Kept By God

Reference

Daniel 3

Kept By God

King Nebuchadnezzar made an image of gold, whose height was sixty cubits and its breadth six cubits. He set it up on the plain of Dura, in the province of Babylon. 2 Then King Nebuchadnezzar sent to gather the satraps, the prefects, and the governors, the counselors, the treasurers, the justices, the magistrates, and all the officials of the provinces to come to the dedication of the image that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up. 3 Then the satraps, the prefects, and the governors, the counselors, the treasurers, the justices, the magistrates, and all the officials of the provinces gathered for the dedication of the image that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up. And they stood before the image that Nebuchadnezzar had set up. 4 And the herald proclaimed aloud, “You are commanded, O peoples, nations, and languages, 5 that when you hear the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, bagpipe, and every kind of music, you are to fall down and worship the golden image that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up. 6 And whoever does not fall down and worship shall immediately be cast into a burning fiery furnace.” 7 Therefore, as soon as all the peoples heard the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, bagpipe, and every kind of music, all the peoples, nations, and languages fell down and worshiped the golden image that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up.

8 Therefore at that time certain Chaldeans came forward and maliciously accused the Jews. 9 They declared to King Nebuchadnezzar, “O king, live forever! 10 You, O king, have made a decree, that every man who hears the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, bagpipe, and every kind of music, shall fall down and worship the golden image. 11 And whoever does not fall down and worship shall be cast into a burning fiery furnace. 12 There are certain Jews whom you have appointed over the affairs of the province of Babylon: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. These men, O king, pay no attention to you; they do not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.”

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.

Daniel 3:1–30.

Mistaken Application

Nebuchadnezzer build’s an image, statue, tselem that is 90 feet high and nine feet wide. It’s massive and designed to bring attention to him and his kingdom. It may have been an image of him, or the Babylonian God. It is built on a plain just like the tower of Babel was on a plain in Babylon (Gen 11). Nebuchadnezzers act is as futile as that one. Its very interesting in does this in light of what happened in chapter 2.

A few months ago I was playing tennis with a friend of mine. We were down and needed a point. The other team hit a soft floater to the front of the net and my friend, who will remain nameless, utterly crushed the ball and sent it into oblivion. Unfortunately when he did this he also tore all four of his rotator cuffs. He had surgery, rehabed for six months, and a few weeks ago we were leaving staff meeting and he let me know he was ready to start hitting. He said he had talked to a physical therapist and the therapist said he could start again. He came out to casually hit on Wednesday. We needed a player for a game on Saturday, so he was in. Won the match.

Interestingly, I saw his wife a few days later, and I said, “Hey Kim, its great your husband is out playing tennis again. She gave me a look that said she was not as excited about it as he was. She said, yeah, did he tell you about his “consultation.” She said the conversation with the PT took place while they were watching the grandkids play soccer. Found out the lady next to him was PT and asked if you could start playing tennis seven months after rotator cuff surgery. Her answer went something like, “You could do that, but I wouldn’t advise it, and here is a litany of reasons why you probably should not do that.” Kim said after her 10 minute explanation to not do that all he heard was, “You could do that.” lol

That conversation of my friend with his therapist is a little like what is happening with King Nebuchadnezzar. In chapter 1 he has a terrifying dream of a colossal statue that is destroyed by a rock not made with human hands. The statue has a gold head, silver shoulders, bronze chest, and clay and iron legs. Daniel tells king Nebuchadnezzer he is the gold head. Kingdoms will come after him, and that rock not made with human hands will destroy them. So he he proceeds to make a solid gold statue approximate — feet high. All he heard was you are the head, the gold head.

He will command his people to bow down and worship this image. That is to break the very first commandment. It is astounding. It also means his confession at the end of 2 (“Truly, your God is God of gods and Lord of kings, and a revealer of mysteries….” Dan 2:47).

was insincere. He is like many today who may say the right things but their hearts are far from committed to the true God.

