This trouble from thought is salutary: by it conviction and conversion may come; and, in any case, troubled thought is as the sounding of the tocsin, arousing the mind, and warning the soul. Our peace is, and ever shall be, like a river. Shadrach, Meshach, &c., said, We are not careful to answer thee, &c. — In so plain a case there is no room for deliberation: we have an answer ready at hand, that we ought to obey God rather than man. Observe the three accusations against the "boys" - (1) They were showing no respect for the king (not true); (2) they refused to serve Nebuchadnezzar's idolatrous gods (this was true) and (3) they refused to worship the golden image (this was also true). Once the Lord has spoken on a matter, the matter is settled and there’s no room for discussion or need for compromise. I have civilized my own subjects; I have conquered other nations; yet have I not been able to conquer or civilize myself!". God help you to come out of the scales, for many are weighed in them and found wanting (. Only such wisdom can secure for me eternal brightness as of yonder sunlit skies. It suggests our fervent entreaties for the church of God in these days. The image - Idolatry is image worship. THE EARNEST PRAYER. Yet they clung to us until some fiery trial befell us, and from that hour, through the grace of the Holy Spirit, we were free. Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah stood out from the pack because of their godliness. Bright red! God bless the dear children! (Ibid). To be a bodyguard, a garrison to the body, soul, and spirit of the saint. The prevalent idea behind this ancient view is, “I’m OK. You’re OK. Let’s all just get along.” While this philosophy sounds friendly enough, it denies the reality of objective truth—the idea that there is One God Who Alone is True and Who has defined acceptable ethical behavior. Instead they cultivated brave personalities, willing to stand alone with God. Let young Christians especially learn from their example, both in matters of faith in religion, and matters of uprightness in business, never to sacrifice their consciences. Unnumber’d years of bliss For ourselves; edification. The furnace can only make the gold purer and brighter." Then they call such wicked calculations prudence. The Greek Septuagint does not read literally "an angel" but "the angel" (definite article identifying Him as "the" specific angel, not just any angel - further support this is the Angel of the LORD). Is it true? They were honest, and for the moment they displeased their employers, but in the end earned their esteem. When required by human authorities to compromise their faith, they must ‘obey God rather than men’ (Acts 5:29).”265 “The business of the Christian is to show respect to all who are in authority, to pay honor to whom honor is due, owing no man anything save love. Fear of the fire was, by comparison, thinkable. These men ask for no miracle; they expect none. JESUS WILL STAND WITH YOU, When we stand for Jesus, the world will stand against us but He will stand with us, even as Paul experienced in his last recorded words…, At my first defense no one supported me, but all deserted me; may it not be counted against them. (Eph 6:16-note), (3) The furnace of fiery trials - This furnace is prepared by God and refers to those trials the Omniscient God allows for our good and His glory, as described repeatedly in the NT…, Consider (aorist imperative = command to do this now. (Heslop) (Ref). An inscription on the side of the statue read, "Seek ye first the political kingdom and all other things shall be added unto you." Alan Redpath rightly says that "Reverent fear of God is the key to faithfulness in any situation. TODAY ALONG THE WAY - You may find that obeying God and obeying the laws of men usually go hand in hand. Thus Nebuchadnezzar "saw" their faith in action and it greatly impacted his "spiritual persona" although not yet to the point of conversion (but read Daniel 4). It was the child of thought (verse 2). The three Hebrews were safer in the furnace than when they were standing in front of the king. They were away from home, out from under parental influence and restraints, and exposed to very strong temptation. Let us consider the state of Zion (verse 23). Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you (John 15:18-19). Seeking to “fix the feet” by making an idol of solid gold and creating one religion, Nebuchadnezzar constructed the gold image and required every race and culture to worship it. How does a person become so committed? Dear friends, let us be ready to suffer for Christ’s sake. These three Jewish men know the law of God—“You shall have no other gods before Me … You shall not bow down to them nor serve them” (Ex. It refers consistently to rescuing or delivering a person from an impossible situation. Shall Thy salvation see. But - This conjunction emphasizes the contrasting fates of the king's men versus God's men, and indeed serves as a foreshadowing of the fate of every person ever born, for all will either experience the eternal fires of Gehenna and separation from God or the eternal presence of God Who delivers believers from the wrath to come. H A Ironside is dogmatic on the identity (and I am in agreement) - The blessed Son of God was there with His dear servants in their hour of trial. Such comrades as these usually chase all thought away, and help their leader in his recklessness. ), 69. Nebuchadnezzar understood the spiritual dynamics of idolatry and was calling not just for physical bowing down to an image but for a submission of one's heart to serve his gods. The command is urgent because the danger is great!) We may question why He does it to begin with, or why He doesn’t turn down the heat or even turn it off; but our questions are only evidences of unbelief. 