The Fire Next Time (Dan 3:1-30)

SCRIPTURE PASSAGE: Daniel 3:1-30

BIG IDEA: We must glorify the Lord even in our fires (e.g., our trials and tribulations).

By way of review, the setting of our text and what has transpired up to this point in the Book of Daniel:

§ The Book of Daniel came out of a period when Israel was going through some major problems, like getting invaded, plundered, and totally devastated by different imperial armies while seeing the best-educated Jews carried away into captivity.

§ Judah has been defeated by the Babylonians under King Nebuchadnezzar, who has ransacked Jerusalem and ends up taking back the cream of the crop, the most elite and noble Israelites, to serve at his court in Babylon. This includes Daniel, a prophet, and his three friends – Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.

§ So now Daniel and his friends face the challenge of navigating between the demands that this crazy Babylonian king is putting on them and their own religious principles.

§ So one night, King Nebuchadnezzar has a disturbing dream. It's so bad, that he's not able to get any sleep thereafter.

§ He calls in his Babylonian magicians and enchanters and asks them for help, but he refuses to tell them (quite unreasonably) what the dream actually was. They need to both tell him the dream he had and interpret it. He says that if they fail to come through, he's going to tear them "limb from limb" and lay their houses "in ruins." But if someone can tell him the dream and interpret it, they'll get showered with riches and rewards.

§ None of them can do it, so the king orders them all to be put to death.

§ Meanwhile, Daniel sees all this sudden activity and asks the king’s head executioner Arioch why the king was merkin’ ere’body outta the blue, including those close to him, and Arioch gives him the 411, filling him in on the situation.

§ So Daniel goes into Nebuchadnezzar and asks for a little time to discover the dream and relay the interpretation. The king agrees.

§ Daniel goes and tells Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego to ask God for help, and their prayers are effective. During the night, Daniel has a vision which reveals the dream and its interpretation.

§ The next day, Daniel is brought in before Nebuchadnezzar and interprets the dream.

§ He says that King Nebuchadnezzar saw a giant, frightening statue of a human being—one with a head of gold, a chest and arms of silver, a stomach and thighs of bronze, lower legs made of iron, and feet made of mixed iron and clay.

§ Suddenly, he sees a stone—one not made by human hands—hit the statue on its weak part-clay, part-iron feet. The statue collapses into pieces and gets blown away by the wind. But the stone turns into a giant mountain that covers the entire earth.

§ Daniel goes on to interpret the dream: King Nebuchadnezzar is the head of gold, the silver part of the statue is an inferior kingdom that will replace him, and the bronze part is a third kingdom that will "rule over the whole earth." The iron kingdom will be one that "crushes and smashes everything." The kingdom will get divided, symbolized by the clay and iron feet. It will be partly strong and partly fragile.

§ The stone thrown at the statue symbolizes the kingdom of God, which will utterly annihilate all these other kingdoms and permanently replace them, standing for all time.

§ Nebuchadnezzar is really impressed by this interpretation, bows down and worships Daniel and praises Daniel's God, saying he's clearly the "God of gods" for allowing Daniel to solve the king's puzzling dream.

§ He then gives Daniel this huge promotion, making him ruler of the province of Babylon (like, the equivalent of a mayor) and the head of all the wise men (who just escaped being killed because of Daniel’s interpretation).

§ Lookin’ out for his peoples, Daniel gets Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego cushy positions, helping him oversee the everyday business of Babylon.

§ So NOW…..likely based on the disturbing dream vision he just had interpreted, Nebuchadnezzar builds a giant golden statue and sets it up on a plain near Babylon.

§ Then he gathers together all the officials and VIPs from throughout the Babylonian Empire and its different nations and languages. He invites them to come to the statue's dedication ceremony.

§ When everyone is assembled, they are ordered to bow down and worship the golden statue when the music strikes up—or else they'll be thrown into a fiery furnace.

§ Apparently, everyone bows down and does as their told.

§ Well… almost everyone. Some Babylonians attack Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego for being disobedient and failing to honor the statue.

§ Nebuchadnezzar flips out—which is mainly what he does—and orders the Jewish trio to be brought in. He asks them if what their accusers say is true.

§ Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego immediately admit to not worshipping the statue. They say that their God is powerful enough to save them from the fiery furnace. If they can survive, it'll prove that their God is, indeed, pretty powerful.

§ Snarling with rage, Nebuchadnezzar arranges for them to get tossed into the furnace. He orders the furnace to be extra toasty, warming it up to seven times its normal temperature.

§ Nebuchadnezzar's henchmen prepare to toss the fully clothed Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego into the furnace, but the cronies get burned to death in the process of chucking the trio into the furnace.

§ Nebuchadnezzar is shocked to see that there appear to be more than three people in the fire. There's a fourth person present, who looks like "a son of the gods." And he's walking, alive with the other three.

