a high level of intellectuals in the system. Furthermore they were taught the language or tongue of the Chaldeans. The Babylonians made these young men eunuchs emasculating them removing distractions from learning and serving. Hezekiah had received the prediction that his seed would be made eunuchs by a foreign power (Isa. 39:7). The Jewish royals were placed under the officers in charge of the eunuchs to be trained and prepared for Babylonian secular education. The world system will use any means to accomplish its goals and objectives. It is pragmatic in doing whatever is necessary to attain its ends. Elohim gave the four Jews knowledge and prudence in all learning and wisdom (Dan. 1:17). In addition Daniel had understanding of every vision and all dreams. These four men were ten times better than the magicians and astrologers of Babylon. These were among the intellectuals who were involved both government and religion in the world system and its manifestations in Babylon. Some have used Daniel one to teach that believers always win. Just because a believer is a believer doesn't make him or her the best of the best in the world system. This is especially true of Christians because Christ said that the world would hate believers as they hated Him.

Daniel two describes the test of the Babylonians by Nebuchadnezzar's image dream. Four specialists of Babylonian learning are listed in Daniel 2:2. Daniel reveals two tiers of government in Babylon: intellectual advisors and civil leaders. III. C. lists these four (magicians, astrologers, sorcerers and Chaldeans) adding the soothsayers in 2:27. Also is listed the general category of "wise men." All passages referring to these in Hebrew and Aramaic in Daniel are noted in the outline. "Magician" is a term that comes from a root that means, "dig, engrave, inscribe, act as a scribe." The same term was used in Genesis and Exodus of intellectuals in Pharaoh's court. "Astrologers" were enchanters who attempted to determine the future by a variety of means. "Sorcerer" comes from a root that means to murmur or mutter. These used incantations and witchcraft to mark decisions. The Septuagint translates this pharmakeia which is the word for the work of the flesh that we define as "religious superstitious awe." The Chaldeans were a class of intellectuals that had ancient antecedents and great intellectual traditions. "Soothsayer" was one who cut or divided out decisions determining results or deciding solutions. These told futures and fortunes by a diversity of means.

The general category of "wise men" is an Aramaic term though the Hebrew also describes wise men throughout the Old Testament. These were learned ones or scholars in the world system. There is some discussion concerning what this general category involved. Generally these are identified as sages, scholars and ones learned in the occult.

When Nebuchadnezzar dreamed the tree dream, he summoned four of these groups (magicians, astrologers, Chaldeans and soothsayers) to give him an interpretation of the dream and they failed (4:7). Daniel was able to provide the interpretation surpassing all of the wise men of Babylon. Nebuchadnezzar saw Daniel as superior because of spirit of the holy gods was with him (4:18). The levels of specialized educated men are mentioned.

Belshazzar was the last king of Babylon (Dan. 5). He was a co-regent. He held the drunken feast for his nobles using the vessels from the temple in Jerusalem that were in his treasury. The fingers of a man's hand appeared on the white wall before a light and wrote. This scared the drunken king substantially. He called for the astrologers, Chaldeans and soothsayers to read the writing and to interpret it for him (5:7, 15). They failed and Daniel was summoned and read and interpreted the writing which predicted the fall of Babylon. The city fell before the Persians and Medes that very night. The levels of educated men in Babylon are evident and a hint of the great responsibilities is evident in the book.

The education of the world system is often built upon pragmatism – if it works that is all that counts whether it is right or wrong. This is evident in taking the best of the captives of Judah, making them eunuchs, training them and placing them at the service of the court. Evidently one of the reasons for this was to prevent internal rebellion that had plagued the Babylonians earlier from their own indigenous leadership. The secular educational system primarily supported government. It was also involved with religion and other elements of the world system. Every phase of the world system uses secular education for its own purposes to perpetuate its own success. The Empire was at its pinnacle of glory when Daniel and his friends arrived. Their presence further supported the development of the Empire using its own system of education with Jehovah's help. Most of their lives were devoted to using their education to serve the government of Babylon.

