Chapter Three
Victory Through Faith Daniel Chapter Three
We have seen in chapter 2, how king Nebuchadnezzar acknowledged that Daniel’s God is a God of gods and Lord of kings (vs.47). He came to this conviction because Daniel was able to tell him his dream and its interpretation, when the wise men, astrologers, soothsayers and magicians of the kingdom had failed to do so. Now as we come to chapter 3, we see that about twenty - three years later, this same king had made a huge golden image and had commanded all the people in his kingdom to fall down and worship it. A few years before the king has seen in his dream an image with only his head made of gold. Now he has made a huge image ninety feet high and ten feet wide, entirely of gold.
In the dream the head of the image had been of gold and God had shown him that this represented himself. He was told in plain language that this kingdom and the coming kingdoms, would be smashed and destroyed by the true Kingdom of God. He had seen the stone cut without hands smiting the feet of the image so that the gold, silver, brass, iron and clay were all broken into pieces and made like chaff that the wind carries away. He had also seen that the stone became a great mountain that filled the whole earth, and God had taught him thus that man-made kingdoms, however strong they may be, would be destroyed one day. In spite of this, about twenty-three years later, we find him making a golden image of himself. So proud was Nebuchadnezzar that he wanted the people to worship him because of his kingdom, power and wealth. This shows clearly that unless God’s word enters the hearts of men and unless they are truly born again, they will remain blind spiritually. Even though they see miracles and wonders, their hearts will not change; they may call upon God and talk about him like Nebuchadnezzar, but there will be no inward change.
After saying very plainly that Daniel’s God was the true God, Nebuchadnezzar was now asking his people to worship idols. He did not wish to accept the living God as his God. We see later in chapter 4, that it was only when he was driven away from his kingdom to live in the forest that he repented. God had shown to him wonderful things, but the king had not turned to God with his whole heart. So God had to deal with him severely. God speaks to some people first in a loving and kind way; it may be through some message given in a gospel meeting, or when they read the word of God, but they will not take heed. It is only when they are in sickness or trouble, or perhaps upon their deathbed, that such men will repent.
So the king in his blindness made a tall and great image representing himself and asked the people to worship it. Three young men refused to do so. They were determined not to bow down to an image at any cost. God has always prepared some men throughout the ages to be overcomers and to be His co-workers. Such men are always few but when they have been fully prepared, God uses them to defeat the enemy and confound all his devices. At that time four young men were being prepared by God to confound the earthly kingdoms of their day. The wise men, magicians, soothsayers and astrologers were all put to shame because of the faithfulness of these four men. Like these young men we also may have to go through many refining fires but all these sufferings will help us to become overcomers. Eventually we will become more than conquerors in everything. Through God we will destroy the works of Satan and put him to shame provided we are willing to pass patiently through the time of our preparation.
Now notice the arrogant words of king Nebuchadnezzar: “Who is that God that shall deliver you out of my hands?” When he had been in trouble and all his magicians and wise men, whom he had been feeding for so many years, had not been able to answer his questions, he had been taught by experience that there was a living God who alone had the power to help him. Yet now he was saying, “Who is that God that shall deliver you out of my hands?” How foolish and blind he was! Those who do not know the Lord Jesus Christ do not realize how foolish they are. In spite of all wealth and knowledge they are utterly foolish. Yet they have no excuse for no doubt God has spoken to them through His servants, as He did to Nebuchadnezzar.
The three young men were quietly calm, though they had been threatened that they would be cast into the fiery furnace. See what a wise answer they gave. They said “O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful (or, we have no need) to answer thee in this matter”. It means that as the king was speaking foolishly he did not deserve an answer. It is a waste of time to argue with people who talk foolishly. The king’s threats could not shake the young men’s faith. They knew that their God was living God and He had all power, far greater than all the power of the Devil, or of the king before them, and they wanted to serve Him without any question.
Some people always go to God with some conditions. They will pray: “Lord I will give you Rs. 35/- and I will go to worship on Sundays if you answer my prayer, if not I will do none of these things”. If their requests are not granted they will be absent for two months form God’s house. They will get offended and say, “It is a waste of time to pray to God. I prayed and He did not answer me.” I know many people of this type who get angry with God over little things, as a man might get angry with his friends. Then for many weeks they will not take any share in serving the Lord. They will not preach the Gospel nor open their mouths in prayer meetings. Without any doubt or question in their hearts, these three young men said! “O King, though we are to be cast into the fiery furnace
We refuse to bow down to your image. Even if God allows us to be burnt in the fire, we will never question Him.
If you want to be an over comer you should never doubt God. Even if he takes you through fiery trials you have no right to question Him. Believe that His way is perfect and is the best for you, and that whatever He is doing in your life, it is all for your good. That is true faith.
We have seen that Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego were brought before King Nebuchadnezzar, and that he asked them to bow down before the great image he had made. Their answer was bold and clear, “O King we will not serve thy Gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set-up” (v.18).
In these days also, the same King of temptation comes to many of us. I know that there are many Christian teachers, working in Roman Catholic or Hindu schools, who some times bow down to idols. However, they keep it secret. When they see their colleagues going forward and worshiping idols, they say to themselves, “I must be in the good books of my superiors in the school. If I alone keep back they will think badly of me. And even if I bow down here, no one in one in my home, or in the assembly will know about it”. They are afraid that if they will keep aloof they may be threatened, or may loose their promotion or the job itself. A true Christian must overcome all these temptations. He should adopt worldly and sinful methods to get promotion or gain.
We are inspired by the noble example of these three young men. Even though they were threatened with death they refused to bow down before the idols. They said, “Our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace” (v.17). We also must believe that the Lord will never forsake us, for He says: “All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth…Lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world” (Matthew 28:18,20). The Lord will use that power to take care of us, so we should never fear to take a bold stand.
There are some Christians who love to please their friends, so they accept invitations to Hindu parties. They know that the food served there has been offered to idols, yet they partake of it without any feeling of guilt. They also gladly accept coconuts and betel leaves and nuts, which have been likewise first offered to idols. But if you want to be an over comer, you must refuse, at any cost, to defile yourself in such ways.
The answer given by the three young men made King Nebuchadnezzar very angry and he commanded that the furnace should be heated seven times more. He did not realize that the same furnace would kill the men who would draw near to throw these young men into it. He only thought that by heating the fire so much, he could give more punishment to the offending young men. To make sure that they were burnt completely he caused them to be bound in their coats, their hosen, their hats and other garments (v.21). Then they were cast into the midst of the burning, fiery furnace. But the fire burned only their bands and loosened them. The part of the body, which would first catch fire, is the hair; but not a single hair of their heads was singed. They walked in the fire as if they were walking in a garden. When we learn to be overcomers, God will protect us from even the slightest harm. The King was filled with wonder. His wonder was greater because he saw not three men but four walking in the fire.
The Lord knows how to protect His own. He will see to it that no harm comes to us when we stand for the word of God and the testimony of our Lord. There is really no need for us to try to save our lives by defiling ourselves.
If we want to be overcomers, we will certainly be persecuted by the enemy more than other will be. We will be brought before kings, princes and rulers, for His name’s sake; but this only give us a fresh opportunity to testify regarding the Lord’s power to help and protect us. Just as these young man received wisdom from God to speak to King Nebuchadnezzar, we also will receive a mouth and wisdom which none will be able to gainsay or resist (Luke 21:15).
Then the King promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, in the province of Babylon (v.30). All the persecution, which came against these faithful young men, only proved to be the means of their promotion, and also of confounding the king and the princes of Babylon.
These young men knew their God, and that is why they came out triumphant. May the Lord make us also true overcomers like them.