LESSON 7 JANUARY 14, 2018 A BOLD FAITH BIBLE BASIS: Daniel 3:19-28 BIBLE TRUTH: God honors faithfulness. MEMORY VERSE: Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who hath sent his angel, and delivered his servants that trusted in him, and have changed the king s word, and yielded their bodies, that they might not serve nor worship any god, except their own God (from Daniel 3:28). LESSON AIM: By the end of this lesson, we will: EXPLORE the connection between the faith of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego and their deliverance from the fiery furnace; VALUE their faith commitment; and IDENTIFY situations that call for faith during persecution. BACKGROUND SCRIPTURES: Daniel 3 - Read and incorporate the insights you gained from the Background Scriptures into your study of the lesson. LESSON OVERVIEW LIFE NEED FOR TODAY'S LESSON Sometimes people are challenged to endure great trials and tribulations because of their convictions. BIBLE LEARNING God delivered Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego from the fiery furnance. BIBLE APPLICATION Christians are encouraged by the faith of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. STUDENTS' RESPONSES Christians are challenged to stand firm in their faith. LESSON SCRIPTURE DANIEL 3:19-28, KJV 19 Then was Nebuchadnezzar full of fury, and the form of his visage was changed against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego: therefore he spake, and commanded that they should heat the furnace one seven times more than it was wont to be heated. 20 And he commanded the most mighty men that were in his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, and to cast them into the burning fiery furnace. 21 Then these men were bound in their coats, their hosen, and their hats, and their other garments, and were cast into the midst of the burning fiery furnace. 22 Therefore because the king's commandment was urgent, and the furnace exceeding hot, the flames of the fire slew those men that took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. 23 And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, fell down bound into the midst of the burning fiery furnace. 24 Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astonished, and rose up in haste, and spake, and said unto his counsellors, Did not we cast three men bound into the midst of the fire? They answered and said unto the king, True, O king. 25 He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.
26 Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the mouth of the burning fiery furnace, and spake, and said, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, ye servants of the most high God, come forth, and come hither. Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, came forth of the midst of the fire. 27 And the princes, governors, and captains, and the king's counsellors, being gathered together, saw these men, upon whose bodies the fire had no power, nor was an hair of their head singed, neither were their coats changed, nor the smell of fire had passed on them. 28 Then Nebuchadnezzar spake, and said, Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who hath sent his angel, and delivered his servants that trusted in him, and have changed the king's word, and yielded their bodies, that they might not serve nor worship any god, except their own God. Chaldean. The chronology of the Chaldeans is anything but straightforward. Initially, Chaldea referred only to a region at the head of the Persian Gulf that is south of Babylonia. During the eighth century BC, the tribes in this region were united and rose to power over Babylon. Over the course of approximately 100 years, and with the subsequent rise of Nebuchadnezzar s father, the Chaldeans strength continuously increased. Although the Chaldeans are presented as an opposing force to the Hebrews in the biblical text, they were held in high regard among many foreign nations. They were known for their study habits and dedication to doing good. Eventually, Greek historians began to use the term Chaldean to refer to Babylonian priests and wise men, which is how it became synonymous for Babylonia in the Scriptures. TEACHING THE BIBLE LESSON LIFE NEED FOR TODAY'S LESSON AIM: Students will accept that some people are challenged to endure great trials and tribulations because of their convictions. INTRODUCTION Nebuchadnezzar Nebuchadnezzar was a Chaldean king who ruled Babylonia from approximately 605 to 562 BC. His name is a plea to the son of the Babylonian deity of wisdom, Marduk, and means O god Nabu preserve my firstborn son. Nebuchadnezzar destroyed Solomon s Temple, also known as the first temple. He captured Jerusalem and exiled the people. Nebuchadnezzar is mentioned often in the Old Testament and he had many notable acts during his reign. In addition to his conquest of Jerusalem, Nebuchadnezzar was the first Babylonian king to rule Egypt when he defeated Pharaoh Necho. He is also credited for building the Hanging Gardens (one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World). BIBLE LEARNING AIM: Students will appreciate God delivering Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego from the fiery furnace. I. TURN UP THE HEAT (DANIEL 3:19-21) This passage is part of a significant section of Daniel that is written in Aramaic (2:4-7:28), with the remaining portions written in the usual Old Testament language of Hebrew (1:1 2:4; 8:1-12:13). The Aramaic section spans both the historical (Daniel 1-6) and visionary (7-12) parts of Daniel, making the book highly representative of the typical life of an exile or refugee, such as Daniel, who must know more than one language to survive. In the most figurative sense of the word, Nebuchadnezzar was heated. Known for his emotionalism and anger, he was so upset when they refused to bow down to the golden idol that his facial expression immediately changed and
