Let us begin a study of the book of Daniel to understand the protection of righteous Hebrew children during the captivity. God has always promised to his righteous he would always be with them in time of peril.
The very nature of man is to wonder or worry about their future. When under stress, the mind begins to wonder what can possibly happen next to inflict more pain and suffering upon the soul. However, a righteous man needs only to trust in God; He will guide you, protect you, and encourage you through the trial.
In reading the book of Daniel, we see just these promises fulfilled to righteous persons. God protected the righteous in captivity.
God gave Daniel insight to the physical, literal nature of His children of Judah to calm his soul. Daniel wondered about the position of Israel and how it would fair until the Messiah would come. Daniel strongly trusted and believed in God. Yet he wondered about the coming and the place of Israel in the scheme of things. At the end of Daniel’s writings, God tells him how the kingdoms of the earth would be until the destruction of Jerusalem; including the life and resurrection of Jesus the Christ. We will see these comforts for Judah in a later lesson.
In this study of Daniel, place in your mind you being under siege by evil leaders in this day, 2023. Will we find similarities in the literal and physical condition of our bodies and minds as we look for the return of Jesus the Christ? The study of Daniel will give us great hope and the power to endure the hardships God might be bringing upon any evil nation.
Now we will begin with the life protected for righteous Hebrews and their plight.
Daniel 1:1-2 we learned when Daniel was taken captive to Babylon. We learn he had three friends, prominent princes of Judah, taken with him. They were to be placed in the house of the king and given special treatment.
Daniel 1:3-6. 3 And the king spake unto Ashpenaz the master of his eunuchs, that he should bring certain of the children of Israel, and of the king's seed, and of the princes; 4 Children in whom was no blemish, but well favoured, and skilful in all wisdom, and cunning in knowledge, and understanding science, and such as had ability in them to stand in the king's palace, and whom they might teach the learning and the tongue of the Chaldeans. 5 And the king appointed them a daily provision of the king's meat, and of the wine which he drank: so nourishing them three years, that at the end thereof they might stand before the king. 6 Now among these were of the children of Judah, Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah:
Now these are not the men I remember learning about as a youth. Only one is recognized, Daniel. Let us read more.
Vs. 7. 7 Unto whom the prince of the eunuchs gave names: for he gave unto Daniel the name of Belteshazzar; and to Hananiah, of Shadrach; and to Mishael, of Meshach; and to Azariah, of Abednego.
Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego are more familiar names.
With the leadership of Daniel, named Belteshazzar by the king, these four men held to their faith and teachings from their homeland, Judah. They remained righteous before God thus God was with them to guide them and protect them. God always provides. Not only did God go with them, he used them to find favor with the king of Babylon and to return a remnant of his people to Jerusalem to fulfill his promise to Abraham.
We, like these four men, should hold firmly to our faith and belief in Jesus, God and the Holy Spirit. When we are under bondage to evil leaders, we must remain loyal to our Lord and he will protect us.
In the remaining portion of this chapter, Daniel and friends refused to violate their consciences with defiled foods. God caused their obedience and faith to flourish and to be recognized by the king, promoting them to prominence in Babylon.
Daniel and friends refused to eat from the king’s table. In their ten day test, eating vegetables and drinking water, they looked more ‘fairer and fatter’ than the other eunuchs. (Daniel 1:15) This type of a meal they ate for three years. This was the time appointed by the king to prepare them for the king’s service. Daniel 1:5. 5 And the king appointed them a daily provision of the king's meat, and of the wine which he drank: so nourishing them three years, that at the end thereof they might stand before the king.
Daniel 1:18-19. 18 Now at the end of the days that the king had said he should bring them in, then the prince of the eunuchs brought them in before Nebuchadnezzar. 19 And the king communed with them; and among them all was found none like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah: therefore stood they before the king. God provided for Daniel and friends to live righteously before Him and men, including the prince over them and the king of Babylon. Scripture says there were none like them who stood before the king.
Let us hold to our consciences as they did. Obedience to God, the true and living God, is our purpose in this life. If we are obedient, God will cause our plight to be what we can bear. Temptations of this world can be overcome with loyalty and obedience unto God. 1 Cor. 10:13. When placed in hardships, God will provide a means for us to grow in faith and strength. Notice: 13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.
Because of Daniel and friends not giving into temptations of violating their consciences and obedience unto God, their master, Daniel continued in leadership over parts of Babylon until the captivity ended with Cyrus as king. (vs. 21) Nebuchadnezzar promoted him to a higher position within the Babylonian dynasty.