10:19). But he who is spiritual appraises all things, yet he himself is appraised by no man. Rejoice, and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you. Though in a foreign land, If you cannot say that you take Christ's cross, and are willing to follow Him at all hazards, then hearken to me and learn the truth. If it be not true that you renounce the world's idols, do not profess that it is so. What a beautiful OT example these Hebrew lads provide for the surrender to which Paul calls all believers in Romans 12…, Therefore (in a sense a conclusion based on all of the great truths in Romans 1-11) I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present (surrender, yield to the disposal of another) your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. That was the case for the three young Hebrew men in Daniel 3. Amen. At the present time, the one place, in all the world, where God dwells, is his Church. And bless the cleansing fire was an even greater test for Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego. Your father's history might instruct you, or at least trouble you. Knowing about God will bring no one into heaven, for even the demons know about Him and believe He is one (Jas 2:19-note). This is the podcast. He was like Pharaoh another prideful ruler who confronted another Jewish man Moses with the question…, Who is the Lord that I should obey His voice to let Israel go? Just so is it in the Church of Christ; we cannot afford to spare any part of the mystical body of Christ. 17 But the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me, in order that through me the proclamation might be fully accomplished, and that all the Gentiles might hear; and I was delivered out of the lion's mouth. With steadfast faith we persevere, —Palmer, John MacArthur observes that "Self-centered Christians who serve the Lord halfheartedly seldom have to pay a price for their faith. “There our best friends, our kindred dwell. They might have said, "It is only for once, and not for very long. Chuck Smith writes that their "commitment came from dedication of purpose… They committed themselves to worship and serve only God. Jesus ready stands to save you, Theirs was a complete deliverance, because God accomplished it. 2. I summon him in the name of the living God to answer for his cowardice! In short, as they stood before the king, they knew they might truly die. is a glorious attainment. Ah! The Lamb of God was scorched in the fire of God's wrath for you! They did not cringe before the king and cry, "We beseech you, do not throw us into the fiery furnace. Calmly resolute in duty, brave in conflict, patient in suffering, let us go our way, keeping to our road, neither swerving from it, nor loitering in it. (Heb 2:18-note), Hence, also, He (Jesus) is able (dunamai - in the present tense = continuously able) to save forever (What is the "condition?") Fire has a way of removing the "dross" in our life (Job 23:10-note). Seek His face and His forgiveness and He will welcome you with intimate communion. True Christian faith is willing to leave to God—just whatever He shall do, confident in God's power and in God's love. I would like to see a display of old-fashioned imprudence in these cold, calculating, selfish days. He is able, He is able, Are our convictions altered by pressures brought to bear upon us? It cannot hurt one hair of your head, or leave the smell of burning on you; but it will eat out the alloy, and gnaw away the iron bands that bound you. Notice that what you "bow" to (fall down and worship) will eventually be what you are "bound" to, for it will become your master and you will serve it (like a slave). As Charles Bridges says the fear of the LORD "is that affectionate reverence, by which the child of God bends himself humbly and carefully to his Father's law (in this case His prohibition against idol worship). Come Ye Sinners Poor and Needy Taken together, chapters 1-3 therefore show the distinction between the civil realm and the religious realm, the distinction between church and state. Justice was offended by us, but found its satisfaction in him. We speak much of Peter’s denying his Master. Remember that your attitudes, choices and behavior will be determined by one of two "compasses", either external pressure or internal principle. What an encouraging example for each of us to stand fast like these three did. (Isa 43:1, 2). ", Donald Campbell tells this story of one who took a bold stand - When the Communists invaded a Korean village, they found a young man with a vigorous Christian testimony who, regardless of their edicts to the contrary, continued to witness for Christ. There they rested the matter. He might have missed his way in life if he had not been true to his principles in his youth. 