THE WORSHIP OF THE TRUE GOD
Daniel 3:1-30
INTRODUCTION
Our passage this morning talks about THE WORSHIP OF THE TRUE GOD. Please open your bibles to Daniel 3:1-30. We are going to focus on 3.13-18 but let me give you a summary of the chapter so we can establish the context.
A. Daniel 3:1-7
King Nebuchadnezzar required his subjects both the officials and the people to worship the image of gold that he made. He also decreed that those who fail to worship the image would be immediately thrown into a blazing furnace.
B. Daniel 3:8-12
The officials and the people responded to the decree except the administrators of the province of Babylon – Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.
Therefore some astrologers denounced the Jews and reported to the King how Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego defied the King’s decree.
C. Daniel 3:13-18
King Nebuchadnezzar confronted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego and warned them that if they are not going to worship the image of gold they would be thrown immediately into a blazing furnace.
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego stood against the order and trusted their God instead. Consequently, they were thrown into a blazing furnace.
D. Daniel 3:19-27
The king was furious and ordered the furnace to be heated seven times hotter than usual and commanded the soldiers to tie up the three friends and throw them into the blazing furnace.
Interestingly, after some time the king noticed that there were four men walking around the fire, unbound, and unharmed. When he called them out, the three came out of the fire unharmed and alive.
E. Daniel 3:28-30
King Nebuchadnezzar praised the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego because he delivered his servants. Afterwards, he issued a decree that no one can say anything against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego because there is no other god who can save the way he saved the three.
What does God want us to learn from this narrative? The narrative teaches us about God’s power, trust in God, courage, and true worship and the danger of worshiping idols. But what I would like for us to focus on is the subject on THE WORSHIP OF THE TRUE GOD.
ILLUSTRATION Christian worship is the most momentous, the most urgent, the most glorious action that can take place in human life.—KARL BARTH.
I believe it is safe to say that the worship of God is the one of the main teachings of the Bible. God saves us to worship and honor Him. God delivered Israel from Egypt so that they could worship Him. When we read the book of Revelation, it tells us that in heaven worship would be the main activity of God’s creation and angels.
No wonder Satan demanded worship from the Lord Jesus Christ because he wanted to rob God of his glory and honor. (See Matthew 4:8-10) The Bible listed several reasons why we should worship God like – He is God, our Savior, our Protector, Our Provider and etc.
The Bible also teaches us to worship God joyfully, willingly, gratefully, sincerely, and etc. Daniel 3 gave us important principles in worshiping God today. The reason they resisted the worship of the image of gold is because of their commitment to worship the true God of Israel. Their convictions showed how we should worship God today.
EXPOSITION
1. WE SHOULD WORSHIP GOD EXCLUSIVELY. (3.12)
The reason Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego resisted the King’s decree was they knew that the God they believe in should be worshiped exclusively. I suspect that the King was not against the God of Israel but he also believes in the like Babylonians gods:
APSU – the ruler of gods and the underworld oceans.
TIAMAT – the great goddess and wife of Apsu.
ANU – the god of the sky
EA – the god of wisdom, arts, and crafts
MARDUK – the wisest of the gods
ENLIL – the god of the air between earth and sky
ISHTAR – the goddess of love and war
The King however, did not know that the God of Israel demanded an exclusive worship. The Jews believed in the only one and true God, the creator of heaven and earth, the beginning and end of everything, the God who existed before everything else and the God whom their forefathers worship.
Later on, the King recognized the convictions of these three men (See Daniel 3:28-29)
They are willing to give up their lives rather than serve or worship any god except their own God. (v. 28)
King said that there are no other god can save in this way.
God himself demanded an exclusive worship by his people. (See Exodus 20:1-6; Isaiah 45:5-7, 18, 21-22) No one and nothing should share our worship of God.
I know we are better than the pagan to worship pagan idols but we worship other forms of gods like money, power, jobs, and people. This happens when we give priority in serving the interests of these items I have mentioned.
For example, we worship our job when the importance we give into it is greater that our worship of God – we talk about it, we exalt it, we give time to it and promptly, we put more energy and enthusiasm into it than worshiping God.
Beware because worship belongs to God alone and not on anyone or anything.
2. WE SHOULD WORSHIP GOD HONORABLY. (3.17)
Not only did the three friends worship God exclusively but also honorably. Their resistance to worship the idol was based on their beliefs that their God is a lot better than the image of gold. They attributed power, honor, and integrity to their God.
