A Bad Decree
 
        Therefore I make a decree, That every people, nation, and language, which speak any thing amiss against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, shall be cut in pieces, and their houses shall be made a dunghill: because there is no other God that can deliver after this sort.  Daniel 3:29
 
    It was right for the king to make public confession, and to seek to exalt the God of heaven above all other gods; but in endeavoring to force his subjects to make a similar confession of faith and to show similar reverence, Nebuchadnezzar was exceeding his right as a temporal sovereign.  He had no more right, either civil or moral, to threaten men with death for not worshiping God, than he had to make the decree consigning to the flames all who refused to worship the golden image.  God never compels the obedience of man.  He leaves all free to choose whom they will serve.
 
    By the deliverance of His faithful servants, the Lord declared that He takes His stand with the oppressed, and rebukes all earthly powers that rebel against the authority of Heaven.  The three Hebrews declared to the whole nation of Babylon their faith in Him whom they worshiped.  They relied on God.  In the hour of their trial they remembered the promise, "When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shall not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee" (Isaiah 43:2).  And in a marvelous manner their faith in the living Word had been honored in the sight of all.  The tidings of their wonderful deliverance were carried to many countries by the representatives of the different nations that had been invited by Nebuchadnezzar to the dedication.  Through the faithfulness of His children, God was glorified in all the earth. (Prophets and Kings, 510, 511)
 
Reflection:  History will be repeated.  All nations will be required to worship the beast of Revelation chapter thirteen.  We too must have a faith that will not falter, even under the threat of death.

The Son of God
 
        He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.  Daniel 3:25
 
    How did that heathen king know what the Son of God was like?  The Hebrew captives filling positions of trust in Babylon had in life and character represented before him the truth.  When asked for a reason of their faith, they had given it without hesitation.  Plainly and simply they had presented the principles of righteousness, thus teaching those around them of the God whom they worshiped.  They had told of Christ, the Redeemer to come; and in the form of the fourth in the midst of the fire the king recognized the Son of God.
 
    And now, his own greatness and dignity forgotten, Nebuchadnezzar descended from his throne and, going to the mouth of the furnace, cried out, "Ye servants of the most high God, come forth, and come hither."
 
    The Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego came forth before the vast multitude, showing themselves unhurt.  The presence of their Saviour had guarded them from harm, and only their fetters had been burned."  And the princes, governors, and captains, and the king's counselors, being gathered together, saw these men, upon whose bodies the fire had no power, nor was an hair of their head singed, neither were their coats changed, nor the smell of fire had passed on them." (Prophets and Kings, 509)
 
Reflection:  After this manifestation of the true God, we don't hear of the golden image ever again.  What power!

Trust in God
 
        If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king.  Daniel 3:17
 
    In vain were the king's threats.  He could not turn the men from their allegiance to the Ruler of the universe.  From the history of their fathers they had learned that disobedience to God results in dishonor, disaster, and death; and that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, the foundation of all true prosperity.  Calmly facing the furnace, they said, "O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter.  If it be so [if this is your decision], our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us out of thine hand, O king."  Their faith strengthened as they declared that God would be glorified by delivering them, and with triumphant assurance born of implicit trust in God, they added, "But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up." (Prophets and Kings, 507)
 
Reflection:  Their decision was final; they would not worship that apostate image.  These three Hebrew youth not even allow the threat of death to sway them from the right.  God was in control, and they trusted in Him.  He's in control today.  Where are you putting your trust?

The Golden Image
 
        Nebuchadnezzar the king made an image of gold, whose height was threescore cubits, and the breadth thereof six cubits: he set it up in the plain of Dura, in the province of Babylon.  Daniel 3:1
 
    The words, "Thou are this head of gold," had made a deep impression upon the ruler's mind (Verse 38).  The wise men of his realm, taking advantage of this and of his return to idolatry, proposed that he make an image similar to the one seen in his dream, and set it up where all might behold the head of gold, which had been interpreted as representing his kingdom.
 
