About The Lee County ledger. (Leesburg, Ga.) 1978-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 18, 2019)
The Lee County Ledger, Wednesday, December 18,2019, Page 9A Daniel In The Special to the Ledger by Gail Drake Does the Hebrew prophet Daniel have a place in our contempo rary nativity scenes, flush with shepherds, sheep, Mary, Joseph and the baby Jesus? Can a man’s legacy cast a shadow for good 600 years into the future? Daniel of lions’ den fame began as a Hebrew boy of royal descent liv ing near Jerusalem. The Babylonian Emperor laid siege to that great city around 600 B.C. and car ried thousands of slaves into captivity, including young Daniel. Some where before that long trek to Babylon, Daniel purposed in his heart that he would commit himself wholly to the God of his fathers and remain pure in every way. As a con sequence, as a teenager he was chosen to serve as an advisor in the king’s court and became known for his keen intellect and wisdom. But when his unusual skills to under stand prophetic visions and dreams came to the political forefront, King Nebuchadnezzar II promoted him to leader “over all the wise men of Babylon,” noted in Daniel 2:48. These wise men were known for their skills in astronomy and astrology. When Baby lon fell to Persian King Darius, Daniel was again appointed to leadership over the realm, which led to jealousy and his famed adventure with the lions. Throughout his career he was renown for his “excellent spirit,” his de votion to his God and his duties, his knowledge and understanding. His influ ence affected the political landscape as well as the religious leadership in the empire. The word for “wise men” in Daniel 2:48 is “magoi” and is next used in the unusual account in Matthew 2. “Now after Jesus was born in Bethle hem in Judea in the days of Herod the king, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem saying, ‘Where is he that is born King of the Jews? For we saw his star in the east and came to worship him.’” “From the east” refers to the Parthian Kingdom, centered in Persia (modern day Iran) that occupied lands due east of Judea. Scholars agree that the Greek term “magi” refers to the Persian priestly caste of Zoroastrianism. As part of their religion, these scholars were recognized worldwide for their study of the stars (astronomy) and their prophetic insights (astrol ogy) though they were strongly against sorcery. Before the days of GPS, satellites and radar, sea captains and military leaders crossed the globe by following - the stars. “And lo the star, which they saw in the east, went before them until it stood over where the young child (not newborn baby) was.. .and they rejoiced with exceeding great joy. When they came into the house (not manger), they saw the child with Mary his mother, and fell down to worship him.. .and Nativity Set? SOWEGA ELECTRIC MOTORS presented gifts: gold and frankincense and myrrh.” This dramatic scene was prophesied in detail 600 years before in Isaiah 60:5-6 “The Gentiles shall come to thee. The multitudes of camels shall cover thee, the dromedaries of Midian and Ephah, all they from Sheba shall come bring gold and incense, and they shall show forth the praises of the Lord.” The gifts are astonish ing in what they reveal about the Magi’s insights. Gold historically sym bolizes royalty, and the Magi specifically assert ed the child’s role as a king. Frankincense is an incense used by high ranking priests during ceremonial events, and these priests instinctively recognized the child’s role as a great high priest. Furthermore, the myrrh, an expensive burial ointment, indicated their understanding that this king would die in the service of his people. How did these foreign scholars from Persia have this understanding and become motivated to “traverse afar” over “field and fountain, moor and mountain, following yon der star”? Conservative scholars believe these wise men to be descen dants of Persians priests profoundly influenced by the prophet Daniel. Our Christmas scenes would look so different today without the appearance at the finale of these bright ly robed, bearded and bejeweled Magi bearing treasures and pulling camels behind them. The prophet Daniel in deed left his mark on our Nativity sets. Gail Drake practices probate, adoption, medi ation and children’s law in Lee County. She can be reached at drakelaw- firml@bellsouth.net. All Type Motors Rewinding - Repairing Single & Three Phase Travis L. 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