We need to exercise care and intentionality in applying God’s word to our lives. Can hear very superficially and run off hell bent in the wrong direction doing things God has no desire for us to do.

The Pressure Cooker of the World

This is a who’s who guest list. The guest list contains all the important people in his kingdom. If you want to advance in your career this is the place to be. All the provinces of the king are there. All the nations are present. The king and all his important official are committed to this cause. Tremendous pressure is on these men.

Don't do anything stupid. Don't jeopardize your career. Give some hugs, shake some hands, look like a good soldier or citizen. LIfe is good.

They are trying to live their best life when this comes up and they have to make a decision of who they will serve. They know the world has nothing to offer them. Nothing lasting. True life is found in God. They are done with the world. They have seen what the Babylonian Gods are. They have seen Nebuchadnezzer up close and person.

The world will make demands of you. You cannot serve the world and the Lord. You will have to disappoint one.

4 And the herald proclaimed aloud, “You are commanded, O peoples, nations, and languages,

5 that when you hear the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, bagpipe, and every kind of music, you are to fall down and worship the golden image that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up.

6 And whoever does not fall down and worship shall immediately be cast into a burning fiery furnace.”

This is irrational. Bow down and worship, give your all to this, your ultimate devotion simply because I say so. Their devotion is not to this image but to their own well being. They worship themselves and this false worship is simply a way to preserve what they most want. It is superficial.

And notice how everyone goes along with it. They have no grounding, no foundation.

Following God has never been easy or popular. People will go along with whatever is most advantageous to them socially. It doesn’t take long to see that in people. It has always been hard. It likely will get harder. Christians are more and more in the minority. Many want they out of society. Many things being done to intentionally minimize their place. If you are going to serve Christ you will have to go against the world. The world’s expectations.

Worshipping God’s of money leave you empty. Run ragged trying to impress other people. Bail on the things of God for your own self.

12 … certain Jews … O king, pay no attention to you; they do not serve your gods or worship the golden image…”

They have to go against their very own people. Should surprise you either. Sometimes our greatest opposition is from our own people. That was the case with Cain and Abel, and it was the case with Jesus and the Pharisees. You will feel it too. God people not doing what they are supposed to do. For over a hundred years slavery was legal in America, a supposedly Christian nation. What happened? People were not living out their faith. They were not anchored in the word of God and went with the flow. I think the same root issue is evident today when Christians are so quick to give up their biblical convictions on marriage and sexuality.

The world wants you to deny your God and worship their God. They will call you narrow minded and other names if you don’t do it. And if you don’t do it or what they want of you then they cancel you.

They want you to deny your God and then bow down to their God. Christianity is narrow minded. You need to be more open minded. If you don't agree with our view of sexuality then you have no place in society. Don't tell me about this Jesus stuff.

The world will seek to convert you immediately or …. Either propositionally and theologically, or pragmatically. Getting you to do all that they are doing. Do business the way they do it. Do it when they do it or how and where. No one cares what you believe as long as you do all the things they are doing. If you are going to serve Christ that is not an option. You are to conform your life to God and not to others, not to unbelievers, not to the world.

Undeterred Confidence in God

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego defied the king's order. He brings them to him and tells them to bow in worship and they refuse a second time. He was giving them a second chance. They refuse to compromise.

They are confident in whom they have believed. No backup plan. There is full commitment. Not a practice of convenience but of commitment. Confidence leads to commitment. Commitment leads to confidence.

The fire is heated seven times. This was probably a kiln that was used to make the statue. It would have had an opening on the top and side. The king's command is urgent and the soldiers rush to do the job that they are not able to throw them in and make it back. It is a gruesome scene.

[9 “But be on your guard. For they will deliver you over to councils, and you will be beaten in synagogues, and you will stand before governors and kings for my sake, to bear witness before them. 10 And the gospel must first be proclaimed to all nations. 11 And when they bring you to trial and deliver you over, do not be anxious beforehand what you are to say, but say whatever is given you in that hour, for it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit. 12 And brother will deliver brother over to death, and the father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death. 13 And you will be hated by all for my name’s sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. Mark 13:9–13.

