Charles W. Holt
email: cholt@gt.rr.com
They Wouldn’t Bend, They Wouldn’t Bow, and They Wouldn’t Burn – WHY?
Daniel 1:3-7 and 3:12-18
The book of Daniel tells the story of…well…DANIEL! His character, courage and faith is its primary focus and is an inspiration to everyone who reads it. However, at the time of Daniel’s introduction in chapter one he is accompanied by three of his friends named Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. These four are part of a large contingent of citizens (now captives) from Judah who have been brought into Babylon as part of the spoils of war. They did not choose to leave their home. They did not voluntarily choose to relocate in Babylon thinking it would be a great opportunity to seek a career advancement. Babylon was a place of idol worship. True enough it was a place of worldly elegance, intellectual advancement and wealth. The Hanging Gardens of Babylon are one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. It was, nevertheless, the living, breathing, representation of all that was wicked and detestable to any Hebrew man or woman. Going to Babylon was not only a physical disruption of their lives it was also a mental, emotional and spiritual earthquake. They must learn to adjust to their new environment or else outwardly conform while they rage inwardly against their circumstances. Not a pleasant thought.
Most of us know something about the feelings generated by change. The change could involve a move from one city or state to another. It could be a change in employment. It could be a change in a family relationship due to divorce. Imagine the trauma that children feel when their parents separate or divorce and a new mother or daddy enters into their world. Change can be very difficult to deal with. Some don’t learn to deal with it very well. Hananiah, Mishael, Azariah, and Daniel would have to learn to handle it. The really interesting thing about this matter of change lies in the fact that they would learn to change within their environment while maintaining their personal integrity and without compromising their faith in God. This fact is one of the reasons the Holy Spirit has placed this story in our Bibles. It is a story of faith triumphing over unwanted and tragic circumstances. The Holy Spirit is saying, "They did it! So can you!"
Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon had looted the house of God in Jerusalem and carried various articles from it into the treasure house of his god. He instructed a man named Ashpenaz, the master of his eunuchs, "to bring some of the children of Israel and some of the king’s descendants and some of the nobles." These would be pressed into the king’s service in the palace. They are described as, "young men in whom there was no blemish, but good-looking, gifted in all wisdom, possessing knowledge and quick to understand, who had ability to serve in the king’s palace, and whom they might teach the language and literature of the Chaldeans." Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah are in this elite group. I think it is important to keep in mind that these young men are the cream of the crop, so-to-speak. Bright, handsome, intelligent, possessing gifts and abilities above the average. They were physically in the Arnold Schwarzenegger and Fabio class. Intellectually and creatively they were in the George Bernard Shaw, C. S. Lewis class. They would be taught in the language and literature of the Chaldeans. You might think they are about to disappear into the culture of the Chaldeans Will they survive this re-education process?
It was quite a process, which if successful, would mean a complete transformation from a Hebrew mind-set to a Babylonian mind-set. "And the king appointed for them a daily provision of the king’s delicacies and of the wine which he drank, and three years of training for them, so that at the end of that time they might serve before the king. Now from among those of the sons of Judah were Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. To them the chief of the eunuchs gave names: he gave Daniel the name Belteshazzar; to Hananiah, Shadrach; to Mishael, Meshach; and to Azariah, Abeb-Nego."
The first step taken by Ashpenaz, master of the king’s eunuchs, to re-educate these Hebrew young men was to change their identity by changing their names. He did it partly to show his authority over them and their subjection to him and as part of the process of making them naturalized Chaldeans. The whole intention is to gradually wean them away from the effects of their Hebrew roots by giving them new names. Their Hebrew names, received at their circumcision, are strongly tied to their God Jehovah. Their Jehovah-connection is the true core of their identity.
Daniel—God is my Judge;
Hananiah—The grace of the Lord or, God has favoured;
Mishael—He that is the strong God;
Azariah—The Lord is a help or, Jehovah has helped.
