Week 2 - - Keys to Spiritual Success
I. "...choose you this day whom ye will serve ... as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord." Josh 24:15
II. Text - - Daniel chapt 1
III. Background - - Keep in mind that in 722 BC Israel fell to foreign powers and God's people were carried away into exile.
Also note that Nebuchadnezzar (called the "brutal prince") was extremely vainglorious, from the 9 story statue of himself to the fact that each brick had his name carved onto them. The things he kept around him were "the best of everything".
Now the Babylonian Empire is also worth examining in this section, as we find that it is one of the oldest cultures in the Middle East (about 1850 BC). It was well known for it's advancement in knowledge and education. Such as the division of the circle (primitive geometry), and sectioning the day into hours (astronomy), as well as (architecture) The Hanging Gardens were considered one of the Ancient Wonders of the World.
Babylonian Religion worshiped the "great powers of the universe". Marduk (Bel) was the patron god of Babylon - legend tells us that he later became king of all the gods. Basically the local shrine or temple consisted of a mix of demons and evil spirits, with fortune tellers and omen casting, priests would offer sacrifices and perform rites on behalf of the believer.
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