Adoniram Judson, “How great are my obligations to spend and be spent for Christ! What a privilege to be allowed to serve him… and suffer for him… But in myself I am absolute nothingness… Soon we shall be in heaven. Oh, let us live as we shall then wish we had lived.” (Newell, Expect Great things, in Daniel Akin, Daniel edited by David Platt.

Serving Jesus takes great faith. Faith against persecution. This kind of persecution isnt unique to Daniels day. Read about the martyrdom of Christians in communist countries around the world. China. We certain see a turn in our country where there is little tolerance for Christian views.

Let me also says this. Most of us will not experience the level of persecution they experience. But you will certainly face challenges. And you will certainly face times you want God to answer something and he is silent. Dont fear. Dont lose heart. Times we live by faith in an active patience. Waiting for God to provide a way out. And he always does but it is often not the way we thought. There is always a away out. Sometimes it is miraculous deliverance. Sometimes doors open. Rest in God and Trust him.

There is a confidence that God is able to keep his people. They have come to rest in him. Their hope is not in the king. Their hope is not in the king’s statue, not in the state, not in their friends, peers, not in their ability to have the worship service they want to have. Their confidence is in the God who is over it all. They have gone all in. Not just doing it for show.

They know his word. They know him through experience. They have owned their faith. Most are not able to trust God with big things because you haven't trusted him with little things. Seen God provide and answer their prayer. FAith is a muscle. Use it or lose it. Grow hot or grow cold.

Delivered.

They are delivered. Not a hair on their head is injured. Didn't even smell like the camp fire blew on them a little bit. God rescued them.

What do we make of this? It is not asserting that God will deliver us from every trial. He won't. Suffering is a part of following in the footsteps of Christ. We will have many. So does that mean we cannot expect God to do this for us? No, God does promises to deliver us. But the promise to us is that death is not the end. Death is a doorway. We will stand before God and be judged.

Those who have trusted in Christ will rise to immortality. They will have glorified bodies and live in a new heaven with no more curse. Their future glory will not be the least bit tainted by the trial of this life as Shadrach, meshach and abenego’s bodies werre burnt by the fire. God is able to deliver us. He has promised to deliver us.

The Son of the Gods

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.”

Nebucahdnezzer made an image of gold. Purity and glory. But the one in the flames is the one who has the appearance of the gods. This is the one to worship. This one didnt ask to be worship but he is recognized as worthy of it.

Some may take this to be an angel. It could be. But the fact that he says like a “son of God” would imply deity. To be a son of someone is to be of their same nature. So there is one like a son of the gods, clothed in glory, and with his people. Neb didnt have a category for what he was seeing, but there is no better person to be with you in the fire. Not an angel, not a strong soldier, but the Son of God.

The vast majority of Christians believe this is a preincarnate appearing of Jesus. HE comes to be with his people and to rescue them. He is with them in their trials.

“When you walk through the fire you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze” (Isaiah 43:2).

King Nebuchadnezzer is convinced by this scened, professes faith in him, but is still relying on his own thinning rather than God. He calls for the sword on all those who do not

God is with his people, and his presence is most often felt when we have nothing else to rely on. The Israelites had to follow a pillar of cloud and fire. Jesus sent his spirit to be with his disciples.

The promise of the gospel isnt that we come to Jesus and he takes all of our problems away. The promise of the gospel is that Jesus is with us in the midst of our problems.

They were unscathed by the fire. Jesus says if we trust him we will be unscathed by death. Doesnt mean we wont die, that is part of life in this world. But he will raise us again.

Jesus doesnt leave us. He is with us. By his spirit.

He will deliver his people. We trust him and live faithfully. The thing we worship is the most important thing about us. IT is not a matter of if you worship but what you worship. Everyone has something that is of utmost importance, that determines everything else they do.

Because we know that

We do not hope in Jesus so we can gain advantage in this life. We trust in Jesus so we can be saved from this life. This world willalways let us down.