Their core identity is now under assault. They have no choice but to conform to this first step in their re-education. To make them forget the God of their fathers, the very underpinnings of their faith, they give them names that they hope will bind them inextricably into the Chaldean idolatry.
Daniel, meaning God is my judge, was named Belteshazzar, which signifies the keeper of the hidden treasures of Bel.
Hananiah became Shadrach renamed after the Chaldean Sun god.
Mishael became Meshach, which comes from a designation of the goddess Shach, under which name the planet Venus was worshipped.
Azariah was now Abed-nego, The servant of the shining fire, which the Chaldeans also worshipped. [Note: the word "shining fire" and "shining star" which is Isaiah’s description of Lucifer "son of the morning" is no mere coincidence.]
Thus, instead of being dedicated to Jehovah, these four young people from Judah are dedicated by the Chaldeans to their four leading gods; Bel, the Chief-god, the Sun-god, Earth-god, and Fire-god. It is ironic that in the end, and ultimately what this message is all about, the three Hebrew children would ultimately be consigned to death by the Fire-god when they refused to worship the golden image set up by Nebuchadnezzar (Daniel 3:12).
I mention these things for two reasons. First, I want us to understand the circumstances and the predicament of their situation in Babylon. It would ultimately lead them to defy the king’s command to fall down before an idol of Nebuchadnezzar and worship him as God. Second, to understand the character of these young people that promoted them to act as courageously as they did.
What, you might ask, did they do?
From Daniel 3:12-18 we find the answer. Certain unnamed Chaldeans came forward to make the most serious accusation against Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego that quite literally jeopardized their very lives. Their accusers stand before Nebuchadnezzar and say:
"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." (12)
Then Nebuchadnezzar, in rage and fury, gave the command to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego. So they brought these men before the king. (13)
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? (14)
"Now if you are ready a 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?" (15)
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego answered and said to the king, "O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. (16)
"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 you hand, O king. (17)
"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." (18) (New King James Version)
This is a very tense and dramatic confrontation. I think the situation faced by these young men, and their response to it, comes as close as any we can find matching Peter’s description. He said, "that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ" (1 Pt. 1:7 NKJV).
The king asks two questions. First: is it true that you do not worship my gods or bow to my image? Second: if you don’t serve my gods you cannot reasonably assume any help will come from them. Therefore who, what or where is that god that will help you?
The king’s threat rings loud and clear. These are not mere words spoken by some palace underling. It is the words of the king himself. It is intimidation at its highest level. Life and death hang upon the answer. Are Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego trembling, cowering, looking at each other in dismay or despair as to how to answer the king’s ultimatum? No. I see them standing there with their heads held high waiting for the opportunity to speak. It is swift in coming. There is no vacillating. No hesitation. Scripture says they answered, "We have no need to answer you in this matter." In other words, "O King, your question hardly deserves a response. We answered that question long before we left our home in Judah. You have changed our names, but you haven’t changed our minds since coming here.
You can bring us to Babylon --
Feed us Chaldean food --
Clothe us with Chaldean garments --
Give us Chaldean names --
Teach us to speak the Chaldean language --
To read Chaldean books and literature --
We may look Chaldean --
We may smell Chaldean --
We may somewhat talk like Chaldeans --
But in the part of us that matters, in our heart of hearts, in our relationship with the LORD our God to whom we have pledged loyalty and service for our lives--nothing there has changed. We had an answer to your question before you asked the question because of our love and commitment to our God. Therefore, as our answer was then so our answer now is the same. We are not worried about a thing you say or anything you may threaten to do. To put it bluntly, no, we will not serve your gods or worship your image."
