Refining Fire
Notes
Transcript
Handout
Handout
Last week we were in Daniel 2 and talked about how the Lord provided Daniel with the wisdom to know and interpret the king’s dream. The Lord provided in a mighty way. Looking at the things Daniel and his friends have gone through in this book it is entirely overwhelming to think of ourselves in these same positions. Daniel and his friends have been ripped from their homes, stripped of their culture, they have been made to live in a land they did not know. They have been put in difficult situations where their integrity was challenged and they had to make a bold statement of faith, they were put in a dilemma that was intellectually impossible to do without the Lord stepping in and providing. And now in our story today these men are put through literal fire for their faith.
These men serve as incredible examples of faith and dedication to the Lord. Their willingness to take a bold stand for the Lord is inspirational. We know that these stories that we read are seen through by the power and provision of the Lord. We live in an idolatrous world. The stench of sin and the hurt of brokenness touch every corner of our culture and community. We are surrounded by great darkness, yet, God has set us as lights to shine in even the deepest darkness. God is using us to change hearts and lives for the Kingdom of God. To proclaim the truth of the Gospel without compromise. So as we look at these stories, we are encouraged by their faith, but I want you to be challenged to demonstrate the love and hope we have in Jesus with boldness, knowing that whatever may befall us, we have the creator, living, God of the universe empowering and equipping us to the work.
Garish Boastings
Garish Boastings
1 King Nebuchadnezzar made an image of gold, whose height was sixty cubits and its breadth six cubits. He set it up on the plain of Dura, in the province of Babylon. 2 Then King Nebuchadnezzar sent to gather the satraps, the prefects, and the governors, the counselors, the treasurers, the justices, the magistrates, and all the officials of the provinces to come to the dedication of the image that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up. 3 Then the satraps, the prefects, and the governors, the counselors, the treasurers, the justices, the magistrates, and all the officials of the provinces gathered for the dedication of the image that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up. And they stood before the image that Nebuchadnezzar had set up. 4 And the herald proclaimed aloud, “You are commanded, O peoples, nations, and languages, 5 that when you hear the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, bagpipe, and every kind of music, you are to fall down and worship the golden image that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up. 6 And whoever does not fall down and worship shall immediately be cast into a burning fiery furnace.” 7 Therefore, as soon as all the peoples heard the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, bagpipe, and every kind of music, all the peoples, nations, and languages fell down and worshiped the golden image that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up.
What is idolatry?
1 And God spoke all these words, saying, 2 “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. 3 “You shall have no other gods before 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.
Idolatry is anything we put before God. Another way to think about it is worshipping a created thing over the creator of all things.
Idolatry in western civilization looks at times different from the idolatry we see in the ancient world throughout Scripture. People don’t necessarily make sacrifices to engraven images, drink blood, or bow down and sing songs to a giant statue. But it is important to understand that while the means by which people commit sin change over time, sin itself never changes.
Think back to the first week of Daniel. We said that God has called us to live set apart, holy lives, redeemed from the brokenness of the world around us. Not participating in the evil we see but practicing instead righteousness. Yet, the Gospel itself is indigenous, proclaimed in our heart language, a living and active faith that is expressed in culture and finds us exactly where we are at.
In the same way that faith is indigenous, sin also is indigenous. It is influenced and formed by the culture we find ourselves in, and I think the temptation for us is to look at our culture today in comparison to the ancient world and say, well, I don’t bow down to a statue, therefore I don’t have any idols in my life. There are idols all around us. Things and ideas that fight for our hearts affection, that want our focus, that heavily influence the way we speak, act, and think.
What are the idols that you have had in your own life or maybe some you’ve seen in the world around you?
Why do you think idolatry is such a dangerous thing?
In the Old Testament we see the Lord warn Israel against idolatry over and over and over again. Countless times we see idolatry creep its way into Israel and it leaves the people destroyed and divided. The reason that God’s people have even found themselves in this place, in captivity to Babylon here in Daniel 3, is because of their idolatry and rejection of the Lord.
5 Thus says God, the Lord, who created the heavens and stretched them out, who spread out the earth and what comes from it, who gives breath to the people on it and spirit to those who walk in it: 6 “I am the Lord; I have called you in righteousness; I will take you by the hand and keep you; I will give you as a covenant for the people, a light for the nations, 7 to open the eyes that are blind, to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon, from the prison those who sit in darkness. 8 I am the Lord; that is my name; my glory I give to no other, nor my praise to carved idols. 9 Behold, the former things have come to pass, and new things I now declare; before they spring forth I tell you of them.”
