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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；
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but his heart was not yet cleansed 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 impression 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 goldsymbolic throughout of Babylon as an eternal； indestructible； all…powerful kingdom； which should break in pieces all other kingdoms and stand forever。
The thought of establishing the empire and a dynasty that should endure forever； appealed very strongly to the mighty ruler before whose arms the nations of earth had been unable to stand。 With an enthusiasm born of boundless ambition and selfish pride； he entered into counsel with his wise men as to how to bring this about。 Forgetting the remarkable providences connected with the dream of the great image； forgetting also that the God of Israel through His servant Daniel had made plain the significance of the image； and that in connection with this interpretation the
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great men of the realm had been saved an ignominious death； forgetting all except their desire to establish their own power and supremacy； the king and his counselors of state determined that by every means possible they would endeavor to exalt Babylon as supreme； and worthy of universal allegiance。
The symbolic representation by which God had revealed to king and people His purpose for the nations of earth； was now to be made to serve for the glorification of human power。 Daniel's interpretation was to be rejected and forgotten； truth was to be misinterpreted and misapplied。 The symbol designed of Heaven to unfold to the minds of men important events of the future； was to be used to hinder the spread of the knowledge that God desired the world to receive。 Thus through the devisings of ambitious men； Satan was seeking to thwart the divine purpose for the human race。 The enemy of mankind knew that truth unmixed with error is a power mighty to save； but that when used to exalt self and to further the projects of men； it becomes a power for evil。
From his rich store of treasure； Nebuchadnezzar caused to be made a great golden image； similar in its general features to that which had been seen in vision； save in the one particular of the material of which it was composed。 Accustomed as they were to magnificent representations of their heathen deities； the Chaldeans had never before produced anything so imposing and majestic as this resplendent statue； threescore cubits in height and six cubits in breadth。 And it is not surprising that in a land where idol worship was of universal prevalence； the beautiful and priceless
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image in the plain of Dura； representing the glory of Babylon and its magnificence and power； should be consecrated as an object of worship。 This was accordingly provided for； and a decree went forth that on the day of the dedication all should show their supreme loyalty to the Babylonian power by bowing before the image。
The appointed day came； and a vast concourse from all 〃people； nations； and languages；〃 assembled on the plain of Dura。 In harmony with the king's command； when the sound of music was heard； the whole company 〃fell down and worshipped the golden image。〃 On that eventful day the powers of darkness seemed to be gaining a signal triumph； the worship of the golden image bade fair to become connected permanently with the established forms of idolatry recognized as the state religion of the land。 Satan hoped thereby to defeat God's purpose of making the presence of captive Israel in Babylon a means of blessing to all the nations of heathendom。
But God decreed otherwise。 Not all had bowed the knee to the idolatrous symbol of human power。 In the midst of the worshipping multitude there were three men who were firmly resolved not thus to dishonor the God of heaven。 Their God was King of kings and Lord of lords； they would bow to none other。
To Nebuchadnezzar； flushed with triumph； was brought the word that among his subjects there were some who dared disobey his mandate。 Certain of the wise men； jealous of the honors that had been bestowed upon the faithful companions of Daniel； now reported to the king their flagrant
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violation of his wishes。 〃O king； live forever；〃 they exclaimed。 〃There are certain Jews whom thou hast set over the affairs of the province of Babylon； Shadrach； Meshach； and Abednego； these men； O king； have not regarded thee： they serve not thy gods； nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up。〃
The king commanded that the men be brought before him。 〃Is it true；〃 he inquired； 〃do not ye serve my gods； nor worship the golden image which I have set up？〃 He endeavored by threats to induce them to unite with the multitude。 Pointing to the fiery furnace； he reminded them of the punishment awaiting them if they should persist in their refusal to obey his will。 But firmly the Hebrews testified to their allegiance to the God of heaven； and their faith in His power to deliver。 The act of bowing to the image was understood by all to be an act of worship。 Such homage they could render to God alone。
As the three Hebrews stood before the king； he was convinced that they possessed something the other wise men of his kingdom did not have。 They had been faithful in the performance of every duty。 He would give them another trial。 If only they would signify their willingness to unite with the multitude in worshiping the image； all would be well with them； 〃but if ye worship not；〃 he added； 〃ye shall be cast the same hour into the midst of a burning fiery furnace。〃 Then with his hand stretched upward in defiance； he demanded； 〃Who is that God that shall deliver you out of my hands？〃
In vain were the king's threats。 He could not turn the
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men from their allegiance to the Ruler of the universe。 From the history of their fathers they had learned that disobedience to God results in dishonor； disaster； and death； and that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom； the foundation of all true prosperity。 Calmly facing the furnace； they said； 〃O Nebuchadnezzar； we are not careful to answer thee in this matter。 If it be so ＇if this is your decision＇； 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。〃 Their faith strengthened as they declared that God would be glorified by delivering them； and with triumphant assurance born of implicit trust in God； they added； 〃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。〃
The king's wrath knew no bounds。 〃Full of fury；〃 〃the form of his visage was changed against Shadrach； Meshach； and Abednego；〃 representatives of a despised and captive race。 Directing that the furnace be heated seven times hotter than its wont； he commanded the mighty men of his army to bind the worshipers of Israel's God； preparatory to summary execution。
〃Then these men were bound in their coats； their hosen； and their hats； and their other garments； and were cast into the midst of the b