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124   THE CONVENTION TEACHER

for what purpose it was called together. Daniel may have been absent, either his business called him away or having permission from the king to withdraw; unless we suppose that he stood so high in the king's favor that one darest complain of him for his non-compliance; but why did not his companions keep out of the way? Surely because they would obey the king's orders so far as they could, and would be ready to bear a public testimony against this gross idolatry. They did not think it enough to bow down to the image, but, being in office, thought themselves obliged to stand up against it, though it was the image which the king, their master, set up, and would be a golden image to them that worshipped it. That they did not obey the king's edict and perhaps these Chaldeans that accused them were some of these magicians and astrologers who had a grudge against Daniel's companions for his sake, for he had eclipsed them and so had his companions.

(14) Nebuchadnezzar spake and said unto them, IS it true, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Obednego? do not yet serve my gods, nor worship the golden image which I have set up? The case is laid before them in short, and it is put to them whether they will comply or no. The king asked them whether it was true that they had not worshiped the golden image when others did. Was it designedly and deliberately done, or was it only through inadvertence that you have not served my gods? What! You that I nourished and brought up, that have been educated and trained at my charge, that I have been so kind to and done so much for, you who have been in such reputation for wisdom, and thus should have better known your duty to your king? What, do not you serve my gods, nor worship my golden image.

(15) Now if ye be ready that at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of music ye fall down down and worship the image which I have made; well: but if ye worship not, ye shall be cast the same hour into the midst of a burning fiery furnace; and who is that god that shall delivery you out of my hands? The king was to give them a new trial to see if they did on purpose, what they had done before, yet, it may be, upon second thought, they will change their minds; it is therefore repeated to them upon what terms they now stood. Listen: When the music starts, ye prepare yourselves [[bold]] to worship my image [[/bold]]. The music shall play again, only for your sakes, to give them an opportunity of compliance, and if they will not, like the deaf adder stop their ears, but will hearken to the voice of the charmers, and will worship the golden image, well and good. Their former omission will be pardoned. But if you fail to worship it you'll be cast into the fiery furnace. And who is that God that shall deliver you out of my hands? The refusal brought defiance to king Nebuchadnezzar. The Hebrews exhibited a confidence in their god. He says in a way, let him deliver you if he can. Now he forgot what he once owned, that their god was the god of gods and the king of kings. Boastful men are still ready to say as Pharoah, Who is the lord that I should obey his voice, or as Nebuchadnezzar, who is the lord that I should fear his power?

(16) Shadrach, Meschah, and Abednego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter. Notice the gracious and generous contempt of death and the noble negligence that they are put to. O king we are not careful to answer thee in this matter -- they do not in any abrupt way deny him an answer; nor stand silent; but they tell him that they are in no care about it. They need not an answer; they needed not to comply. The king is decided that they will die if they do not obey his orders. We are not careful -- We have no need to put thee (king) to any further trouble: we have made up our minds on this subject and have our answer ready. Those young men needed no time to discuss the matter or manner of their answer, they needed no time for evasive answer when a direct answer was expected from them; nor did they wish the king to change his word. For they decided that this request would not be obeyed.

(17) 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. Their believing confidence in god and their dependence upon him is clearly seen in their reply to the royal order. This is was that enabled them to look with so much contempt upon the death, death in all its terrors. They trusted in the living god, and by that faith chose, rather to suffer

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THE CONVENTION TEACHER   125

than to sin; they therefore feared not because the wrath of the king; but endured, because by faith they had an eye to him that is invisible. If it be so, if we are brought to this state, if we must be thrown into the fiery furnace, unless we serve thy gods, yet we are not worshippers without some god and there is a god who we can call ours, to whom we faithfully adhere. That we serve this god, we employ ourselves in his work and depend on him to protect us, provide for us and to reward us. Then we also believe this god we serve is able to deliver us. That we have reason to hope that he will deliver us. Amid the rash appearances of such idolatries it would be very much for the honor of his great name to deliver them and it would be of great force to him since Nebuchadnezzar had defied him to do it.

(18) But if not, be it know unto thee, O king, that we will not serve they gods, nor worship the golden image which thou has set up. The Hebrew young men made this firm declaration. Their words are: "We are determined to adhere to our principles; but if god should not think fit to deliver us from the fiery furnace (which yet we know he can do) if he should sufer us to fall into they hands, and fall by thy hand, let it be known unto thee, O king, we will not serve these gods, though they are thy gods, nor worship the golden image, though thou thyself has set it up." They are neither ashamed nor afraid to own their religion, and tell the king to his face that they do not fear him, they will not yield to him. Had they consulted with flesh and blood, much might have beensaid to bring them to a compliance, especially when there was no other way of avoiding death, so great a death.

III. DANIEL'S CONSTANCY IN PRAYER AGAINST THE DECREE. (V. 10) (10) Now when Daniel knew what the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his god, as he did aforetime. Here we find Daniel's pious disobedience to the law--he did not go into the country or hide away for sometime, although he knew that the law was levelled against him, therefore knowing it was so, he stood courageously rejoicing that he had an opportunity to honor god before man and showed that he preferred his favor and his duty to him, before life itself. When Daniel knew that the writing was signed -- he might have gone to the king and discussed it, but he went to his house and applied himself to his duty, cheerfully trusting god with the outcome. Daniel's constant practice which was unknown to us before this occasion but we have reason to think was the general practice of the pious Jews. He went to his house --Often alone and often with his family, he made a solemn business of it.  His windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem that the sight of the visible heavens might affect his heart with an awe of that god who dwells above in the heavens, but that was not all; he opened them toward Jerusalem, the holy city, now in ruins to signify the affection he had for its very stones and dust and the memory he had of it was kept alive daily in his prayers.

A MAN WHO LOVED GOD

Daniel was a young Hebrew man who had been taught to love and honor the one true and living god. He was taken captive and carried away into a land where the people, led by their king had set up in a certain place. At the given signal everyone was to fall down and honor this image .Daniel knew the king's command but he loved god so much that he would not obey the king even though is disobedience might cost his life. HIs love for god was greater that his fear of the king. Try to have the children understand that god is the greatest being in their lives and to love and honor him is more important than keeping a bad law which man might make. To love god sincerely and steadfastly gives us, his children, the right and privilege to call upon him and know that he will help us when we need him. It took courage for Daniel to defy the king. His god will be our heavenly father and will give us strength and courage if we will love him.

QUESTIONS ON THE LESSON

1. Why take a stand for god?
2. How do we reverence god?
3. What is Christian courage? 4. What made Daniel so brave?
5. What is true worship of god?
6. Why should god have the first place?