The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1917-09-12

This is just fine. Experience has
shown that these class gatherings are
| most helpful. recommend that ev.
cry teacher plan to have the class at
the home. and show interest in schol.
ars during the week, as well as on
Sunday.
Sept. 1c-The Fiery Furnace. Dan.
iel 8.
Again our minds will be set on
things doing in the great city of
Babylon some $50 years before the
| birth Of Christ. 1t was in the days
OF the Jewish captivity when the
great ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS was on the
throne with all the power Of an east
ern monarch strong willed, impa,
tient, changeful, impetuous. Our les
son will have to do with three of the
Jews whom the king had honored by
making them high government Off.
| Gals and wha. they did and said
when ordered to bow down to an i'm
mense idol which the king had set up
| Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego
were the names OF the men whose
action at this time has made them
famous, and an example to men OF
stern stuff in all times. 1t was a
great day when the image was in
| place. 1t was of gold and of immense
value. The order went forth from
the king that when there was the
playing of certain musical instru-
ments every person should bow down
before the idol. The three Jews
| were seemingly confronted with Sc
IL 1f tn
region about Babylon they were men
observed and what they did or did not
do, could not be hid under bushel.
| Being a part of the band of young
men who with Daniel purposed in
their hearts to be faithful to the Gus
toms of the Jews no matter what
might happen, there is no surprise
when it is known that they did not
obey the command to worship the
idol. The punishment for disobeying
was to be put in furnace of fire.
| The three Jews were brought in
person before the king who restated
his order, and asked them what they
proposed to do. Note the reply Of
the brave men who, fearing nothing
stood firm in this trying ordeal:
| We have no need to answer
thee in this matter. II it be so
our God whom we serve is able to
| deliver us from the fiery fur
mace, and He will deliver us out
| OF thy hand O king. But if not,
be it known unto thee, o king,
| that we will not serve thy gods,
nor worships the golden image
| which thou hast set up.
An examination of this reply will
soon convince one that it is a remark
| able one. There was no f1inching, no
attempt to evade clear cut issue
and decision in the matter Their
minds were made up, and there was
no room or time required for delay.
There came the hope and belief that
in some way their God would save
them from death in the furnace. Now
| comes the grand climax, the words
! which have made the three Jews fam.
GUS for all time. They said with firm
ness, save us or not, from this death
in the furnace I'VE will not serve thy
gods, or worship the golden image
The three Jews hoped for rescue,
but were ready to die for their relig-
ion and their God. What great mag
nificent men there they were. Every
man and woman has been placed
many times where there was need for
decision on moral questions. On
one side was the favor of the public,
of men in power to take away posi-
ton, money, place, all one seemingly
strives for in life. On the other side
the demands of conscience, the COM
mendatiOn of righteous fellow cit-
zens What is to be done? Many of
us fail to meet the issue square
Many of lis seek deliverance by COM
promise or giving up convictions OF
duty, rather than from Cod Few of
us have the nerve to bid defiance to
those who would influence us, and
say whether we die or live we will
stand fast for what we know is right.
The bible account tells us that the
king was very mad and at once had
the men put in the furnace and that
they came out uninjured. The king
then owned up that no power but
that of the true God could have saved
mi