Daniel 3:1-18
Notes
Transcript
1 Nebuchadnezzar the king made an image of gold, whose height was threescore cubits, and the breadth thereof six cubits: he set it up in the plain of Dura, in the province of Babylon. 2 Then Nebuchadnezzar the king sent to gather together the princes, the governors, and the captains, the judges, the treasurers, the counsellers, the sheriffs, and all the rulers of the provinces, to come to the dedication of the image which Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up. 3 Then the princes, the governors, and captains, the judges, the treasurers, the counsellers, the sheriffs, and all the rulers of the provinces, were gathered together unto the dedication of the image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up; and they stood before the image that Nebuchadnezzar had set up.
We see what was at the time the most powerful ruler on earth setting up a golden image and demanding all the rulers under him to come and worship this idol. in todays measurements the idol was 30 meters tall and 3 meters wide.
4 Then an herald cried aloud, To you it is commanded, O people, nations, and languages, 5 That at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, ye fall down and worship the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king hath set up: 6 And whoso falleth not down and worshippeth shall the same hour be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace. 7 Therefore at that time, when all the people heard the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and all kinds of musick, all the people, the nations, and the languages, fell down and worshipped the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up.
So we see the command, when the instruments play, you will fall to the ground and worship the idol. if you do not, you will be burned alive. The most powerful man alive was forcing everyone to worship a false god or be put to death. around the world today there are several countries where similar commands are given. there may be a day in SA where this command is given. maybe it wont be as plain as a 30 meter tall idol but any command to put mans laws above God would be the same thing.
In the day that this happens, we will have the choice, to have faith and trust God or to follow the crowd and take the easy road. let me tell you, if your faith is not exercised and grown when that day comes, you will make the wrong choice.
Today I want to look at what true faith looks like. What are we having faith in?
Is our faith in that if I just speak in “Jesus’ name” this problem will go away?
12 There are certain Jews whom thou hast set over the affairs of the province of Babylon, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego; these men, O king, have not regarded thee: they serve not thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.
in Verse 8 some Chaldeans go to the King and remind him of his command and tell him there are some Jews that are not obeying. The desire is to have these 3 Jews killed.
13 Then Nebuchadnezzar in his rage and fury commanded to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego. Then they brought these men before the king. 14 Nebuchadnezzar spake and said unto them, Is it true, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, do not ye serve my gods, nor worship the golden image which I have set up?
The king is angered and brings the 3 in and questions them. Their response, is what I want us to examine. these three have the proper perspective and display accurate faith. many religions have an opinion about what faith looks like, God’s word gives us an accurate picture of true faith.
At the end if verse 15 the King asks “and who is the god who can rescue you from my power?”
16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter. 17 If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king. 18 But if 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.
Notice the aspects of their faith!
They knew that their God had the power to save them! “Our God whom we serve is able to deliver us” Even from the most powerful man alive. Their faith rested in the amazing power of God and they knew God was in control and nothing could happen unless God allowed it.
26 But Jesus looked at them and said, “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”
In the new testament we are reminded that the all powerful God that we saw in the OT is still the same all powerful God today!
They knew God was fully in control “if it be so” meaning if God desires to spare them, He will! They didn’t just trust God to do what they desired, they trusted God to do what He wanted. Their faith was not in God’s protection, their faith was in God’s plan!
11 In Him also we have received an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His own will,
God works all things, even what we think is not good, to accomplish His own will! Gods desire is for us to understand that we are not here to be comfortable. We are here to serve the will of God and even the difficult situations He controls to bring about His plan!
They knew that God’s plan was greater than theirs! “But even if He does not”
8 For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways, says the Lord. 9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.
When we look at life on this earth we may not understand why God is allowing certain things but we can trust that He is fully in control and His plan is better than ours. the best way is very rarely the easiest way!
When our kids have exams at school, the kids would prefer we let them stay home, but we know it is better for them to dig deep in study and go do their best on the exam. in the same way we may look at the trials God is allowing in our lives and rather “sit this one out” but God knows its best if we dig deep in our study of God and seek for Him during the test.
They knew the reason they were created was to give God glory! “We will not serve your gods”
7 even everyone who is called by My name, for I have created him for My glory; I have formed him, and I have made him.”
We were created by God, for Gods purposes. Not to be happy, not to be comfortable. but to know God and to bring Him glory.
The word Glory could be used to describe the jewels that a king or queen would wear on their cloths and crown. God created us to be like Shinning jewels for God! to get jewels to shine, they must have the rough edges removed and be ground down and smoothed out.
These Guys were determined to shine for God even in hardship, they have been polished through hardships.
They had their mind set to serve God, not man or idols even if that meant God allowed them to be put to death! “we will not serve your gods”
15 If it is displeasing to you to serve the Lord, then choose today whom you will serve, if it should be the gods your fathers served beyond the River or the gods of the Amorites’ land where you are now living. Yet as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”
The last aspect of their faith I want to discuss is the fact that they set their mind on the fact that no matter how God allowed this situation to play out, their minds were made up. They were going to serve God whether he brought deliverance or death. I like the way Paul put it in Philippians
21 For to me, to continue living is Christ, and to die is gain.
They knew just like Paul knew that they can kill the body but our souls belong to God!
Faith in God is not “knowing” that he will save you because you used His name! Faith in God is knowing that God is in control and His will is going to happen no matter what man may do and in the end God’s plan will be accomplished either with my death or my life and either way I am determined to live for God until the day He chooses that I die for Him!
If we read the rest of this passage, which I may continue the next time I preach, We see that God is with us even in the trials. to be a child of God means I am never alone in any test that God allows me to endure.