A Strange Ordeal?
Daniel 3
October 20, 2002
Intro:
A. [Charles H. Spurgeon]
“I dare say that the greatest earthly blessing that God can give to any of us is health, with the exception of sickness.”
B. Today in the third chapter of Daniel and the story of the three Hebrew boys in the fiery furnace, I think we will learn why he might say that.
I. The opposition of faith
Daniel 3:1 (NIV), 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.
A. King Nebuchadnezzar quickly forgot his proclamation at the end of chapter 2.
1. Daniel 2:47 (NIV), The king said to Daniel, "Surely your God is the God of gods and the Lord of kings and a revealer of mysteries, for you were able to reveal this mystery."
2. He may have said Daniel’s God was the God of gods, but it wasn’t long remembered.
B. It seems that he forgot that part of the story, but it also appears that he remembered another part of the story.
1. Daniel 2:37-38 (NIV), You, O king, are the king of kings. The God of heaven has given you dominion and power and might and glory; 38 in your hands he has placed mankind and the beasts of the field and the birds of the air. Wherever they live, he has made you ruler over them all. You are that head of gold.
2. It appears that even though he forgot his pronouncement about God, Nebuchadnezzar did not forget that God had made him the king of kings.
C. Now Nebuchadnezzar has erected a huge image (presumably of himself).
1. Daniel tells us that it was ninety feet high (approximately 8 stories).
2. Nebuchadnezzar erected this eight-story image of himself out in the middle of the plain of Dura.
3. Of course, this would be a very imposing sight out in the middle of that plain.
4. They think they have found the pedestal on which that image was placed right there near Babylon in the plain that is still called Dura.
5. Without doubt an impressive sight: eight stories high in the middle of a plain.
6. But not only was it an impressive sight, it was accompanied by impressive sounds.
7. As we read on we see that there was lots of music that went along with the statue.
D. This was clearly an opposition to the three Hebrew boys’ faith in God.
II. The temptation of faith
Daniel 3:2-15 (NIV), 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. 3 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. 4 Then the herald loudly proclaimed, "This is what you are commanded to do, O peoples, nations and men of every language: 5 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. 6 Whoever does not fall down and worship will immediately be thrown into a blazing furnace." 7 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. 8 At this time some astrologers came forward and denounced the Jews. 9 They said to King Nebuchadnezzar, "O king, live forever! 10 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, 11 and that whoever does not fall down and worship will be thrown into a blazing furnace. 12 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." 13 Furious with rage, Nebuchadnezzar summoned Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. So these men were brought before the king, 14 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? 15 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?"
A. Now should the boys bow down and worship the image?
1. I’m sure there’s something telling us all the same thing that ran through these boys’ minds.
2. Exodus 20:2-6 (NIV), "I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. 3 "You shall have no other gods before me. 4 "You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. 5 You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, 6 but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments.
B. What should the three boys do?
1. The answer is obvious, but difficult.
2. The answer is obvious that they shouldn’t bow down to any image or idol or human.
3. But this surely comes under the category of “easier said than done!”
4. Getting thrown into a furnace is not a proposition that anyone would savor.
5. It is a frightening proposition!
C. If there was ever a temptation big enough to sway faith in God, this was it!
1. No matter how big your faith is, this would be a tough thing to face!
2. We all talk about the difficult temptations that we have faced, but most of us would have to say that we have never faced anything like this.
3. Of course the kids at Columbine did, but most of us Americans have never faced temptation like this.
4. Can you image being faced with the choice of bowing to a graven image or experiencing the horror of feeling and watching your skin melt away?!
5. But watch this…
III. The demonstration of faith
Daniel 3:16-23 (NIV), Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to the king, "O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. 17 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. 18 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." 19 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 20 and commanded some of the strongest soldiers in his army to tie up Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego and throw them into the blazing furnace. 21 So these men, wearing their robes, trousers, turbans and other clothes, were bound and thrown into the blazing furnace. 22 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, 23 and these three men, firmly tied, fell into the blazing furnace.
A. First we notice the faith evidenced in the words that they spoke.
1. “O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter.”
2. “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.”
3. “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.”
4. That is clearly a demonstration of great faith.
B. But also notice the evilness of Nebuchadnezzar as his anger causes him to order the furnace to be heated seven times hotter than usual.
