The Bible Meets Life

The Point Be ready and willing to stand for God. The Passage Daniel 3:13-18,26-28 The Bible Meets Life There s a lesson to be learned about courage from the Cowardly Lion. In The Wizard of Oz, the Cowardly Lion sang If I Only Had the Nerve, bemoaning his fear of rabbits and the fact that he is more of a dandy-lion than the king of the forest. Although he was always afraid for himself, he never hesitated to do what was right. That s a picture of courage. Mustering the courage to do the right thing is not always easy. After all, if it were easy, it wouldn t take courage! But finding the courage to take a stand is often necessary when we follow Christ. In the Book of Daniel, three men were willing to die rather than compromise their faith. Their courage inspires us to stand unwaveringly for God in a world that often pressures us to do just the opposite. The Setting King Nebuchadnezzar, feeling the power of his position, commissioned a huge golden statue, some 90 feet tall. Upon its completion, he announced a dedication of the statue and required all the various government officials at different levels throughout the land to attend the dedication. There he commanded all in attendance to worship the statue. Disobedience was punishable by death. Even so, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego refused to bow and worship. BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE 105

What does the Bible say? Daniel 3:13-18,26-28 (HCSB) Satraps (v. 27) Satraps were the chief representatives of the king over large divisions of the Babylonian Empire. Prefects (v. 27) These were political or possibly military officials who were responsible to the satraps. Governors (v. 27) Governors were administrators of smaller regions within the empire. 13 Then in a furious rage Nebuchadnezzar gave orders to bring in Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. So these men were brought before the king. 14 Nebuchadnezzar asked them, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, is it true that you don t serve my gods or worship the gold statue I have set up? 15 Now if you re ready, when you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, drum, and every kind of music, fall down and worship the statue I made. But if you don t worship it, you will immediately be thrown into a furnace of blazing fire and who is the god who can rescue you from my power? 16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego replied to the king, Nebuchadnezzar, we don t need to give you an answer to this question. 17 If the God we serve exists, then He can rescue us from the furnace of blazing fire, and He can rescue us from the power of you, the king. 18 But even if He does not rescue us, we want you as king to know that we will not serve your gods or worship the gold statue you set up. 26 Nebuchadnezzar then approached the door of the furnace of blazing fire and called: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, you servants of the Most High God come out! So Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego came out of the fire. 27 When the satraps, prefects, governors, and the king s advisers gathered around, they saw that the fire had no effect on the bodies of these men: not a hair of their heads was singed, their robes were unaffected, and there was no smell of fire on them. 28 Nebuchadnezzar exclaimed, Praise to the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego! He sent His angel and rescued His servants who trusted in Him. They violated the king s command and risked their lives rather than serve or worship any god except their own God. 106 SeSSion 3

THE POINT Be ready and willing to stand for God. GET INTO THE STUDY 10 minutes DISCUSS: Invite your group members Notes to turn their attention to the image at the bottom of page 83 of the Personal Study Guide (PSG). Ask: When have you seen an act of courage? Allow time for each person to respond. ACTIVITY (OPTIONAL): For a visual illustration of courage in action, play a video clip of someone completing TIP: Try not to offer the first answer to the discussion questions. Group members often perceive a leader s answer as the final word, which can end discussion. a perilous climb, jump, or other extreme sport. RECAP THE PSG (PAGE 84): There s a lesson to be learned about courage from the Cowardly Lion. In The Wizard of Oz, the Cowardly Lion sang If I Only Had the Nerve, bemoaning his fear of rabbits and the fact that he is more of a dandy-lion than the king of the forest. Although he was always afraid for himself, he never hesitated to do what was right. That s a picture of courage. Mustering the courage to do the right thing is not always easy. After all, if it were easy, it wouldn t take courage! But finding the courage to take a stand is often necessary when we follow Christ. SAY: In the Book of Daniel, three men were willing to die rather than compromise their faith. Their courage inspires us to stand unwaveringly for God in a world that often pressures us to do just the opposite. GUIDE: Call the group s attention to The Point on page 84 of the PSG: Be ready and willing to stand for God Explain that this key idea will drive your discussion. PRAY: Transition into the Bible study by praying for your group. As you do, pray for those in your group who are currently facing a situation that requires a brave stand for Christ. BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE 107

