The Raymer enterprise., 1911-09-07
Daniels Companions
in the Fiery Furnace
LESSON TExT.-Danlel 3.
Sunday Sehoel Le.sos fsr Sspt. II, 1911
Specially Arranged for This Paper

LESSON TEXT.-Daniel
MEMORY VERSES. II, 18
GOLDEN TEXT.-"The Lord IL my
helper. and I will not fear what man
shall do unto me."-Heb. 1876.
TIME.-The septuagint account states
that the occasion was 'the organizing cit
les and countries, and all the Inhabitants
Of the earth from India to Ethiopia" and
places the date in the 18th year Of Nebu-
chadnezzar. This would put the event In
the last part Of B. c. 5S6 Immediately
after the destruction Of Jerusalem, on the
kings return to Babylon.
PLACE.-Babylon. the plain Of Dura,
somewhere In the vicinity Of the city.
PLACE IN THE HISTORY.-Jerusalem
destroyed. The Jews in captivity through
out the Babylonic empire. Daniel in the
miah In Jerusalem. King Zedekiah and
Jehoiachim captives at Babylon. Eze-
| kiel at Chebar In Babylonia.
So far as we can learn, Nebuchad-
nezzar's great assemblage Of people
from all over his empire had for Its
object the consolidation Of his whole
kingdom. He had just returned from
a triumphant campaign against his
enemies In the west and south
against Egypt. Syria and Arabia-and
he celebrated his return by the erec.
tlon Of a colossal image and grand
religious festival. The golden image
might mark the close Of period Of
conquest and inaugurate period of
peace. The victories Of peace were
to absorb the remaining half Of his
reign.
The empire was composed Of
various countries and races, diverse
from one another in disposition, char
acter and interests. They were united
by no natural affinity, but by conquest
The whole empire might easily fall
to pieces.
Nebuchadnezzar would bind thesA d.
verse elements by the power Of re
ligious worship, at common center
of one chief god over all the multitude
idols. AS the Jews were bound togeth
er by magnificent temple at theil
capital, Jerusalem, whittier all went
up to worship, so Nebuchadnezzal
would place at his capital a huge and
costly image, the glory and attraction
Of the empire. His making Babylon
a magnificent city would aid this
work. Great Notifications, towers
walls. temples, gates Of bronze, hang
Ing gardens, palaces, public buildings
Of blue, red, yellow and white, the
Tower Of the Seven Spheres, the Won
der Of Mankind palace-all these
would attract people to the capital, al
Mohammedans are drawn to Mecca.
The multitudes were gathered OF
the plain around the golden image gilt
tering and radiant in the sun. Besides
the officers in their richly colored at
tire, there was motley gathering O
tribes from every direction. All dl
versities Of speech and dress and man
ners were there.
Heradls cried aloud their proc
lamation In all languages, tina
when the bands struck their MARTA
music all the people must fall dow
and worship the golden image; "An,
whose falleth not down and worship
eth shall the same hour be cast int,
the midst of burning fiery furnace.
The bands played, and the who'll
multitude bowed their faces to th
ground. Then a strange thing tool
place; three men stood up alone, an'
were conspicuous all over the plain
like city set upon hill, by thei
unbowed forms and their splendi,
robes OF Office. These three were
Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego th
three young men who Joined with Dan
lei In refusing to deHle themselve
with the kings meat.
Then Nebuchadnezzar in his rag
and fury said: Now II ye be ready
to obey, the past will be forgiven. Blu
II 20 worship not, burning fiery ful
mace! Let the music sound. And VIII
| 10 tuut uou tuul buuil uCiiNCl yOu w
Of my hands?
The three, with truly magnihcen
and unfinching courage, appear t
have answered promptly and withou
hesitation, showing that they had care
: fully considered the subject and tina
With them 1t was 4 matter OF settle
; and intelligent principle: I'VE hav
no need to answer thee" to explai
how God could deliver them, or VIII
they must obey him. There was n
time, nor would the king undel
stand. III 1t be 80, We are cast int
the fiery furnace, In spite Of all yo
say. our God whom we serve Is abl
TO deliver u.s."
They were put into the furnac,
A writer thinks they were bound han
and foot with their own clothes. TIL
king sat watching the issue Of tn
matter. looked through the door int
the furnace, and saw sight at whic
| ho xtou outoptchnd nnL torrtaod II