Morning Devo - Daniel 3:23-28

We’ve been talking about the Word Presence and focusing on the Ministry of Presence.

This morning I want to focus on how our faithfulness to the Lord can lead to God’s presence being put on display to those around us.

Open your bibles if you have them to Daniel 3.

We’re going to look at an example of God’s presence that each of us should know pretty well, which is the story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the fiery furnace.

In Daniel 3, we see Nebuchadnezzar’s pride he as builds a golden image that likely resembles himself.

He feels that with all he has conquered, with the power of his government, with the support of the gods that he worships, that he himself is worthy to be worshiped.

He sends out a decree that this image is to be worship any time the people hear music played from various instruments.

Refusing to do this has a severe consequence. The punishment is an immediate death sentence in a fiery furnace.

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, were faced with a choice. To reject God and worship this golden image because of the societal pressures around them.

OR they could refuse, face being put to death because they worship God and ONLY God.

We know they chose the latter. In verse 15 we see Nebuchadnezzar essentially give them a second chance and questions God while doing so.

And in verse we see this response from them:

Daniel 3:16–18 ESV

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered and said to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. 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. 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.”

These men not only refuse, but they in that moment declare that God has the ability to save them. They even tell that king that even if God doesn’t save them, not only will God deliver them out of his hand (either in life or life in glory), but there is no outcome where they will worship the image.

The king gets mad. Orders the furnace to be heated to its maximum ability and orders the men thrown in and we see God’s glory on display5

for those around to see. We see God’s presence.

Daniel 3:23–25 ESV

And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, fell bound into the burning fiery furnace. 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.” 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.”

This statement of the son of the gods implies a god like figure being seen. There are some who believe this just means that the lord sent AN angel to be with these men, but I disagree with that thought.

First of all, we Nebuchadnezzar being a pegan at this point would not make a declaration that this is THE son of God, yet still credits this fourth person with the appearance of a deity.

Second, if we skip down to verse 28 he calls him the angel of the Lord which throughout the old testament we see as being the Pre-Incarnate Jesus.

Language being a key indicator. AN angel of the Lord versus THE angel of the Lord.

Daniel 3:28 ESV

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.

Through their faith, God’s presence was displayed for those around to see. They not only witnessed the power of God, but they also saw Jesus (not named, yet but we have the benefit of the complete work of scripture to know) walking amongst these men in the fire, protecting them completely. No hair was synged, not cloths burnt, they didn’t even smell like fire. The only thing different about these men is that they were no longer bound.

So I want us to think about this as we go about our work week, but also in our personal time. How we live our lives matter. We represent Christ everywhere we go and in everything we do.

When we do that, his presence is made known to those around us. Especially when we are going through trials.

Remember. May the 4th be with you…..

In all seriousness, Remember to put your faith alone in Christ who is with us and who has rescued us.

Psalm 46:7 ESV

The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah

Now I want to do something different to close our morning devo.

There are at least 400 references in scripture about singing in worship to the Lord.

There are at least 50 direct commands for us to sing.

So I want us to sing, Psalm 46 together to close our devo time.