Chapter 36—Our Ruler in the Heavens
The Lord hath prepared his throne in the heavens; and his kingdom
ruleth over all.
Psalm 103:19
.
The three Hebrews were called upon to confess Christ in the face of the
burning fiery furnace. They had been commanded by the king to fall down
and worship the golden image which he had set up, and threatened that if
they would not, they should be cast alive into the fiery furnace, but they
answered, “We are not careful to answer thee in this matter. If it be so, 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. But if not, be it known unto thee,
O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which
thou hast set up” (
Daniel 3:16-18
).
To bow down when in prayer to God is the proper attitude to occupy....
But such an act was homage to be rendered to God alone ..., the Ruler of
the universe; and these three Hebrews refused to give such honor to any
idol even though composed of pure gold. In doing so, they would, to all
intents and purposes, be bowing to the king of Babylon.... They suffered the
penalty.... But Christ came in person and walked with them through the fire,
and they received no harm.
This miracle produced a striking change in the minds of the people.
The great golden image, set up with such display, was forgotten. The king
published a decree that anyone speaking against the God of these men should
be put to death....
These faithful Hebrews possessed great natural ability, they had enjoyed
the highest intellectual culture, and now occupied a position of honor; but
all this did not lead them to forget God. Their powers were yielded to the
sanctifying influence of divine grace.... In their wonderful deliverance were
displayed, before that vast assembly, the power and majesty of God. Jesus
placed Himself by their side in the fiery furnace, and by the glory of His
presence convinced the proud king of Babylon that it could be no other than
the Son of God.... By the deliverance of His faithful servants, the Lord
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