Daniel 3

Review

God rules - Sovereignty: God’s all-encompassing rule over the entire universe.

God’s Got All This

No matter what it looks like, no matter what it feels like, God’s got ALL this!

As we approach this chapter, lets ask:

1. What kinds of direct and hostile challenges to our faith do we face as Christians today?

2. In such circumstances, what does God expect from us?

3. In what ways are we like Nebuchadnezzer?

we put ourselves in the mens place but we should also consider ourselves in Nebuchadnezzar's place

1. A Challenge to Their Faith (v 1–12)

Dan 3: King Nebuchadnezzar made a gold statue ninety feet tall and nine feet wide and set it up on the plain of Dura in the province of Babylon.

Obvious direct parallel to chapter 2 vision:

2:31‘You looked, O king, and there before you stood a large statue—an enormous, dazzling statue, awesome in appearance. 32 The head of this image was of fine gold, its chest and arms of silver, its middle and thighs of bronze, 33 its legs of iron, its feet partly of iron and partly of clay. 34 As you looked, a stone was cut out by no human hand, and it struck the image on its feet of iron and clay, and broke them in pieces. 35 Then the iron, the clay, the bronze, the silver, and the gold, all together were broken in pieces, and became like the chaff of the summer threshing floors; and the wind carried them away, so that not a trace of them could be found. But the stone that struck the image became a great mountain and filled the whole earth.

Dan 2:46 Then King Nebuchadnezzar fell upon his face and paid homage to Daniel, and commanded that an offering and incense be offered up to him. 47 The king answered and said to Daniel, “Truly, your God is God of gods and Lord of kings, and a revealer of mysteries, for you have been able to reveal this mystery.”

He gave glory to God but it would seem that he either forgot or learned the wrong lesson.

Its seems like he thought “Ok if the gold head is me, and my kingdom is going to come to and end the way to make this better is to make the whole dang thing gold”

statue height - 3 school busses end to end

10 story building (2 firelands hospitals)

2 Then he sent messages to the high officers, officials, governors, advisers, treasurers, judges, magistrates, and all the provincial officials to come to the dedication of the statue he had set up. 3 So all these officials came and stood before the statue King Nebuchadnezzar had set up. 4 Then a herald shouted out, “People of all races and nations and languages, listen to the king’s command! 5 When you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipes, and other musical instruments, bow to the ground to worship King Nebuchadnezzar’s gold statue. 6 Anyone who refuses to obey will immediately be thrown into a blazing furnace.” 7 So at the sound of the musical instruments, all the people, whatever their race or nation or language, bowed to the ground and worshiped the gold statue that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up.

Picture a massive production. Superbowl, macy’s thanksgiving parade,

Was this a big deal?

English Standard Version (Exodus 20:3–5)

3 “You shall have no other gods before1 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

This is the very thing that caused the exile

before we excuse ourselves or out culture we need to remember that An idol is anyone or anything that takes God’s place on the throne

john Calvin in his book the institutes:

The human mind is, so to speak, a perpetual forge of idols.

John Calvin

Every one of us is, even from his mother’s womb, a master craftsman of idols.

John Calvin

8 But some of the astrologers went to the king and informed on the Jews. 9 They said to King Nebuchadnezzar, “Long live the king! 10 You issued a decree requiring all the people to bow down and worship the gold statue when they hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipes, and other musical instruments. 11 That decree also states that those who refuse to obey must be thrown into a blazing furnace. 12 But there are some Jews—Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego—whom you have put in charge of the province of Babylon. They pay no attention to you, Your Majesty. They refuse to serve your gods and do not worship the gold statue you have set up.”

Motivated by jealousy

These are the very men who were saved from death by the mens prayers and Daniels interpretation of the kings dream last chapter.

2. A Bold and Courageous Stand (v 13-18)

13 Then Nebuchadnezzar flew into a rage and ordered that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego be brought before him.

An anger problem

IS a PRIDE problem

When they were brought in, 14 Nebuchadnezzar said to them, “Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, that you refuse to serve my gods or to worship the gold statue I have set up? 15 I will give you one more chance to bow down and worship the statue I have made when you hear the sound of the musical instruments. But if you refuse, you will be thrown immediately into the blazing furnace. And then what god will be able to rescue you from my power?”

The gauntlet is thrown down

What is the furnace? Probably a brick making oven or a metal forge of some kind set up to build this statue.

