The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1917-09-13
LESSON FOR SEPTEMBER 16
THE FIERY FURNACE.

cd; neither shalt the flame kindie upon
thee.-fsaiah ga
1. The Occasion wv. III. The fact
that God said to Nebuchadnezzar,
"Thou art this head Of gold" q :3S)
was too much for him. Though he mp
peared to have been deeply impressed
with Daniels God, his pride got the
better Of him. As he grew great and
became conscious OF II. 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. II was an attempt at self-deifi-
cation. II combined with II political
move, the object Of which was to weld
together the various kingdoms and
peoples into one homogeneous body.
He inaugurated n religious festival,
and called upon all the people to wor-
ship the image which he set up. He
becked this demand by civil authority.
n penalty for refusal to bow down
and worship the image was TO he cast
into the burning fiery furnace. 1mpos-
ing Images IRE set up IN many places,
and men and women are being called
upon to bow down ana 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.
q. The Behavior OF the Hebrews
wv. s-18). () the accusation by the
envious spies wv. s-10.
Daniels three friends had been pro
NOTED TO positions Of honor and re-
eponsibility. 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 Chaldenns been faith
fully worshlping they would not have
seen the Hebrews.
(2) The kings rage wv. 12-15).
He calls the Hebrews before him,
questions them and gives them another
chance. The ofYense was not serious
they were defying the authority OF
the one who had honored them In their
promotion; II savored OF ingratitude.
After closely questioning them he gave
them another opportunity 10 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 CAD.
(3) The courageous reply OF the
faithful Hebrews wv. 1919.
They replied without passion or fear.
The peace Of God filed their hearts.
Their behavior Is an expression OF
triumphant faith. "We are not care
full to answer thee In this matter. II II
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. q king. But II not, be
II known unto thee, q 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. hut 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 II for them. They
did not try TO find an excuse to evade
their duty, and seeing the way clearly
they acted accordingly.
~. The Glorious Issue wv. 193O).
~ The harmless furnace wv. 1929.
The Infatuated king ordered the heat
of the furnace to be intensified. his
most mighty. men to bind the Hebrews
ard fling them into the fire. Though
tAheat was 30 intense that the SOL
dos 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. 1929.
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 over
their bodies; not even a hair Of their
heads was singed. their coats changed
nor the smell Of fire upon them ". 30.
(s) The kings decree ". 29).
This was most foolish and wicked
Even king has no right to kill people
for not worshiplng God.
~ Promotion Of the Hebrews "
sO).
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 OF
ruler has a right to interfere.
10 We should meet religious intol
erance by being obedlent to God rathel
than man.
tc) God win support those who arr
faithful.
(d) We should prepare for fier!
trials and through them all be tru,