The Canon City record with which is consolidated the Canon City cannon., 1917-09-13
LESSON FOR SEPTEMBER l6
THE FIERY FURNACE.

THE FIERY FURNACE.
LESSON TExT-Daniei 3
GOLDEN TExT-wnen thou walkest
through the fire, thou shalt not be burn
ed; neither shalt the flame kindle upon
thee.-1saiah a.
I. The Occasion (vv. Id. 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 II. 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. II was an attempt mt self-deif-
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 religious festival.
and called upon all the people to wor-
ship the imnge which he set up He
backed this demand ny 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 ore set up in many places.
and men and women are being called
uron 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
~. The Behavior Of the Hebrews
wv. S-1S). az the accusation by the
envious spies wv. s-l2).
Daniels three friends had been pro-
NOTED to positions OF honor and re-
sponsibiilty. Certain Chaidcans whose
envy had been excited by the promo
tion 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 Matching Gods faithful
ones. Had these Chaideans been faith
fully worshiping. they would not have
seen the Hebrews.
f2) The kings rage wv. 13-i5).
He calls the Hebrews before him.
questions them and gives them another
chsnce. The ofYense was not serious
they we're dcfyIng the authority OF
the one who had honored them In their
promotion: Il savored Of insratitude.
After closely questioning them he gave
them another opportunity to consider
their position before conxigning them
to the nre. His supreme mistake was
In the challenge ne made to the God
Of the Hebrews. He seems to have
forgotten entirely the confession he
had made with reference to God can.
ta) 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. eve are not care
fui to answer thee In this matter. If u.
he so. our God whom we serve Is able
to deliver us from the burning fiery
furnace. and he viii deliver us out Of
thine hand q king. But n 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 couraGeousiy showed their
contempt for death. They were not
afraid to die. but were sfrnid TO sin
against God. They knew that to how
down before this image was TO dIsobey
md 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 th. most
severe temptation. hut they saw their
duty clenriy set before them. Gods
law plainly settled n for them. They
did NOT try to fnd nm excuse to evade
their duty. and seeing the way clearly
they acted accordingly.
~. The Glorious Issue wv. 19-30).
"a The harmless furnace wv. 1929.
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
dIcrs 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. 202S).
The spectacle was 70 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 a hair OF their
heads was singed. their coats changed
nor the smell Of fre upon them ". 27).
(3) The kings decree ". 20).
This was most foolish and wicked.
Even king has no right to kill people
for not worshiping God.
az Promotion Of the Hebrews ".
3O).
Their fidelity in this trying ordeal
resulted In their promotion Instead OF
downfall. May we learn from this that:
(a) God alone Il Lord Of the con-
science. Ones faith and worship