Faith Under Fire
Notes
Transcript
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Setting: Exiles in Babylon
Setting: Exiles in Babylon
In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it. And the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, with some of the vessels of the house of God. And he brought them to the land of Shinar, to the house of his god, and placed the vessels in the treasury of his god. Then the king commanded Ashpenaz, his chief eunuch, to bring some of the people of Israel, both of the royal family and of the nobility, youths without blemish, of good appearance and skillful in all wisdom, endowed with knowledge, understanding learning, and competent to stand in the king’s palace, and to teach them the literature and language of the Chaldeans. The king assigned them a daily portion of the food that the king ate, and of the wine that he drank. They were to be educated for three years, and at the end of that time they were to stand before the king. Among these were Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah of the tribe of Judah. And the chief of the eunuchs gave them names: Daniel he called Belteshazzar, Hananiah he called Shadrach, Mishael he called Meshach, and Azariah he called Abednego.
Young Men: Daniel and the others were likely teenagers when taken to Babylon.
Chapter 1: Refusal to eat the king’s food
Chapter 2: Daniel interprets Nebuchadnezzar’s dream
Image of gold, silver, bronze, iron and clay (Head of gold represented Babylon)
Daniel’s friends promoted
Daniel 2:
Daniel made a request of the king, and he appointed Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego over the affairs of the province of Babylon. But Daniel remained at the king’s court.
Nebuchadnezzar’s Image
Nebuchadnezzar’s Image
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. 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. 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. And the herald proclaimed aloud, “You are commanded, O peoples, nations, and languages, 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. And whoever does not fall down and worship shall immediately be cast into a burning fiery furnace.” 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 was the image? Nebuchadnezzar? A Babylonian god? Not told.
Gold: could be solid gold or simply overlaid with gold
Sixty Cubits by six cubits = 90’ tall by 9’ wide (18” cubit)
Various Offices: Many of these would be foreign exiles like Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. Part of the purpose of this event is to prove loyalty to Nebuchadnezzar.
Various Instruments: Great deal of Pomp and circumstance. Very royal, regal, impressive event.
Grandeur does not equal truth. Emotion does not equal truth. True worship is that which is ordained by God. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego understood this.
Emphasis on the image being SET UP BY NEBUCHADNEZZAR. (7 x’s)
This is something ordained by man - not God.
Pride & Arrogance
People commanded to worship the image under threat of death.
Furnace likely a smelting furnace, maybe even used in the construction of the image.
The Hebrew’s Accused
The Hebrew’s Accused
Daniel 3:8-
Therefore at that time certain Chaldeans came forward and maliciously accused the Jews. They declared to King Nebuchadnezzar, “O king, live forever! 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. And whoever does not fall down and worship shall be cast into a burning fiery furnace. 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.”
Chaldeans or Astrologers (depending on translation). Possibly men belonging to the group of astrologers. If so, they should have been thankful for the Hebrews - it was Daniel that had saved their life (ch. 2). Many times people hate the truth, even though it is there to help them. These Chaldeans were envious of the Hebrews, and wanted to see them destroyed.
Flattery of the King
Malicious arguments. Part true (they do not serve your gods), part lie (they pay no attention to you)
A Second Chance
A Second Chance
Then Nebuchadnezzar in furious rage commanded that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego be brought. So they brought these men before the king. 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? 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 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? 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 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? 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?”
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered and said to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter.
Nebuchadnezzer is angry, but he is not foolish. He can likely tell this accusation is made in envy, and he knows the worth of the Hebrews, thus he offers them a second chance
Foolishness is displayed however in his attitude and comments about God.
“Who is the God?”
Either he has forgotten Daniel’s interpretation (unlikely) or his comments in 2:47 were fairly superficial
Many people pay lip service to God, especially at critical times. Lip services only lasts so long, and the heart is revealed sooner or later.
The Hebrew’s Response
The Hebrew’s Response
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.”
Daniel 3:16-18
They are not being disrespectful. There is simply no need to prolong this discussion. They will not bow down and worship.
They believe in God’s power (is able to deliver us)
They trust in God (He will deliver us)
“Their faith was suffused with expectation (17) but displayed no presumption (18)” - New Bible Commentary
They obey God no matter the cost (But if not…we will not)
“Their faith was suffused with expectation (17) but displayed no presumption (18)” - New Bible Commentary
No unbelief made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God,
Nebuchadnezzar’s Rage
Nebuchadnezzar’s Rage
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. 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. 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. 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. And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, fell bound into the burning fiery furnace.
Daniel 3:19-
Filled with fury - he’d had a flash of anger originally. Now, fury and rage fill the king, so much so that his rage is visible in his expression and demeanor
Seven times hotter - probably means heated to its full potential.
Details of their garments:
Haste and completeness of the order
Sets up the impressive nature of the miracle
Furnace is so hot that the soldiers are killed
Walking in the Flames
Walking in the Flames
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.”
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. 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.
Still fuming, Nebuchadnezzar peers into the furnace to watch the corpses of the disobedient Hebrews burn. Instead, he sees the impossible.
They are unbound, not bound
They are walking in the midst of the fire
They are not hurt
There is a fourth man, who is clearly more than a man
The Most High God - vast difference from “who is the god…”
Fire had no power
They were alive
hair was not singed
cloaks were not harmed
They didn’t even smell like smoke!
God’s deliverance is complete and total!
A New Decree
A New Decree
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. 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.” Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the province of Babylon.
Daniel 3:
A decree that threatened God’s people turned to a decree that threatened any who spoke against God.
Nebuchadnezzar respected the Hebrew’s loyalty to God and their willingness to suffer
When we are faithful, even in the face of persecution, there are those that will see, respect, and maybe even be influenced by that.
Final Lessons
Final Lessons
God keeps His promises
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
Strength is found in Faith
And what more shall I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets— who through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, were made strong out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight.
who through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, were made strong out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight.
Listen, learn, and obey while you can.
Nebuchadnezzar paid more lip service to God, but his heart was not truly the Lord’s. He commanded others to no speak evil of God, but He himself did not worship God. He didn’t want to anger God, but he wasn’t ready to serve Him either. His arrogance and pride stood in the way until God finally abased the King further than thought possible. Only then did Nebuchadnezzer serve the Lord.
At the end of the days I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted my eyes to heaven, and my reason returned to me, and I blessed the Most High, and praised and honored him who lives forever, for his dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom endures from generation to generation; all the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing, and he does according to his will among the host of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth; and none can stay his hand or say to him, “What have you done?” At the same time my reason returned to me, and for the glory of my kingdom, my majesty and splendor returned to me. My counselors and my lords sought me, and I was established in my kingdom, and still more greatness was added to me. Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the King of heaven, for all his works are right and his ways are just; and those who walk in pride he is able to humble.
Daniel 4:34-37
what will it take for you to turn towards God? When will you humble yourself and walk in His way? Will you do so before it is too late?