Lessons from the Furnace

Christ in the Old Testament - Christophany Lessons from the Furnace - Daniel 3:8-30 October 27, 2024 Last week, we opened a new series called Jesus in the Old Testament, where - you guessed it - we're looking at Old Testament passages that point us to Jesus. Last week, we looked at the example of Jacob wrestling with the man in the wilderness, which we later determined was a pre-incarnate appearance of Jesus. There was a term we used to describe this pre-incarnate appearance of Jesus. Anyone remember what it is? That's right - a Christophany. This morning, we'll look at another example of a Christophany, and another likely familiar account. We'll be in the book of Daniel this morning, chapter 3. You'll find Daniel in the Old Testament, right after Ezekiel, and right before Hosea - or page 870 of my Bible. While this chapter is towards the beginning of the book, it is necessary to catch us up to this point of the account. Chapter 1 gives us some insight to the period in which this takes place - which was during the Babylonian captivity around 605 BC. Here, we see that Nebuchadnezzar besieges Jerusalem, and takes some of the youngest and brightest minds to educate his people. Among those chosen were Daniel, and his three friends. We know them by their Babylonian names, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. Immediately, we see the heart of these 4 young men, as they stood firmly for their beliefs, illustrated first by Daniel's refusal to eat of the king's food and drink. At the end of chapter 1, we see that Daniel and his friends were held in high regard by Nebuchadnezzar and his court, and given wisdom and understanding by the Lord. In chapter 2, Nebuchadnezzar has a dream, and none of his magicians or enchanters were able to interpret the dream, so Daniel is given a vision from God to interpret the dream. The interpretation - in short - is that there will be many great kingdoms in the future, to include Babylon. Most commentators agree that these four kingdoms are the Babylonian, then the Medio-Persian, then the Greek, and finally the Roman. By the way, this is where scholars have a difficult time with Daniel. Many cannot believe that Daniel was able to "predict" all of these future events with such accuracy, so they come to the conclusion that these were added later or the book itself was written to include these and made to believe that it was prophetic in its nature. After Daniel interprets the dream, he and his friends are promoted and given power in the kingdom. Nebuchadnezzar - evidently - only seemed to care about the first part of that interpretation - the one that said that his empire will be great - and set up golden statue that he commanded everyone worship, or they would be thrown into the "burning fiery furnace." That takes us through chapter 3, verses 1-7. But, noteworthy from Daniel's interpretation is chapter 2:45, where we read: 45 JUST AS YOU SAW THAT A STONE WAS CUT FROM A MOUNTAIN BY NO HUMAN HAND, AND THAT IT BROKE IN PIECES THE IRON, THE BRONZE, THE CLAY, THE SILVER, AND THE GOLD. A GREAT GOD HAS MADE KNOWN TO THE KING WHAT SHALL BE AFTER THIS. THE DREAM IS CERTAIN, AND ITS INTERPRETATION SURE." That reference to stone cut by no human hand at the beginning of that verse is generally believed to be referring to the Messiah - the Anointed One - Jesus. Let's pick up the account in verse 8, and we'll read through verse 30. 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. I know, a bit of a long passage, and set up, but I think it was necessary to understand our main idea, which is: I show my faith when I trust Him in all things. Think about it. You have the most powerful man in that region, and he has the life of these three men in his hand. They must make a decision on how to respond. Their response is one to be celebrated. They chose - no matter the result - to trust the Lord. I told you all last week, that each week - as much as the text allows - that I would answer two questions. First: WHERE IS CHRIST IN THIS PASSAGE? * The fourth Man. o In men's basketball, an end of season award is given called the "sixth man." You see, there are five starters, and the sixth man is usually the most valuable player that comes off the bench. o Entire teams have adopted this. The Seattle Seahawks call their fans the 12th man o And even our local Ironwood Ridge High School girls volleyball teams calls their fans the seventh player. o Notice the appearance of the Fourth Man in the furnace, the ESV and most other translations reads that Nebuchadnezzar described Him with the appearance of "a son of the gods." o I think context is important here, Nebuchadnezzar was polytheistic, which means he believed in many gods. In fact, one could argue that he saw himself as a god. Back in chapter 2, verses 47-48 Nebuchadnezzar acknowledges that "Daniel's God" was God of gods and Lord of lords. So, he seemed to understand that God was - at minimum - more powerful than any other god (small "g"). o So here, he is probably comparing this appearance to other gods, but we saw already in chapter 2 and we see later in our chapter (verses 26-30) and in chapter 4 that he acknowledges the "Most High God." o Sometimes God needs to "go big" to show His power (we see this with Pharoah in Exodus, for example) o So, we see Jesus as the fourth Man in the "burning fiery furnace" o Next question to address is: WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR US TODAY? As alluded to in the sermon title, there are many lessons from the furnace that we can apply to us, even today. So, let's dive