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hill。〃 〃There is no other god；〃 he urged as the reason for the decree； 〃that can deliver after this sort。〃
In these and like words the king of Babylon endeavored to spread abroad before all the peoples of earth his conviction that the power and authority of the God of the Hebrews was worthy of supreme adoration。 And God was pleased with the effort of the king to show Him reverence； and to make the royal confession of allegiance as widespread as was the Babylonian realm。
It was right for the king to make public confession； and to seek to exalt the God of heaven above all other gods； but in endeavoring to force his subjects to make a similar confession
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of faith and to show similar reverence； Nebuchadnezzar was exceeding his right as a temporal sovereign。 He had no more right； either civil or moral； to threaten men with death for not worshiping God； than he had to make the decree consigning to the flames all who refused to worship the golden image。 God never compels the obedience of man。 He leaves all free to choose whom they will serve。
By the deliverance of His faithful servants； the Lord declared that He takes His stand with the oppressed； and rebukes all earthly powers that rebel against the authority
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of Heaven。 The three Hebrews declared to the whole nation of Babylon their faith in Him whom they worshiped。 They relied on God。 In the hour of their trial they remembered the promise； 〃When thou passest through the waters； I will be with thee； and through the rivers； they shall not overflow thee： when thou walkest through the fire； thou shalt not be burned； neither shall the flame kindle upon thee。〃 Isaiah 43：2。 And in a marvelous manner their faith in the living Word had been honored in the sight of all。 The tidings of their wonderful deliverance were carried to many countries by the representatives of the different nations that had been invited by Nebuchadnezzar to the dedication。 Through the faithfulness of His children； God was glorified in all the earth。
Important are the lessons to be learned from the experience of the Hebrew youth on the plain of Dura。 In this our day； many of God's servants； though innocent of wrongdoing； will be given over to suffer humiliation and abuse at the hands of those who； inspired by Satan； are filled with envy and religious bigotry。 Especially will the wrath of man be aroused against those who hallow the Sabbath of the fourth commandment； and at last a universal decree will denounce these as deserving of death。
The season of distress before God's people will call for a faith that will not falter。 His children must make it manifest that He is the only object of their worship； and that no consideration； not even that of life itself； can induce them to make the least concession to false worship。 To the loyal heart the commands of sinful； finite men will sink into
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insignificance beside the word of the eternal God。 Truth will be obeyed though the result be imprisonment or exile or death。
As in the days of Shadrach； Meshach； and Abednego； so in the closing period of earth's history the Lord will work mightily in behalf of those who stand steadfastly for the right。 He who walked with the Hebrew worthies in the fiery furnace will be with His followers wherever they are。 His abiding presence will comfort and sustain。 In the midst of the time of troubletrouble such as has not been since there was a nationHis chosen ones will stand unmoved。 Satan with all the hosts of evil cannot destroy the weakest of God's saints。 Angels that excel in strength will protect them； and in their behalf Jehovah will reveal Himself as a 〃God of gods；〃 able to save to the uttermost those who have put their trust in Him。
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Chapter 42
True Greatness
Exalted to the pinnacle of worldly honor； and acknowledged even by Inspiration as 〃a king of kings〃 （Ezekiel 26：7）。 Nebuchadnezzar nevertheless at times had ascribed to the favor of Jehovah the glory of his kingdom and the splendor of his reign。 Such had been the case after his dream of the great image。 His mind had been profoundly influenced by this vision and by the thought that the Babylonian Empire； universal though it was； was finally to fall； and other kingdoms were to bear sway； until at last all earthly powers were to be superseded by a kingdom set up by the God of heaven； which kingdom was never to be destroyed。
Nebuchadnezzar's noble conception of God's purpose concerning the nations was lost sight of later in his experience； yet when his proud spirit was humbled before the multitude on the plain of Dura； he once more had acknowledged that God's kingdom is 〃an everlasting kingdom； and His dominion is from generation to generation。〃 An idolater
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by birth and training； and at the head of an idolatrous people； he had nevertheless an innate sense of justice and right； and God was able to use him as an instrument for the punishment of the rebellious and for the fulfillment of the divine purpose。 〃The terrible of the nations〃 （Ezekiel 28：7）； it was given Nebuchadnezzar； after years of patient and wearing labor； to conquer Tyre； Egypt also fell a prey to his victorious armies； and as he added nation after nation to the Babylonian realm； he added more and more to his fame as the greatest ruler of the age。
It is not surprising that the successful monarch； so ambitious and so proud…spirited； should be tempted to turn aside from the path of humility； which alone leads to true greatness。 In the intervals between his wars of conquest he gave much thought to the strengthening and beautifying of his capital； until at length the city of Babylon became the chief glory of his kingdom； 〃the golden city；〃 〃the praise of the whole earth。〃 His passion as a builder； and his signal success in making Babylon one of the wonders of the world； ministered to his pride； until he was in grave danger of spoiling his record as a wise ruler whom God could continue to use as an instrument for the carrying out of the divine purpose。
In mercy God gave the king another dream； to warn him of his peril and of the snare that had been laid for his ruin。 In a vision of the night； Nebuchadnezzar saw a great tree growing in the midst of the earth； its top towering to the heavens and its branches stretching to the ends of the earth。 Flocks and herds from the mountains and hills enjoyed shelter beneath its shadow； and the birds of
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the air built their nests in its boughs。 〃The leaves thereof were fair； and the fruit thereof much； and in it was meat for all： 。 。 。 and all flesh was fed of it。〃
As the king gazed upon the lofty tree； he beheld 〃a Watcher；〃 even 〃an Holy One；〃 who approached the tree and in a loud voice cried：
〃Hew down the tree； and cut off his branches； shake off his leaves； and scatter his fruit： let the beasts get away from under it； and the fowls from his branches： nevertheless leave the stump of his roots in the earth； even with a ba