Even if God does not Deliver
Even if God does not Deliver
We have seen numerous civil disobediences by people who are opposed to oppressive regimes and policies. The one that the World watched with horror was the stand-off at Tiananmen Square in 1989 when the Chinese communist massacred students who demanded reforms. Many die for various courses in opposition to injustice. There are still some Christians who die in defiance of denying their faith and God.
Often we are willing to obey God and worship Him when we know the expected outcome. Today we come across three Jewish youngsters who are willing to worship God at all cost regardless of the outcome. We also come across king Nebuchadnezzar (king Neb) whom you would think may have learned his lessons as a result of previous encounters with the real God. Unfortunately, king Neb had not and would again test the sovereignty of our God. How many major life-events does it take for humans to see God’s supremacy? What did it take and for how long did it take us to see and know God? You may have to hit the bottom to get there.
Daniel 3: 1- 23 (Please read the entire chapter 3)
1 King Nebuchadnezzar made an image of gold, ninety feet high and nine feet [a] wide, and set it up on the plain of Dura in the province of Babylon. 2 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 [b] 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?"
16 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.
Here are my observations in addition to the ones you may have:
1. Why would king Neb build a golden image and command people to worship it? Did he not get the message from two personal encounters where he saw the hand of the supreme God? He even declared that there is no other god than our God. See Daniel 2: 47 “Truly your God is the God of gods”. It is said that sin blinds the eyes. This is the nature of the human heart. For king Neb, it will take him living at the lowest level like a “wild animal” in order to get the point (see chapter 4). Sometimes, people would have to fall to the bottom to experience God, so let it be. Many times we stand on the way especially in the lives of loved ones. Remember the prodigal son? His father let him have his way before he came to his senses.
2. Notice the conformists vs. 2-7. They are willing to do anything to stay in the good book and be in vogue. King Neb’s advisors and councilors went along with him. The most pitiful leader is one who surrounds him/herself with “yes only” friends. Also note that almost the whole crowd bowed vs. 7. Majority does not equal morality. This is exactly where we are as a nation in America at this time. With the issues such as homosexuality, abortion and etc, it seems like public opinion swings to the majority and thus it seems right and justified.
3. When you do not conform, you will be spoken about and you will stand out vs.8-12. The devil’s lie is that “everybody is doing it”. “Everybody is not doing it”! It said, “Some Jews”, so it was not every Jew who refused to bow but Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. We cannot use number as a prerequisite to obey God. We can’t even use the judgment of other “church people” as a yardstick. We must use the word of God as our base for worship and obedience.
4. Here is an example of godly disobedience. "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." King Neb, go ahead and make your day but you are still a human being and we are not worshiping you.
5. We may not be confronted with king Neb but we will be confronted and be required to worship various gods. There are today’s gods of the “almighty Dollar”, fame and power that are asking for our worship. How are you doing in saying no and saying “even if God does not deliver” I will not serve you “almighty Dollar”? So what that we do not get what we want? What do we really have to lose? Can you complete this sentence with the most pressing issue of your life right now? Even if God does not deliver me from --------, I will still serve God. We each have something of this nature, so let’s make our declaration to God.
6. Did God deliver in this instance? Vs. 24-27.Yes, but keep in mind that God could have chosen not to deliver and let the three Hebrews burn up. This is counter to the prosperity gospel that says it will always turn out the way we want it. No, let it turn out the way God wants it and “not my will but yours be done”. Amen.
7. Notice the fourth one in the midst of the furnace with the three Jews vs. 25. God said He will never leave us nor forsake us. If we pass thru the water, storm or fire, He will be with us. This is what I call the “All-State” God’s assurance (Psalm 91). In all states God will be with us. Hebrews 11:32-36 shows God’s deliverance in all states with mixed outcomes e.g. (shut the mouths of lions, some received their dead back, Others were tortured and refused to be released, so that they might gain a better resurrection, sawed into two etc). The outcomes are in God’s hands and for God’s glory.
8. The bottom line is that God allows all tests to prove His Supremacy and that people around us will know that there is only one true God. "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”. This is king Neb’s declaration after seeing the mighty hand of God.
Are we willing to give up our lives rather than serve or worship any god except our own God? I do not know the answer but all I know is that when the occasion calls for it I will pray for God’s grace to enable me serve Him. “13For it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose” (Philippians 2:13). Are you there right now, pressed to compromise? Then ask for God’s grace. Amen.