right in. First, * Christians will be accused and slandered. (vv.8-15) o In this case, the accusations were true. o But what do we see in verse 8? They did this maliciously. o I bit of speculation, but I think the text speaks to it. o Here, you have several Hebrews that have become powerful in a place where their powerful nation was able to besiege. o So, the malicious attacks were not because they did anything to upset them, it was because God favored them. o This is not a surprise, nor should it be for us. We've talked about it before, and we'll probably talk about it again. o But, we cannot fall victim to these accusations o Which leads us to the next lesson that ... * Christians should always stand firm for their faith, no matter the result. (v.16) o The underlining meaning of verse 16 cannot be overlooked. o These faithful men looked Nebuchadnezzar right in the eye and said, I don't need to respond to you. I don't owe you a thing. o The result? Look again at verse 13 and then at verse 19 - what do we read there? He was furious and filled with rage. So much in fact, that he turned up the heat in the furnace. o I'm reminded of 1 Timothy 2:1-2, where Paul commands that we pray for our government, why? In part, THAT WE MAY LEAD A PEACEFUL AND QUIET LIFE, GODLY AND DIGNIFIED IN EVERY WAY o Ecclesiastes (or is it Ecclesiastics?) 3:7 reminds us that there is A TIME TO KEEP SILENCE, AND A TIME TO SPEAK. o There are many Christians that just want to fight, but we see clearly in these examples that sometimes, we remain quiet and trust the Lord. o There's a funny meme that I've seen that says something to the effect of, "I might belong to the Kingdom of God, but I'm from the south side of the Kingdom" o These men knew that the fight belonged to the Lord, and they trusted Him in it, which leads us to the next lesson: * Christians should not presume that God will deliver them from trials but should always know that He will be with them. (vv.16-18) o I love verses 17-18, let's go ahead and read these again: 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." o The faith and confidence these men had of God is commendable. o They knew they were facing death. Even if they didn't hear the original decree from verses 5-6, Nebuchadnezzar reminded them when he brought the charge before them in verses 14-15. o Did you know that presumption is a sin? Write down Psalm 19:13-14 and James 4:13-17 and spend some time reading and meditating on them. Both allude to presumption as a heart problem, one that is not focused on God's will. o The men knew that God will do what He pleases, and that was enough for them. o Is that enough for you? o Next lesson from the furnace: * God blesses and rewards the faithful. (vv.24-30) o Notice how these men still had to go through the trial. o They were still in the furnace, the same furnace that killed the men who threw them in there. o But God spared them from death in that moment. o As we just noted, this doesn't mean that God will do this every time, but this is the method of blessing and reward that God chose in the moment. o Daniel Akin, President of Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, said it this way: the One who walked with them in and through the fire is also the One who walked through the very fires of hell on our behalf, that we too would not have a single cell of our soul singed by the fiery flames we actually deserve. o Verse 30 tells us that they were promoted after this event. o Here's the wonderful thing about this. o They didn't have a prosperity preacher telling them that they would be promoted if they did this, they simply trusted God in the fire. o Do you trust God in the trials? o Finally, one more general lesson from this passage: * Christians must sometimes say no the authorities, to say yes to the Lord. o There's a general rule for opposing what the government dictates: if it violates Scripture, then we cannot submit. o Probably the best example of this comes from Acts 5, where Peter and the Apostles were told they were not able to preach, Peter responded in 5:29 simply: But Peter and the apostles answered, WE MUST OBEY GOD RATHER THAN MEN. o This is why there are underground churches in China and other countries. Because of the command to make disciples. The command to preach the Word. o The three faithful Hebrews in this account were told to worship other gods, to violate the Commandments of the Lord, and they refused, knowing that God will provide - whatever that may look like. This morning - through the example of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego that: I show my faith when I trust Him in all things. Frankly, this is how we remain faithful in the trials and opposition. Trusting God in the process. Difficult as it sounds, it really is that simple. We saw that there are times that we need to say no to the government, so we can say yes to the Eternal King. We saw that God will reward - in His way, and in His timing - His faithful servants. We saw that we should never presume that God will remove us from trials but promised to be by our side during those trials. We saw that we must always stand up for our faith, sometimes quietly, but always courageously. Finally, we saw that we will be attacked and slandered. But the same Jesus that walked in the fire is the same Jesus that died on the cross, giving the invitation for all to come to saving faith in Him, so they can be delivered from eternal death. In your trials, will you have the faith of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego and trust God in the process? Let's pray. 2