Middletown transcript., 1917-09-15
1NIFpNKTlONAL,
SUNl1YS0lO0L
LESSON
(By REV. P. 3. FITZWATER, D. D.,
Teacher Of English Bible in the Moody
LESSON FOR SEPTEMBER is
THE FIERY FURNACE.

LESSON TEXT-Daniel 8.
GOLDEN TEXT-When thou walkest
through the fire, thou shalt not be burn
ed: neither shalt the flame kindle upon
thee.-Isaiah 432.
|. The Occasion wv. 1-O. The fact
that God said to Nebuchadnezzar'
"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 colossal
idol of gold In the Plain Of Dura to be
worshiped by all the people of his
realm. It was an attempt at self-deifl-
cation. 1t 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.
The penalty for refusal to bow down
and worship the image was to be cast
into the burning fiery furnace. 1mpos-
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.
II. The Behavior Of the Hebrews
wv. s-1s). (1) the accusation by the
envious spies wv. 8-12).
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.
(2) The kings rage wv. 1879.
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; it 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 (2:4O.
(3) The courageous reply Of the
faithful Hebrews wv. 16-1S).
They replied without passion or fear.
The peace Of God filled their hearts.
Their behavior Is an expression OF
triumphant faith. "We are not care
full to answer thee in this matter. If 1t
be so, our God whom we serve is able
to deliver us from the burning fiery
furnace, and he will 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." They courageously showed their
contempt for death. They were not
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
severe temptation, but they saw their
duty clearly set before them. Gods
law plainly settled it 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 wv. 19-3O.
(1) The harmless furnace wv. 1925.
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
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. 26-28).
The spectacle was so wonderful that
the king called the Hebrews together
out Of the fire. They came forth un-
harmed, for the fire had no power over
their bodies; not even hair Of their
heads was singed, their coats changed,
nor the smell Of fire upon them ". 27).
(3) The kings decree ". 29).
This was most foolish and wicked.
Even king has no right to kill people
for not worshiping God.
(4) Promotion Of the Hebrews ".
30).
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 q 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.
(d) We should prepare for fiery
trials, and through them all be true
to our conscience.