10 minutes STUDY THE BIBLE Daniel 3:13-15 Notes 13 Then in a furious rage Nebuchadnezzar gave orders to bring in Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. So these men were brought before the king. 14 Nebuchadnezzar asked them, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, is it true that you don t serve my gods or worship the gold statue I have set up? 15 Now if you re ready, when you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, drum, and every kind of music, fall down and worship the statue I made. But if you don t worship it, you will immediately be thrown into a furnace of blazing fire and who is the god who can rescue you from my power? READ: Ask a group member to read aloud Daniel 3:13-15. SUMMARIZE: King Nebuchadnezzar was not happy. Nebuchadnezzar had built a large, gold statue 90 feet high and nine feet wide (Daniel 3:1). Building such a statue to honor himself was bad enough, then Nebuchadnezzar ordered everyone to bow in worship before it. This was not an option; it was a command. So when the Babylonian orchestra sounded, people were to fall down and worship or face the fiery consequences. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego had deep spiritual convictions. They knew and believed God s Word. Do not have other gods besides Me (Exodus 20:3). They would not bow to the statue. More than unhappy, Nebuchadnezzar was in a furious rage. Beside himself with anger, the king taunted his young servants: Who is the god who can rescue you from my power? Nebuchadnezzar was challenging God Himself. It was as if he were saying, Your God may have been able to reveal my dream, but He is powerless in protecting you from death. ALTERNATE QUESTION: When have you recently felt the pressure to conform? 108 SeSSion 3 DISCUSS: Question 2 on page 86 of the PSG: What are some pressures we face today as followers of Christ? TRANSITION: The challenge had been issued; Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were in a tight spot. The young men had to take a stand or face the consequences.

THE POINT Be ready and willing to stand for God. Daniel 3:13-15 Commentary Your commitment to the Lord will often cause clashes with the world. King Nebuchadnezzar had given orders for a giant golden statue to be erected in his honor. The king s motivation for building a huge golden statue and making it the centerpiece of national loyalty is unclear. The king commanded an empire that encompassed diverse cultures, ethnic groups, and religions. Perhaps he wanted to provide a religious symbol to consolidate people of every nation and language with a common bond. Constructing the giant statue in the province of Babylon reinforced the capital city s centrality and importance. He may have wanted to create the statue he saw in a recent dream (see Daniel 2), which Daniel interpreted for Nebuchadnezzar. Other Bible students believe the huge statue represented a Chaldean god, probably the god Marduk, the principle god of Babylon. The size of the statue and its placement on the plain of Dura (Daniel 3:1) made it a centerpiece of Babylonian culture. This site likely was about 16 miles south of Babylon. People could see the statue, which was 90 feet high and nine feet wide, across the plain from miles away. The height of the statue was roughly as tall as today s nine-story building. Nebuchadnezzar brought together every leader in the empire to attend the dedication of the statue. He instructed all his civil and military officials to attend. At an arranged moment when the music began, all the officials and citizens were required to fall down and worship the statue (v. 5). If an individual refused to comply with the command of Nebuchadnezzar, the punishment involved a terrifying death in a blazing furnace (vv. 6,11). Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego found themselves at a fork in the road. They could go through the external motions of worshiping an idol and resist internally so that no one would notice, or they could refuse to participate in a sinful act of idolatry and accept the consequences. Verse 13: When he heard the news that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego refused to bow down to the statue (vv. 8-12), he went into a furious rage and he ordered them to appear before his throne. Nebuchadnezzar saw their refusal as both a blatant act of treason against the nation and as a flagrant insult to the authority of the king. Politics and religion were so inseparably bound together that refusal to worship the statue was a crime that warranted death. Verses 14-15: Nebuchadnezzar asked them if the accusation against them was true. If so, then he was offering them an opportunity to recant and worship the statue. Perhaps it was because of Nebuchadnezzar s esteem for the devotion and service rendered by Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego that he was willing to give the accused an opportunity to recant their position. After all, the three had demonstrated a previous pattern of exemplary duty and respect. However, Nebuchadnezzar made it clear that they would be thrown into a blazing furnace if they refused to bow down to the idol. BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE 109