In the world system but not of it,

DKS

THE INVOLVEMENT OF THE SECULAR EDUCATION OF THE WORLD SYSTEM IN BABYLON

1 John 2:15, 16

Proposition: To show the manifestation of secular education as presented in the book of Daniel and its mechanisms for the support of Babylon's role in the world system.

Introduction

A. An Element of Secular Education Revealed in Daniel

1. Education of Selected Peoples for Education

2. Education of Captive Peoples for Specific Education

B. An Emphasis on Educated Service in the World System

C. An Expansion of Education to Several Levels

D. The Establishment of an Educational Elite

E. The Standard for Defining Civilization

TRANS: In Daniel one the Babylonians chose certain, selected Jews to be educated by Babylonian standards to serve in the kingdom of Babylon. These were made eunuchs and trained in the house of eunuchs for governmental service as educated foreign intellectuals.

I. THE EMPLOYMENT OF FOREIGN INTELLECTUALS TO ENHANCE THE WORLD SYSTEM BY BABYLON – EDUCATING EXILED JEWS TO WORK IN BABYLON – SELECTIVE PROGRAM FOR TRAINING FOREIGNERS TO FUNCATION IN THE ADMINIATRATION OF THE WORLD SYSTEM IN BABYLON -- Daniel 1

A. The Prerequisites for Special Secular Education – 1:3, 4a

1. Birth: "from" (!mi)

a. From Sons of Israel

b. From the Seed of the King

c. From the Nobles

2. Appearance: Born Ones in Whom

a. There Is Not Blemish

b. Good Ones for Sight (or vision)

3. Ability: Skill (or Prudence) in All Wisdom

a. One's Causing

b. Knowing Knowledge

c. Causing the Understand Knowledge

4. Potential: Strength in Them to Stand in the King's Palace

The world system will take advantage of anything that promotes itself and its programs.

B. The Plan for Instruction by Secular Education – 1:4b

1. The Purpose to Teach the Learning (or Book) of the Chaldeans

2. The Purpose to Teach the Language of the Chaldeans

C. The Program Under the Master or the Eunuchs – 1:3, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 18

1. The Prediction by Hezekiah – Isaiah 39:7

2. The Condition

The world system will use any means to obtain an end = pragmatism.

D. The Provision of Special Abilities by Jehovah – 1:17

1. Given Knowledge and Prudence in All Learning/Book and Wisdom

2. Daniel Had Understanding of Every Vision and All Dreams

E. The Passing of the Final Exams Before Nebuchadnezzar – 1:20

1. In Every Matter of Wisdom of Understanding Ten Times Better

2. Than All of the Magicians and Astrologers in His Kingdom

a. Magicians – ~yMijur.x; (chsrtumeem) -- 1:20; 2:2 [Aram. 2:10, 27; 4:7; 5:11]

b. Astrologers – ~ypiV'a;' (ashahfeem) -- 1:20; 2:2

TRANS: Secular education provides leaders in the government and educational institutions of the world system. This is very much evident in Daniel two where Nebuchanezzar turned to his educated intelligentsia for help.

II. THE EXPOSURE OF SECULAR EDUCATION BY NEBUCHADNEZZAR'S DREAM – CHALLENGING BABYLON'S BEST EDUCATED BY THE DREAM FROM JEHOVAH – ROYAL PRESSURE ON THE EDUCATED ADVISORS TO THE KING OF BABYLON – Daniel 2

A. The Religious Premise for the Advisors

B. The King's Purpose for Summoning the Advisors – 2:2

C. The Proposition of the Chaldeans to Nebuchadnezzar – 2:4

D. The King's Promises to the Chaldeans – 2:5, 6

E. The Problem of the Education of the World System with Dreams – 2:10, 11

1. Impossible

2. Unfair

3. Too Hard

F. The Provocation of the King and the Death Order – 2:12, 13, 24

G. The Power to Reveal Is Absent Among the Educated Leaders – 2:27, 28

H. The Position of the Best Wise Man Over Government – 2:47, 48

1. Of the Province of Babylon

2. Of the Prefects of Babylon

TRANS: The levels of education evidenced in the great wise men in Nebuchadnezzar's court has direct religious connections. They are trained men who are primary advisors to the king. They are the best of the best of educated men in Babylon handling the affairs of state for the king.

