Daniel 3:24-30 The Unity Celebration, pt.3

Introduction

III. God Magnified, 24-30

A. The King astonishedv.24 the king was astonished, startled/alarmedhe arose terrified-greatly alarmed, so as to move in haste, ; ; . used of the king afraid regarding his dream, and Daniel after seeing the vision, . So this speaks of his emotional state inside himself as a result of seeing the four in the furnace. Hence he arose hastily in alarm at what he saw. It was a totally unexpected thing to see three men walking in the fire unharmed after his own soldiers were immediately killed by the flames. Not mention to see a fourth man walking with them. There is no explanation for such a thing. He saw four men not three walking around unbound in the fire, unhurt. the fourth was like the son of God. v.25The passive for unbound, indicates they did not unbind themselves. walking around is the same word used in for God walking around in the garden with Adam and Eve.The fourth one resembles the son of god. Surely, the king is not thinking of Jesus Christ. He was a pantheist, so son of god could refer to any of his various gods. Yet, we believe this to be Jesus walking with them as He did in the garden. v.26The king told them to come out and only the three came outB. the King Blessed God, v.28 the king was also impressed that these three trusted their God and were willing to yield up their bodies rather than serve any god but their own God. They were willing to refuse to swear allegiance to him in order to serve their own God.According to the King himself this was an issue of worship, bowing before the image was a worship issue. This obviously pictures what God can do for those who trust in Him.C. The King decreed to honor God v.29make a decree not to speak anything against their God or be torn apart and houses destroyed. No other god who is able to rescue in this way. which was in answer to his statement in v.15 “who is the god who will deliver you out of my hands?” Baboom, the God of Israel can and does.This corresponds to his response to Daniel, in “truly, your God is God of gods, Lord of kings and a revealer of mysteries.” Truly a slap in the face of those who wanted to see these Jews demoted. Now they would not dare to say anything against them or their God. The king had seen a miracle he could not deny or excuse away. The only thing he could do was to acknowledge God. He may have been fearful because he had mistreated His followers. D. The king promoted the Jews v.30Just as the king promoted Daniel so he also promoted these three. The word for promote is a word that means to prosper. He caused them to prosper, probably material rewards as well as promotion in job. This should be great lesson for all believers who for their stand for Christ are met with opposition.This should be an encouragement to trust God in the situation. He is able if He so chooses to turn your trying situation into a blessing. With God all things are possible Jesus said.()The fact that Nebuchadnezzar had defeated Judah, and in their minds their God. They would have been thinking Molech/Baal/Marduk their gods were greater than YHWH. But this dispels that with flying colors. The Lord makes it clear to the King and to all others that YHWH is greater and that Judah’s defeat was not because YHWH did not exist or was weak. There was another reason for the defeat. This miracle also serves as a witness and encouragement to the Jews in exile and still in the land, and to the gentiles that YHWH was worthy of trust and to turn by faith to Him for salvation. Miracles were used by Jesus and the Apostles to attest to the truth of the gospel message. This is one of those miracles. the fact that God brought them through the fiery furnace without a singe or smell of smoke ought to encourage us to boldly take a stand for Christ no matter the opposition.