    Pleased with the flattering suggestion, he determined to carry it out, and to go even farther.  Instead of reproducing the image as he had seen it, he would excel the original.  His image should not deteriorate in value from the head to the feet, but should be entirely of gold--symbolic throughout of Babylon as an eternal, indestructible, all-powerful kingdom, which should break in pieces all other kingdoms and stand forever.
 
    The thought of establishing the empire and a dynasty that should endure forever, appealed very strongly to the mighty ruler before whose arms the nations of earth had been unable to stand.  With an enthusiasm born of boundless ambition and selfish pride, he entered into counsel with his wise men as to how to bring this about. (Prophets and Kings, 504)
 
Reflection:  How soon we forget the providences of God!  This makes us prone to fall back into self-centered living and self-exultation.

The King's Dream
 
        And in the second year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar, Nebuchadnezzar dreamed dreams, wherewith his spirit was troubled, and his sleep brake from him.  Daniel 2:1
 
    Hundreds of years before certain nations came upon the stage of action, the Omniscient One looked down the ages and predicted the rise and fall of the universal kingdoms.  God declared to Nebuchadnezzar that the kingdom of Babylon should fall, and a second kingdom would arise, which also would have its period of trial.  Failing to exalt the true God, its glory would fade, and a third kingdom would occupy its place.  This also would pass away; and a fourth, strong as iron, would subdue the nations of the world.
 
    Had the rulers of Babylon--that richest of all earthly kingdoms--kept always before them the fear of Jehovah, they would have been given wisdom and power which would have bound them to Him and kept them strong. But they made God their refuge only when harassed and perplexed.  At such times, failing to find help in their great men, they sought it from men like Daniel--men who they knew honored the living God and were honored by Him.  To these men they appealed to unravel the mysteries of Providence; for though the rulers of proud Babylon were men of the highest intellect, they had separated themselves so far from God by transgression that they could not understand the revelations and the warnings given them concerning the future (Prophets and Kings, 501)
 
Reflection:  What led to Babylon's fall?  It was their pride and independence from God.  The fear of the Lord no longer had a place in their hearts.  If we don't keep the fear of the Lord in our hearts, we'll fall too.

Results of Temperance
 
        But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself 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 himself.  Daniel 1:8
 
    Daniel and his associates had been trained by their parents to habits of strict temperance.  They had been taught that God would hold them accountable for their capabilities, and that they must never dwarf or enfeeble their powers.  This education was to Daniel and his companions the means of their preservation amidst the demoralizing influence of the court of Babylon.  Strong were the temptations surrounding them in that corrupt and luxurious court, but they remained uncontaminated.  No power, no influence, could sway them from the principles they had learned in early life by a study of the word and works of God.
 
    Had Daniel so desired, he might have found in his surroundings a plausible excuse for departure from strictly temperate habits.  He might have argued that, dependent as he was on the king's favor and subject to his power, there was no other course for him to pursue than to eat of the king's food and drink of his wine; for should he adhere to the divine teaching, he would offend the king and probably lose his position and his life. (Prophets and Kings, 482)
 
Reflection:  These faithful four chose to remain true to God in every circumstance and trial.  They reasoned that any compromise here would weaken their resolve and ability to distinguish between right and wrong.  This story should encourage each one of us to stand for a "Thus saith the Lord."  Today, let us not bend to any kind of peer pressure.

Daniel Taken to Babylon
 
        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.  Daniel 1:4
 
    Among the children of Israel who were carried captive to Babylon at the beginning of the seventy years' captivity were Christian patriots, men who were as true as steel to principle, who would not be corrupted by selfishness, but who would honor God at the loss of all things.  In the land of their captivity these men were to carry out God's purpose by giving to heathen nations the blessings that come through a knowledge of Jehovah.  They were to be His representatives. Never were they to compromise with idolaters; their faith and their name as worshipers of the living God they were to bear as a high honor.  And this they did.  In prosperity and adversity they honored God, and God honored them.
 
