Uncompromising Faith – Daniel 3
It’s great to have this opportunity to recognize our Bible Instruction class graduates this morning! They have spent time learning and studying the most important truth in our world-and that’s the truth of God’s Word. Now here’s the Bible I received when I was in Bible Instruction class-just a few short years ago. Not sure why they gave us green Bibles-it was the early 90’s! But this was my first study Bible-just like what we gave to all of you-and I loved it. I loved doing my devotions in it-and then reading all the notes at the bottom of the page. So insightful-I was able to see how God’s Word connected from OT to NT; the notes explained all those hard theological terms-and most importantly I was able to learn how Jesus is the central character and focus of God’s Word. I learned a ton-and I’m excited for all of you to have that same experience. Let your study Bible become well used-let the corners get dog-eared, the pages stained with soda or coffee-because that means you’re reading it, you’re soaking up the truth of God’s Word, learning what He wants to tell you. But let me say it’s not only about amassing Bible knowledge, it’s about applying it. It’s about putting what you learn into practice. Knowledge for knowledge sake doesn’t get you anywhere. God’s not after how much you know-instead God wants what you know to transform your life. That as a follower of Christ you’re not who you used to be; you’re growing in Him, leaning upon Him, living by faith more and more because of what you’ve learned from His Word. That’s the challenge I want to bring you-and all of us-this morning. We’re going to look at 3 guys who lived out their faith and stood for the Lord in a dramatic way.
So to get started, if you could find out 1 thing about your future-what would it be? If you could be given 1 piece of information about what lies ahead in your life what would it be? What’s the first thing that comes to mind? What’s the most important thing you’d like to learn about your future? If you’re young, maybe you’d like to know what career you’ll end up choosing or who you’ll marry. Maybe you’d like to know where you’ll end up living or if you’ll travel overseas. Maybe you’d like to know how many kids you’ll have or who they’ll marry. Maybe you want to know what will happen to your grandkids or where you’ll end up retiring. I want to know if I’ll end up working as a barista at Starbuck’s when I get too old to pastor-seems like a great option-the old guy who takes forever to make your latte! But we’d all like to know how happy and healthy we’ll be, even how long we’ll live-but of course God doesn’t tell us that. In fact, we don’t get to find out anything about our future. As much as it might seem great it doesn’t happen, that’s not how it works. We remember the past, we live in the present, but we don’t know about the future. That’s the mystery. And yet, when it comes to walking with God I think far too often we demand Him to show us the future. Lord, if I do this-if I make this decision-I need to know that it’s all going to work out. You need to make it clear to me ahead of time that this step I’m taking will be good-otherwise I’m not taking it. Have you said those things to God before or thought them before? That until you can see how something will turn out you’re staying put? That God needs to show you it’ll be okay before you go and do it? I’m sure we all have-but that’s not what following God is about. That’s not what faith is about. It’s not demanding to know what will happen but the trusting in the One who does know-and that’s what we’re going to learn this morning. We’re going to study a group of guys who had no idea what the future held in store for them-in fact it looked quite bleak-and yet they had the faith to trust God no matter the outcome.
Open your Bibles to Daniel. We’ll resume our series in the Sermon on the Mount next week-but for today’s graduation I want us to examine some great men of faith from Daniel 3. Now before we get into chapter 3 we need to set the stage a moment. This took place when God’s people were in captivity in Babylon and the king at that time was King Nebuchadnezzar who had a troubling dream about a statue. Now I doubt too many of us have had nightmares about statues-but for Nebuchadnezzar this was very disturbing. Take a look-Dan 2:31-33 NIV. And Daniel goes on to tell the king that each part of the statue represents the next world empire to come-pic. The golden head was the current kingdom of Babylon, the silver part was the Medo-Persian Empire, the bronze part was the Greek Empire, the iron part and clay part was the Roman Empire and Europe-and yet none of those empires will ever last because a stone is coming to shatter them-2:44 NIV-and that’s the kingdom of God-and the stone that shatters them is Jesus Himself. What Daniel is telling the King is that neither his kingdom nor any other earthly kingdom to come will outlast God’s kingdom. Their kingdoms are temporary-only God’s will last forever.