III. THE EVIDENCE OF THE LINK OF SECULAR EDUCATION TO RELIGION – CONNECTING THE BEST EDUCATED TO SECULAR RELIGIOUS PREMISES – SOCIETAL PROGRAM FOR THYES OF EDUCATION IN THE WORLD SYSTEM IN BABYLON PRESENTED IN DANIEL

A. The Institutions Providing Specialists in Learning – Dan. 2:2

B. The Identity of Tiers of Government in Babylon

1. The Intellectual Advisors

2. The Civil Leaders

C. The Involvement of Levels Educated Advisors to the King – 2:2

1. Magicians ~yMijur.x; (chsrtumeem) -- 1:20; 2:2 [Aram. 2:10, 27; 4:7, 9;

5:11]

2. Astrologers – ~ypiV'a;' (ashahfeem) -- 1:20; 2:2 [Aram. 2:10, 27; 4:7; 5:7, 11, 15]

3. Sorcerers – ~ypiV.K;m. (mekashfeem) -- 2:2 (cf. Ex. 7:11; 22:18; Deut. 8:10; 2 Chron. 33:6; Mal 3:5)

4. Chaldeans – ~yDif.K; (kasdeem) -- 1:4; 2:2, 4; 9:1 [Aram. 2:5, 10, 3:8; 4:7; 5:7, 30]

5. "Soothsayers" – aY"r;z>G" (gahzrayah) [Aram.] – 2:27, 34, 45; 4:7; 5:7, 11

6. The General Category of "Wise Men" – ~yKix;' (chakim) [Aram.] – 2:12, 13, 14, 18, 21, 24, 27, 48; 4:6, 18; 5:7, 8, 15 (cf. Heb. Dan. 1:4, 17, 20 – adj.)

7. The Involvement of the Educated Wise Men in the Kingdom of Babylon

a. By Nebuchadnezzar in the Image Dream – Dan. 2

b. By Nebuchadnezzar in the Tree Dream – Dan. 4 (vss. 7, 18)

c. By Belshazzar at the Handwriting on the Wall – Dan. 5 (vss. 7, 15)

TRANS: There are some interesting things that we can learn from these accounts that relate to the secular education of the worlds system in these passages of Scripture. Secular education serves the rest of the system to maintain and to support every part of the world system.

IV. THE PRACTICAL DEMONSTRATION OF SECULAR EDUCATION IN THE WORLD SYSTEM FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT: DESCRIBING THE VIEW OF SECULAR EDUCATION IN EGYPT AND BABYLON – THE EVIDENCE OF THE USE OF EDUCATION IN SUPPORT OF THE WORLD SYSTEM IN BIBLICAL HISTORY

A. Built Upon a World System Pragmatism

B. Built to Support All of the Elements of the World System

1. Human Religion Uses Education for Its Own Objectives

2. Human Government Uses Education for Its Own Objectives

3. Human Commerce and Industry Use Education for Their Own Objectives

4. Human Entertainment Uses Education for Its Own Objectives

5. Senseless Warfare Uses Education for Its Own Objectives

TRANS: The world system in Babylon took full advantage of secular education of both its own people and that of those captive peoples. In the short lived rule of Babylon there was an immediate need for educated persons to help develop all of the elements of the world system for Babylonian civilization to reach its glory.

Valley Baptist Church

P. O. Box 99, Gaston, OR 97119