The Carlisle independent., 1917-09-13
INTERNATIONAL. SUNDNS0HOOL
 LESSON (By REV. P. B. FTTZWATER, D. D., Teacher of English Bible in the Moody Bible Institute of Chicago.) Copyright. 1siT Western Newspaper Union.)
LESSON FOR SEPTEMBER Is
THE FIERY FURNACE.
IN TEXT-naniei2 2

LESSON TEXT-Daniel g.
 GOLDEN TEXT-When thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burn ed: neither shalt the flame kindle upon theA.-ISaiah 43:2.
 |. The Occasion (vv. ID. The fact that God said to Nebuehadnezzar, ''Thou art this head of gold" (2:3S) was too much for him. Though he ap- peared to have been deeply impressed with Daniels God, his pride got the | better of him. As he grew great and became conscious of it, he grew proud. ! This moved him to set up a colossal i idol of gold in the Plain of Dura to be worshiped by all the people of his realm. It was an attempt at sef-deifi- cation. It combined with it political move, the object of which was to weld | together the various kingdoms and peoples into one homogeneous body. | He inaugurated religious festival, and called upon all the people to wor- ship the image which he set up. He | backed this demand by civil authority. 1 The penalty for refusal to bow down and worship the image was to be cast into the burning fiery furnace. 1mpos- 1 ing images are set up in many places, and men and women are being called upon to bow down and worship them. 1 Some of these images are money, | fashion, scholarship, worldly ambition, pleasures, etc, and woe be to those who will not worship before them.
 II. The Behavior of the Hebrews
 (vv. S-1Sl. CD the accusation by the envious spies (vv. S-12).
 Daniels three friends had been pro- noted to positions of honor and re- sponsibility. Certain Chaldeans whose envy had been excited by the promo | ton of these Hebrews. sought occasion against them. This they found when the Hebrews would not bow down to and worship the image Envious eyes are always watching Gods faithful ones. Had these Chaldeans been faith fully worshiping, they would not have seen the Hebrews.
 CD The kings rage {vv. 13-15).
 He calls the Hebrews before him, questions them and gives them another chance. The offense was not serious they were defying the authority of the one who had honored them in their promotion: 1t savored of ingratitude. After closely questioning them he gave them another opportunity to consider | their position before consigning them to the fire. His supreme mistake was In the challenge he made to the God of the Hebrews. He seems to have forgotten entirely the confession he had made with reference to God PAD.
 (3) The courageous reply of the l faithful Hebrews (vv. 16-1S).
 They replied without passion or fear. The peace of God filled their hearts. Their behavior is an expression of | triumphant faith. eve are not care | full to answer thee in this matter. If it | be so, our God whom we serve is able l to deliver us from the burning fiery | furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king. But if not, be 1t known unto thee, o king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship ! the golden image which thou hast set up." They courageouslv showed their | afraid to die, but were afraid to sin against God. They knew that to bow | down before this image was to disobey 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 ] Far, Fa fr1f hnr fhair- 1 duty clearly set before them. Gods | law plainly settled 1t for them. They did not try to find an excuse to evade | their duty, and seeing the way clearly they acted accordingly.
 III. The Glorious Issue (vv. 19-30). CD The harmless furnace (vv. 19-25). The infuriated 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 l 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 l that a fourth one was seen with them.
 (2) The convinced king (vv. 26-28).
 The spectacle was so wonderful that l the king called the Hebrews together l out of the fire They came forth un- | harmed, for the fire had no power over ! their bodies; not even a hair of their | heads was singed, their coats changed, nor the smell of fire upon them (v. 27).
 (3) The kings decree (v. 29).
 This was most foolish and wicked.
 Even a king has no right to kill people for not worshiping God.
 (4) Promotion of the Hebrews (y.
 8O).
 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 l hafora his God Nh church lsinQ or