Test Fidelity Dan 3

Title: Test of Fidelity

Text: Daniel 3 (1-7)

Intro: On a wall near the main entrance to the Alamo in San Antonio, Texas, is a portrait with the following inscription: "James Butler Bonham “no picture of him exists.” This portrait is of his nephew, Major James Bonham, deceased, who greatly resembled his uncle. It is placed here by the family that people may know the appearance of the man who died for freedom."

No literal portrait of Jesus exists either. But the likeness of the Son who makes us free can be seen in the lives of His true followers.

Here is an OT example of true followers.

In the year 605 BC Babylon was the dominant world power, shortly after the battle of Carchemish Nebuchadnezzar came up against Judah and conquered the people of God. This was judgement from God due their sin. Many of the wealthy and influential were taken into exile to Babylon. This the first of three exiles, 605, 597, and 586 B.C. This was the group which Daniel and his three friends were taken with.

Now this was not the first mention in History of Babylon in fact Babylon (Babel) was an ancient city that we first read about in Genesis 10 built by that mighty rebel of God Nimrod.

In the Scriptures we see that Babel was more than just a city or an empire it represents a system. It is God’s name for Satan’s system in this world.

In Genesis 11 we see Babel in Rebellion against God, it was a human attempt at worldwide unity politically and religiously.

Same Language

Same Cause (Built a city with a tower to reach into Heaven)

Same opponent (God had to Scramble their language and scatter them across the face of the Earth)

This is what King Nebuchadnezzar wanted to accomplish with his great image, he wanted to unify his empire under one government and one religion.

This is a strategy of the king to solidify his kingdom His attempt is to break the Jewish exiles Identity and make them Babylonians.

Training – young, healthy, smart members of loyal and noble families to be trained in the Language and Literature of Babylon. (Hebrew died in Babylon) 1:3-5

Diet – Food was given them from the kings table. This food was not the prescribed diet God have given them but meat sacrificed to pagan gods. 1:3-5

Given Babylonian names 1:7

Daniel “God is my Judge” Belteshazzar “May Bel protect my life”

Hananiah “Yahweh is gracious” Shadrach “Command of Aka” Moon god

Mishael “Who is what God is” Meshach “Who is what Aka is”

Azariah “ Yahweh has helped” Abednego “Slave to Nego” son of Marduk

ILL. This is the Idea of breaking one from their Identity and forcing one to embrace a new identity, to break who they are in God.

Roots – Kunta Kintea – Toby

A new god – Statue of himself in gold in tribute to himself, his kingdom, and his gods

Here in this familiar passage we see a great test of Fidelity

Fidelity = Faithfulness demonstrated by continual loyalty

CPS: True followers of the LORD do not compromise when the pressures of the world turns up the heat around us instead, we remain faithful to the One who is faithful to deliver.

Don’t compromise while under peer pressure Vs. 8-12

Their Peers

Their Actions

Their Charge – Not serve – Not worship

ILL. Friends Party

Don’t compromise while under political pressure Vs. 13-18

Their Summons

Their Charges

Their Penalty

Their Plea – We answer to someone greater

Romans 13 Obey gov. Acts 5:29, 4:19 Obey God rather than men

Don’t compromise while under physical pressure Vs. 19-23

The Kings Anger

Face

Furnace

The Kings Men

The mighty Men

The Jews Binds (no fight)

The mighty men’s death

The Jewish exiles fall

Those who don’t compromise may face an earthly penalty but there is eternal reward. Vs. 24-27

Their Number

3 bound

4 Loose

Their Deliver

Their Deliverance (Total and Complete)

Application: Don’t Compromise regardless of who is around you, who is pressuring you, what they want to do to you. Be faithful because He is faithful.

Conclusion: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego did not compromise regardless of the pressure or penalty we too are to remain continually loyal to the LORD who called us to salvation and display our faith for the world to see.

WHEN THE BELIEVER TAKES A STAND, NO MATTER THE COST, THE LOST WORLD TAKES NOTICE! VS 28-30