§ Dazzled and impressed, Nebuchadnezzar calls Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego out of the fire. They emerge completely unscathed—to the surprise of all the king's officials.

Discussion Question: In the context of being Believers and walking in faith, as these men did, what do you INITIALLY think is the significance of this story for us? For further clarity, read 1 Peter 4:12-16….how does that relate and tie into it?

While most of us may never have to face the ordeal of entering a literal fiery furnace, it is nevertheless true that if we are determined to be faithful to the Lord then we should be ready to suffer for our faith. If Christ suffered, why would we NOT? Are above suffering when He wasn’t, like we’re somehow BETTER than Him?

Let’s examine 1 Peter 4:12-16:

“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[a] and of God rests upon you. 15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or an evildoer or as a meddler. 16 Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name.” - 1 Peter 4:12-16 (ESV)

THIS is where people get Christianity (or being a Believer) completely twisted: there is no immunity from trials because we belong to the Lord. Just because we follow Christ and pledge to live differently does NOT mean that we ain’t still gonna go through it!

In FACT, the Bible tells us that we must EXPECT testing as part of our heritage in Christ….look at:

“I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” - John 16:33

“For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake” - Philippians 1:29

Discussion Question: What lessons of significance can we take from the behaviors and attitudes which we INITIALLY see from King Nebuchadnezzar?

Take note to how the king bowed down before Daniel’s God when the dream was interpreted, but went RIGHT BACK to self-serving activity by building the statue and inviting people to a unveiling ceremony. Either he didn’t understand the dream’s interpretation, or he was basically mocking the same God he had just praised. The lesson for us is clear:

1) When God shows you something, don’t ignore it - while God is a gentleman and will allow you to do your own thing separate from His will, He WILL hold you accountable for not doing His will. There will always be consequences for tryinta do it your own way:

“Because I have called and you refused to listen, have stretched out my hand and no one has heeded, because you have ignored all my counsel and would have none of my reproof, I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when terror strikes you, when terror strikes you like a storm and your calamity comes like a whirlwind, when distress and anguish come upon you. Then they will call upon me, but I will not answer; they will seek me diligently but will not find me. ....” – Proverbs 1:24-33 (ESV)

Nuff said. Don’t listen to God, expect it to go VERY badly for you. Secondly:

2) God is not to be mocked….EVER. Scripture is clear:

“Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.” – Galatians 6:7-8

Ain’t that what Nebuchadnezzar eventually found out? He went mad and was forced to wander in the wildeness with the beasts for seven years before he finally repented and proclaimed the sovereignty of God. He def’nitely reaped what he sowed.

* * * * *

So the scene is set here…..a vivid and dramatic record of God showing up and showing out on behalf of these four men and rewarding their faith despite the circumstances and temptations they faced.

Every day, in some way, we are tempted to deny the Lord whom we love, just as these three men were tempted. Every day we face fiery trials that can threaten our very lives in the same way it did for these four men.

Let us find encouragement as we focus our attention upon them, and give notice to, for starters:

A. The Challenge They Faced

In verses 1-7 we read in great detail how Nebuchadnezzar set up a golden statue out on the plains.

It was a huge monument, 90ft. high and 9ft. wide, and it was probably a replica of the statue the king had seen in his dream [for context…..90 feet is about the distance between bases on a regulation baseball diamond…imagine 13 Shaquille O’Neal’s (7-footer) all stacked up on top of each other.]

Everyone was commanded to be present at the dedication of the statue, and a terrible penalty was imposed on any who would refuse to bow down and worship it.

At the appropriate moment everyone bowed down - except for the three government officials, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, who refused to bow and renounce their God and His commands (verse 12). They were determined to be faithful to Him at all costs.

Discussion Question (v. 1-7): How is the challenge that these men faced relative to our experience today?

It is so easy to go with the crowd and let the herd instinct dominate us, and thus to fail the Lord. However, these men were victorious in the hour of their supreme testing.

How did they do this? In part, due to….

B. The Compromise They Refused

Verses 8-18 tell us that some folks reported this disobedience to the king, which so infuriated him that he sent for them and invited them to reconsider their decision.

Here was the temptation to compromise: “Just do this one thing…Do it to please me…it won’t harm you…it’ll soon be over…” – but steadfastly they refused to save their situation at the expense of their conscience and to bring dishonor upon the name of their Lord, so they defied the king. They said, We…will not…”

Discussion Question (v. 8-18): As Believers walking in faith every day, what lessons can we take from the faith demonstrated by Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego? Read Hebrews 11:24-27, Matthew 4:1-11 and Acts 7:54-60….how do each of these verses relate to this situation?

Are you loyal enough to stand out with the minority, to be one of three against three hundred thousand? In other words, how willing are you to stand by your principles and beliefs even when nobody else will do so, and even when you might face extreme persecution by doing so?

UNDERSTAND…..this is not unique to God’s people.