I believe Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego knew the principle taught in Proverbs 22:3 and 27:12. It is written, "The prudent man foresees evil and hides himself, but the simple pass on and are punished" (NKJV). Of course no one knows what a day will bring but we know troubles and trials are a fact of life. We can make a certain degree of preparation by doing what the Apostle Peter admonishes. He says, "be ready always to give an answer to every man…" (1 Pt. 3:15 AV). "Be ready always" is the prudent man’s principle of "foreseeing evil and hides himself." Peter tells us how. "But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts" (vs. 15). This means to put Him in a special relationship in our daily lives, acknowledging who He is and what He does. Matthew Henry says: "We sanctify the Lord God in our hearts when we with sincerity and fervency adore him. When our thoughts of him are awful and reverend. When we rely upon his power, trust to his faithfulness, submit to his wisdom, imitate his holiness, and give him the glory due to his most illustrious perfections. We sanctify God before others when our deportment [i.e., behavior] is such as invites and encourages others to glorify and honour him." It is the Peter Principle that encourages "giving all diligence, (to) add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ" (1 Pt. 1:5-8 NKJV).
This kind of response is best done over a period of time through successive victories and even defeats. It is one characterized by a word used often in the New Testament. In the King James Version it is called "patience." It should be understood as "endurance."
For example, "Let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing" (James 1:4 AV). Patience means: steadfastness, constancy, and
endurance. In the NT the characteristic of a man who is not swerved from his deliberate purpose and his loyalty to faith and devotion by even the greatest trials and sufferings
(Strong’s).
Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego would not "swerve from their deliberate purpose" as they faced the king’s ultimatum. "As to the question of what god will deliver us, ’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. 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."
Let’s look at the faith of these three as demonstrated by their words and actions.
THEY WOULDN’T BEND
There is no question that the pressure was on them to bend, to compromise. I dare say that few among us have faced such a decision. It is not unheard of in places where confessing Christ as Lord and Savior spells either torture or death. I heard Franklin Graham just a few nights ago giving his firsthand, eyewitness account, of the brutal persecution of Christians that is happening at this present moment in the African nation of Sudan. Christians are being killed, losing their arms and legs or sold as slaves to other countries. Although our faith may not be tested to this extreme, we are confronted with situations that call for resolution and determination to "be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might." Sometimes it comes in the form of discouragement when doubts and fears assault us. We are made to question God’s faithfulness or the truthfulness of God’s Word. There are problems on the job. A marriage is crumbling or has broken. Our teenagers are surly and rebellious. Things are not as they should be in the family, etc. These things, if long in duration, can begin to weaken our faith, cause us to question, and perhaps even be tempted to turn away, our faith bending under the pressure.
THEY WOULDN’T BOW
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego took seriously the threat of the king to cast them into a burning furnace unless they worshiped his gods and bowed to his image. Knowing those realities, they said, "If it be so," or, in other words, "even if what you are saying is true that everything you threaten us with will happen, nevertheless, we will not bow to your image." They admitted that the king had the power to carry out his threat. These young men faced the reality of a fiery death.
Genuine faith faces reality. Genuine faith does not deny the reality of a tough situation. It does not deny the reality that there may possibly be some unwanted, even dire results come from our seeking for solutions and answers to prayer. In other words, our prayers may not turn out the way we want them to turn out. We may have to go through the fire! We may not get the answer we want. Can your and my faith handle that?
Let’s not make the mistake of burying our heads in the sand of some kind of theological mumbo-jumbo of positive thinking and positive confession that is promised to protect us from all hurt and harm. You know, the, "if I don’t confess the problem it means I don’t have the problem!" Is it good to think positively? Absolutely. Is it good to give a positive confession? Absolutely. There is no denying, however, that positive thinking and positive confession is a high wire act that is most difficult. Like any high wire act it requires balance. In this case it requires knowledge of and a commitment to sound doctrine. The possibility that things will not work out for us as we expect will not cause a person of genuine faith to bow.