God makes his feelings towards idolatry clear. He will not share His glory with another nor His praise with a graven image. It is the Lord who has made all creation, who has given us the breath in our lungs, He is giver of life, our protector, our redeemer, God of gods, faithful to His promises. He is the light of the world, who opens blind eyes, sets the captive free. But we take the worship that is due Him and give it to worthless things. We worship our phones, our comforts, our hobbies, money, power. Our energy is spent chasing after all these things that pass away instead of following Jesus.
Yesterday, Lance and I, did our Bible study at Roy Walker and we talked about King Asa. Look at how Asa is described in 2 Chronicles 14.
2 And Asa did what was good and right in the eyes of the Lord his God. 3 He took away the foreign altars and the high places and broke down the pillars and cut down the Asherim 4 and commanded Judah to seek the Lord, the God of their fathers, and to keep the law and the commandment.
Asa did what was good and right in the eyes of the Lord. He removed idolatry from Judah and commanded Judah to seek the Lord and live in righteousness.
When we are dealing with idolatry in our life I think it is helpful to see it as not just saying no to temptation, but filling your life with habits and attitudes that seek and honor the Lord. Don’t just deny, but pursue. This is repentance. It is a turning away from sin to pursue what is holy.
What does repentance from idolatry look like?
So Nebuchadnezzar builds a giant golden statue. Probably 90 feet tall. That is the full length of a basketball court or the distance from home plate to first base on a baseball diamond. He builds this giant golden statue and commands everyone to bow and worship the statue when the music plays. Whoever does not fall down in worship would be immediately thrown into a fiery furnace. In verse 7 the music plays and all of Babylon bows to the idol except Hananiah, Azariah, and Mishael.
We don’t know where Daniel is in this story. It is safe to assume that Daniel, in serving out his responsibilities as chief prefect, was away during the events of this chapter. The other option is that Daniel bowed to the statue and based off of what we know to be true of Daniel’s character, there is no way that happened.
Malicious Accusations
Malicious Accusations
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.”
Hananiah, Azariah, and Mishael are accused by certain Chaldeans for violating the king’s order. I don’t think we need to question the legitimacy of their claim. These three men do not deny their accusations later on in the chapter, but I think it is important to point out the hostility of the accusation. These Chaldeans had no interest in protecting their counterparts. It was likely selfish ambition that motivated these Chaldeans into action. These Jewish men had taken their place of authority as the King’s prefects and this was their opportunity to win favor with the king and even take the young men’s place of authority by having them be put to death.
As believers in Jesus we can expect the same treatment.
33 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.”
12 Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,
Following Jesus means suffering like Jesus. In this world we will face opposition, hatred, slander, and attacks because of our faith in Jesus. When we take bold stands for Jesus and hold fast to the truth of His Word, we can expect to be hated by the world.
4 You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.
When we align ourselves with Christ and His teachings we will face opposition, and that is okay. I think that thought can be overwhelming, especially when you see how that was lived out in the lives of the apostles. These men who walked with Christ and bore His name were cut in half, boiled alive, beheaded, imprisoned, starved, tortured, and crucified all for the name of Jesus. Even today people are still being persecuted and tortured for Christ. While that thought is overwhelming, it is overcome by the truth that Jesus has overcome this world. That He is faithful to His promises and works all things for our good and His glory.
Brazen Anger
Brazen Anger
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?”
Nebuchadnezzar has put himself in the position of God over Hananiah, Azariah, and Mishael. He claims the authority over their lives and the power to destroy them completely.
28 “Do not fear those who kill the body but are unable to kill the soul; but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
By the words of Jesus we know we don’t have to be afraid of human authorities. Even if someone threatened our very life we know that God is the one who has the power to save and destroy. A person may be able to take our physical life, but no one can take the hope we have in Christ.
Something of note. Hananiah, Azariah, and Mishael are named what they are because their names have significant meaning in their Hebrew language.
Hananiah - Yahweh is gracious
Mishael - Who is like God?
Azariah - Yahweh has helped
Daniel - God is my judge
What theological significance or encouragement might their Hebrew names give them in this situation?
Now look at their Babylonian names.
Shadrach - Command of Aku (Aku was the Babylonian god of the moon)
Meshach - Who is like Aku?
Abednego - Servant of Nebu (Nebu was the Babylonian god of wisdom and writing)
Belteshazzar - Bel protects his life or Bel’s prince (Bel, or Marduk, was the supreme creator deity of Babylon)
Do you see how discouraging changing their names could have been. It was a declaration by Babylon that Yahweh was no longer their God and that they were now servants of the gods of Babylon. Babylon sought to strip them of their relationship to God, they sought to change their identity, make them feel like Yahweh had been defeated or that He had abandoned them, but they held fast the name of the Lord.