We have seen numerous civil disobediences by people who are opposed to oppressive regimes and policies. The one that the World watched with horror was the stand-off at Tiananmen Square in 1989 when the Chinese communist massacred students who demanded reforms. Many die for various courses in opposition to injustice. There are still some Christians who die in defiance of denying their faith and God.
Often we are willing to obey God and worship Him when we know the expected outcome. Today we come across three Jewish youngsters who are willing to worship God at all cost regardless of the outcome. We also come across king Nebuchadnezzar (king Neb) whom you would think may have learned his lessons as a result of previous encounters with the real God. Unfortunately, king Neb had not and would again test the sovereignty of our God. How many major life-events does it take for humans to see God’s supremacy? What did it take and for how long did it take us to see and know God? You may have to hit the bottom to get there.
Daniel 3: 1- 23 (Please read the entire chapter 3)
1 King Nebuchadnezzar made an image of gold, ninety feet high and nine feet [a] wide, and set it up on the plain of Dura in the province of Babylon. 2 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 [b] 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?"
16 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.
Here are my observations in addition to the ones you may have:
1. Why would king Neb build a golden image and command people to worship it? Did he not get the message from two personal encounters where he saw the hand of the supreme God? He even declared that there is no other god than our God. See Daniel 2: 47 “Truly your God is the God of gods”. It is said that sin blinds the eyes. This is the nature of the human heart. For king Neb, it will take him living at the lowest level like a “wild animal” in order to get the point (see chapter 4). Sometimes, people would have to fall to the bottom to experience God, so let it be. Many times we stand on the way especially in the lives of loved ones. Remember the prodigal son? His father let him have his way before he came to his senses.
2. Notice the conformists vs. 2-7. They are willing to do anything to stay in the good book and be in vogue. King Neb’s advisors and councilors went along with him. The most pitiful leader is one who surrounds him/herself with “yes only” friends. Also note that almost the whole crowd bowed vs. 7. Majority does not equal morality. This is exactly where we are as a nation in America at this time. With the issues such as homosexuality, abortion and etc, it seems like public opinion swings to the majority and thus it seems right and justified.
3. When you do not conform, you will be spoken about and you will stand out vs.8-12. The devil’s lie is that “everybody is doing it”. “Everybody is not doing it”! It said, “Some Jews”, so it was not every Jew who refused to bow but Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. We cannot use number as a prerequisite to obey God. We can’t even use the judgment of other “church people” as a yardstick. We must use the word of God as our base for worship and obedience.
4. Here is an example of godly disobedience. "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." King Neb, go ahead and make your day but you are still a human being and we are not worshiping you.
5. We may not be confronted with king Neb but we will be confronted and be required to worship various gods. There are today’s gods of the “almighty Dollar”, fame and power that are asking for our worship. How are you doing in saying no and saying “even if God does not deliver” I will not serve you “almighty Dollar”? So what that we do not get what we want? What do we really have to lose? Can you complete this sentence with the most pressing issue of your life right now? Even if God does not deliver me from --------, I will still serve God. We each have something of this nature, so let’s make our declaration to God.
6. Did God deliver in this instance? Vs. 24-27.Yes, but keep in mind that God could have chosen not to deliver and let the three Hebrews burn up. This is counter to the prosperity gospel that says it will always turn out the way we want it. No, let it turn out the way God wants it and “not my will but yours be done”. Amen.
7. Notice the fourth one in the midst of the furnace with the three Jews vs. 25. God said He will never leave us nor forsake us. If we pass thru the water, storm or fire, He will be with us. This is what I call the “All-State” God’s assurance (Psalm 91). In all states God will be with us. Hebrews 11:32-36 shows God’s deliverance in all states with mixed outcomes e.g. (shut the mouths of lions, some received their dead back, Others were tortured and refused to be released, so that they might gain a better resurrection, sawed into two etc). The outcomes are in God’s hands and for God’s glory.
8. The bottom line is that God allows all tests to prove His Supremacy and that people around us will know that there is only one true God. "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”. This is king Neb’s declaration after seeing the mighty hand of God.
Are we willing to give up our lives rather than serve or worship any god except our own God? I do not know the answer but all I know is that when the occasion calls for it I will pray for God’s grace to enable me serve Him. “13For it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose” (Philippians 2:13). Are you there right now, pressed to compromise? Then ask for God’s grace. Amen.
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