(This Sermon was preached at Eastview Baptist Church during the
Evening Service on October 19, 2003.
All Scripture references used in this sermon are based upon
the NKJV®, unless otherwise stated)
| This work was written and submitted by: Joseph M. Willmouth, Pastor of Eastview Baptist Church, Kentucky. This contributed article is copyright protected, and the sole property of the contributing author. It may be freely copied and used provided the above credits are included. Document expiration: indefinite. |
Introduction: The Apostle Paul tells us in Romans 13:1-7, that God approves and sets up governments for the good of its people. It is our civic duty to obey the laws, pay our taxes and basically be good all around citizens. We submit to governmental authority because the One who instituted the authority is God Himself. In other words, when we submit to our government, we are submitting to God.. But what happens when a government passes laws that are contrary to God's revealed will? We find our answer in Acts 5:29, "But Peter and the other apostles answered and said: "We ought to obey God rather than men." In other words, when any authority commands what God has forbidden, or forbids what God has commanded, a Christian must obey the Author of all authority, God Himself (NSB). We find the same lesson presented here in the third chapter of the book of Daniel where we will see what happens when laws and faith collide.
I. The Law Of The Land
(vv.1-7).
1. Nebuchadnezzar's image (v.1).
1 Nebuchadnezzar the king made an image of gold, whose height was sixty cubits and its width six cubits. He set it up in the plain of Dura, in the province of Babylon.Transition: Nebuchadnezzar didn't stop with just making a monument that commemorated his great kingdom, but he took it a step further by making it a part of the law. . .A. Daniel had declared that Nebuchadnezzar was the head of gold in the image of his dream in chapter 2 of Daniel (McGee).
- Instead of Nebuchadnezzar humbling himself before God, the dream caused Nebuchadnezzar to be filled with excessive pride, and he made an entire image of gold to represent the kingdom he had built.B. The dimensions of the image would be fitting for an obelisk, for it was 90 feet high (about the height of a present-day eight-story building) and only 9 feet wide (BKC).1) This 10-to-1 ratio of height to width does not fit an image in human form, for it would be too slender.2) The image was may have been in proper human proportions if it was set on a pedestal to make it more imposing.
- Archaeologists, excavating about six miles southeast of the city of Babylon, have found ruins which they believe might be the foundation of this image (ED).
2. Nebuchadnezzar's command (vv.2-7)
2 And King Nebuchadnezzar sent word to gather together the satraps, the administrators, the governors, the counselors, the treasurers, the judges, the magistrates, and all the officials of the provinces, to come to the dedication of the image which King Nebuchadnezzar had set up. 3 So the satraps, the administrators, the governors, the counselors, the treasurers, the judges, the magistrates, and all the officials of the provinces gathered together for the dedication of the image that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up; and they stood before the image that Nebuchadnezzar had set up.4 Then a herald cried aloud: "To you it is commanded, O peoples, nations, and languages, 5 "that at the time you hear the sound of the horn, flute, harp, lyre, and psaltery, in symphony with all kinds of music, you shall fall down and worship the gold image that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up; 6 "and whoever does not fall down and worship shall be cast immediately into the midst of a burning fiery furnace." 7 So at that time, when all the people heard the sound of the horn, flute, harp, and lyre, in symphony with all kinds of music, all the people, nations, and languages fell down and worshiped the gold image which King Nebuchadnezzar had set up.Application: Nebuchadnezzar attempted to consolidate his empire through a common religion. This is the second of three great attempts of man to institute a one-world religion. The first occurred at the Tower of Babel (Gen. 11) and the last will take place in Jerusalem during the tribulation (Rev.13: WGB). This is an example of a government who oversteps the authority that God has granted them, and it is this type of government that believers do not have a moral obligation to obey.A. Nebuchadnezzar summoned his government officials to the dedication of the image (vv.2-3: BKC).
B. Nebuchadnezzar next, demanded a public display of recognition and submission to his absolute authority in the kingdom (vv.4-5: BKC).
- The fact that the officials were commanded not only to fall down before the image, but also to worship it, indicates that the image had religious as well as political significance.C. Nebuchadnezzar next ordered that anyone who failed to obey his command to bow down and worship the statue would face the death penalty (vv.6-7).
Transition: Now let's look at. . .
II. Responding To Amoral Laws
(vv.8-18).
