Fiery Furnace
25
in perplexity and danger, and He had been to them an ever-present
help.
The Secret Revealed
The servants of God did not plead with Him in vain. They had
honored Him, and in the hour of trial He honored them. The secret
was revealed to Daniel, and he hastened to request an interview with
the king.
The Jewish captive stands before the monarch of the most powerful
empire the sun has ever shone upon. The king is in great distress amid
all his riches and glory, but the youthful exile is peaceful and happy in
his God. Now, if ever, is the time for Daniel to exalt himself, to make
prominent his own goodness and superior wisdom. But his first effort
[36]
is to disclaim all honor for himself and to exalt God as the source of
wisdom:
“The secret which the king hath demanded cannot the wise men,
the astrologers, the magicians, the soothsayers, shew unto the king;
but there is a God in heaven that revealeth secrets, and maketh known
to the king Nebuchadnezzar what shall be in the latter days” (
Daniel
2:27, 28
). The king listens with solemn attention as every particular
of the dream is reproduced; and when the interpretation is faithfully
given, he feels that he can rely upon it as a divine revelation.
The solemn truths conveyed in this vision of the night made a deep
impression on the sovereign’s mind, and in humility and awe he fell
down and worshiped, saying, “Of a truth it is, that your God is a God
of gods, and a Lord of kings, and a revealer of secrets” (
verse 47
).
The Golden Image
Light direct from Heaven had been permitted to shine upon King
Nebuchadnezzar, and for a little time he was influenced by the fear
of God. But a few years of prosperity filled his heart with pride, and
he forgot his acknowledgment of the living God. He resumed his idol
worship with increased zeal and bigotry.
From the treasures obtained in war he made a golden image to
represent the one that he had seen in his dream, setting it up in the plain
of Dura, and commanding all the rulers and the people to worship it,