In Daniel
Notes
Transcript
“He is” - the stranger in the fire
The Son of Man coming in the clouds of Heaven
Messiah would be 'a son of man' given an everlasting kingdom (Dan 7:13-14, Luke 1:31-34)
Messiah (Anointed One) would come 483 years after the decree to rebuild Jerusalem (Dan 9:25, John 12:12-23)
Messiah (Anointed One) would be killed (Dan 9:26, Matt 27:35)
Revealed as the 'stone' (and His kingdom) that smashes the kingdoms of the world (Dan 2:34,44)
Typified in the 4th man in the fiery furnace - one like 'the son of gods' (Dan 3:25)
A little history - exile in Babylon - Daniel interprets a dream and gets promoted along with 3 of his friends.
King wants everyone to bow to his image, but Daniels friends do not and they get summoned before the King to explain their actions.
Daniel (like Ezekiel with his visions and John’s visions in the book of Revelation) are hard to understand. Daniel shares history but also contains prophecy.
Our scripture today is historical text. Pretty clear what is happening except for a person that shows up and surprises King Nebuchadnezzar.
Please stand as we honor the reading of God’s Word.
13 Furious with rage, Nebuchadnezzar summoned Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. So these men were brought before the king,
14 and Nebuchadnezzar said to them, “Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the image of gold I have set up?
15 Now when you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipe and all kinds of music, if you are ready to fall down and worship the image I made, very good. But if you do not worship it, you will be thrown immediately into a blazing furnace. Then what god will be able to rescue you from my hand?”
16 Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to him, “King Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter.
17 If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us from Your Majesty’s hand.
18 But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.”
19 Then Nebuchadnezzar was furious with Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, and his attitude toward them changed. He ordered the furnace heated seven times hotter than usual
20 and commanded some of the strongest soldiers in his army to tie up Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego and throw them into the blazing furnace.
21 So these men, wearing their robes, trousers, turbans and other clothes, were bound and thrown into the blazing furnace.
22 The king’s command was so urgent and the furnace so hot that the flames of the fire killed the soldiers who took up Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego,
23 and these three men, firmly tied, fell into the blazing furnace.
24 Then King Nebuchadnezzar leaped to his feet in amazement and asked his advisers, “Weren’t there three men that we tied up and threw into the fire?” They replied, “Certainly, Your Majesty.”
25 He said, “Look! I see four men walking around in the fire, unbound and unharmed, and the fourth looks like a son of the gods.”
26 Nebuchadnezzar then approached the opening of the blazing furnace and shouted, “Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out! Come here!” So Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego came out of the fire,
27 and the satraps, prefects, governors and royal advisers crowded around them. They saw that the fire had not harmed their bodies, nor was a hair of their heads singed; their robes were not scorched, and there was no smell of fire on them.
28 Then Nebuchadnezzar said, “Praise be to the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, who has sent his angel and rescued his servants! They trusted in him and defied the king’s command and were willing to give up their lives rather than serve or worship any god except their own God.
THE WORD OF GOD - FOR THE PEOPLE OF GOD
STORY: A representative of the gas company phoned the owner of an expensive new home to make an appointment for the service man to come in and light the gas pilots and adjust the furnace.
The owner of the home said he should meet the technician, or he will never get the furnace going.
The gas company rep insisted that his people were well trained and would have no trouble.
The owner said, “You don't understand. When your man tries to adjust the furnace he'll go out of his mind. The thermostat in the entry hall is a fake one for my wife to play with.
Only I know where the real one is hidden.
(Reader’s Digest, December 1973)
Warren Wiersbe once noted that “when God permits his children to go through the furnace, He keeps his eye on the clock and His hand on the thermostat.” That is another way of saying that God knows where the real thermostat is hidden.
Life isn’t always smooth sailing. Life isn’t always sunshine, 70 degrees, and low humidity.
We follow God - we serve Jesus - we study scripture - we pray - and yet life sometimes lands us in the fire.
The fire can be different things for different people - but is still a fiery furnace.
Hang in there with God - take a stand with God - stay loyal to God - lesson taught throughout all the Bible - some did better than others, but they all learned this lesson.
Live by internal principles provided by God - not by external pressure around us.
As we look at these 3 Hebrew boys and their plight in the fiery furnace - I would like for us to see three things this morning.
Free in the Fire
Free in the Fire
Free in the Fire
They were walking around “unbound” in the furnace
All that “binds” us is freed in the fire.
We realize what is important!!
Pandemic - not our way of life but life itself
A job doesn’t define who we are - we can be free in the midst of “restrictions”
Money - provides things - but not the reason for existence
Fine in the Fire
Fine in the Fire
Fine in the Fire
They were not hurt in the furnace - bodies, hair, robes, they didn’t even smell like smoke
Reality - we are more spiritual than physical
but the physical seemingly has a stronger pull.
We will be fine - because we have a friend...
Friend in the Fire
Friend in the Fire
Friend in the Fire
God was with them - man, angel, or Jesus
God always sends a friend - we may ignore or even reject
Jesus said he would send someone just like Him - the Holy Spirit - the Holy Spirit is Jesus - He is God - and he promised never to leave us.
18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
We have a friend in the fire.
Jesus is in Daniel!