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that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up"
(Dan. 3: 16-18).
"We are not careful."--If we argue long enough, we can often "prove" anything. It is
sometimes the truest course resolutely to refuse to debate a question. If it is wrong, it is
wrong, and that should suffice. James 1: 22 throw light upon this point: "But be ye doers
of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves" (paralogizomai = arguing
yourselves aside).
"But if not."--Here is the supreme stand of faith. It is one thing to serve God Who
promises as a return to provide food, raiment, health and protection--there is sometimes
too much of this bargaining element in our faith and service--but it is another thing, and
comes as a shock to some, to face the fact that some of God's most faithful children have
suffered hunger, shipwreck, cruel scourgings and mockings, even death itself. Yet none
can read Rom. 8: 35-37 or Heb. 11: without seeing that from the days of the first
martyr Abel, or of the first apostle to the Gentiles, Paul, the noble words of the three
friends have always had their place.
Just how far the church of the One Body will come into contact with the outer fringe
of anti-Christian days is not revealed, but it is quite within the range of possibility that
some readers of this magazine may have to stand against both the inducements and the
persecution of incipient Babylonianism; if any do, let them remember Dan. 3: and take
courage.
The one thing that remains throughout the ages is the presence of the Lord. These
men may not escape the fire, but Nebuchadnezzar will have to testify:--
"Lo, I see four men, loose walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and
the form of the fourth is like a son of God . . . . . Who hath sent His angel, and delivered
His servants that trusted in Him" (Dan. 3: 25-28).
For the comfort and encouragement of Israel in the time of their trouble, Isa. 43: 1-3
is written: "When thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned", for as in
passing through the waters, the Lord can say, "I will be with thee".
The den of lions.
While no explanation is given by Daniel as to how it was that he was not included in
the order to worship the golden image or how he escaped the penalty for refusing,
there is, notwithstanding, a full exhibition of Daniel's faithfulness under trial recorded in
Dan. 6: As we read the story we are impressed with the fact that here is a kingdom
inferior to that of Babylon, though the king himself is far more humane than the earlier
monarch. Nebuchadnezzar was an autocrat, "whom he would he slew, and whom he
would he kept alive" (5: 19), but Darius, king of the Medes and Persians, is shackled by
the power of his servants. Playing upon the personal vanity that could hardly in those
days absent from an Eastern king, these servants set a trap for Daniel. As was expected,
Daniel quietly ignores the decree concerning prayer, and is apprehended. We know the