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h in His power to deliver。 The act of bowing to the image was understood by all to be an act of worship。 Such homage they could render to God alone。
As the three Hebrews stood before the king； he was convinced that they possessed something the other wise men of his kingdom did not have。 They had been faithful in the performance of every duty。 He would give them another trial。 If only they would signify their willingness to unite with the multitude in worshiping the image； all would be well with them； 〃but if ye worship not；〃 he added； 〃ye shall be cast the same hour into the midst of a burning fiery furnace。〃 Then with his hand stretched upward in defiance； he demanded； 〃Who is that God that shall deliver you out of my hands？〃
In vain were the king's threats。 He could not turn the
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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。〃
The king's wrath knew no bounds。 〃Full of fury；〃 〃the form of his visage was changed against Shadrach； Meshach； and Abednego；〃 representatives of a despised and captive race。 Directing that the furnace be heated seven times hotter than its wont； he commanded the mighty men of his army to bind the worshipers of Israel's God； preparatory to summary execution。
〃Then these men were bound in their coats； their hosen； and their hats； and their other garments； and were cast into the midst of the burning fiery furnace。 Therefore because the king's commandment was urgent； and the furnace exceeding hot； the flame of the fire slew those men that took up Shadrach； Meshach； and Abednego。〃
But the Lord did not forget His own。 As His witnesses were cast into the furnace； the Saviour revealed Himself to
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them in person； and together they walked in the midst of the fire。 In the presence of the Lord of heat and cold； the flames lost their power to consume。
From his royal seat the king looked on； expecting to see the men who had defied him utterly destroyed。 But his feelings of triumph suddenly changed。 The nobles standing near saw his face grow pale as he started from the throne and looked intently into the glowing flames。 In alarm the king； turning to his lords； asked； 〃Did not we cast three men bound into the midst of the fire？ 。 。 。 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。〃
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。〃
Then 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；
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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。〃
Forgotten was the great golden image； set up with such pomp。 In the presence of the living God； men feared and trembled。 〃Blessed be the God of Shadrach； Meshach； and Abednego；〃 the humbled king was constrained to acknowledge； 〃who hath sent His angel； and delivered His servants that trusted in Him； and have changed the king's word； and yielded their bodies； that they might not serve nor worship any god； except their own God。〃
The experiences of that day led Nebuchadnezzar to issue a decree； 〃that every people； nation； and language； which speak anything amiss against the God of Shadrach； Meshach； and Abednego； shall be cut in pieces； and their houses shall be made a dunghill。〃 〃There is no other god；〃 he urged as the reason for the decree； 〃that can deliver after this sort。〃
In these and like words the king of Babylon endeavored to spread abroad before all the peoples of earth his conviction that the power and authority of the God of the Hebrews was worthy of supreme adoration。 And God was pleased with the effort of the king to show Him reverence； and to make the royal confession of allegiance as widespread as was the Babylonian realm。
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
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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
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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 shalt 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。
Important are the lessons to be learned from the experience of the Hebrew youth on the plain of Dura。 In this our day； many of God's servants； though innocent of wrongdoing； will be given over to suffer humiliation and abuse at the hands of those who； inspired by Satan； are filled with envy and religious bigotry。 Especially will the wrath of man be aroused against those who hallow the Sabbath of the fourth commandment； and at last a universal decree will denounce these as deserving of death。
The season of distress before God's people will call for a faith that will not falter。 His children must make it manifest that He is the only object of their worship； and that no consideration； not even that of life itself； can induce them to make the least concession to false worship。 To the loyal heart the commands of sinful； finite men will sink into
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insignificance beside the word of the eternal God。 Truth will be obeyed though the result be imprisonment or exile or death。
As in the days of Shadrach； Meshach； and Abednego； so in the closing period of earth's history the Lord will work mightily in behalf of those who stand steadfastly for the right。 He who walked with the Hebrew worthies in the fiery furnace will be with His followers wherever they are。 His abiding presence will comfort and sustain。 In the midst of the time of troubletrouble such as has not been since there was a nationHis chosen ones will stand unmoved。 Satan with all the hosts of evil cannot destroy the weakest of God's saints。 Angels that excel in strength will protect them； and in their behalf Jehovah will reveal Himself as a 〃God of gods；〃 able to save to the uttermost those who have put their trust in Him。
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Chapter 42
True Greatness
Exalted to the pinnacle of worldly honor； and acknowledged even by Inspiration as 〃a king of kings〃 （Ezekiel 26：7）。 Nebuchadnezzar nevertheless at times had ascribed to the favor of Jehovah the glory of h