The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1899-07-12
HEBREWS IN FIERY FURNACE
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3iIl-.s-Mcmory verses, I1-Is.

| !
| GOLDEN TENT.--Ou God whom We
serve is able to deliver us-pan. ali.
READ the entire chapter
LIGHT FROM OTHER SCRIPTURES
Examples u pcIlverance. Joseph, Noah.
Hezckah. Peter. Paul and Heb li.S2-IO.
Rev. 5.it-i1 Promises lisa. 432; psa.
80. t6l; 9l.i-i6 ZCch. 1879. Cor tl7-lS;
rom sl7: Jas. i.2.3,l2, let ~. II2-lL
PLACE IN BIBLE HISTORY aft.
Or the conquests described IN Kings
kl-2i; Chron. S6ii-:i. Jer. SAL; S9I-lS
| PROPHETS - jeremiah at Jerusalem.
Ezekiel who lived by the river Chebar. In
esbylonia, perhaps the royal car8l from
| the Euphratcs TO the Tigris. ~ miles from
Babylon. Daniel IN Babylon.
| TIME.-The date Is uncertain, but prob
ably between $3.50 n. c.. soon after the
destruction OF Jerusalem by Nebuchad.
| aczzar, and the completion Of his con-
quests over most Of the then known world
PLACE.-Thc plain OF pura, within the
limits Of Babylon. where mound Of brick
" feet high now cXists.w hich Oppert thinks
vas probably the pedestal Of this colossal
image, 50 scribner's Dictionary OF Bible.
LESS
RULERS. 90 Nebuchadnczzar, king OF
Babylon (doi-56D. Zciokidh. last king Of
Judah. Pharaoh Hophra, king ~ Egypt.
The seven wise men OF Greece (SolCn. etC)
flourish at this period.
EXPLANATORY.
Introductory Ncbuchadnczzar had
just returned from triumphant cam.
paign against his enemies in the west
and south-against Egypt, Syria, aud
Arabia-aud he celebrates his return
by the erection of colossal image aud
a 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 Rel
said, in Bel and the Dragon (v. -, to
have been OF clay within and brass out
side Apocrypha. observation-disclosures
like other dcspots who suffer from the
vertigo Of autocracy, was liable to sud
den outbursts OF almost spasmudic fury.
We read OF such storms Of rage in the
case Of Antiochus Epiphunes, Of Nero.
of Nalentinian l.. and even of Thcodo-
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.
/. The Faithful Three Arraigned Re
fore the King VS.. 1919. -. lis il
true?" Is it Of purpose? Did you In.
tend TO refuse my command, or was il a
misunderstanding that can bc passed
over? Y. rs. I'VE are not careful" Old
English for anxious, solicitous. X. v,
We have no need. U) Because it would
be useless to reply to the king IN his
present temper. They could not change
him. 60 Their actions had answered
him already. CD Their minds were
made up. aud nothing could change
them. Y. 10. "Nebuchadnezzar fun
of fury" so that his ',iSage was
changed with his passionate excite.
ment.
IL. In the Fiery Furnace.-Ns. 1926.
Heat the furnace one seven times
more:" Expressing the fierceness of
the fury burning in his heart, and rem
dering it impossible that any could be
rescued from such flames. The fact is
mentioned 20 show the greatness Of the
deliyerance that followed. Y. 81.
Bound in their coats, etc. "lIcrodotus
describes the Babylonians as wearing a
long undergarment or shirt of linen,
which reached down TO the feet. Over
this they wore a wooden gown or tunic.
shorter than the other that's in \. w
and short hood or cape over their head
and shoulders. This descriptions is eX-
actly borne out by the sculptures on the
monuments. Goats are the long I'M
dergarment; 'hosen' is the cape that
was thrown over the head and shout
ders for protection from the sun, and
bound round the head with fillet, eN-
actly as TO this day the Bedawee and
Syrians wear the kefieh of silken or
wooden stuff, and fasten il round the
head with camel's- hair cord. canon
rristram.
V. 25. The fourth Is like the Son of
God:" AS the article is wanting in the
sacred text. il is more correct TO read a
son of the gods las in r. W 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 the angel OF
the Lord" at various times appeared 20
the Old Testament saints. lie il is who
Aii'i. " i'AiAi ~ WHY NV ihihhN W
life into which His servants are thrown.
III. The Deliyerance.-Ns. 2G-2s. &C.
"Come forth, and come hithcr;" Neb-
uchadnczzar makes sure that what he
sees is real, and not mere vision. V.
p. "The princes =. saw these mem"
The deliyerance was blic,unmistak.
able, and proved by many Witnesses. V.
2s. blessed be the God of Shadrach:"
etc. The king recognized the power Of
the Jews God, and Ills readiness 20
defend those who obcycd Him. The
miracle would make such N impression
on the princes and people that the king
could more easily treat the Jews more
kindly. The effect on the cXiles was
also good. II would enrich their faith;
il hell before them noble examples; II
would enable them TO realize the power
and goodness Of God; 1t 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
II raised them TO higher place among
the people. and enabled them TO serve
their God with less opposition and per.
cagufloV