God is Faithful in the Fire

Notes
Transcript

Introduction

Daniel 3 continues to describe the challenges that Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah encountered during their forced relocation to Babylon. When faced with the option to defile themselves and disobey God, they bravely chose to obey. Despite all the problems, we see that God’s hand of mercy and grace is with them to sustain and protect them. He is their Savior and deserves all the glory and honor. As we read this chapter, you may notice multiple repetitions of phrases that are part of the storytelling that invites the listener to become part of the storytelling.
Daniel 3:13–30 ESV
13 Then Nebuchadnezzar in furious rage commanded that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego be brought. So they brought these men before the king. 14 Nebuchadnezzar answered and said to them, “Is it true, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the golden image that I have set up? 15 Now if you are ready when you hear the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, bagpipe, and every kind of music, to fall down and worship the image that I have made, well and good. But if you do not worship, you shall immediately be cast into a burning fiery furnace. And who is the god who will deliver you out of my hands?” 16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered and said to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. 17 If this be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king. 18 But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.” 19 Then Nebuchadnezzar was filled with fury, and the expression of his face was changed against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. He ordered the furnace heated seven times more than it was usually heated. 20 And he ordered some of the mighty men of his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, and to cast them into the burning fiery furnace. 21 Then these men were bound in their cloaks, their tunics, their hats, and their other garments, and they were thrown into the burning fiery furnace. 22 Because the king’s order was urgent and the furnace overheated, the flame of the fire killed those men who took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. 23 And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, fell bound into the burning fiery furnace. 24 Then King Nebuchadnezzar was astonished and rose up in haste. He declared to his counselors, “Did we not cast three men bound into the fire?” They answered and said to the king, “True, O king.” 25 He answered and said, “But I see four men unbound, walking in the midst of the fire, and they are not hurt; and the appearance of the fourth is like a son of the gods.” 26 Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the door of the burning fiery furnace; he declared, “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out, and come here!” Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego came out from the fire. 27 And the satraps, the prefects, the governors, and the king’s counselors gathered together and saw that the fire had not had any power over the bodies of those men. The hair of their heads was not singed, their cloaks were not harmed, and no smell of fire had come upon them. 28 Nebuchadnezzar answered and said, “Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who has sent his angel and delivered his servants, who trusted in him, and set aside the king’s command, and yielded up their bodies rather than serve and worship any god except their own God. 29 Therefore I make a decree: Any people, nation, or language that speaks anything against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego shall be torn limb from limb, and their houses laid in ruins, for there is no other god who is able to rescue in this way.” 30 Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the province of Babylon.

A Golden Situation

Like many ancient cultures, the Neo-Babylonian empire used idols in devotion to their gods. Nebuchadnezzar set up an image that may be a human-like figure or an obelisk-shaped object. It must have been a sight to see a tall gold-covered object glimmering in the sun in the area of Dura. The king invited all his officials to the dedication of the image he set up. But this dedication was no mere celebration; it included a death threat to anyone who did not participate in the worship of this statue. It appears to be some test of obedience for his leaders. And he made sure the soldiers preheated the fiery furnace for all to recognize that the threat was real.

To Stand or Bow

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego make the choice to obey the king or be faithful to God. Then knew well the commands of God concerning other deities. Exodus 20:3-6. They knew of God’s love for Israel and how he called for their complete loyalty to Him.
Exodus 20:3–6 ESV
3 “You shall have no other gods before me. 4 “You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. 5 You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I the Lord your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and the fourth generation of those who hate me, 6 but showing steadfast love to thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments.
The text seems to imply that their disobedience would have gone unnoticed except that some Chaldeans brought it to the king's attention. One would hope that the Chaldeans would have sympathy for Daniel and his friends who saved all the wise men from death because of the king's dream. But some were intent on getting rid of those who would not bow down to the ways of Babylon.
If we place ourselves in the situation of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, we might consider other options that might preserve our lives. What about fake kneeling, or kneeling then repenting later, or possibly make some excuse to leave the area? They decided to do the only thing they knew was possible for them as followers of God. They chose to stand when all else fell to the ground. They were willing to disobey the king of Babylon and obey the True King of Kings.
The three men were guilty of not doing two things: serving and worshipping.
Serving – Today, this term can describe jobs or occupations, but the context here covers giving one’s total self and related things to fulfill God's desires. Serving God is a God-centered action. The three men declared through standing that there was only one deity that could demand their complete service.
Serving God is a beautiful term to describe the Christian life. It involves making God the center of our lives instead of ourselves. It is possible to be distracted off this course and become “belly worshipers” who seek their satisfaction. When we choose to make ourselves the center, we are no longer serving God. Philippians 3:18-19
Philippians 3:18–19 ESV
18 For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ. 19 Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things.
Worship - The next term is worship/fall down/bowing. The term “worship” is sometimes limited to describe the time of musical expression before the preaching. But in scripture, this term describes the multiple ways we position God to the highest place in our lives and submit to Him. When we bow down before God, we lower ourselves to reflect the rightful place He deserves. When we consider what God has done for us, it only makes sense to humble ourselves.