1. Notice the phrase, “than usual.”
2. This was a usual thing.
3. Nebuchadnezzar usually burned people alive when they opposed him.
4. But this time he is so angered that he orders the furnace heated seven times hotter than usual.
C. Then notice what happens this time that doesn’t normally happen when the furnace isn’t this hot.
1. Daniel tells us that because of the increased heat, the strongest soldiers who tied up the boys and threw them into the furnace died from simply being close enough to throw them in.
2. That is a HOT furnace!
3. But now watch this…
IV. The salvation of faith
Daniel 3:24-30 (NIV), 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." 25 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." 26 Nebuchadnezzar then approached the opening of the blazing furnace and shouted, "Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out! Come here!" So Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego came out of the fire, 27 and the satraps, prefects, governors and royal advisers crowded around them. They saw that the fire had not harmed their bodies, nor was a hair of their heads singed; their robes were not scorched, and there was no smell of fire on them. 28 Then Nebuchadnezzar said, "Praise be to the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, who has sent his angel and rescued his servants! They trusted in him and defied the king’s command and were willing to give up their lives rather than serve or worship any god except their own God. 29 Therefore I decree that the people of any nation or language who say anything against the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego be cut into pieces and their houses be turned into piles of rubble, for no other god can save in this way." 30 Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego in the province of Babylon.
A. Nebuchadnezzar leaped to his feet in amazement.
1. He knew they had tied up thee people and thrown them into the furnace but he saw four of them, untied, alive and walking around.
2. That was absolutely amazing and I believe I would have leaped to my feet as well.
3. And one of the reasons that he leaped to his feet in amazement was because he said one of the four looked like a son of the gods.
4. And it very well could have been the Son of God walking around in there with them.
5. This was not humanly possible—it was clearly a God thing!
6. Notice the contrast between the boys and the strong soldiers: the fire had not harmed their bodies, no hair on their heads had been singed, their clothes were not scorched, and there was not even the smell of fire on them while the soldiers fell down dead from simply getting too close to the fire.
7. That was clearly a God thing!
B. Now this next statement should come as no surprise: They were saved by their faith!
1. These boys demonstrated extraordinary faith in the face of death.
2. Did they have so much faith that they knew that God was going to save them? No.
3. No, they said even if God didn’t save them, they still weren’t going to bow.
4. These boys knew that one way or the other (on earth or in heaven) God was going to rescue them.
5. That is faith.
6. We may not know exactly how or when God will act, but we KNOW that He will!
C. And notice where God was when they when through their fiery trial…
1. God was right there with them!
2. God was in the furnace with them!
3. God was right there in the fire with them!
4. [Illustration]
You say you will never forget where you were when you heard the news on September 11, 2001.
Neither will I.
I was on the 110th floor in a smoke filled room with a man who called his wife to say “Good-bye.”
I held his fingers steady as he dialed.
I gave him the peace to say, “Honey, I am not going to make it, but it is OK…I’m ready to go.”
I was with his wife when he called as she fed breakfast to their children.
I held her as she tried to understand his words and as she realized he wasn’t coming home that night.
I was in the stairwell of the 23rd floor when a woman cried out to Me for help.
“I have been knocking on the door of your heart for 50 years!” I said.
“Of course I will show you the way home—only believe in Me now.”
I was at the base of the building with the Priest ministering to the injured and devastated souls.
I took him home to tend to his Flock in Heaven.
He heard my voice and answered.
I was on all four of those planes, in every seat, with every prayer.
I was with the crew as they were overtaken.
I was in the very hearts of the believers there, comforting and assuring them that their faith has saved them.
I was in Texas, Kansas, London.
I was standing next to you when you heard the terrible news.
Did you sense Me?
I want you to know that I saw every face.
I knew every name-though not all know Me.
Some met Me for the first time on the 86th floor.
Some sought Me with their last breath.
Some couldn’t hear Me calling to them through the smoke and flames: “Come to Me… this way…take My hand.”
Some chose, for the final time, to ignore Me.
But, I was there.
I did not place you in the Tower that day.
You may not know why, but I do.
However, if you were there in that explosive moment in time, would you have reached for Me?
September 11, 2001 was not the end of the journey for you.
But someday your journey will end.