Nebuchadnezzar, in his anger, vowed to destroy these young men in the fiery furnace.
Look at their response.
Bold Faith
Bold Faith
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.”
Their response was this, We don’t answer to you, we answer to God who can deliver us even from death. But even if He doesn’t we will never do the thing you have commanded us to do. What a bold statement of faith. They trusted the Lord with their very lives. They were willing to go to their deaths for what they believed.
29 But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men. 30 The God of our fathers raised Jesus, whom you killed by hanging him on a tree. 31 God exalted him at his right hand as Leader and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. 32 And we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.”
The Apostles, when put in the same situation, say something similar.
When put on the stand for your faith, do you shrink back or stand firm?
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.
Nebuchadnezzar executes his orders and has the three men thrown in to the furnace. He doesn’t even wait to change their clothes, he takes them just as they are, hat and all, and throws them into the furnace. Not only that but he had the furnace heated up seven times more than what it usually was. It was so hot that the men who through Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah into the furnace were killed in their efforts.
What was the original use for this furnace? Obviously, Nebuchadnezzar used it to kill people, but realistically this furnace could have been used for refining metal, maybe as a kiln to make bricks, I don’t know. All that is important to know is that this furnace got hot. Very hot. There was absolutely no way these three men could have ever survived. Even the men who threw them in didn’t survive.
Unexpected Visitor
Unexpected Visitor
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.”
God, at the right time, intervened. We talked about this last week. God in His timing and wisdom acts and moves exactly when He needs to in the exact way He needs to. Why didn’t God intervene before this? Why did He seemingly wait so long. Truly, God acted exactly when He wanted to. We can trust God in His timing. Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah waited on the Lord and trusted in His timing. Even if the Lord didn’t move. Even if the Lord had let these men die, they understood that it was all according the God’s wisdom and plan.
When God works all things for good it doesn’t mean that He works all things for us to be comfortable. Sometimes the plan God has for our lives means pain and suffering. The existence of these things in our life do not mean that God is not good and it does not mean that God is not sovereign, but even in these terrible tragedies God is using our pain to help us know how to minister to others who have been hurt and to set an example of Christlike love and forgiveness.
Think about the story of the deacon Stephen. It was Stephen’s faithfulness in life that made sure widows were fed their portion of food, but it was his faithful death, followed by the persecution of the church in Jerusalem, that led to the explosion of the Gospel to the nations we see in the book of Acts.
Think about Jesus. It was Jesus’ faithfulness in life that saw the sick healed and the blind to see. But it was Jesus’ faithfulness in death that paid the full penalty of sin for all mankind and allowed His resurrection from the dead in victory over sin, death, and the devil.
The death of Jesus is the greatest evil to ever occur in human history, and still, God was able to use it for good.
So these three men are thrown in the fire, but Jesus is there with them. Jesus is the image of the invisible God. When we see God in physical form it is understood that it is a preincarnate Jesus. Jesus is eternal, and while His time on earth was limited, Jesus has always existed. You may have talked a little about this on Sunday in Sunday School, but here is another example of Jesus in the Old Testament. At various times throughout the Old Testament, before Jesus was born in human flesh, He appeared to His people in physical form.
What a great encouragement for these young men. At a time when they could have felt like God had abandoned them, He appeared with them personally. Something I think we forget in the New Testament context is that in Christ we have the Holy Spirit living in us at all times. God Himself makes His home in us.
16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, 17 even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you. 18 “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. 19 Yet a little while and the world will see me no more, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. 20 In that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you.
7 Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you. 8 And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment: 9 concerning sin, because they do not believe in me; 10 concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father, and you will see me no longer; 11 concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged. 12 “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. 13 When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. 14 He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you. 15 All that the Father has is mine; therefore I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you.
In whatever circumstance we find ourselves in, the presence of God has made His home in us. What a great encouragement to us! This is something that not even Hananiah, Mishael, or Azariah had.
Unexpected Worship
Unexpected Worship
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.
God had protected the three young men to the point that they didn’t even smell like fire. Think about that. You roast one marshmallow and you smell like fire for a week. These guys got thrown into a fiery furnace and lived to tell the story. God had worked a miracle and it moved Nebuchadnezzar’s heart. Out of the mouth of the King God was praised. Lets close with these last verses.
1 King Nebuchadnezzar to all peoples, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth: Peace be multiplied to you! 2 It has seemed good to me to show the signs and wonders that the Most High God has done for me. 3 How great are his signs, how mighty his wonders! His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and his dominion endures from generation to generation.
Wow. What a powerful testimony. How awesome is our God that even foreign kings shut their mouths on account of His power.
I called this sermon refining fire.
Who’s faith was refined?