1. A worldly response (vv.8-15).
8 Therefore at that time certain Chaldeans came forward and accused the Jews. 9 They spoke and said to King Nebuchadnezzar, "O king, live forever! 10 "You, O king, have made a decree that everyone who hears the sound of the horn, flute, harp, lyre, and psaltery, in symphony with all kinds of music, shall fall down and worship the gold image; 11 "and whoever does not fall down and worship shall be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace. 12 "There are certain Jews whom you have set over the affairs of the province of Babylon: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego; these men, O king, have not paid due regard to you. They do not serve your gods or worship the gold image which you have set up." 13 Then Nebuchadnezzar, in rage and fury, gave the command to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego. So they brought these men before the king. 14 Nebuchadnezzar spoke, saying to them, "Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the gold image which I have set up? 15 "Now if you are ready at the time you hear the sound of the horn, flute, harp, lyre, and psaltery, in symphony with all kinds of music, and you fall down and worship the image which I have made, good! But if you do not worship, you shall be cast immediately into the midst of a burning fiery furnace. And who is the god who will deliver you from my hands?"Application: It shouldn't surprise you when the people of the world will take any opportunity to denounce you before others. Jesus warned His disciples about this in John 15:20, "Remember the word that I said to you, 'A servant is not greater than his master.' If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My word, they will keep yours also." Some seek to belittle others to make themselves look better before others. Some seek to denounce you because of your faith, because it is a constant reminder before them of God, so they lash out at God's people. The lesson we need to learn here is the eyes of the worldly are upon the people of God and they are looking for reasons to reject you and your God. The world also takes delight in believers who bow down to their demands.A. Those who bowed should have had their faces tot he ground and not been looking around, yet there were some in the crowd who were watching the three Jews.
B. The word translated "accused" is strong, meaning "to tear in pieces" (BKC).
1) The accusation was severe, intended to destroy the accused.2) The accusers were evidently motivated by jealousy for they referred to the fact that Nebuchadnezzar had set some Jews . . . over the affairs of the province of Babylon (3:12; 2:49).
Transition: Now let's look at. . .
2. A believer's response (vv.16-18).
16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego answered and said to the king, "O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. 17 "If that is the case, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king.18 "But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up."Application: Some people will serve the Lord as long as He does what they want Him to do. We see this in John 6:66, where many of those who followed Jesus ". . .went back and walked with Him no more" because He wasn't preaching what they wanted to hear. But what if God doesn't do what we want him to do? The question is not, can God do something; the question is, will God do something? Sometimes God will deliver us from the fiery furnace, and sometimes He will let us go through the fiery furnace. It is a great faith that says, "God will deliver." It is greater faith that says, "If God does not deliver, we will still serve him and still be faithful to him" (ED). Is serving God more important to you than your own life or your job? How far are you willing to go for God?A. The three Hebrews' refusal to worship the image was not an act of disloyalty toward the king personally, but rather it was their recognition of a higher power than the king's (McGee).
- Though they were employed by Nebuchadnezzar (2:49), they "served" Yahweh (BKC).B. The three Hebrew youths, put their faith and trust in God.1) One who obeys God is not presuming when he expects God to protect and deliver him (BKC).2) Obeying God was more important than life to these three, so if God chose not to deliver them, they would still obey Him (BKC).
A) They knew that faith in God doesn't always translate into victory in every circumstance (NIBC).B) To these men the outcome was irrelevant, for what was at stake was not God's ability or their own lives, but their faith and obedience to serve Him regardless of the cost (NIBC).
Transition: When you take a stand for you faith, be prepared for. . .
III. Paying The Cost Of Following Your
Morals (vv.19-30).
1. The anger of the king (vv.19-23).
19 Then Nebuchadnezzar was full of fury, and the expression on his face changed toward Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego. He spoke and commanded that they heat the furnace seven times more than it was usually heated. 20 And he commanded certain mighty men of valor who were in his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, and cast them into the burning fiery furnace. 21 Then these men were bound in their coats, their trousers, their turbans, and their other garments, and were cast into the midst of the burning fiery furnace. 22 Therefore, because the king's command was urgent, and the furnace exceedingly hot, the flame of the fire killed those men who took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego. 23 And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, fell down bound into the midst of the burning fiery furnace.Application: This is always the way the world operates. If you can't follow their rules, they are not very tolerant. We live in a world that says that we need to be tolerant to what other believe, but if we fail to agree with them they will put us in the fiery furnace - that's worldly tolerance! There is always a cost to pay when you stand up for God. Maybe it will be a promotion, or a raise. It cost you relationships with family, or friends. When you align yourself with God, you will misalign yourself with the world because they are at war with God; James 4:4, "Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God." James calls those Christians who have loved the world more than they do God, "adulterers and adulteresses" because they are being unfaithful to their Groom, Jesus Christ. We need to follow the example of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego by doing what God wants us to do, and not what the world wants us to do.A. Nebuchadnezzar wanted to publicly demonstrate his authority, so he order the immediate execution of these three men.
