The Oakes times., 1911-09-14
SUNDAY SCHOOL.

Lesson XIl.-Third Quarter, For
Sept. II, 1911.
THE INTERNATIONAL SERIES.
Text Of the Lesson, Dan. iii, 1928.
Memory Verses, II, 1e-Golden Text,
Heb. xiii, documentary Prepared
by Rev. D. M. stearns.
The first chapter ended with Daniel
continuing. Many begin well who do
not so continue, but one mark Of a
true disciple is patient continuance
u Cor. xv, 5s). The second chapter
ends with Daniel promoted to be a
great man, ruler over the whole prov
ince of Babylon and chief of the gov
ernors over all the wise men Of Baby
lon. He also sat in the gate Of the
king, but we may be sure that he was
there for the Lord God of Israel rather
than for the king Of Babylon. In his
high position he did not forget bis
three friends, but by his request they
also were set over the affairs Of the
province Of Babylon Chapter ii, 4s, 49).
The vision granted to the king of
Babylon and the part of the interpre-
tation which said "Thou art this head
Of gold" seem to have affected him
more than the words ''The God of
heaven hath given thee a kingdom"
iii, 81, 3S), and so he caused to be made
great image all of gold and set it
up in the plain of Dura and gathered
all his rulers and great men to the
dedication of this image.
There are in this chapter ten refer
ences to this image, as made or set up
by the king, that all people might fall
down and worship 1t. The penalty for
disobedience was to be cast into
burning fiery furnace (verse g.. The
importance of this man in his own es-
timation is seen also in chapter tv, 80,
in the words. ''Is not this great Baby
lon that I have built by the
might OF my power and for the honor
of my majesty" He is strikangly sug-
gestive of one soon to come who will
cause to be made an image that can
speak and who will kill all who will
not worship his image and prevent all
from doing business who have not his
marx (Rev. xiii, lid.
His thought and manner Of conduct
are seen In such words as these: 81
will ascend above the heights of the
clouds. I will be like the Most High"
"He shall exalt himself and magnify
himself above every god and shall
speak marvellous things against the
God OF gods" "Who opposeth and
exalteth himself above all that Is call
ed God or that is worshiped SO that
he, as God, sitteth in the temple Of
God, showing himself that he is God''
'Qsa. xiv, IA; Dan. II, SO; II Thess. a,
~.
The end Of this trio via be not a
furnace of fire, but the lake which
burnefh with fire and birthstone and
torment forever (Rev. xix, 10, 20: xx,
10Y. See the contrast in the future of
those who worship Him and those who
will rather die than worship Him
Grew. xiv, oil; xv, 2-N. Oh, for grace
to stand as did the friends of Daniel
and bow down to nothing that any
man set up, whether Of doctrine or
good works or any scheme that is not
of God.
Judging from verses 3 and z, there
must have been an immense company
Of people and a most magnificent and
imposing celebration at the dedication
Of this image. It might be said that
the like Of it was never seen on earth
before. In a sense, all the world gath
cred to honor the world ruler. Had
Daniels friends not been Jews and
not occupying SO high position in the
kingdom, Verse 12) they might pos
sibly not have been noticed, but there
were envy and jealousy enough abroad
to cause them to be keenly watched.
The rage and fury Of the king were
very great when he learned that any
one had refused to bow to his image
but when his offer Of second oppor-
tunity was rejected with the words
"Be it known unto thee, o king, that
we will not serve thy gods nor wor-
ship the golden image which thou hast
set up, then his fury knew no bounds,
and quickly were these three men of
God cast into the burning fiery fur
mace (verses IS, 1929. Note their
splendid confidence in God in the
words "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" (verse 10.
It is not His pleasure always to save
us from trials and prosecutions. On
the contrary, we are taught to expect
these things, but all in order that He
may be seen and glorified in us John
xvi, 33: Phil. i, 20; Matt. W. See in
their case literal fulfilment Of Isa.
xliii, 2, and, though the fire slew the
men who cast them into the furnace.
they walked about in it unharmed.
The fire had no power upon their bod
les, nor was hair Of their heads
singed, nor the smell Of fire
had passed on them, because they
trusted In God (verses 27, 28).
There was one with them whom
even the king could see one who is
the same yesterday, today and forever,
who has all power in. heaven and on
earth and who will be with His people
in every trial and not suffer any to be
tried beyond grace given to bear 1t.
He was seen that day only in the fur
mace, and when He permits us to en-
ter some furnace 1t is in order that
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