The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1911-09-15

Lesson xII.ThiFd Quarter, For
Sept. III, 1911.
THE INTERNATIONAL SERIES.

ny rev. ~, ~. Stsarnn.
The nrst chapter ended with Daniel
continuing. Many begin well who do
not so continue, but one mark Of a
true disciple Is patient continuance
Il Cor. Nv, So. The second chapter
ends with Daniel promoted TO be d
great man. ruler over the whole prov
ince OF Babylon and chief Of the gov
errors over all the wise men of Baby
lon. He also sat in the gate Of the
king. but we may DO 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 hfs
three friends, but BY his request they
also were set over the affairs Of the
province OF Babylon Chapter II, 4s, 40).
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 1.-THE God OF
! heaven hath given thee a Kingdom
\ Oh, 81, 9S), and so he caused to be made
great image an Of gold and set IT
up in the plain OF Dura and gathered
all bis 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 ali people might fall
down and worship IT. The penalty for
disobedience was to be cast into a
burning flery furnace (verse 81. The
Importance OF this man in his own es-
timation is seen also in chapter iv, 80,
In the words, rs not this great Baby
lon that ! have built By the
might Of my power and for the honor
Of my majestyT He is strikingly sug-
gestive Of one soon to come who win
cause to be made an image that can
speak and who win kill all who viii
not worship his image and prevent all
from doing business who have not his
mark Grew. xiii, lin.
His thought and manner OF conduct
! are seen in such words as these: 81
win ascend above the heights of the
clouds. win be like the Most High. I"
"He shall exalt himself and magnify
himself above every god and shall
speak marvellous things against the
Gcd OF gods" 'TWhe opposeth and
exalteth himself above all that Is call
ed God or that q worshiped so that
he, as God. stitch In the temple of
God, showing himself that he Is Cod
1sa. XIV, IA; Dan. II, 86; III Thess. u,
81.
The end OF this trio will be not a
furnace of fire, but the lake which
burneth with FIRE and birthstone and
torment forever (Rev. xix, 10, 20; Xxx,
1O). See the contrast in the future OF
those who worship Him and those who
will ratxar die than worship Him
Rev. xiv; ell; XIV, 2-4). On, for grace
to stand dis 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 il not
Of God.
Judging from verses 8 and z, there
must have been an immense company
OF people and most magnificent and
imposing celebration at the dedication
OF this image. It might be said that
the like Of 1t was never seen on earth
before. In sense, all the world gath
cred to honor the world ruler. Had
DanieIs friends not been Jews and
not occupying so high position in the
! kingdom (verse 12l they might pos.
, sibly not have been noticed, but there
were envy and jealousy enough abroad
to cause them to be keenly watched.
II 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 hts offer Of a second oppor-
| tunfty was rejected with the words
Z BE It known unto thee o king, that
we win not serve thy gods nor wor.
! ship the golden image which thou hast
4 | 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 theiI
: splendid confidence iii God in the
words "Our God whom we, serve fl
Z able to deliver us from the burning
tiery furnace and he viii deliver M
out Of thine hand, o king" (verss III.
9l 1T Is not Ills pleasure always to save
us from trials and prosecutions. Or
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. /. 90: Matt ". See In
their case a literal fuldIment OF lisa
KILL 2, and, though the fire slew the
men who cast them into the furnace
they walked about in 1t unframed
The fire had no power upon their bod
les, nor was a hair OF their heads
ginged, = = nor the smell OF are
had passed on them. because they
trusted in God oversees ~, 81.
There was one with them whom
even the king could zee one who 1.
the same yesterday, today and forever
who has all power ia heaven and on
earth and who will be with His people
In every trial and not suffer any to b.
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 Ia In order tina
He may be seen with US or lii us.
Eze was specially seen lii JosepT
while q slave In Potiphar's house and
d prisoner unjustIy imprisoned. These
men in the furnace were wholly IN
harmed and lest only the bonds which
had bound them. Trials set us nor,
free from many things to walk witt
God. Note In verse 20 the Worldwide
cod hon0ring decree, because of kheIi
faithfulnesn, and Ii verse 90 their ows