Chapter 41—The Fiery Furnace
This chapter is based on
Daniel 3
.
The dream of the great image, opening before Nebuchadnezzar
events reaching to the close of time, had been given that he might
understand the part he was to act in the world’s history, and the relation
that his kingdom should sustain to the kingdom of heaven. In the
interpretation of the dream, he had been plainly instructed regarding
the establishment of God’s everlasting kingdom. “In the days of
these kings,” Daniel had declared, “shall the God of heaven set up a
kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not
be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all
these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever.... The dream is certain, and
the interpretation thereof sure.”
Daniel 2:44, 45
.
The king had acknowledged the power of God, saying to Daniel,
“Of a truth it is, that your God is a God of gods, ... and a revealer
of secrets.”
Verse 47
. For a time afterward, Nebuchadnezzar was
influenced by the fear of God; but his heart was not yet cleansed
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from worldly ambition and a desire for self-exaltation. The prosperity
attending his reign filled him with pride. In time he ceased to honor
God, and resumed his idol worship with increased zeal and bigotry.
The words, “Thou art this head of gold,” had made a deep impres-
sion upon the ruler’s mind.
Verse 38
. The wise men of his realm,
taking advantage of this and of his return to idolatry, proposed that
he make an image similar to the one seen in his dream, and set it up
where all might behold the head of gold, which had been interpreted
as representing his kingdom.
Pleased with the flattering suggestion, he determined to carry it
out, and to go even farther. Instead of reproducing the image as
he had seen it, he would excel the original. His image should not
deteriorate in value from the head to the feet, but should be entirely of
gold—symbolic throughout of Babylon as an eternal, indestructible,
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