THEY WOULDN’T BURN
Oh, you say, that’s cheating. You’ve read the end of the book and know how it turns out. We know that they did not burn. I am saying, however, that even if they did burn, which they were quite capable of doing, they wouldn’t burn! That’s a crazy, mixed up, statement. I am basing this statement partly upon what Jesus said on this subject. He said, "And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell" (Mt. 10:28). You see, as Jesus also said, "The life is more than meat [food], and the body is more than raiment [clothes]" (Lk. 12:23 AV). You can burn things. You can’t burn eternal life. The Apostle Paul joyfully testified, "I have suffered the loss of all things [my emphasis]" (Phil. 3:8 AV). He considered these "things" as "dung" in comparison to the surpassing knowledge of Jesus Christ. You can’t burn that!
Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego said, "our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace" (vs. 17). Some people are afraid to say, "God is able" because it may reflect a touch of unbelief. They think you should be more positive than that. They want you to say, "God WILL!" Some don’t want you to say, "God can." Everyone knows God can. He can do anything. But merely saying, God can seems to them to border on doubt. It’s too weak a statement. It really isn’t.
I find it interesting that the Apostle Paul has no qualms about discussing openly his struggles. In a letter to the Corinthian church he talks openly about the struggles and trials he has faced in his ministry. He uses words such as, "hard pressed …crushed …perplexed …persecuted …struck down …always carrying out in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus … always delivered to death for Jesus’ sake … death is working in us." It is a veritable litany of gloom and doom except for the fact that he keeps it in balance and perspective by his powerful faith. He uses an unnamed man’s testimony from Psalm 116 to make his point. He writes:
But since we have the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, "I believed and therefore I spoke" (Ps. 116:10), we also believe and therefore speak…Therefore we do not lose heart even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen (2 Cor. 4:13-18).
Let me summarize some of the more salient points found in Psalm 116 because the man’s testimony has all the elements of the struggles that are common to every Christian. During one particularly difficult period in his life, he says, it was as though death had a noose around his neck, squeezing out his life. He talks about how he stumbled around blinded by his tears, knocked down to his knees. But he said the Lord rescued him. He saved him, delivered his soul. He had peace and again enjoyed God ’s presence. You can sense the relief he must have felt after the battle and struggle had ended. A great truth comes out of his struggle. Here he is making an unabashed confession of all the trouble he has been experiencing, yet while in the throes of that desperate struggle to survive, he makes a bold confession. He says, "I have faith, even when I say, ’I am completely crushed.’"
In 2 Cor. 4:7-12, Paul talks of his troubles as I have mentioned above. One would be tempted to say, "Brother Paul, where is your faith? How can you say all those negative things and still claim your trust in God is strong and secure?" He answers our question. "We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak (2 Cor. 4:13). It is the very same affirmation of faith we hear from our unnamed Psalmist. "I have faith, even when I say ’I am completely crushed.’" No apologies. No hedging or evasiveness. No guilt or condemnation. No false pretense. Liberty in truth, and faith in balance.
Don’t be afraid to say, "God is able…God can…" Be aware that even though we don’t understand why things happen the way they happen we are subject to the will and purpose of a loving and caring Heavenly Father. He doesn’t always make things turn out the way our limited understanding would dictate.
The three Hebrew children boldly confessed to the king, "He will deliver us from your hand, O king." Whether in the furnace or through the furnace or a yet to be discovered detour around the furnace—deliverance from the king was within sight. Child of God, our deliverance from the hand of Satan is already settled. There is no argument on the subject.
WHY?
Because Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego had long ago settled the issue and "loved not their lives unto death." This was Paul’s testimony too. To the Philippian believers he writes of his hope and expectations of how things will turn out for him as he faced severe tests of his faith. Through it all, however, he resolved, and said, "I know that this will turn out for my deliverance through your prayer and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, according to my earnest expectation and hope that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ will be magnified in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain" (Phil. 1:19-21 NKJV).
The jewel in the crown of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego’s faith, however, is found in three simple words: "But if not…we will not." Some people want to bargain with God. They want to play Let’s Make a Deal with God. I love to hear John Hagee say, "Some people want to say ’let’s make a deal.’ God says, ’this IS the deal!’" Genuine faith says, "I’ll trust…I’ll serve…I’ll obey…I’ll follow…regardless." There are no conditions.