    The fact that these men, worshipers of Jehovah, were captives in Babylon, and that the vessels of God's house had been placed in the Temple of the Babylonish gods, was boastfully cited by the victors as evidence that their religion and customs were superior to the religion and customs of the Hebrews.  Yet through the very humiliations that Israel's departure from Him had invited, God gave Babylon evidence of His supremacy, of the holiness of His requirements, and of the sure results of obedience. And this testimony He gave, as alone it could be given, through those who were loyal to Him. (Prophets and Kings, 479)
 
Reflection:  Among those taken to Babylon were Daniel and his three Hebrew friends.  Though God's people--who were also taken captive--chose to steep themselves in the customs of Babylon, these four stood firm for the Lord; and thus God was glorified and blessed them.

A New Heart
 
        A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.  Ezekiel 36:26
 
    You feel that sin has separated you from God, that you are in bondage to the power of evil.  The more you struggle to escape, the more you realize your helplessness.  Your motives are impure; your heart is unclean.  You see that your life has bee filled with selfishness and sin.  You long to be forgiven, to be cleansed, to be set free.  Harmony with God, likeness to Him--what can you do to obtain it?
 
    It is peace that you need--Heaven's forgiveness and peace and love in the soul.  Money cannot but it, intellect cannot procure it, wisdom cannot attain to it; you can never hope, by your own efforts, to secure it.  But God offers it to you as a gift, "without money and without price" (Isaiah 55:1).  It is yours if you will but reach out your hand and grasp it.  The Lord says, "Though your sins be a scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool" (Isaiah 1:18).  "A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you" (Ezekiel 36:26). (Steps to Christ, 49)
 
Reflection:  Claim those promises today for the forgiveness, peace, and love that are offered freely.

Faithful Shepherd
 
        As a shepherd seeketh out his flock in the day that he is among his sheep that are scattered; so I will seek out my sheep, and will deliver them out of all places where they have been scattered in the cloudy and dark day.  Ezekiel 34:12
 
    The wide-spreading tablelands on the east of Jordan afforded abundant pasturage for flocks, and through the gorges and over the wooded hills had wandered many a lost sheep, to be searched for and brought back by the shepherd's care.  In the company about Jesus there were shepherds, and also men who had money invested in flocks and herds, and all could appreciate His illustration: "What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it?"...
 
    As the shepherd loves his sheep, and cannot rest if even one be missing, so, in an infinitely higher degree, does God love every outcast soul....He says, "As a shepherd seeketh out his flock in the day that he is among his sheep that are scattered; so will I seek our My sheep, and will deliver them out of all places where they have been scattered in the cloudy and dark day" (Ezekiel 34:12). (Christ's Object Lessons, 186, 187)
 
Reflection:  Jesus is looking for you today.  Will you stop to listen to His voice, and respond to His call?

Tearful Warnings
 
        And the Lord said unto him, Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and set a mark upon the foreheads of the men that sigh and that cry for all the abominations that be done in the midst thereof.  Ezekiel 9:4
 
    In the time of the end the people of God will sigh and cry for the abominations done in the land.  With tears they will warn the wicked of their danger in trampling upon the divine law, and with unutterable sorrow they will humble themselves before the Lord in penitence.  The wicked will mock their sorrow and ridicule their solemn appeals.  But the anguish and humiliation of God's people is unmistakable evidence that they are regaining the strength and nobility of character lost in consequence of sin.  It is because they are drawing nearer to Christ, because their eyes are fixed on His perfect purity, that they discern so clearly the exceeding sinfulness of sin.  Meekness and lowliness are the conditions of success and victory.  A crown of glory awaits those who bow at the foot of the cross.
 
    God's faithful, praying ones are, as it were, shut in with Him.  They themselves know not how securely they are shielded.  Urged on by Satan, the rulers of this world are seeking to destroy them; but could the eyes of God's children be opened as were the eyes of Elisha's servant at Dothan, they would see angels of God encamped about them, holding in check the hosts of darkness. (Prophets and Kings, 590)
 
Reflection:  Are you crying, and sighing for what is going on around us today?  Our eyes will see things as they really are as we fix our eyes upon His perfect purity.  Today we can experience closeness to Christ.  When trials come, look to Jesus for help.