The Cost of Standing

The great cost of civil disobedience to obey God is consistent throughout scripture. Peter and the apostles incurred similar threats. When threatened with injury and punishment if they did not stop preaching about Jesus, they chose to “obey God, rather than men”. We can find a connection to Daniel 3 as we follow God in a culture and environment that does not recognize Jesus Christ as Lord. You may be one of the very few at your work, school, or family that serves and worship God. May God give you encouragement and strength to stand when all around you are bowing down. Let us learn from our Christian history that it is part of our calling always to stand to obey God regardless of the cost. Acts 5:40-42
Acts 5:40–42 ESV
40 and when they had called in the apostles, they beat them and charged them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. 41 Then they left the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name. 42 And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they did not cease teaching and preaching that the Christ is Jesus.

God is Faithful in the Fire

Because of his decree, Nebuchadnezzar had a reputation to protect from appearing weak. When the three men refused to obey it, he grew hot with anger and made his soldiers increase the furnace temperature. And the king wanted to make sure that everyone knew that he was “greater” than the God of Israel. God may have given him the lands, kingdoms, and the meaning of dreams, but is God a match for the power of Babylon of its gods? Throughout the history of ancient Babylon, Marduk arose to be the primary deity, supreme ruler, and creator of the universe. God is indeed greater than all gods. And He is at work to save His people and to turn the stubborn heart of a king to submit and recognize Him.
The three men answered the king and left the option to save or not to save in the hands of God alone. And even if God would not save, they still would not bow down. At this point, we would hope to see a miracle or something that stops the process of going to the furnace. But God allowed Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego to enter the fiery furnace bound with chains. The furnace was most likely shaped like a train tunnel, closed on one end and open on the other so that one could see into the furnace. And to his amazement, the king asked if they did not throw three bound men into the fire, for now, four men appeared in the furnace, without chains walking around, and one of them appeared to be out of this world.
Since we know the end of the story, we might overlook the build-up of drama in the story. God could have stopped the situation and turned it around for the three men at any point, but God chose to allow them to enter the fire. God chose to show his presence and salvation in the flame. The men did not get burnt, neither did they smell of smoke. Their chains fell off, and they were free in the fire because God met them there. The text does not indicate the fourth person other than letting us know Nebuchadnezzar’s description, a “son of the gods”. The fourth person may be an angel or a pre-incarnate appearance of Jesus. Either way, we know for sure that the extra person in the furnace represents God’s salvation and presence. The God of Israel is Emmanuel, an assurance that would strengthen the heart of the other people in exile in Babylon. God is still with them, so they should not fear the fire.

Have Faith in the Fire

Daniel 3 reminds us that God can rescue His people in the midst of the fire. The writer of Hebrews mentions this story in the chapter of faith. Hebrews 11:32-34
Hebrews 11:32–34 ESV
32 And what more shall I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets— 33 who through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, 34 quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, were made strong out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight.
Although we may not currently see this kind of extreme threat of death for standing for God’s ways, we will face other types.
300 Illustrations for Preachers “If Our Faith Costs Us a Television Show Then so Be It”

Preaching Themes: Character, Commitment

Twin brothers David and Jason Benham were five weeks into filming their reality TV show when HGTV decided to pull the plug on the house flipping series. A liberal watchdog website said the brothers had spoken out in favor of traditional marriage and that their father was a pro-life activist. There was a social media campaign to pressure HGTV to cancel the show, and it worked.

The brothers refused to give in to political correctness, responding, “If our faith costs us a television show then so be it.” Just as Daniel refused to bend his knee to the false gods of his day, these brothers are standing for what they believe.

—Jim L. Wilson and Rodger Russell11

So, let us remember the words of Christ in Matthew 16:24
Matthew 16:24 ESV
24 Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.
Are you worried about the cost of following Christ? Then maybe you need to review what Christ has done to save us from sin and separation from God. The cross is our reminder of God’s great sacrifice for us; therefore, we are privileged to offer ourselves as a living sacrifice. How else should we consider following the one who gave His all for us?
Romans 12:1–2 ESV
1 I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. 2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
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