Roanoke Rapids herald. [volume] (Roanoke Rapids, N.C.) 1914-192?, 1917-09-14
INTERNATIONAL
SUNlMYS0lOOL
LESSON
by REV. z. b. FiT2WATER, d. D..
Teacher of English Bible In the Moody
Bible Institute OF Chcago)
Copyright 1917, Western Newspaper Unon)
LESSON FOR SEPTEMBER is
THE FIERY FURNACE.
lesson TEXT-Daniel 3,

ed: neither shalt the fame kindle upon
thee.-Isalah 49,
1. The Occasion wv. ~, Yhe fact
that God said TO Nebuchadnezzar,
"Thou art this head Of gold (2:3S)
was too much for him. Though he ap'
reared to have been deeply impressed
with Daniels God, his pride got the
better Of him. As he grew great ana
became conscious Of It, he grew proud
This moved him TO set mp n colossal
idol Of gold in the Plain Of Dura to be
worshlped by all the people OF MS
realm. II was an attempt ut self-deiii-
cntlon. II combined with II II political
move, the object of which was to weld
together the various kingdoms ana
peoples into one homogeneous body.
He inauguratcd n religious festival
and called upon all the people to wor-
shin the Image which he set up. lie
backed this demand by civil authority,
The penalty for refusal to bow down
and worship the image was to be cast
into the burning fiery furnace. lmpos'
Ing images are set up In many places,
and men and women are being called
upon TO bow down and worship them.
Some Of these images are money,
fashion, scholarship. worldly ambition
pleasures, etc, and woe be TO those
who will not worship before them.
n. The Behavior OF the Hebrews
wv. s,1Sl. (D the accusation by the
envious spies wv. SLY.
Daniels three friends had been pro-
NOTED TO positions of honor ana re-
sponSibilty. Certain Chaldeans whose
envy had been excited by the promo
tIon of these Hebrews, sought occasion
against them. This they found when
the Hebrews would not how down to
md worship the image. Enyous eyes
are always watching Gods faithful
ones Had these ChaldeanS been faith
fully worshiping. they would not have
seen the Hebrews.
(2) The kings rage wv. 1870.
He calls the Hebrews before him,
questions them and gives them another
chance. The oiTcnSe wnS not serious
they were defylng the authority of
the one who had honnred them in their
promotion: II savored Of ingratltude.
After closely questioning them he gave
them another opportunity 70 consider
their position before conSlcnng them
TO the fire. His supreme mistake was
in the challenge he made to the God
Of the I,lrews. lie seems TO have
forgotten entirely the confession he
had made with reference 70 God CAD.
(3) The courageous reply Of the
faithful Hebrews wv. lGlS),
They replied without passion or fear.
The peace Of God filled their hearts.
Their behavior is an expression OF
triumphant faith. I'VE Hre not care
full to answer thee in this matter. II 1t
he 50. our God whom we serve Is able
TO deliver us from the burning fiery
furnace and he will deliver MS out OF
thine hand. o king. But II not, be
II known unto thee o king, that we
will not serve thy gods, nor worship
the golden image which thou hast set
up" They courngeouSly showed their
contempt for death They were not
afraid to die, hut were afraid TO sin
against God They knew that TO bow
~ 10. 20 I'll
and dishonor God While they did not
know what God would do In the prem
iSes they knew that he would do the
right thing These Hebrews were far
away from home, exposed TO the most
severe temptation but they saw their
duty clearly set before them. Gods
law plainly settled II for them. They
did not try to find nm excuse to evade
their duty, and seeing the way clearly
they acted accordingly Their creed
was, "Our God whom me serve IL
able" Therefore they could burn but
cnltd not turn. These Jews are a type
Of the faithful remnant In the Great
Trbulation, also Of all Gods faithful
ones, for furnaces are everywhere for
them. IF It be not the literal fire, 1t
may be ridlcule, scorn and contempt.
III. The Glorious Issue (vv 1890.
~ The harmless furnace wv. 1920.
The Infatuated king ordered the heat
Of the furnace TO be intensified, his
most mighty men to bind the Hebrews
and fling them into the fire. Though
the heat was so intense that the sol
diers who cast them into the furnace
were slain the Hebrews were seen
walking loose in the fire without any
hurt. Equally astounding was the fact
that fourth one was seen with them.
(2) The convinced king wv. 26-2S).
The spectacle was so wonderful that
the king called the Hebrews together
sut Of the fire. They came forth I'M
harmed for the fire had no power over
their bodies; not even a hair Of their
heads was slnged, their coats changed,
nor the smell of fire upon them ". 27).
(3) The kings decree w. 29).
This was most foolish and wicked.
Even a king has no right to kill people
for not worshlping God.
(4) Promotion Of the Hebrews ".
s0).
Their fidelity in this trying ordeal
resulted in their promotion instead of
downfall. May we learn from this that !:
(a) God alone is Lord of the con-
science. Ones faith and worship
should be determined by the individual
before his God. No church, king or
ruler has a right to Interfere.
'(b) We should meet religious intol-
erance by being obedient to God rather
than man.
(c) God will support those who are
faithful. He can easily control natural
forces in the interest Of his faithful
ones.
(d) We should prepare for fiery