And I will be there for you as well.
Seek Me now while I may be found.
Then, at any moment, you know you are ready to go.
I will be in the stair will of your final moments.
God
5. Do you see that now matter what, God has promised to be with us?
6. No matter how bad it may seem, He will never leave us!
7. You may be going through a severe test of your faith right now and you may feel as if God has abandoned you, but HE IS RIGHT THERE WITH YOU!
8. God loves you just as much as he loved these three Hebrew boys and he will NEVER leave you!
9. He will go through the fire with you as well!
10. It was their faith that saved them and it will save you as well.
D. BUT, that does not mean that you will not go through fiery ordeals.
1. The three Hebrew boys had faith, but their faith was tested.
2. In fact way we increase our faith is through the trials, storms, and temptations of life.
3. 1 Peter 1:3-7 (NIV), Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade--kept in heaven for you, 5 who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. 6 In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. 7 These have come so that your faith--of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire--may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.
a. Yes, we rejoice in God’s great mercy!
b. Yes, we rejoice in our new birth!
c. Yes, we rejoice in our hope of being resurrected!
d. Yes, we rejoice in our hop of heaven!
e. Yes, we rejoice in our salvation!
f. BUT, Peter says, we are going to suffer grief in all kinds of trials.
g. Then Peter says why these trials come: so that our faith may be proved.
h. So our faith isn’t just words—but conviction that comes from the depths of our souls and are evidenced in our words and actions.
4. Peter also says in 1 Peter 4:12 (NIV), Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you.
a. The KJV says, Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:
b. We should not be surprised when fiery trials come upon us as though something strange were happening to us.
c. And yet that is the first thought that Satan puts in our minds, isn’t it?
d. Why is this happening to ME?
e. We act like we’re surprised when something comes our way.
f. And then when we realize it is happening to us, our first thought is to beg God to get rid of it.
g. But friends, as good an idea as it may seem to ask God to remove the trial, that idea comes from Satan!
h. God has already allowed it to come upon us; He’s already answered that!
i. So we need to ask ourselves, why did God allow this fiery trial to come my way?
j. The clear answer is that He wants to increase our faith; He wants us to increase our trust; He wants our relationship to grow closer.
k. So our first response to the fiery ordeal should not be to beg for relief, but to ask for wisdom, to ask for faith, to ask what He wants us to learn from this.
l. Do you see that God puts us through the fire to deepen our relationship with Him?
Conclusion:
[Dragged Through Sand and Sea}
Barbara Brown Taylor tells of spending a few days on a barrier island where loggerhead turtles were laying their eggs.
One night when the tide was out, she watched a huge female turtle heave herself up on the beach to dig her nest and empty her eggs into the sand.
Taylor didn’t want to disturb her, but the next day she returned to try to find the spot where the eggs were hidden.
What she found instead were tracks leading in the wrong direction.
Instead of heading back out to sea, she had wandered into the dunes, which were already as hot as asphalt in the morning sun.
A little ways inland, Taylor found the mother turtle, exhausted and all but baked.
Her head and flippers were caked with dried sand.
After pouring water on her and covering her with sea oats, Taylor fetched a park ranger, who returned with a jeep to rescue her.
The ranger flipped the turtle over on her back, wrapped tire chains around her front legs, and hooked the chains to the trailer hitch on his jeep.
Then he took off, yanking her body forward so fast that her open mouth filled with sand and then disappeared underneath her.
The ranger hauled her over the dunes and down onto the beach, and the woman followed the path that the prow of her shell cut in the sand.
At ocean’s edge, he unhooked her and tuned her right side up again.
She lay motionless in the surf as the water lapped at her body; washing the sand from her eyes and making her skin shine again.
Than a particularly large wave broke over her, and she lifted her head slightly, moving her back legs as she did.
Every fresh wave brought her life back to her until one of them made her light enough to find a foothold and push off, back into the water that was her home.
Watching her swim slowly away and remembering her nightmare ride through the dunes, Barbara Brown Taylor noted that it is sometimes hard to tell whether you are being killed or saved by the hands that turn your world upside down.
Sometimes we feel that our world is being turned upside down, but according to Romans 5, when we’re in His hands His only design is to develop perseverance, which leads to character, which leads to a hopeful attitude.
He makes all things work for our good.
