August 8, 2004

Faithful in the Furnace

Daniel 1-3

Daniel 3:1-25: “King Nebuchadnezzar made an image of gold, ninety feet high and nine feet wide, and set it up on the plain of Dura in the province of Babylon. He then summoned the satraps, prefects, governors, advisers, treasurers, judges, magistrates and all the other provincial officials to come to the dedication of the image he had set up. So the satraps, prefects, governors, advisers, treasurers, judges, magistrates and all the other provincial officials assembled for the dedication of the image that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up, and they stood before it. Then the herald loudly proclaimed, ‘This is what you are commanded to do, O peoples, nations and men of every language: As soon as you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipes and all kinds of music, you must fall down and worship the image of gold that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up. Whoever does not fall down and worship will immediately be thrown into a blazing furnace.’ Therefore, as soon as they heard the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp and all kinds of music, all the peoples, nations and men of every language fell down and worshiped the image of gold that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up. At this time some astrologers came forward and denounced the Jews. They said to King Nebuchadnezzar, ‘O king, live forever! You have issued a decree, O king, that everyone who hears the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipes and all kinds of music must fall down and worship the image of gold, and that whoever does not fall down and worship will be thrown into a blazing furnace. But there are some Jews whom you have set over the affairs of the province of Babylon-- Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego-- who pay no attention to you, O king. They neither serve your gods nor worship the image of gold you have set up.’

“Furious with rage, Nebuchadnezzar summoned Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. So these men were brought before the king, and Nebuchadnezzar said to them, ‘Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the image of gold I have set up? Now when you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipes and all kinds of music, if you are ready to fall down and worship the image I made, very good. But if you do not worship it, you will be thrown immediately into a blazing furnace. Then what god will be able to rescue you from my hand?’ Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to the king, ‘O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand, O king. But even if he does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.’

“Then Nebuchadnezzar was furious with Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, and his attitude toward them changed. He ordered the furnace heated seven times hotter than usual and commanded some of the strongest soldiers in his army to tie up Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego and throw them into the blazing furnace. So these men, wearing their robes, trousers, turbans and other clothes, were bound and thrown into the blazing furnace. The king's command was so urgent and the furnace so hot that the flames of the fire killed the soldiers who took up Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, and these three men, firmly tied, fell into the blazing furnace. Then King Nebuchadnezzar leaped to his feet in amazement and asked his advisers, ‘Weren't there three men that we tied up and threw into the fire?’ They replied, ‘Certainly, O king.’ He said, ‘Look! I see four men walking around in the fire, unbound and unharmed, and the fourth looks like a son of the gods.’” (NIV)

I. Faithful in the Little Things Daniel, chapter 1

In the first chapter of Daniel we see that the Babylonian empire has defeated the people of God. Whenever Babylon captured a country or area, they sent out talent scouts who would find talented young people and send them to Babylon to be retrained and indoctrinated into the ways of Babylon. Daniel and the three Hebrew young men were taken into captivity and were going to be trained to be future leaders.

During this time of training they are allowed to eat at the King’s table. Daniel and his friends ask not to defile themselves by eating those things that would be unclean. The cupbearer of the king is not willing to allow this to happen. Daniel asks for a time of testing. Let them eat vegetables and water and if in a few days they look worse than the others, then they will eat from the king’s table. Daniel and his friends passed the test. They learned an important lesson. They were faithful in the little things. Many people want to prove themselves faithful to God in the big things of life. Daniel could have compromised. He was in a strange land; he was away from his parents. Who would know if he compromised? Integrity is such an important part of our walk with the Lord. You and I must learn through the little lessons of life that you and I can count on God. When we learn that we can trust God in the little things, it gives us confidence to know that we can trust God with and in everything.

It is the little things that determine our direction

It is in being obedient to God in the little details of life that our character is formed.

Who are you when no one is looking?

There was no one to encourage Daniel and friends to remain faithful. They were examples of spiritual integrity.

You are whom you are when no one is looking.

II. Faithful in the Big Things Daniel, chapter 2

In chapter two of the book of Daniel the king has a dream that troubles him. He calls all of his wise counselors together and asks them to tell him his dream and then to interpret his dream. His advisors tell him that what he asks is too hard. The king determines to have all of the wise counselors killed if no one can describe his dream and then interpret it. When Daniel hears of the king’s plans, he asks his friends to pray and ask God to help them. God answers their prayers, and Daniel is able to describe and interpret the king’s dream.

Dan 2:27-28: “Daniel replied, ‘No wise man, enchanter, magician or diviner can explain to the king the mystery he has asked about, but there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries.’”

Daniel and his friends learn that you can trust God with the biggest things in life. Have you learned this lesson? There is nothing in our lives that God can’t handle.

III. Faithful in the Fire Daniel, chapter 3

The king had a giant statue of himself made and ordered that all of his subjects bow and worship this image. The three Hebrew children would not bow and worship this idol.

Let God Defend you (v.16)

They have set a wonderful example for us to follow. They state that they do not need to defend themselves. Too much energy and time is spent trying to defend ourselves. We should trust God and allow Him to defend us.
God can deliver us from the fire (v.17)

When you have learned that you can trust God in the little things of life and you can trust him with the large things, then you know you can trust him in the fire.

God can deliver us through the fire (v.18)

Our faith is forged not just in the fire, but also in the little things in life. All of life is preparing us for service to our God. Have you learned to trust him in the little things? Have you learned to trust him in the big things? Have you learned to trust Him in the furnace?