Daniel 3:1-30 The God Who Rescues CENTRAL THEME: Whether or not God rescues his people from persecution he is still the only God we are to worship because he is Most High God. He thwarts the will of Kings, and rules nature. I INTRODUCTION: The first four chapters of the book of Daniel are about God confronting an arrogant King who refuses to bow to God s sovereign authority. It takes place after God brought judgment on the nation of Israel by having them carried into captivity by Nebuchadnezzar. It focuses on four young men who were taken captive and placed into service in Babylon; Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. In the first chapter they refuse to eat from the kings table because of their desire to honor God and only eat food that was permitted by the law of God and to not eat food that had been offered to idols. In chapter two, God revealed to Daniel the king s dream and its interpretation. This resulted in promotions to positions of significant authority for all four of these young men. They were likely at most in their early twenties when the events of chapter two took place. The events of chapter three probably follow within a few years of chapter two. These people, who had been the supervisors and instructors for Daniel, 1
Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego in chapters one and two, were now (following the events of chapter two) reporting to these young men. This is the political intrigue behind chapter three. The promotion of Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego at the end of chapter two apparently produced enough political jealousy that those they were promoted over were looking for an opportunity to discredit them in the eyes of the king. II TEXT: A) 3:1-7 The idol erected and worship demanded. 1) Sometime during the first half of Nebuchadnezzar s reign. 2) Purpose of the image: Unification of the kingdom through common religious observance. 3) Those required to be present were government workers. 4) We do not know where Daniel was during this time. 5) Placing the consequence of the fiery furnace for not bowing down indicated that the king anticipated potential disobedience to this command. 6) It is possible that the furnace was one used to smelt the gold used in the image. B) 3:8-18 The trial of the three Hebrews. 2
1) The motive for accusation was very likely jealousy. 2) vs.12 The accusation was three fold. a) They don t pay attention to the king. b) They don t serve the king s gods. c) They don t worship the image. 3) vs. 13&14 The king gives them a second chance. 4) vs.15 Nebuchadnezzar considers himself greater than Yahweh and therefore defames him. 5) vs.16 The three did not defend themselves because they readily admitted they were guilty. 6) vs.17 The three affirm God s power to rescue and state their belief that he will do so either by physically rescuing them or death. In either case they will be rescued out of Nebuchadnezzar s hand. This goes directly to Nebuchadnezzar s claim that no God could rescue them out of his hand. 7) vs.18 No matter what God chose to do they would still worship and serve him only. 8) vs.18 Civil disobedience was the only choice left to them. See Acts. 5:29 We must obey God rather than man. C 3:19-30 The execution and its results. 1) This furnace was probably a smelting furnace. Fuel was poured into it from the top by means of a dirt ramp. There was an opening in the bottom where the 3
smelting could be done. 2) Vs. 19-22 Nebuchadnezzar in his anger and hurry fed the fire hotter than he should have and lost several good soldiers who died throwing the three men into the furnace. 3) Vs.24-27 The three were unharmed by the flames except that they were loosed and walking around in the flame with a fourth whom Nebuchadnezzar describes as a son of the gods. 4) Vs.28,29 Nebuchadnezzar admits Yahweh s power and that their is no god who can deliver like this. He also recognizes that the three have acted in faith in their civil disobedience. III APPLICATION: A. We may not have a King who demands that we worship an idol, but we have plenty of pressure in our culture to make many things into idols; possessions, power, our families (spouse and children), work, and the most insidious one ourselves. The essence of sin is to enthrone in our lives something besides God. Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego had seen first hand how God dealt with Israel because of idolatry. They were now in captivity because of this sin of the nation. They learned their lesson well. No matter what the pressure, including the possibility of loosing their lives, they would not participate in idolatry. For them God was the only one who deserved their worship and obedience. Is 4
that true of us? a. Do we see our work from the perspective of God s gift to us rather than our identity with our ego wrapped up in how well we do? b. Do we see our family from the standpoint of stewardship rather than being so dependent on them for our sense of well being that we cannot keep on trusting God when something happens to one of them? c. Do we so desire and protect possessions in such a way that if God asked us to give them up we would reject his prompting? d. Do we so long for power or prestige that we are willing to violate our conscience before God in order to hold on to it? B. In this text God is dealing with Nebuchadnezzar. Nebuchadnezzar, in this text, sets himself up as supreme ruler. He has already forgotten the lesson of the dream in chapter two, namely, that the only kingdom which will last is God s kingdom. He challenges God directly when he says, no God can deliver you out of my hand. God proves him wrong and again reasserts his sovereignty by delivering Shadrach Meshach and Abednego from the furnace. Over and over again in the early chapters of Daniel, Nebuchadnezzar demonstrates his arrogance. Every time we choose to go our own way, rather than live in obedience to God, we demonstrate our propensity to be arrogant. Arrogance at its core is under estimating who 5
God is and over estimating who we are. How does it show itself? Through judgment of others Through a need to be right and intolerance of other opinions Through intentional disobedience of God s law or convictions Through an attitude of self-importance How can we avoid it? Stay close to the foot of the Cross of Jesus. This is the place where we first humbled ourselves before God by admitting our sin and need of his grace. It is the way we continue to live the Christian life in humility. But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble. 7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double- minded. 9 Be wretched and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you. 11 Do not speak evil against one another, brothers. The one who speaks against a brother or judges his brother, speaks evil against the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge. 12 There is only 6
one lawgiver and judge, he who is able to save and to destroy. But who are you to judge your neighbor? 7