Willmar tribune., 1899-07-12
HEBREWS IN FIERY FURNACE.
international sunday school Lesson
+: for July &c, 1899 Text, Daniel
3s14-2s-MemoryVe Verses, 1U-1S.

~SA7.0O-D@AS~AA AS~AAAVEy3vC10C0S AOSAcs
Especially Adapted from Peloubet's Notes.l
+ GOLDEN TExT.-Our God whom we
READ the entire chapter.
LIGHT FROM OTHER SCRIPTURES.
Examples Of Deliverance.-Joseph, Noah,
Rev. 7:14-17. Promises.-Isa. 1872; Psa.
1884; 46:l; s1:1-16; Zech. 1879; 2 Cor. 4:17-1S;
Rom. S:17; Jas. 1:2.3,12; Pet. II; 4:12-14
PLACE IN BIBLE H1STORY.-Soon aft
er the conQuests described In Kings
25:l-24; 2 Chron. 36:11-21; Jer. 34:1; 39:1-1S
PROPHETS. - jeremiah at Jerusalem.
Ezekiel who lived by the river Chebar, in
Babylonia, perhaps the royal canal from
the Euphrates to the Tigris, 30 miles from
Babylon. Daniel in Babylon.
TIME.-The date is uncertain, but prob
ably between $3.50 B. c., soon after the
destruction of Jerusalem by Nebuchad
nezzar. and the completion of his con-
quests over most Of the then known world.
PLACE.-The plain Of Dura. within the
limits of Babylon, where 4 mound Of brick
20 feet high now exists, which Oppert thinks
was probably the pedestal of this colossal
image; so Scribners Dictionary of Bible.
1898
RULERS. - NebuchadneZZar, king OF
Babylon (604-561). Zedekiah, last king of
judah. Pharaoh Hophra, king of Egypt.
The seven wise men Of Greece (Solon. etc.,
flourish at this period.
EXPLANATORY.
lntroductory.-Nebu had
just returned from triumphant cam.
paign against his enemies in the west
and south-against Egypt, Syria, and
Arabia-and he celebrates his return
by the erection of a colossal image and
grand religious festival. The image
was made OF gold, probably not of solid
gold, but of wood or clay covered with
plates of gold. The great image of Bel
is said, in Bel and the Dragon ". y, to
have been Of clay within and brass out
side.-Apocrypha. "Nebuchadnezzar,
like other despots who suffer from the
vertigo of autocracy, was liable to sud-
den outbursts of almost spasmodic fury.
We read of such storms of rage in the
case Of Antiochus Epiphanes, of Nero,
of Valentinian L., and even of Theodo-
sius. The double insult to himself and
to his god on the part of men to whom
he had shown such conspicuous favor
transported him out of himself."-
Farrar.
l. The Faithful Three Arraigned Be-
fore the King.-Vs. 14-19. IA. us it
true?" Is it of purpose? Did you in
tend to refuse my command, or was it a
misunderstanding that can be passed
over? V: 16. I'VE are not careful" Old
English for anxious, solicitous. X. ",
We have no need. () Because it would
be useless to reply to the king in bis
present temper. They could not change
him. (2) Their actions had answered
him already. (3) Their minds were
made up, and nothing could change
them. V. 10. Observation-Disclosures full
of fury" so that his "visage was
changed'' with his passionate excite
ment.
IL. In the Fiery Furnace-Vs. 1925,
Heat the furnace one seven times
more:" Expressing the ferceness of
the fury burning in his heart, and rem
dering it impossible that any could be
rescued from such flames. The fact is
mentioned to show the greatness of the
deliverance that followed. V. 21
Bound in their COATS" etc. 'Herodotus
describes the Babylonians as wearing a
long undergarment or shirt of linen,
which reached down to the feet. Over
this they wore aSwoolen gown, or tun;c
shorter than the other (hats in A. VIZ
and short hood or cape over their head
and shoulders. This description is ex.
actly borne out by the sculptures on the
monuments. Goats are the long un.
dergarment; 'hosen' is the cape that
was thrown over the head and shoul-
ders for protection from the sun, and
bound round the head with fillet, ex-
actly as to this day the Bedawee and
Syrians wear the ketieh of silken or
woolen stuff, and fasten it round the
head with camel's- hair cord" ."-Canon
Tristram.
V. 25. ''The fourth is like the Son OF
God:" AS the article is wanting in the
sacred text, it is more correct to read a
son of the gods (as in R.V.) Only di.
vine being, the king knew, could live
thus in the fire himself, or preserve
others there. No doubt in reality it was
the Son of God, who, as 1.-The angel of
the Lord" at various times appeared to
the Old Testament saints. He it is who
maybe found in every fiery furnace of
life into which His servants are thrown.
III. The Deliverance.-Vs. 2G-2S. 26.
Come forth, and come hither:" Neb-
uchadnezzar makes sure that what he
sees is real, and not a mere vision. V.
~. THE princes -. saw these men,"
The deliverance was public, ,unmistak-
able, and proved by many witnesses. V.
%. BLESSED be the God of Shadrach:" !"
etc. The king recognized the power of
the Jews God, and His readiness to
defend those who obeyed Him. The
miracle would make such an impression
on the princes and people that the king
could more easily treat the Jews more
kindly. The effect on the exiles was
also good. It would enrich their faith !;
it held before them noble examples; it
would enable them to realize the power
and goodness of God; it was one of the
forces that during the exile entirely
cured them of idolatry, and prepared
them for the return and the rebuilding
OF their city and temple. Doubtless also
it raised them to higher place among
the people, and enabled them to serve
their God with less opposition and per-
secution.
PRACTICAL.
There are still erected golden images,
before which the world commands us
to bow down and worship-success,
pleasure, wealth, popularity, sinful Gus.
tom, palatable doctrines, an easy, lax