Book Of Daniel – “A good read!” – Christianity Today …
We are still in our “SUMMER HEAT” series. So glad you are here! Today we will be in Daniel 3 – all 30 verses. Hope you have your bibles! If not, there are some in the back. I would love to hear those pages
Here is how things may be going down today …
*INTRO: Interesting facts about Daniel
*DANIEL 3: 1-30
1. King Nebuchadnezzar made an image of gold, whose height was sixty cubits and its breadth six cubits. He set it up on the plain of Dura, in the province of Babylon. 2. Then King Nebuchadnezzar sent to gather the satraps, the prefects, and the governors, the counselors, the treasurers, the justices, the magistrates, and all the officials of the provinces to come to the dedication of the image that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up. 3. Then the satraps, the prefects, and the governors, the counselors, the treasurers, the justices, the magistrates, and all the officials of the provinces gathered for the dedication of the image that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up. And they stood before the image that Nebuchadnezzar had set up.
- This is gonna be one hot party …
4. And the herald proclaimed aloud, “You are commanded, O peoples, nations, and languages, 5. That when you hear the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, bagpipe, and every kind of music, you are to fall down and worship the golden image that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up. 6. And whoever does not fall down, and worship shall immediately be cast into a burning fiery furnace.” 7. Therefore, as soon as all the peoples heard the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, bagpipe, and every kind of music, all the peoples, nations, and languages fell down and worshiped the golden image that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up.
- Everybody’s doin’ it … well, almost …
8. Therefore at that time certain Chaldeans came forward and maliciously accused the Jews. 9. They declared to King Nebuchadnezzar, “O king, live forever! 10. You, O king, have made a decree, that every man who hears the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, bagpipe, and every kind of music, shall fall down and worship the golden image. 11. And whoever does not fall down and worship shall be cast into a burning fiery furnace.
- Tattle tales …
12. There are certain Jews whom you have appointed over the affairs of the province of Babylon: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. These men, O king, pay no attention to you; they do not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.” 13. Then Nebuchadnezzar in furious rage commanded that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego be brought. So they brought these men before the king. 14. Nebuchadnezzar answered and said to them, “Is it true, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the golden image that I have set up? 15. Now if you are ready when you hear the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, bagpipe, and every kind of music, to fall down and worship the image that I have made, well and good. But if you do not worship, you shall immediately be cast into a burning fiery furnace. And who is the god who will deliver you out of my hands?”
- Mic drop …
16. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered and said to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. 17. If this be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king. 18. But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.”
- Raging mad …
19. Then Nebuchadnezzar was filled with fury, and the expression of his face was changed against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. He ordered the furnace heated seven times more than it was usually heated. 20. And he ordered some of the mighty men of 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 cloaks, their tunics, their hats, and their other garments, and they were thrown into the burning fiery furnace. 22. Because the king’s order was urgent and the furnace overheated, the flame of the fire killed those men who took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. 23. And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, fell bound into the burning fiery furnace. 24. Then King Nebuchadnezzar was astonished and rose up in haste …
- Septuagint? What’s that?
o A translation of the Hebrew Bible into the greek language. Translated in the 3rd and 2nd centuries before Christ.
o Daniel 3:24 – “and Nabuchodonosor heard them singing praises; and he wondered, and rose up in haste
… He declared to his counselors, “Did we not cast three men bound into the fire?” They answered and said to the king, “True, O king.” 25. He answered and said, “But I see four men unbound, walking in the midst of the fire, and they are not hurt; and the appearance of the fourth is like a son of the gods.”
- No burns here …
26. Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the door of the burning fiery furnace; he declared, “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out, and come here!” Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego came out from the fire. 27. And the satraps, the prefects, the governors, and the king’s counselors gathered together and saw that the fire had not had any power over the bodies of those men. The hair of their heads was not singed, their cloaks were not harmed, and no smell of fire had come upon them. 28. Nebuchadnezzar answered and said, “Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who has sent his angel and delivered his servants, who trusted in him, and set aside the king’s command, and yielded up their bodies rather than serve and worship any god except their own God. 29. Therefore I make a decree: Any people, nation, or language that speaks anything against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego shall be torn limb from limb, and their houses laid in ruins, for there is no other god who is able to rescue in this way.” 30. Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the province of Babylon.
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~ WHEN IT COMES TO GOD, BE BOLDLY FAITHFUL:
o One Peter 2:10 – “beloved, I urge you as soujourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul.”
o As Christians, there will be trials. There will be fires …
o James 1:2-4 – “count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.”
o Galatians 6:9 – “And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.”
~ WHEN IT COMES TO GOD, BOLDLY TRUST HIM:
o Trust that god will take care of you – no matter the outcome …
o Psalm 27:1 – “The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?”
o Hebrews 13:6 – “So we can confidently say, “the Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?”
~ WHEN IT COMES TO GOD, BOLDLY KNOW THAT HE IS WITH YOU:
o God will never leave you alone …
o Joshua 1:5 – “No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life. Just as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you or forsake you.”
~ WHEN IT COMES TO GOD, BOLDLY REMEMBER THAT HE HAS, AND HE WILL COME THROUGH FOR YOU:
o God will come through for you. Through the trials, through the fires …
o One Corinthians 10:13 – “No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.”
o As Christians, fires are gonna come. That is for sure
o Two Timothy 2:12 – Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted …”
o One Peter 4:12 – “Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share in Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed.”
So, be bold. Let us always remember that God is …
· … the God of great power …
· … the God worthy of trust …
· … the God worthy of full surrender …
· … the God worthy of all allegiance
· … the God who sends the Savior …
That savior is Jesus …
One Corinthians 15:58 – “Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.”