4. Rest will be ours. We shall never lose anything in the long run—by doing right. (Mt 5:13-note, Mt 5:14, 15, 16-note), Ray Pritchard comments that "the three young men refused to bow because years earlier they had learned the Ten Commandments. (Most High God is repeated in Da 3:26, 4:2, 17; Da 4:24, 25, 32, 34; Da 5:18, 21; Da 7:25). And beloved, lest we be too hard on Israel for their foolish, rebellious behavior, we need to remember that Israel's behavior is often a picture of our own fallen flesh. (Pr 19:12), Nebuchadnezzar was playing the fool for Solomon says that…, He who is slow to anger has great understanding, but he who is quick-tempered exalts folly. There is a legend of one in the old times, who walked the streets of Alexandria bearing in one hand a torch and in the other hand a vessel of water, crying, "With this water I will put out hell, and with this torch I will burn up heaven—that God may be served for Himself alone." How you feel fed! Little children, guard (aorist imperative = Command to do this now. Beloved, has it not been your experience that it is in the fires of life that you have experienced the presence of Christ most powerfully. And prove to all around you that death itself is gain. To be wise is a noble thing in itself: in this place it refers to a divine wisdom which only the Lord Himself can bestow. Even Solomon at the height of his earthly glory received a mere six hundred and sixty-six talents of gold (1Ki 10:14) each year and sat on a throne of only six steps (1K. He sendeth more strength when the labors increase; I shall receive no hurt from sorrow if I shall walk in the midst of the fire. IT did not do Daniel any harm to know that he was greatly beloved of God; or else he would not have received that information from heaven. What ails you, that babes and sucklings are braver than you? (Acts 5:40, 41). Holiness is not an attribute of material substances; it does not appertain to iron, stone, mortar, bricks, or timbers. But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God; for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised. You might be wondering where Daniel fits into this story, and the simple answer is that we don't know. A parallel is easily drawn between Belshazzar and other proud ones. It is for Christians to account for the fact that they have lost it; for clearly what I have been describing does not, somehow or another, apply at the present time. To all who believe on him the Lord Jesus is a present Saviour, and upon them all the blood of reconciliation has been sprinkled. Athanasius, Bishop of Alexandria, opposed the heretical teaching of Arius who denied the deity of Christ. January 1, 1874. CAN LOOSE OUR BONDS That you do not strike your foot against a stone. Yet God was more real to them than any of those things. 2:2; Col. 3:1-3).259 The following words of Jesus must alway echo in our ears: If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. (4) Truth proclaimed in its clearness. However, overcoming the temptation will strengthen you and enable you to reach a new plateau in your Christian life. Nicholas Ridley had been raised Catholic but converted to Protestantism. Daniel said, "thou hast lifted up thyself against the Lord of heaven.". He had hardened his heart with pride (verses 22 and 23). When God smote his only begotten Son for you, what was this but being greatly beloved? There ms scarcely a column standing upon its proper pedestal, and hardly one stone left upon another. We will meet them someday soon so it behooves us to know their story and be encouraged by their willingness to suffer for Christ's sake. Some will say, "Do not be imprudent." That is where God dwells, in that godly woman dying in the workhouse. The king had already learned that the God of Israel is able to reveal mysteries (Da 2:47) to His servants, but he doubted God's ability to save the three dissenters. The Book of Daniel is a great source of encouragement, because it reminds us that God cares for His people and honors them when they are true to Him. It was this that enabled them to look with so much contempt upon death, death in pomp, death in all its terrors: they trusted in the living God, and by that faith chose rather to suffer than to sin; they therefore feared not the wrath of the king, but endured, because by faith they had an eye to Him that is invisible (He 11:25-note, He 11:27-note), Jesus taught His disciples "make (aorist imperative - A command we carry out but only by the enabling power of the Spirit) up your minds (more literally "place it upon your heart) not to prepare beforehand to defend (apologeomai - speak in your own defense against charges presumed to be false) yourselves (Why? If we know but little of the excellences of Jesus, what he has done for us, and what he is doing now, we cannot love him much; but the more we know him, the more we shall love him. But since the furnace was God’s will for them, they were safer in the flames than anywhere else. The living waters flowed forth from Jerusalem. Comment: Tony Garland observes that "Among the enemies of God marked by the number six: we find Goliath, whose height was six cubits, having six pieces of armor and a spear’s head weighing six hundred shekels of iron (1Sa 17:4, 5, 6, 7); Nebuchadnezzar, whose “image” was sixty cubits high and six cubits wide (Da 3:1); and Antichrist, whose number is six hundred and sixty-six (Re 13:18). MacArthur - Our decisions, our attitudes and our behaviors are determined by one of two things: external pressure, or internal principle… the battle is