he made an impulsive decision to throw the young men into the furnace. The furnace was most likely a lime furnace, which had a tall chimney on top for smoke and a window or opening on the bottom for inserting fuel. People could be thrown in at the top, which would be extra hot because of the rising air and smoke so hot that the guards would die. The king summoned the strongest guards to bind the three Hebrew boys, and decided the furnace should be seven times hotter. Many times, there is an expectation that faith, integrity, and truth will vindicate us, but sometimes being on the side of justice turns up the fire and increases the level of discomfort in our lives. 19 Then was Nebuchadnezzar full of fury, and the form of his visage was changed against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego: therefore he spake, and commanded that they should heat the furnace one seven times more than it was wont to be heated. 20 And he commanded the most mighty men that were in his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, and to cast them into the burning fiery furnace. The king had been informed that the three Jews whom he appointed to the administration of Babylon had not bowed down and worshiped the kings statue (2:48-49; 3:12). The king called Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego and gave them one more chance to bow down to the statue and worship his idol (v. 15). They refused, telling the king that their God will save them from the furnace (v. 17). The king was so enraged that he ordered the furnace heated seven times its usual temperature. Words for heat prevail in this section, not only regarding the furnace, though this is the most frequent reference. The word for the king s anger is also the Aramaic word for heat (Aram, khema, khe-mah, poison, heat, wrath). The king is so angry his face is heated with wrath and he makes the heat seven times hotter. The king has his strongest warriors bind the Jews and cast them into the burning fiery furnace. This expression burning fiery furnace (v. 20) is repeated eight times in this passage, intensifying the heat of the furnace with two words for fire. In English, such an expression would be called redundant, but in Aramaic the repetition of two synonyms yeqad (yeh- KOD, burning) and nur (NOOR, fiery) intensifies their effect. The punishment could not be any worse. As a result, the young men s faith could not be any stronger, nor God s salvation of them any more glorious. How is your faith in God strengthened and shared with others? 21 Then these men were bound in their coats, their hosen, and their hats, and their other garments, and were cast into the midst of the burning fiery furnace. The narrative takes care to inform us that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were cast into the furnace in all of their clothing. The purpose of mentioning the clothing here is to emphasize God s saving power later when the men exit the furnace unscathed; neither a hair on their heads nor their garments was singed (v. 27). The narrative also repeats the binding of the men three times: when they are cast into the furnace, when the king asks if his command has been fulfilled (v. 24), and when the king sees the men in the furnace unbound (v. 25). SEARCH THE SCRIPTURES QUESTION 1 How are the lives of Daniel and his friends similar to our lives as believers in the 21st century? QUESTION 2 The king allowed his anger to dictate his decision to kill the Hebrew young men by heating up the furnace seven times. Why do you think the king thought it was necessary to heat the furnace
even hotter? What drives you to do something good or something bad or evil? Ignoring the Royal Decree Today s section follows the rise of Daniel and his companions in the king s court after several miraculous events (1:18-20; 2:24-49). Now, some of the Chaldeans (those from southern Babylonia, near the Persian Gulf) accuse Shadrach, Meschach, and Abednego of transgressing the royal decree by not bowing down and worshiping the gold statue the king had created (3:1-12). The king follows the Chaldeans suggestion and prepares the fiery furnace to punish the three Jews for not obeying the decree. II. FALLING IN THE FIRE (vv. 22-23) The text sets up the next scene and displays the intensity of the fire by making it clear that it was perfect for human execution. The guards who threw Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego into the fire were themselves killed by the intensity of the heat. But the three Hebrew boys fell down into the furnace in the middle of the flames. This was the first miracle. They survived without being burned or suffering any broken bones or bruises from the fall! 22 Therefore because the king s commandment was urgent, and the furnace exceeding hot, the flame of the fire slew those men that took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. 23 And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, fell down bound into the midst of the burning fiery furnace. The text tells us that the king s command was urgent. In Aramaic, this word can also mean harsh (khatsaf\ khat-saf). In fact, the king s order was so harsh, and the furnace was so hot, that the warriors who threw the Jews into the furnace were killed by the fire. This part of the event calls to mind scurrying and haste, where a master commands his servants so forcefully that they get harmed because they are so afraid that they cannot think of being cautious. This passage is a reminder of how dangerous human power can become when an individual or group is allowed such power and is permitted to make decisions based on anger and hatred, whether related to religious faith, race, or other ways of differentiating one person or group from another. The king s warriors are killed just by getting close to the furnace, so we know how hot the furnace really is, and now the three Jews have been thrown into the burning fiery furnace. SEARCH THE SCRIPTURES QUESTION 3 Have you ever escaped a very trying situation because you stood for God? QUESTION 4 Why do you think some people suffer more in the world than others for professing their faith? An Unusual Sight The king saw something unusual. The boys were alive and walking in the furnace. But, he also saw something else. There was a fourth man walking in the flames. Nebuchadnezzar even recognizes who it is: the pre-incarnate Christ, Jesus before His incarnation. III. OUT OF THE FIERY FURNACE (vv. 24-28) The king calls to Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego and addresses them as servants of the Most High God. He tells them to come out of the furnace. After intense persecution, the three are vindicated for their faithfulness to the God of Israel. In the presence of the entire court,