While Daniel and friends were still in training, in the first year of the reign of king Nebuchadnezzar, the king dreamed dreams which greatly disturbed him. In his quest to understand the dreams, he called his ‘magicians, and the astrologers, and the sorcerers, and the Chaldeans, for to shew the king his dreams.’ Daniel 2:2. BUT, he refused to tell them the dream so they had to first tell the dream then interpret it. This would show who was really a sorcerer. However, no man could fulfill such a request.
The king became extremely angry and charged all the wise men of Babylon to be slain. Daniel 2:13.
Daniel came forward and asked for time to consider the situation and keep the king from slaying all of them, including he and his friends. Daniel, trusting in God’s providence, asked God for the dream and a chance to interpret it. God answered his request.
Not only did Daniel tell the dream and interpret it for the king, he gave God the glory. Notice: Daniel thanked God for the insight to the dream. Daniel 2:19-23. …Then Daniel blessed the God of heaven. 20 Daniel answered and said, Blessed be the name of God for ever and ever: for wisdom and might are his: 21 And he changeth the times and the seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up kings: he giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding: 22 He revealeth the deep and secret things: he knoweth what is in the darkness, and the light dwelleth with him. 23 I thank thee, and praise thee, O thou God of my fathers, who hast given me wisdom and might, and hast made known unto me now what we desired of thee: for thou hast now made known unto us the king's matter. AND, Daniel told Nebuchadnezzar only God could reveal this dream and interpretation to him. Vs. 28. 28 But there is a God in heaven that revealeth secrets, and maketh known to the king Nebuchadnezzar what shall be in the latter days. Thy dream, and the visions of thy head upon thy bed, are these;
In the righteousness of Daniel and friends, God protected them from physical death under captivity of king Nebuchadnezzar. Daniel and friends included God in their daily activities and thanked God for their protections; including giving God the glory in it all.
A third picture revealing God’s protection comes in a very unique manner; one that no one could find possible. Daniel’s three friends were cast into a burning furnace and came out unscathed.
Nebuchadnezzar had become proud. He had developed a position he was a god and worthy of a following. He had a golden statue made and told all men of every nationality to bow down and worship this god when music began to play. (Daniel 3:1-6) If any man refused, they were to be cast into a fiery furnace.
The friends of Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were found refusing to worship any idol or strange god, including this one. Their faith and obedience unto God Almighty would not allow them to worship any idol or strange god. This refusal infuriated Nebuchadnezzar. He commanded anyone who refused to bow at the sound of music be cast into a fiery furnace. When he asked them to bow to the idol, he wanted them to carefully select their answer. They said, …to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter. 17 If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king. 18 But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up. Daniel 3:16-18.
Their faith and trust in God was astounding to everyone. Never in all humanity could anyone believe that fire and heat of such great temperatures would not kill all human flesh.
This faith was great. It was of the highest measure. Facing what appeared to be certain death, these three stood steadfast in their trust in God. No matter the outcome, they would not bow to Nebuchadnezzar’s god nor any other than Jehovah.
In the face of death, will you stand steadfast?
I am reminded of a story given during the Columbine school shooting in Colorado many years ago. The shooter stood over a girl with his gun pointed in her face. He asked her if she believed in Jesus. She said yes, and he shot her.
How is your faith in Jesus, God and the Holy Spirit? Can you stand steadfast in the face of peril? Do you trust in God’s protection?
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego did. Even if death to this physical body happened, they were still going to obey God.
Nebuchadnezzar became extremely furious and told the men over the furnace to cause the heat to be seven times hotter than normal. Could this ‘seven’ represent the hottest the fire could possibly be? (seven meaning perfect, complete, whole)
In this miraculous event, nothing is impossible with God. here is the proof:
In Daniel 3:20-27, of which we read this morning, we read of the fiery furnace and Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego being cast in it. Nebuchadnezzar saw four men, and extra, like ‘the Son of God’. (vs. 25)
When the men came out of the furnace, the ‘princes, governors, and captains, and the king's counsellors, being gathered together, saw these men, upon whose bodies the fire had no power, nor was an hair of their head singed, neither were their coats changed, nor the smell of fire had passed on them.’ (vs. 27)
God protects the righteous even under bondage of evil rulers. The righteous men of Judah, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were promoted to high positions in Babylon. (Daniel 3:30) All Hebrews would be guided and protected by righteous men.
If our nation becomes a nation in bondage by another leadership, with these stories of the nature of God protecting the righteous, faithful and obedient, we can survive evil times.
Does this mean we will have an easy life? No! There will be a milder form of captivity for those who trust in God and live in peace with authorities. It means that God will provide and protect, IF we obey and stand firm in our faith in Him.
Are you hopeful of God’s protection? Strengthen your faith and live in the righteousness of God.