Moses was faced with this temptation and resisted it:

“By faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, 25 choosing rather to be mistreated with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. 26 He considered the reproach of Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking to the reward. 27 By faith he left Egypt, not being afraid of the anger of the king, for he endured as seeing him who is invisible.” - Hebrews 11:24-27

….so was Jesus, and He resisted it. In Matthew 4:1-11, we see that Jesus endured 40 days and nights of fasting in the wilderness, at which time He gets tempted by Satan, who offers Jesus bread and power and tries to get him to test the power of God. But Jesus basically tells him that no means no.

…..so was Stephen, and he refused it and was stoned to death:

“Now when they heard these things they were enraged, and they ground their teeth at him. 55 But he, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. 56 And he said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.” 57 But they cried out with a loud voice and stopped their ears and rushed together[a] at him. 58 Then they cast him out of the city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul. 59 And as they were stoning Stephen, he called out, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” 60 And falling to his knees he cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep.” - Acts 7:54-60

Each refused to compromise their faith in the heat of the moment…when things REALLY got thick.

Are we willing to do that?

And…..how do we account for the courage that these three men had? What was their secret?

Actually, their secret was….

C. The Confidence They Possessed

In spite of the dreadful alternative facing them, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego steadfastly refused to worship the golden image because of their whole trust was in God….not in what their circumstances looked like.

In fact, the king told his peoples to turn the furnace up “seven times more than it was usually heated”, in an attempt to quell that confidence [moral: when the heat gets HOTTER, don’t melt…just endure].

So when the king’s goons tried to throw them in the fire, not only did the fire not burn them, but the goons who threw them in burnt up and died INSTEAD.

Discussion Question (v 19-23): What is the significance for us of the confidence expressed by these three men? For more context, read:

§ Genesis 18:14

§ Matthew 19:26

§ Job 13:15; and

§ Romans 14:8

We see that these men had confidence in:

1. The power of God. They said, ”The…God we serve is able…”

1. They were confident that their God was stronger and more mighty than all of Babylonia

2. The lesson? We need to have that same confidence in the fires that we face. The Bible is clear that:

1. nothing is too hard for God:

“Is anything too hard[a] for the Lord? At the appointed time I will return to you, about this time next year, and Sarah shall have a son.” - Genesis 18:14;

AND

2. all things are possible to Him:

But Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” - Matthew 19:26

…but THEN….notice what they said NEXT, which is the epitome of exemplifying confidence:

2. The purpose of God. They said, ““But…even if he does not…”…”

In other words, ““God can deliver us, and if it is His will then He’ll deliver us – – but He may not.

Perhaps it’s His will for us to suffer and die –- but His will is best anyway!”

Faith is ready to trust God to fulfil His purpose whatever that may be.

Faith is saying:

“Though he slay me, I will hope in him; yet I will argue my ways to his face.” - Job 13:15

“For if we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord's.” - Romans 14:8

D. The Companionship They Enjoyed

Verses 24-27 tell us that they were not alone in the fire; the Lord was there with them - just as He is always with His people when they suffer in His name.

The presence of the Lord with Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego in the fire was the guarantee of their protection.

Even the fire could not touch them, because it was God’s will that it should not do so.

Discussion Question (v. 24-27): What teachings regarding companionship do we see from these verses? For more context, read:

§ Isaiah 43:2

§ Psalm 23:4

§ 2 Timothy 4:16-17

God never calls us to enter the furnace alone.

“When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you.” - Isaiah 43:2

“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.” - Psalm 23:4

“At my first defense no one came to stand by me, but all deserted me. May it not be charged against them! 17 But the Lord stood by me and strengthened me, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. So I was rescued from the lion's mouth.” - 2 Timothy 4:16-17

The point? HE IS ALWAYS WITH US, and He blesses us in the furnace in a way that we never could be blessed had we not experienced the fires. Let’s look at 1 Peter 1:7

“…so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” – 1 Peter 1:7

Don’t miss what that’s saying, though….one MAIN reason why the Lord allows us to be tested is that, by our quiet confidence in Him in the hour of trial and by the manifestation of His power and glory, others may be blessed and His kingdom may be extended.

CONCLUSION

Discussion Question: As you conclude this study…read and compare the following verses and see how they relate:

§ Compare Psalm 66:10-12 with 1 Corinthians 10:13

“For you, O God, have tested us; you have tried us as silver is tried. You brought us into the net; you laid a crushing burden on our backs; you let men ride over our heads; we went through fire and through water; yet you have brought us out to a place of abundance.” – Psalm 66:10-12

“No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.” - 1 Corinthians 10:13

Despite being faced with the enemy’s fiery trials in life, our faith in God will prevail.

What our circumstances look like should not dictate how we react in faith to God

On the contrary, God seeks our faithfulness in Him WHEN the circumstances look their worst!