going on all the time in our lives between these two conflicting items. Though the earth be burned up, no smell of fire shall come upon the chosen. But basically we have to come down to that bottom line. Re 13:14-note And he (the False Prophet) deceives those who dwell on the earth ("Earth Dwellers") because of the signs which it was given him to perform in the presence of the beast, telling those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast (The Antichrist) who had the wound of the sword and has come to life. They like to quote, "To those who love God—we know that all things work together for good." I. Threats of death cannot dissuade them. O Israel, trust in the LORD; He is their help and their shield. Recall how the statue of Daniel 2 was a "unit" composed of successive kingdoms, implying that various facets of each of these kingdoms endured to the "foot and toe stage" but which will be totally obliterated by the victorious return of Christ to defeat all Gentile powers and influence in new Messianic age. And when a man gets full of fury, he gets full of folly (Pr 14:29, Ec 7:9). Beloved, when we know God's Word and obey God's Word, His Spirit will fortify us so that we too can be bold as a lion! The preservation of the 3 Hebrew young men is a clear testament to the truth of God's Word to His people that in their fiery trials and afflictions, they would not be utterly overwhelmed. I care. Here is nothing in their answer that looks like compliment; they begin not, as their accusers did, with, O king! C H Spurgeon - Faith's Checkbook - Nor Had the Smell of Fire Even Come Upon Them - I see a pair of balances. Then joyfully accept the trial which comes with it. 1 Star - I hated it 2 Stars - I didn't like it 3 Stars - It was OK 4 Stars - I liked it 5 Stars - I loved it. (Faith's Checkbook), “But go thou thy way till the end be:for thou shalt rest, and stand in thy lotat the end of the days.”—Da 12:13. To prosper - Those who honor God will be honored (in this life and/or the one to come, cp 1Ti 4:8+). Consider these contrasts: Images of Chapter 2: (a) divine origin; (b) a vision only; (c) made of different metals; (d) not an object of worship; (e) privately revealed to Nebuchadnezzar; (f) fairly well described; (g) prompted king to bow down. Download this high quality and practical app and do your Bible study comfortable on the coach. Daniel 3:15 "Now if you are ready, at the moment you hear the sound of the horn, flute, lyre, trigon, psaltery and bagpipe and all kinds of music, to fall down and worship the image that I have made, very well. The statue was destroyed after a bloodless coup in 1966. In short, when you go through the fire, cling fast to the truth you know about God, fixing your eyes on Jesus (Heb 12:2-note) - His promises (cp Isa 43:2), His past deliverances, His commandments that include His enablements, etc. If you have been compromising in the "small things", don't deceive yourself with the thought that "I'll stand uncompromisingly when the big test comes.". That is when they begin to see our Jesus living in and through us and they will either be drawn to Him or shrink away from Him (Jn 3:19, 20, 21), In Daniel 2:47 after the miraculous revelation of his dream and the interpretation, King Nebuchadnezzar "answered Daniel and said, “Surely your God is a God of gods and a Lord of kings and a revealer of mysteries, since you have been able to reveal this mystery.”, Blessed be the God - The pagan, idol worshipping king, Nebuchadnezzar acknowledges the supremacy of God. There is no psychological reason for an idealizing romancer to leave Daniel out of this exciting episode. The end will make full amends. The way of faithfulness often lies through the fiery furnace, heated seven-fold to consume you. Do not make a profession at all. He is more of a secularist or a humanist than a theist. Can you discover the silver lining of tribulation’s black clouds? They, at least, show no cowardice. These were governors of main provinces. ", THOUGHT - Let's be honest, for we all know that when we want to compromise, we can always find an excuse. He preached in the same church as C. H. Spurgeon over one hundred years earlier. The young woman insisted that one was missing, but the doctor grimly declared he would proceed with the suturing. Men frown at you, but you can see God smiling on you, and so you are not moved. 3. Say, like the holy children, "We have no need to answer you in this matter" ( Daniel 3:16 ). They take a solemn delight in being numbered with the people of God, counting it an honor to be associated with Christ and His church. Make sure you are disobeying for God's sake, not for your own publicity. 