10 minutes STUDY THE BIBLE Daniel 3:16-18 Notes 16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego replied to the king, Nebuchadnezzar, we don t need to give you an answer to this question. 17 If the God we serve exists, then He can rescue us from the furnace of blazing fire, and He can rescue us from the power of you, the king. 18 But even if He does not rescue us, we want you as king to know that we will not serve your gods or worship the gold statue you set up. READ: Ask a group member to read aloud Daniel 3:16-18. SAY: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego had no idea what God was going to do. But live or die, they knew God was with them and on their side. ALTERNATE QUESTION: What might we risk when we stand firm for our convictions? DISCUSS: Question 3 on page 87 of the PSG: When is it necessary to take a stand publicly for your convictions? SUMMARIZE: It s important to note that the three young servants never claimed God would rescue them, but only that He could deliver them. They had no doubt about God s power to accomplish a miracle. But even if He does not rescue us indicates that their faith did not rest on the belief that God would miraculously rescue them somehow, but that God was sovereign and could be trusted. Whatever action God took, they would not deny Him by worshiping the gold statue. We will not serve your gods or worship the gold statue. DISCUSS: Question 4 on page 88 of the PSG: What is the connection between courage and faith? TRANSITION: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego didn t have a guarantee that God would spare their lives. The courage of their faith revealed that they trusted God whatever the outcome. 110 SeSSion 3

THE POINT Be ready and willing to stand for God. Daniel 3:16-18 Commentary You must stand against a hostile world with immovable faith. Verse 16: The three Hebrews did not sense a need to give the king an answer to his question (see v. 15). They knew defending themselves was useless. First, the king s command was not open to question. Second, their position was not flexible. They would not compromise with false religion. Third, Nebuchadnezzar was not considering the situation logically, but emotionally. Any argument would have made the king s wrath more intense. Verse 17: But Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego did speak to the king. Their reply should not be interpreted as cavalier disrespect. Tone is sometimes difficult to distinguish when we analyze statements in Scripture. Given their past demeanor, their tone was most likely one of calm resolve rather than one of emphatic haughtiness. They could make the response they did because of their faith in God. The young men declared the supremacy of their God. They knew that God was more powerful than the fire or the king who controlled the fire. They knew that the Lord was able to rescue them even from the furnace of blazing fire. Verse 18: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego did not presume on God. They never claimed God would rescue them, but only that He could deliver them. They had no doubt about God s goodness to intervene in their crisis. They had no doubt either about God s power to accomplish a miracle. But even if He does not rescue us indicates that their faith did not rest on the belief that God would perform a miracle, but that God was sovereign and could be trusted. The conclusion of the matter was that whatever action God took, they would not deny Him by worshiping the gold statue. We will not serve your gods or worship the gold statue. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego understood that faith is not measured by the avoidance of tribulation, but by the assurance that God would be with them through the tribulation. They clearly realized the danger. They didn t have a guarantee that God would spare their lives. The courage of their faith revealed that they trusted God regardless of the outcome. The courage of the three young men was based on a confidence that whatever happened, God would still reign. The union of courage wed to faith doesn t pretend to know how the story of life will unfold, but it relies on the grand truth that God will direct the story. Courage merely to be defiant misses the point. Courage to depend on God despite the fire of tribulation is the point. Consequently, a holy but even if surrender to God s script for our lives reveals true courage that speaks louder than any story we could write for ourselves. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were willing to stand courageously because they trusted God.. BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE 111

