Carolina watchman. [volume] (Salisbury, N.C.) 1871-1937, 1917-09-12
INTERNATIONAL
NNMISQlOOL
LESSON
(By REV. P. B. FITZWATER, D. D.,
Teacher of English Bible in the Moody
Bible Institute of Chicago.)
(Copyright, 1917, Western Newspaper Union
LESSON FOR SEPTEMBER is
THE FIERY FURNACE.
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 1872.
l.. The Occasion wv. 1-7). The fact
that God said to Nebuchadnezzar,
Chou art this head Of gold" (2:3S)
was too much for him. Though he APP
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
idol Of gold in the Plain of Dura to be
worshiped by all the people of his
realm. 1t was an attempt at self-deih-
cation. It combined with 1t a political
move, the object Of which was to weld
together the various kingdoms and
peoples into one homogeneous body.
He inaugurated a 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. Impos-
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-18). (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 w%orshiping, they would not have
seen the Hebrews.
(2) The kings rage wv. 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; it savored Of ingratitude.
After closely questioning them he gave
them another opportunity to consider
their position before c%onsigning 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 CAD.
(9) The courageous reply Of the
faithful Hebrews wv. 1919.
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, u 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. o worship
the golden image which thou hast set
up. 1lcS o1-oHN" I1iSiA
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
Uses they knew that he would do the
right thing. These Hebrews were far
away from home, exposed to the most
severe temptation, hut 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.
Ill. The Glorious Issue wv. 19-30).
(1) The harmless furnace wv. 1925.
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
we're slain, the Hebrews were seen
walking loose in the fire without any
hurt. Equally astounding was the fact
that a 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
out of the fire. They came forth I'm.
harmed, for the fire had no power I'VE
their bodies; not even a hair of thei1
heads was singed, their coats changed
nor the smell Of fire upon them ". 27)
81 The kings decree ". 29).
This was most foolish and wicked
Even a king has no right to kill people
for not worshiping God.
az Promotion of the Hebrews "
3o).
Their fidelity in this trying ordea
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 worshi,
should be determined by the individual
before his God. No church, king O
ruler has a right to interfere.
(b) We should meet religious intol
erance by being obedient to God rattle
than man.