OBEDIENCE TO GOD by Wm. Penniman

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Sep 7, 1876

OBEDIENCE TO GOD.

By Wm. Penniman

“If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he shall deliver us out of thine hand, O king. 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.” Dan. 3:17, 18.

These words are chosen as the basis of what we may say on this subject, as they seem to best represent the firmness and perseverance which should characterize the people of God, and through his grace cause them to obey him at all times, and under all circumstances.

In the conduct of these men we have an example of the strictest adherence to principle and of the firmest trust in God. There was an immense image of gold set up in the plain of Dura. To the dedication of this image all the great men of Babylon were summoned. This was an occasion which would test the principles of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. But the pomp and display, the fascinating charms of the music, the exaltation of the king, and all the powers of earth combined had no effect upon these men to cause them to yield to this unreasonable and unholy demand. Look at the firm trust in God which is set forth in these words, “If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace.” They gave the king to understand that they served God; that he was their God; and that, notwithstanding the king’s power over them, and the power of this burning fiery furnace, their God was able to deliver them. And to make the matter still stronger, they declared, “He shall deliver us [or he will deliver us] out of thine hand, O king.”

While the princes, governors, captains, judges, treasurers, counselors, sheriffs, and all the rulers of the vast province of Babylon, obeyed this mandate, these men were immovable. The king told them there was no escape, and that a dreadful punishment would be the consequence of their disobedience. They replied, “We are not careful to answer thee in this matter.” Then follows the impressive language: “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.”

In this case, there was no compromise or time-serving policy, no attempt to do evil that good might come, no “obedience to magistrates,” no submission to the “powers that be” manifested. It is plain to be seen that, in this case, the powers that be enacted a law which conflicted with the law of God; hence these men knew they were not in duty bound to obey it. They addressed the king with all due respect, yet would not sacrifice one particle of principle. Said these true men, “If it be so [that is, if we are to be cast into the furnace], our God [not yours] is able to deliver us. . . . But if not [even if he does not deliver us], we will not obey the command.” This language accords with the words of Job, “Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him.” Job 13:15. The same faith, trust, and courage, actuated Abraham when he drew the knife to slay his son.

We will consider a moment the temptation they were under. They were among the wise and great men of Babylon, the greatest kingdom of the world. Around them was the greatest exhibition of oriental magnificence; and this splendor was not the splendor of barbarism, but of a cultivated people. Nebuchadnezzar was in possession of the ivory throne, the golden knobs and pomegranates, the carved work and the hangings, once found in Solomon’s temple; and also of the gold and silver vessels. Here was an exhibition of wealth such as the world had never seen. The image which met their view was nearly one hundred and ten feet in hight, designed, no doubt, to represent the power and glory of the king. See it sending forth its flashing gleams across the plains of Babylon. Hear the inspiring sound of the cornet, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and all kinds of music, tending to make men loyal and patriotic. See the great men fall down before the image in honor of their king. But do these men bow down? They may have stood before the image, or have obeyed the king so far as they could consistently, but bow down—never!

They no doubt thought of the words: “When thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned, neither shall the flames kindle upon thee.” Isa. 43:2. They were not in the least moved by flattery, or by any of the influences which were brought to bear upon them. They had been treated with great respect heretofore by the king, and if they had been time-servers they would have yielded once at least. But no; they are unyielding, and are quickly cast into the burning fiery furnace. While the surging flames had no effect upon them, the mighty men who threw them in were slain. Nebuchadnezzar was astonished on beholding the three men, and a fourth in form like the Son of God, walking in the midst of the fire. His proud spirit was humbled, and he gave the glory to the God of Heaven. The image which before had been so great was then looked upon by him and his subjects with contempt. The king called the Hebrews from the fire. Their coats were not changed, “neither had the smell of fire passed over them.” A victory was wrought by the living God in favor of truth and justice, and so it will ever be when men stand up for principle.

The lovers of truth who may be sentenced by man to pass the “fiery ordeal,” be it the furnace, the dungeon, or the scaffold, may not always be miraculously delivered, yet the victory will be in favor of truth just the same, and its good effects will last forever.

Men love power and honor. They fear the danger of losing some position in church or State, or even some petty position where but little remuneration is received. They will often sacrifice principle to hold these positions, and flatter themselves that they are doing right. Thus they do not render obedience to God. They dread to become unpopular, and to be called singular, forgetting that the people of God are called a “peculiar people.” 1 Pet. 2:9.

The case of these lovers of popularity who hate to be called singular may be well represented by the following quotations: “At the signal given, all the princes, governors, captains, judges, etc., fell down, and worshiped the image.” There was one united and universal prostration; it was a full and strong expression of public sentiment. Three men only were seen standing. These men had the presumption to act in opposition to the many! Strange conduct this! at least, so would a time-serving spirit decide. It is not so easy a matter for men to be singular. There is a strong propensity to go with the multitude; and it requires more than an ordinary degree of firmness to withstand the example of the many. All are prostrate on this occasion. There stand the three Hebrews alone.

Imagine the ridicule that would be employed to shame them out of their singularity. We fancy we hear a governor yonder saying to his comrades around him, “See those Hebrews standing up. I wonder if they are not ashamed to be so singular.” “I wonder,” says another, “if they think they know more than every body else?” “Ay,” exclaims a third, “they think they are wiser than all our great men. They have set themselves above our statesmen; yea, above our doctors of divinity. Those comparatively young men vainly think that they are going to set themselves up for reformers.” “I suspect,” cries a fourth, “they will learn a lesson by and by, when they feel the fire of yonder furnace kindle on them. I guess they will find it not so desirable as they imagine to smell fire or be martyrs.” “For my part,” says a fifth, “I believe idolatry in the abstract is wrong; but under present circumstances it is right. At any rate, I have no notion of going in advance of public opinion, and I think a man is perfectly fanatical that does it.” “I am not so clear,” responds a sixth, “that falling down to an idol is wrong, for the Bible says an idol is nothing, and surely there can be no great harm for the sake of keeping peace, and, to prevent any disturbance, for us just to fall down now, this once, to that which is, after all, nothing.” “Those men are foreigners,” cries a seventh, “and they have no business to meddle with our domestic institutions; we have worshiped images for hundreds of years. Their worship constitutes a long-established institution, and though it might have been wrong when first introduced, yet it is entailed upon us, and it would bring confusion and ruin to attempt to abolish it now.”

There are institutions which have been established by the papacy, and have been handed down for hundreds of years; therefore, in the minds of some, they are right, and should be observed. This class, if they reject the light, are virtually image-worshipers, and will be in favor of a union of church and State, and will eventually set up, not a golden image like that of Nebuchadnezzar, but an image to the beast, and will worship it.

May the Lord direct the minds of the people to his truth, and give them the spirit of obedience to his laws is my prayer.

WM. PENNIMAN.