'It is uphill all the way; Although his formula would later be known as Ohm's Law, at the time it was roundly rejected in the science community and he was fired from his existing job. he present volume is the second of a series of works useful to Students and Ministers prepared by Mr. Spurgeon; and published at 2s. Facial expression was altered - Imagine his face! (Ps 119:67-note), It is good for me that I was afflicted, That I may learn Thy statutes. They swam against the current in contrast to their Hebrew counterparts (there is no mention of any other Hebrew lads not bowing). (John 12:26). Beat on, true heart, for ever! Immediately - No "due process" here, which is interesting because he did give the 3 Hebrews a "second chance" (Da 3:13, 14, 15). He is able to deliver thee; Hus was burned at the stake in 1415 and a little over a century later in 1517 Martin Luther posted his 95 Theses of Contention on the church door at Wittenberg, setting into motion the protestant reformation! God rests in His love, and, therefore, we rest in it. No danger can terrify us. But he was still an evil man. (Ex 20:3) The Second Commandment prohibits all forms of image-making and worship of idols. It is not our responsibility to evaluate moral trade-offs to choose the lesser of several evils in an attempt to control the results of a difficult situation. Have I felt as David felt? Now, secondly, I must speak more briefly upon The Earnest Prayer: “Cause thy face to shine upon thy sanctuary.”. Sometimes I wonder what has happened to words like courage and endurance. In the book of Acts we find an example of "not bowing", Luke recording that the Jewish council and high priest, gave… strict orders not to continue teaching in this Name, and behold, you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and intend to bring this Man's blood upon us." The Septuagint (Theodoret's version) renders it "Son of God.". “If these three young Hebrews were living today and were facing the same test, if they sought the advice of the religious leaders of our day, they would be advised to ‘go along’ with the king, bow to the image, ‘coexist’ with the idolaters, and, by so doing, perhaps lead the king into a better life.”267 Situational ethics opens the door to temptation, compromise, and our powerful ability to rationalize. Today in the Word notes that "You may find that obeying God and obeying the laws of men usually go hand in hand. Or what shall force them thence? Be not guided by the will-o’-the-wisp of policy, but by the pole-star of divine authority. You neglect, or ridicule, or use without seriousness the things of God. The moment of crisis is too late to prepare our hearts. Stand up, stand up for Jesus, each soldier to his post, It often happens that there is very little power in those prayers that leap out of our lips without premeditation,-born in a minute, like midges, and dying just as soon; but the prayer that lies in the soul, like eggs in a nest, and that has to be sat upon, as it were, and hatched, and brought forth,-there is life in such supplication as that, and that is the kind of prayer which prevails with God. To keep that which I’ve committed Daniel Chapter 10: Lifting the veil. Some of you are hurting. ", Brought charges against (NIV = denounced) - The NAS rendering is not as strong as the Aramaic which literally means "ate the pieces of", a vivid idiom for slander (although 2 of their 3 charges were true - see Da 3:12). Rejoice, and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you. There are many dear children, both boys and girls, who have not been ashamed in their early days to come forward and confess the Lord Jesus Christ. But if when you do what is right and suffer for it you patiently endure it, this finds favor with God. “Which church?” asks someone. The temple was typical, and for our edification we shall read the text as if the spiritual house had been meant. Dear young fellow, you may be fired from your situation, but the Lord will turn the curse into a blessing. He is secure where others are in peril, he lives where others die. To the guilty heart, to the sinful soul; They did not know what He would do - but they were sure it would be the right thing. They did not cringe before the king and cry, "We beseech you, do not throw us into the fiery furnace. Am I seeking that which I ought to seek? As yet we dare preach the gospel to you, and we do. He is able to deliver us—there is no doubt about that. Rest will be ours. But Jesus never allows His beloved to walk the fire alone. Then come to Jesus, come today, I had need be wise if I am to turn even one to righteousness, much more if I am to turn many. (1) The fire of persecution - This is the furnace men prepare for us. daniel 10 commentary spurgeon. It would not do us any harm if we were to take a good lesson from the example of these "three Hebrew children. (Study the 17 uses of rhuomai in 15v in the NT - Mt. Note the effect of the steadfast (faith-filled) witness of these 3 Hebrew lads on Nebuchadnezzar's heart and mind. Ah me, what a degenerate set!". Hus is quoted as saying “If I can’t withstand the fire of a candle, how the stake?” But the next day Hus not only endured the blazing flames (by some reports with Wycliffe’s manuscript Bibles used as kindling! And we're very good at self-justification so a lot of times when we succumb to external pressure we define it as internal principle. (Ps 121:7, 8 - notes). If the Lord has chastened you, yet not in anger; if he has made you poor, yet in grace you have been rich. Chuck Smith reiterates the importance of internal principle discussing the parallel term "Commitment" noting that commitment "gives you the strength to go against… the current of this world (which is anti-God: "love not the world")… declaring the material is superior to the spiritual. There may be some method by which we can please you and yet keep our religion." The man, who is to preach with power, must be one of those who are quickened by the Holy Spirit, and through whom the Spirit speaks with energy divine.
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