Nebuchadnezzar needed to see his kingdom in its true light-as something fleeting, not permanent. And that means if he’s going to properly take this message to heart, if he’s going to apply it to his life-it means humbly bowing and surrendering before God Almighty-the true king. This dream wasn’t just informational-giving King Nebuchadnezzar knowledge of the future-this dream was applicational telling him to repent. God’s Word is always applicational. So on the one hand, you could look at this dream as doom and gloom telling Nebucchadnezzar his kingdom will one day crumble and fall-what a downer, but on the other hand, you could look at this dream as filled with grace giving him ample time to bow before God in humble repentance. I’m sure after the interpretation, Nebuchadnezzar went out to his royal deck overlooking the kingdom and thought-Is all this really going to crumble one day? I’m sure he went to his royal mirror and looked at himself and thought-Is there really a God in heaven who’s greater than me, whose kingdom will outlast me? I’m sure he did some serious soul-searching after Daniel’s interpretation-but look where he landed-3:1. Instead of taking the dream to heart and repenting, he did the very thing the dream depicted and warned him against-he built the statue of himself. And sixty cubits is about 90 ft high-we’re talking a big statue! And notice that this was in direct defiance of God because he built the entire statue of gold. Remember he was only the head of gold in his dream so Nebuchadnezzar is basically saying-You think I’m just the head, just one of many kingdoms, I’m the greatest kingdom, I’m the whole thing. Daniel’s God isn’t going to tell me who is king-I’m king. Take a look at this big statue of me! This wasn’t just a sculpture to boost tourism and the arts in Babylon, this was an idol to bow before and worship. Nebuchadnezzar gathers all his governors and officials and they issue this decree-v. 4-7.
So you can picture this broad expanse in the desert where thousands of people are gathered. And as soon as the music starts they all in unison fall down on their knees to worship this statue for fear of their life. Everybody bows, the entire crowd-except for 3. Three people refuse to fall down and worship, three people don’t follow the crowd or obey the king’s command but remain standing when everyone else bows down-and that’s Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. Look at v. 8-10a; 12. Nothing like a tattletale, is there? Nothing like a gossip who comes forward to get somebody in trouble-King, there are some people around here who don’t do things like the rest of us. Some people who are doing things we don’t do. We all take a knee and bow-not these guys-they stay standing on their feet! I don’t want to name names-Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego-but I just thought you’d like to know. So they’re relishing in the fact that these 3 are in some serious trouble because they were promoted by Daniel at the end of chapter 2:49. That’s probably why Daniel isn’t involved in this situation of chapter3-but there’s little doubt that the other magicians are jealous of these young Jewish guys-and whether it’s back then or today, jealousy tends to drive gossiping tongues-which is what happened here. Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego are on the receiving end of some tattling.
Now before we see what happens to them, I want us to recognize the importance of their actions. Their uncompromising faith gives us a vivid picture of how God calls us to live. Pt1:Faith is standing up for God when everyone else gives in. That’s never an easy thing to do. Put yourself in their shoes. When everyone else around you in the entire kingdom is bowing down to this giant statue, what are you going to do? Are you going to stand out by standing up or are you going to give in by bowing down? I’ll be honest as much as I hope that I would have had the same level of faith as these guys and be noble and brave and remain standing, I’m glad God didn’t put me there. I don’t know about you, but I’m glad I wasn’t faced with this decision because it’s far too easy to rationalize things. Who hasn’t done that before? We tell ourselves that it’s all right to bow down just this once to save our skins. God understands, doesn’t He? He won’t be too upset, right? I won’t do it next time. But that’s what we say to rationalize our behavior or convince ourselves that we don’t need to stand apart or act differently. This is what our young people especially face all the time. I was reading one author who categorized our excuses well. He said there’s the excuse of situational ethics-surely it’s better for them to bow down than die, especially at their young age; that would be a tragic waste of life. Or there’s the excuse of cultural ethics-these young Jewish men shouldn’t offend the Babylonians by not bowing down, it’s important to be sensitive to the local customs of the people. Or there’s the forgiveness excuse-surely God will forgive them for bowing this one time-He’s a loving God-what’s one sin? And we argue that way a lot-it’s just one sin, Lord. Or there’s even the silent protest excuse-we’ll bow down on the outside, but inside we’re standing up for God and worshipping Him. And that’s another one we try to use a lot as Christians-I’m following God with my heart, but I don’t want to stand out and look different on the outside so I’ll just try to blend in. But the very nature of this situation is that Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego can’t blend in because that would be sin; that would be denying the very God they claim to believe in-Pt1. That’s what it means to follow God. You are someone new-and that means standing for Him when everyone else sits down. It means you’re willing to look different for the cause of Christ because you belong to Christ. That’s what faith is all about.
