Sermon Tone Analysis
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Note: The scenario changes but the plot remains the same.
This feature of Daniel teaches us that the persistence of the kingdom of darkness may eventually wear down the resistance of God’s people.
When someone stands up for his/her beliefs in the face of adversity, they are called a “moral rebel.”
A prominent example is the case of the sexual predator Harvey Weinstein.
He seemed too big to fall until actors Ashley Judd and Rose McGowan courageously came forward, risking their careers if unsuccessful.
Moral rebels also confront a bully or correct a friend even when it comes with a cost.
Secular psychologists say moral rebels have high self-esteem and are confident of their own “judgment, values and ability and thus that they have a social responsibility to share those beliefs.”
The Christian outlook says “Exactly!”
The moral rebel isn’t afraid of occasional embarrassment or a lack of social harmony.
They are far less concerned about conforming to the crowd.
So, when they have to choose between fitting in and doing the right thing, they will probably choose to do what they see as right.
The Christian outlook says “Exactly!”
A moral rebel needs to have grown up seeing moral courage in action, from parents but also peers.
Those who have experienced the pain of rejection are less likely to be moral rebels.
They need to fit in.
For the Christian a close relationship with God and good fellowship mitigates against this.
BIG IDEA: God delivers you in the furnace not from it.
Jesus said what he says to people still, " I'll meet you in the furnace.
Follow me.
It's going to look dark, it's going to look dangerous, it's going to scare you, but you keep following me.
I'll meet you in the furnace."
The previous chapter of Daniel records Nebuchadnezzar’s dream.
There is no doubt that the building now of the image of gold expressed in his dream was the desire to see the dream fulfilled, but surpassed.
Daniel had said to him, “You, O king, are a king of kings…you are this head of gold (2:37,38).
The image that Nebuchadnezzar had seen was composed of various metals, which indicated that inferior empires would arise in the course of history.
Daniel made it very clear that his “little kingdom” would have its day, but would eventually perish and all the glory he had created would be destroyed.
Had Nebuchadnezzar wanted to memorialize this vision God had given him to the point that the Kingdom God builds cannot be shaken or rival his kingdom.
Apparently on the heals of this dream Nebuchadnezzar was trying to make a point that no kingdom should destroy or rival his kingdom, not even the kingdom of God.
Notice that in the first seven verses of chapter 3 Nebuchadnezzar’s own name appears 7 times and no less than 6 times that Nebuchadnezzar had been the one to set up the enormous statue.
Remember that Nebuchadnezzar paid homage and praise to Daniels God however, it was shallow and surface praise that would not last long.
Nebuchadnezzar place Daniels god among the other God’s of Babylon.
How often do we place the God of the Bible among the other god’s in our life.
We claim allegiance to the God of the Bible, however, when it comes to counting the cost to follow Christ our loyalty falters.
How far are we willing to go to make His name great.
1. Vanity is the insanity of Humanity
Doctor Notes Rise in 'Selfie Wrist' Cases
It's a sign of the times--and maybe a sign of our culture.
People are taking so many selfies, they're getting "Selfie Wrist."
Tina Choi, 29, works in digital media promotion.
She says a successful selfie can raise the profile and income of her clients.
Choi believes selfies are an effective way of sharing a sense of yourself.
"It’s really about telling a story.
Where you're at.
What you're doing.
How active you are," Choi said.
But all that selfie taking started causing tingling in her fingers and wrist and later discomfort.
After a few months she said it felt like a sharp pain in the corner of her wrist and it actually would prevent her from working.
"It's a form of carpal tunnel because this hyperflexion of the wrist appears to cause … the nerve to become inflamed and angry," said Dr. Levi Harrison, an orthopedic surgeon.
He said the problem begins when patients constantly hyper-flex their wrist inwards in a rush to capture that perfect angle.
Harrison showed her exercises to do for just minutes a day.
After a few weeks, Tina's pain improved.
Now she takes much safer selfies.
"That is the nature of our generation right now," she said, "We're taking so many selfies these days."
Conflict: Will the image of God bow to the image of man?
How does our culture today bow to the image of man over the image of God? (our sexuality or defining sexual orientation, abortion holocaust, self-indulgent society)
The word for statue occurs more than 10 times in this chapter.
Whether this is some other God like Marduk or Nebuchadnezzar we are not for sure, it possibly could be both.
However, this is a direct assault on the first commandment in Exodus 20:2.
The writer places this upfront and as a constant theme in the chapter because he wants you to respond the same way Daniel and his friends responded.
Note: The pressure on these young Hebrew’s is beyond what we can imagine this cannot be understated.
DETAILS OF THE SACRIFICE
1).
It was set up in a unique location in the plain of Dura in Babylon.
Dura means wall of fortress so we are not completely sure of the exact location.
The mention of Babylon reminds us of the tower of Babylon in Genesis 11 with the goal of unifying all nations and ethnicities of the earth.
(one world religion and power) How does the world today set up the idol of vanity in plain sight for everyone see.
2).
The who’s who of people in the kings kingdom are invited.
He invited all of those dedicated to serve the kingdom and the king.
3).
Set a time when national and religious allegiance would be put on full display.
The King set a specific time and place for this lavish show of worship.
4).
Powerful psychological aspect of grand and emotional music played.
The music being plaid would have been loud and grand in nature, making the worship experience emotional.
5).
Precise moment is specified.
6).
There is a death sentence issued for violators.
Not just any death but being burned alive in the furnace.
7).
When the moment came it appeared everyone submitted to the command.
* Vanity confronts us with the idols of this world.
The People of God will be confronted with the idols of this world.
We may not be confronted with such forced worship, however, the worship of our day presents itself over and over again.
Some may come quietly without drawing much attention, while others present themselves in public ways that are put on display for all to see.
When this happens, and it will, what will you do?
We may not live in the ancient city of Babylon but we are exiles just the same.
We are in a foreign land that is not our own and idols present themselves daily biding for our affections.
When a good thing, becomes a god thing, it then becomes a bad thing.
Do not be deceived God’s people will be confronted with the idols of this world.
IDOLS: anything that captures or anyone that captures our hearts, minds, and affections more than God.
Idolatry is a big deal with God.
Remember that God is referred to as a jealous God
Exodus 20:5 describes God as a jealous god but this is different from the way it is used to describe the sin of jealousy in Galatians 5:20.
When we use jealousy we use it in a way of being envious of someone who has something that we do not have or possess.
It is not that God is jealous or envious because someone has something that He wants or needs.
Exodus 20:4-5 says, “You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below.
You shall not bow down and worship them; for I, the LORD your God am a jealous God...”
Notice that God is jealous when someone gives to another or something else that rightfully belongs to Him.
Exodus 34:14 says, “Do not worship any other god, for the Lord, whose name is jealous, is a jealous God.”
The word for Jealous in the Hebrew is quanna, which also means zelous, as in caring passionately.
God does indeed love us with passion, fervent zeal and wants us to be His people.
He does not want us to fall under the spell of any other.
As our creator and Father he knows what is best for us and wants to keep us safely in His fold.
Where he can love, guide, and protect us.
That is the jealousy that God speaks of.
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