10 minutes STUDY THE BIBLE Daniel 3:26-28 Notes 26 Nebuchadnezzar then approached the door of the furnace of blazing fire and called: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, you servants of the Most High God come out! So Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego came out of the fire. 27 When the satraps, prefects, governors, and the king s advisers gathered around, they saw that the fire had no effect on the bodies of these men: not a hair of their heads was singed, their robes were unaffected, and there was no smell of fire on them. 28 Nebuchadnezzar exclaimed, Praise to the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego! He sent His angel and rescued His servants who trusted in Him. They violated the king s command and risked their lives rather than serve or worship any god except their own God. READ: Ask a group member to read aloud Daniel 3:26-28. SUMMARIZE: The three young men were thrown into the fire. God didn t merely protect the three from the effects of the fire; He was in the fire with them. Nebuchadnezzar himself saw what appeared to be a fourth person in the furnace. Many believe this person was either an angel sent by God or the pre-incarnate Christ. Then, Nebuchadnezzar had to admit the truth: For there is no other god who is able to deliver like this (v. 29). Nebuchadnezzar acknowledged the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego as the Most High God, superior to all others. ALTERNATE QUESTION: What helps you stand firm when your convictions are challenged? DISCUSS: Question 5 on page 89 of the PSG: How do we help one another be ready and willing to stand for God? DO: Divide your members into groups of three or four people each. Within each small group, direct members to complete the activity on page 88 of the PSG. Be Prepared: Complete each statement in the acrostic with your own declaration of how you will stand for God. Speak Never Trust Decide Adopt 112 SeSSion 3

THE POINT Be ready and willing to stand for God. Daniel 3:26-28 Commentary Honor God by loving Him more than your own life. Nebuchadnezzar gave instructions for the furnace to be heated seven times more than was customary (v. 19). That was a figurative expression indicating that the furnace was to be heated as hot as possible. The king also ordered some of the strongest soldiers in his army (v. 20) to bind the three friends and hurl them into the flames. The strong men, however, were burned to death trying to carry out their orders, while Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego fell, bound, into the furnace of blazing fire (v. 23). There is some evidence to suggest that the furnace may have served as a huge kiln to smelt the metal for Nebuchadnezzar s statue and to manufacture the clay stones used as a base for it. The furnace probably had a small door-like opening on one end where wood and charcoal were inserted and a larger opening on the other end for the insertion of the material to be smelted or baked. Temperatures in such furnaces could sometimes reach a maximum temperature of 1800-2000 degrees Fahrenheit and sufficiently melt aluminum, brass, lead, copper, silver, and gold. Nebuchadnezzar was alarmed, however, to see a fourth person walking around in the furnace with the other three (v. 25). He thought the fourth person looked divine. Whether Nebuchadnezzar saw an angel of God or the pre-incarnate Son of God is not specifically recorded. The presence of the fourth person does emphasize the Immanuel concept of God among His people. God dwelt among the three friends who dared to stand for Him. Verse 26: The king s response to this miracle was to acknowledge that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were servants of the Most High God. The term was the best he knew for the God who was above all gods. Nebuchadnezzar was not ready to abandon all his ideas of a host of gods, but he recognized the superior power of the three Hebrews God. Nebuchadnezzar then called for the young men to come out of the furnace. He did not address the fourth figure or ask the divine presence to emerge. Nor did the king inquire as to His identity. Whether the fourth man disappeared at that moment or lingered as the others exited the furnace is unknown. Nebuchadnezzar had seen enough. He reversed his sentence and called forth the three men. Verse 27: Nebuchadnezzar and his officials gathered around the three friends to carefully evaluate them. They noted that not a hair on their heads was singed, their robes were unaffected, and there was no smell of fire on them. No one could deny the miraculous intervention of God. Verse 28: To Nebuchadnezzar s credit, he exalted the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. He respectfully noted their refusal of his command and how they risked their lives rather than serve or worship any god except their own God. BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE 113

5 minutes LIVE IT OUT SAY: What can you do this week to stand courageously for God? Notes GUIDE: Lead group members to consider the responses to the Bible study listed on page 90 of the PSG. Pray for others. As a group, discuss individuals and people groups who are undergoing persecution or challenges to their faith. Pray daily that God would give them strength and courage to stand for Him. Be prepared. Consider what you will do when your faith is challenged. Ask yourself what resources and support (prayer partners, Bible verses, and so forth) will help you stand courageously, and begin to put those resources into place. Speak up. Memorize and put into practice the five actions mentioned on page 87 as you encounter challenges to your faith in the days ahead. Pray daily for the Holy Spirit to fill you and speak through you the truth in love. Wrap It Up SAY: When we follow Christ, we ll face situations in which we re called to take a stand. We ll need courage to do what is right and strength that comes from the indwelling of His Holy Spirit. Then, like the Cowardly Lion, we ll be ready to stand strong in the face of fear. 114 S e ss i o n 3