- This would serve as a lesson to any others who might consider rebelling against his political and religious authority (BKC).B. We also can see that Nebuchadnezzar had an uncontrollable temper (McGee).1) In an extreme outrage of emotionalism, Nebuchadnezzar vented his anger against these men whom he had previously favored.2) The fire in the furnace was to be built up seven times larger and hotter than usual!
A) This was not necessary, but it reveals what was in this man's heart.B) A low fire would have increased their torture by extending the duration of the punishment (BKC).
(1) A hotter fire would be expected to kill them instantly.(2) Nebuchadnezzar wanted to display publicly the cost of rebelling against his authority.
Transition: The king's anger soon turned into amazement. . .
2. The amazement of the king (vv.24-27).
24 Then King Nebuchadnezzar was astonished; and he rose in haste and spoke, saying to his counselors, "Did we not cast three men bound into the midst of the fire?" They answered and said to the king, "True, O king." 25 "Look!" he answered, "I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire; and they are not hurt, and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God." 26 Then Nebuchadnezzar went near the mouth of the burning fiery furnace and spoke, saying, "Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, servants of the Most High God, come out, and come here." Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego came from the midst of the fire. 27 And the satraps, administrators, governors, and the king's counselors gathered together, and they saw these men on whose bodies the fire had no power; the hair of their head was not singed nor were their garments affected, and the smell of fire was not on them.Application: The world doesn't understand the ways of God. It never has, and it never will. This is partly because of the work of Satan; 2 Corinthians 4:4, "whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them." And the other part of their blindness comes from their own sin nature; 1 Corinthians 2:14, "But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned." So don't be surprised when God moves and they get this look of amazement but still don't fully grasp what has happened.A. The Babylonian furnaces were like modern lime kilns with an opening at the top, through which material could be dumped, and a large opening at the bottom for withdrawing burned substances (MHG).
- The top opening was approached by incline plane.B. There are 5 things that startled Nebuchadnezzar (MHG).1) There were 4 persons instead of three in the furnace.C. Realizing that his purpose had been defeated by divine intervention, Nebuchadnezzar summoned Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego out of the furnace, calling them servant of the Most High God(MHG).2) Not one of the persons was bound.
3) All 4 persons were walking around in the fire - none was lying down.
4) All four person were unhurt.
5) The 4th person looked like "a son of the gods."
A) The Babylonians believed that their gods had sons.B) Thus, when Nebuchadnezzar said that the 4th person looked like a son of the gods, this was his pagan way of saying that the 4th person looked like a divine or supernatural being.
1) Careful examination showed that the three men were totally unaffected by the fire (DBG).- Their bodies were not blistered; their hair was not singed; their clothes were not burned; nor was there even the smell of smoke.2) The results of the examination were certified by the king's chief counselors who also witnessed all these events (DBG).
Transition: Let's now look at. . .
3. The response of the king (vv.28-30).
28 Nebuchadnezzar spoke, saying, "Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, who sent His Angel and delivered His servants who trusted in Him, and they have frustrated the king's word, and yielded their bodies, that they should not serve nor worship any god except their own God! 29 "Therefore I make a decree that any people, nation, or language which speaks anything amiss against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego shall be cut in pieces, and their houses shall be made an ash heap; because there is no other God who can deliver like this." 30 Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego in the province of Babylon.Application: The world may not appreciate us for taking a stand for God, but often in the end they will respect us for taking a stand. You never know what your testimony is saying to someone who watches you go through a trial and come out untouched just as dedicated as you were before (ED).A. Once more king Nebuchadnezzar was impressed with the God of Israel - the God who sovereignly overruled Gentile punishment - but he still didn't recognize Him as the only God (MHG).
B. Nebuchadnezzar once again out of respect to the Hebrew God, rewards these 3 young men.
Invitation:
1.
There is a difference between doing what's right and doing what's legal.
A. You can expect conflicts when the laws of man collide with the laws of God.2. We are also reminded here that God is Sovereign.B. As Christians, we are to be obedient to the laws of the land so long as they don't trespass upon the higher laws of God.
- When the two collide, you must make a choice and be ready to pay the price.
A. He raises up and brings down the governments of man.3. Who are you putting your faith in?B. God holds man accountable for their actions, and not the other way around.
REFERENCES
BKC - John Walvoord & Roy Zuck, The Bible
Knowledge Commentary.
DBG - Daniel A Man
Beloved Of God, Arthur B. Walton, Regular Baptist Press
ED - Exploring The Book Of Daniel, John Phillips
& Jerry Vines, Loizeaux Brothers.
MHG -
The Most High God, by Dr. Renald Showers, The Friends of Israel Gospel
Ministry
McGee - Daniel, J. Vernon McGee.