When the King threatened and said “Then what God will be able to rescue you from my hand?” (See Daniel 3.15b), they revealed their convictions about the God that they worship. They worship God honorably in three ways:
a. They said “we do not need to defend ourselves before you on this matter.” They know that God would act on their behalf on issues like this. When people undermine the importance and power of the God we worship, don’t panic in the defending Him. He knows what is going on and He can defend Himself.
b. They said “our God is able to deliver us from the furnace of blazing fire.” (See 3.17) God’s power is greater than the “furnace of blazing fire.” I don’t know what kind of threats and difficulties you are in as a result of your faith in God, but be reminded that GOD IS ABLE to deliver us from any dangers in life.
c. They said “our God will deliver us out of your hand.” (See 3.17) God is greater than “the greatest king of this world.” (See Psalms 2:1-12) Don’t be afraid of those kings and leaders of the world who are threatening to stop the worship of the true God. Our God is the greatest and no one can stop Him.
The three friends said that their God is better than what the king thinks. They gave honor to their God by testifying about His greatness and goodness.
How did they know that God is great and good? Perhaps historically, they heard about the goodness and greatness of God. Another possibility is their experiences with Him in the events of Daniel 1-2.
Worshiping God honorably means that we have confidence on the greatness and goodness of God. As we worship God today, let us honor Him because of His greatness and goodness.
Let us declare those truths before the world so that they would know that our God is greater than anyone and anything else in this world.
3. WE SHOULD WORSHIP GOD UNCONDITIONALLY (3.18)
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego declared that even if God does not do what they believe He could do, they would still worship Him and not any image of gold.
It is my prayer that we would continue to worship God no matter what. Listen to the convictions of these three men. They said, “but even if he does not.” (See 3.18)
a. The phrase “but even if he does not” implies that they are not giving up on God. Even if God is unresponsive, they would not turn to other God because he is the true God. They are not going to replace Him. Maybe they will ask why but not go to other God because there is no one like Him.
b. The phrase “but even if he does not” also implies that their worship of God is not dependent on the positive acts He performs for and to them. God is not someone who will always grant our personal wishes and desires.
God knows better than we do. Our relationship with God is not a matter of give and take. Worship is simply giving. Receiving is not our decision. Good for us because it is not dependent on our giving. Otherwise we would live impoverishly.
c. The phrase “but even if he does not” also implies that they surrender their will to God’s will. He is God and we are not. He is in-charged and we are not. He makes the call and we don’t. He has the final say and we don’t.
4. WE SHOULD WORSHIP GOD SACRIFICIALLY (3.28)
As a result of their resistance to the decree of the King, it meant them to lose their lives and be thrown into the blazing furnace. And their convictions impressed King Nebuchadnezzar. (See Daniel 3.28) Their commitment to worship the true God causes them to sacrifice their lives.
1. The sacrifices that I am talking about is not just about waking up early on Sunday morning or preparing and bringing our children to church; it is more than that. Because if we want to do something, nothing is difficult, time is not issue, children are not a problem.
2. Our worship of the true God demands that we don’t compromise the worship of God for the sake of peaceful relationship, personal comfort, and personal agenda.
3. We should not compromise the worship of God for the sake of peaceful relationship because God already said that he came not to bring peace but conflict (see Matthew 10:34-37). Because not everyone will welcome God as revealed in the Scriptures, not even our loved ones.
4. Worship is compromise when our personal agenda was given priority than the worship of God. When do we know that our personal agenda is the priority? When our activities revolve around our personal agenda instead of God.
This happens when our commitment and involvement revolve around our jobs and hobbies rather than on God. Then we expect God to understand our personal choices even if it means at His expense. Do you believe God is pleased when we do that?
5. The Chaldeans compromise the worship of God for the sake of personal security and employment. God did not promise a consistent comfortable life here on earth but in heaven. (See John 15:18-20)
Genuine worship of God would sometimes demands our willingness to sacrificie.
WHAT WAS GOD’S RESPONSE TO THEIR TRUE WORSHIP?
We know what is going to happen when we compromise the worship of the true God. But do we know what would God do if we give him the worship that he deserves?
1. Divine Intervention – When we exalt God through worship, he will also reward us. He performed miracle and deliver them. (See Daniel 3.24-27)
Could it be that we don’t see lots of miracle in our lives because we are not ready and willing to worship God exclusively, honorably, unconditionally, and sacrificially?
2. Divine Exaltation – God was honored by the people who do not worship Him. (3.29) No one is allowed to speak offensively against their God.
CONCLUSION
ILLUSTRATION A. W. Tozer on Worship
“Christian churches have come to the dangerous time predicted long ago. It is a time when we can pat one another on the back, congratulate ourselves and join in the glad refrain, ‘We are rich, and increased in goods, and have need of nothing!’
“It certainly is true that hardly anything is missing from our churches these days—except the most important thing. We are missing the genuine and sacred offering of ourselves and our worship to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.…
“My own loyalties and responsibilities are and always will be with the strongly evangelical, Bible-believing, Christ-honoring churches. We have been surging forward. We are building great churches and large congregations. We are boasting about high standards and we are talking a lot about revival.
“But I have a question and it is not just rhetoric: What has happened to our worship?
Personal Application
1. How do you describe your worship of God?
2. What quality do you need to work on the most?
3. What do other people say about your worship of God?