I like what Pastor Lou Bartet has written and it appears in SermonCentral.com. He says, "There is a scene in the Lion King when Simba, nearly mature, is visited by the ghost of his father, and old Mufasa says to him, ’Simba, you’ve forgotten who you are. You are so much more than you’ve become.’ I think Jesus would say that to His Church, to us. You’ve forgotten who you are and more importantly, you’ve forgotten who I AM.
"Oprah Winfrey’s little "g" god is more interested in your happiness than in your holiness. Like Mr. Wipple’s Charmin, this god is soft. He demands nothing of anyone, comes in bubble wrap and has no sharp edges that might offend anyone. He is the great mush god concerning whom Mike Yoconelli wrote:
"’The great mush god has no theology. He’s a Cream of Wheat divinity. He has no particular credo, for this god is not a jealous god. You can invoke this god to start a hookers’ convention. He’s the god of the Rotary, the god of the optimist, the protector of the buddy system. The mush god is a serviceable god whose laws are written in sand—amenable to amendment, qualification or erasure. This god will make any agreement you wish and will declare all alliances holy. Little wonder that the mushy god of contemporary Christianity would never ask us to experience discomfort or deprivation for the sake of the Kingdom. This is the result of an over emphasis on God’s power to the neglect of His sovereignty (See Is. 46;10; Daniel 9:35; Psalm 115:3).’"
Pastor Bartet talks about the great heroes of faith mentioned in Hebrews 11 and how they did many mighty deeds. But the chapter includes the fact that "others experienced mockings and scourgings,…chains and imprisonment. Some were stoned and sawn in two or put to death with the sword. In conclusion he declares, "And all these, having gained approval through their faith, did not receive what was promised" (Heb. 11:40). He does not commend them for their unbelief, but for their FAITH. Their faith did not prevent them from suffering and neither did it guarantee their comfort. Their faith prevented them from caving in under the pressure to give up the convictions of their heart.
APPLICATION
What have we learned from the story of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego that we can effectively make use of in our personal Chaldean-like situations?
1. Change. There are varying degrees. In some cases we have a choice. In others we do not. In either case our faith can prosper and be made stronger if we determine to make it happen.
2. Environment. This may be part of the change we have experienced. We tend to want to make our environment a place "where seldom is heard a discouraging word." We want things to be peaceful and quiet. Our faith can triumph in the midst of the worst case scenario as witnessed by what Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego did.
3. Powerful Negative Influences. This is part of the change and negative environment we may find ourselves having to deal with. However, when you factor in the fact that Daniel and his friends had their names changed it shows the intense degree to which they were being forced to conform to Chaldean thoughts and ways. The Apostle Paul says, "…and do not be conformed to this world" (Rm. 12:2). In other words, do not let the world mold you into its image. How is it possible to prevent this? "Be transformed by the renewing of your mind," says the Apostle. Remember the word from Isaiah which says, "Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee" [emphasis mine] (26:3 AV).
4. Remember Your Heritage. Although they were captives in a foreign culture Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego did not leave their Hebrew training, convictions and faith at the city gate. Like any good Hebrew who was skilled in their law and ordinances they would "remember Jerusalem" no matter how far away they may be carried. Believers today have a rich heritage. We are the children of God…heirs of God and joint heirs with Jesus Christ. "Greater is he that is within you than he that is in the world" says John (1 Jn. 4:4 AV).
5. Don’t Bend. Pressures come in all sizes and shapes. We are tempted to doubt. Be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might.
6. Don’t Bow. Face reality. If times are tough…they are tough! Why deny the obvious? Look for God’s provision.
7. You Won’t Burn. You can’t burn eternal life. Even when it seems we lose – we win.
8. The "But if Not" Clause. Forget trying to make a deal. Let come what may, accept God’s deal to sovereignly guide and provide.
