Grace and Peace be yours in Christ Jesus.
Welcome to Bible Study on Tuesday. Today we’re in Daniel 3 and I’m reading from the NIV so if you have one, get it, otherwise, you can go here.
Before we begin, let’s pray.
Lord Jesus, thank You for all You are going to reveal to us today. Thank You for this time and this exciting story. Thank You for gathering everyone that You want to see this here today. Bless us all, Lord, in your faithfulness, and lead us through this chapter. In Your holy name I pray. Amen.
Read Daniel 3:1-3
The Image of Gold and the Blazing Furnace
When the king summons, they come.
Summons: a call by authority to appear at a place named or to attend to a duty (m-w.com)
Matthew 11:28
Jesus said, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”
Read Daniel 3:4-7
Do you see a problem with this command?
“you must fall down and worship”
There is only One worthy of worship. One in Who’s appearance we can not stand. Well, Jesus himself has told us His responsibility is to have us all standing. (John 6:39-40 MSG)
We will all worship something, make sure you’re worshipping the One who is worthy of it.
The consequences for disobeying here are stated in verse 6. Read it again.
Read Daniel 3:8-15
Tattletales and Jealousy foment rage.
“Then what god will be able to rescue you from my hand?”
The question is not ‘what god’ the question is ‘who is God’. Nebuchadnezzar was on a power trip. He has forgotten the God who holds all his days in His hand.
Read Daniel 3:16-18
This is faith. This is confidence. We need to write this out. Something like this…
The God we serve is able
He will deliver us
But even if He does not, we will remain faithful.
Because He is Faithful.
Habakkuk 3:18-19 is another example of faith.
And this is even more encouragement.
Hebrews 10:32-39
Remember those earlier days after you had received the light, when you endured in a great conflict full of suffering. Sometimes you were publicly exposed to insult and persecution; at other times you stood side by side with those who were so treated. You suffered along with those in prison and joyfully accepted the confiscation of your property, because you knew that you yourselves had better and lasting possessions. So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded
You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised. For,
“In just a little while
he who is coming will come
and will not delay.”
And,
“But my righteous one will live by faith
And I take no pleasure
in the one who shrinks back.”
But we do not belong to those who shrink back and are destroyed, but to those who have faith and are saved.
Read Daniel 3:19-23
Attitude: a negative or hostile state of mind
: a cool, cocky, defiant, or arrogant manner (also m-w.com)
Yes, it can be positively spinned too, but we mostly notice when it’s negative or defiant.
Do you suppose the ‘seven times hotter’ was measurable?
Did you see some of the strongest soldiers were killed putting these men in the furnace? Yet nothing is said about them again.
Read Daniel 3:24-25
See the quick switch in attitude? Verse 25 is worth repeating.
“Look! I see four men walking around in the fire, unbound and unharmed, and the fourth looks like a son of the gods.”
Isaiah 43:2
When you pass through the waters,
I will be with you
and when you pass through the rivers,
they will not sweep over you.
When you walk through the fire,
you will not be burned;
the flames will not set you ablaze.
The promise stands. Life is hard. Sometimes complicated. But this is true. When… “I will be with you.”
Matthew 28:18-20 NKJV
And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
Read Daniel 3:26-27
There is reason Daniel is so close to these men. Faith. These four men, Daniel and these three, were full of faith. They put all their trust in God and God rewarded them for it.
We aren’t told but I would guess that they prayed as often as we are told Daniel does.
Do you see the wonder?
Read Daniel 3:28-30
Lack of creativity I guess is the reason he uses the same threat here. But this is the main thing we need to see…
They trusted in him and were willing to give up their lives rather than serve or worship any god except their own God.
May we have faith like that.
Lord Jesus, thank You for this story. Thank You for the many places You took us and the many words of encouragement and faith You revealed. I ask that it all strengthen the faith in everyone who reads this and that it give us the confidence that You are always with us. In Your precious name, I pray. Amen.