including the officials that condemned them, the king acknowledges what is apparent the Hebrew men sustained the fire unharmed. They didn t even smell like smoke. King Nebuchadnezzar blesses the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. 24 Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astonished, and rose up in haste, and spake, and said unto his counsellors, Did not we cast three men bound into the midst of the fire? They answered and said unto the king, True, O king. 25 He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God. 26 Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the mouth of the burning fiery furnace, and spake, and said, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, ye servants of the most high God, come forth, and come hither. Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, came forth of the midst of the fire. 27 And the princes, governors, and captains, and the king s counsellors, being gathered together, saw these men, upon whose bodies the fire had no power, nor was an hair of their head singed, neither were their coats changed, nor the smell of fire had passed on them. Despite being thrown into the furnace that killed even those who came near it, when the king calls the three men to come out, they do so! The king recognized that the God these Jews said would save them (vv. 16-17) is the most high God. To add to the miraculous nature of the event, when the men exit the furnace, the governors and other leaders look at them and realize that they have not been harmed in the least not a hair on their heads nor any part of their clothing has been singed. They do not even smell like the fire. It is as though a barrier protected them while they were inside the furnace. Only the most high God would be able to perform such a miracle. How do you explain to others that God s presence has been manifested in your life? 28 Then Nebuchadnezzar spake, and said, Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who hath sent his angel, and delivered his servants that trusted in him, and have changed the king s word, and yielded their bodies, that they might not serve nor worship any god, except their own God. Nebuchadnezzar responds to the miracle by blessing Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego s God, recognizing that the fourth person in the furnace (w. 22-25) was an angel (Aram. mal ak, mall-ahk, angel, messenger). The king is so changed by the event that he praises the Jews for disobeying his command! In this case, these faithful servants have been saved from death by giving up their bodies, not their faith. Most of us may not be placed in a position of having to die for our faith. But will we live for our faith? Will we present our bodies as living sacrifices, holy, and acceptable to God (Romans 12:1-2)? SEARCH THE SCRIPTURES QUESTION 5 Describe the three men when they came out of the furnace (Daniel 3:27). The Fiery Furnace This entire account is known by many as the fiery furnace in the Christian tradition. It serves as an example of unwavering faith and God s saving power. What encouragement to obey God rather than man! What other Scripture reference or life experience reminds you of God s faithfulness and deliverance power? BIBLE APPLICATION
AIM: Students will be encouraged by the faith of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Today s lesson is about faith in action and conviction. In many cases, we are called to stand firm in our convictions when we face external pressure from society. Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and other leaders who joined him in nonviolent protest also faced the same challenge. They had to stand strong even when hosed, attacked by dogs, and beaten with billy clubs. They knew they were standing up for right and that God would deliver them one way or another. Many paid the ultimate price for freedom with their lives. STUDENTS' RESPONSES AIM: Students are challenged to stand firm in their faith in many areas in their lives. Idolatry does not present itself today as a 60- cubit gold statue, but many false gods seek priority in our lives. List things that appear as must dos and must haves. Based on how you spend your time and money, what is your main focus? Do you need to make changes to ensure you are faithful to God? This section provides an additional research article or other information to further your study of the lesson. The narrative of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego is one of the most memorable events in the Bible. Children through adults wait with anticipation for the buildup of each step to the final climax with God as the victor. Yet, how can we nourish and refresh our faith so that we stand boldly, depending on God to direct us in what to do and say? Develop a practical application of how to nurture and live this unwavering faith as the three Hebrew young men had. How does their faith speak to your life? http://www.crosswalk.com/family/career/5- life-changing-lessons-from-the-story- ofshadrach-meshach-and-abednego.html HOW TO SAY IT Shadrach. Meshach. Abednego. SHAD-rak. MEE-shak. ah-bed-ne-go. PREPARE FOR NEXT SUNDAY Read Daniel 9:4-8, 15-19 and A Prayer for an Obedient Faith. PRAYER Lord, great is Your faithfulness every day. You bless us with a breath of a new beginning and a do-over. It is in awe that we see how You move in our lives with faithfulness in spite of us. The Hebrew boys are reminders of the multitude of miraculous wonders to us that You perform and the faithfulness that we can have if we trust and believe in You. Thank You, Lord! In the Name of Jesus, we pray. Amen. DIG A LITTLE DEEPER