Imagine hundreds of wisemen and officials, the ohio state marching band, the Cleveland philharmonic orchestra and the tran-siberian orchestra all assembled ready to play, ready to hear what you will say and see what you will do

The temptation would be to try to make this a gray area, to find a technicality

As Nebuchadnezzar tempted Daniel’s friends “to fall down and worship the golden statue,” the devil tempted Jesus: “ ‘All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.’ ”Jesus said to the devil, “Away with you, Satan! for it is written, ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve only him’ ” (Matt 4:9–10).

16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego replied, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you. 17 If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God whom we serve is able to save us. He will rescue us from your power, Your Majesty.

These men have SEEN people (maybe their fathers) burned

These men believed in God’s miracle working power

18 But even if he doesn’t, we want to make it clear to you, Your Majesty, that we will never serve your gods or worship the gold statue you have set up.”

No shades of gray. “WE WILL NEVER”

“It is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be put to shame in any way, but that by my speaking with all boldness, Christ will be exalted now as always in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me, living is Christ and dying is gain” (Phil 1:20–21).

“Those who love their life lose it, and those who hate their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. Whoever serves me must follow me, and where I am, there will my servant be also. Whoever serves me, the Father will honor” (John 12:25–26)

Those who believe in me, even though they die, will live” (John 11:26)

“I tell you, my friends, do not fear those who kill the body, and after that can do nothing more. But I will warn you whom to fear: fear him who, after he has killed, has authority to cast into hell. (Luke 12:4–5).

God Delivers (vs 19-27)

19 Nebuchadnezzar was so furious with Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego that his face became distorted with rage. He commanded that the furnace be heated seven times hotter than usual. 20 Then he ordered some of the strongest men of his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego and throw them into the blazing furnace. 21 So they tied them up and threw them into the furnace, fully dressed in their pants, turbans, robes, and other garments. 22 And because the king, in his anger, had demanded such a hot fire in the furnace, the flames killed the soldiers as they threw the three men in. 23 So Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, securely tied, fell into the roaring flames.

No chance that this was a fortunate accident. like they fell along the edge where it was only kinda hot. It’s not like they fell into the fire and quickly could run out and survive with some burns. They were securely bound and thrown into a situation of 100% certainty of death

24 But suddenly, Nebuchadnezzar jumped up in amazement and exclaimed to his advisers, “Didn’t we tie up three men and throw them into the furnace?” “Yes, Your Majesty, we certainly did,” they replied. 25 “Look!” Nebuchadnezzar shouted. “I see four men, unbound, walking around in the fire unharmed! And the fourth looks like a god!”

who was with them?

It could have been a preincarnate Jesus

It could have been an angel

EITHER way, it was a rock solid indicator that GOD was with them

26 Then Nebuchadnezzar came as close as he could to the door of the flaming furnace and shouted: “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out! Come here!” So Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego stepped out of the fire. 27 Then the high officers, officials, governors, and advisers crowded around them and saw that the fire had not touched them. Not a hair on their heads was singed, and their clothing was not scorched. They didn’t even smell of smoke!

In the presence of many witnesses there was no doubt that a miraculous thing had occured

God Get’s the Glory (vs 28-30)

28 Then Nebuchadnezzar said, “Praise to the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego! He sent his angel to rescue his servants who trusted in him. They defied the king’s command and were willing to die rather than serve or worship any god except their own God. 29 Therefore, I make this decree: If any people, whatever their race or nation or language, speak a word against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, they will be torn limb from limb, and their houses will be turned into heaps of rubble. There is no other god who can rescue like this!” 30 Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego to even higher positions in the province of Babylon.

He saves them IN the fire. He does not save them OUT of the fire. It is IN the fire that they meet God and that God’s full Glory is displayed

1 Peter 4:12–14 ESV

12 Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. 13 But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. 14 If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you.

So What?

1. What kinds of direct and hostile challenges to our faith do we face as Christians today?

Relativism

Secularism

Humanism

2. In such circumstances, what does God expect from us?

A. Remember: No matter what it looks like, No matter what it feels like, God’s Got All This - He is Sovereign

B. Know and Wield his Word

C. Understand your Highest Purpose - To Bring Glory to God

would you rather do that as a recipient of his judgment or as a recipient of his gracious blessing?

3. In what ways are we like Nebuchadnezzer?

we put ourselves in the mens place but we should also consider ourselves in Nebuchadnezzar's place

Who/what is on the throne in your life?

Does your life point people to worship the true God or something else?

God is with us