At this juncture they have no idea how things are going to turn out-and quite honestly they have every reason to believe that things are going to turn out quite badly. Look at v. 11. This is describing the kiln that was used to make bricks and pottery-and it was often fueled by red hot charcoal. If you got your grill going this weekend-did you feel like putting your hand on it for awhile? Probably not! But the red hot grill, the fiery furnace is what’s awaiting these guys for disobeying the king. They’ll be sizzling like a juicy steak! And that leads us to Pt2:Faith is obedience to God no matter the cost. Just think about the last time you committed yourself to following God no matter the cost. I’m totally willing to obey God when it’s easy and there’s no cost. Sign me up for obedience then! But think about the last time you decided to obey God knowing that it was going to cost you something and turn out ‘badly’-at least from an earthly perspective. Have you done that before? Have you obeyed God with the full understanding that it might cost you your job or your friends or your reputation or even cost you money or personal comfort or security? It’s moments like that-the intersection of obedience vs cost and sacrifice where your faith is truly tested, forcing you to decide whether you will obey or rationalize.
Now this is a major moment for Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. Hopefully none of us will ever face a decision of obedience or death like they did. But sometimes I think it’s easier to rise up and obey God no matter the cost in those big moments like that, than it is to obey Him no matter the cost in the smaller moments. Sometimes it’s harder to obey in the everyday, seemingly little things that cost us. Giving up something you really want for somebody else at work, letting others go ahead of you, not getting revenge or having the last word, biting your tongue when you’d rather snap back, telling the truth when a little lie would be so much easier, cheating because no one will ever find out, stealing something when no one will ever miss it. Its obeying God in all those little things that eventually add up to be big things. I’m sure that if Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego weren’t obedient to God in the little things, there’s probably no way they’re remaining obedient here-especially when the anger of Nebuchadnezzar’s released.
Look at how this continues-v. 13-15. Notice the double description-burning fiery-isn’t that the same thing? Yes because it’s super hot! This is serious! And even if they were bold enough to stand up earlier, how easy would it be to backtrack now? Okay King, there must be a mistake here. We’re not trying to offend you and we didn’t really intend things to get this far. Obviously we don’t want to check out your furnace so if you need us to bow down I suppose we can work out some sort of arrangement or compromise, maybe halfway kneeling. But as we said these guys are uncompromising-even in the face of the burning fiery furnace. There’s no arrangement-just obedience. Look at their reply-v. 16-17a-not you, but Him-v. 17. We know that God is completely capable of saving us. There is no question in our minds. We know that He is all-powerful and can do all things. That He’s the One who is infinitely greater than you so our trust and our allegiance is to Him, not you. And I love what they say next-v. 18. That’s an incredible statement because it means their trust in God isn’t conditional upon whether God will help them or save them-they’re trusting in God period. That’s Pt3:Faith is trusting in God with whatever happens. Are you willing to say that? Are you willing to trust Him with whatever happens in your life, with whatever He chooses to allow-or do you have some stipulations or conditions He needs to meet? I’ll trust you, Lord as long as you don’t let things get too bad or too hard or too awkward in my life. I’ll follow you as long as you don’t put me in a place where I’ll be stretched beyond my comfort zone. As long as it’s easy and fits my schedule-I’m trusting you; but the moment it gets difficult don’t count on me. But that’s trust based on your demands-which isn’t really trust.
It makes me think of when someone says, Let’s go out to eat, what are you hungry for? And you say-doesn’t matter to me, I’m good with whatever. And they say-great, let’s grab some Chinese food-and you say-but I’m not in the mood for Chinese. They respond, Okay, how about Italian? No, not really in the mood for Italian. How about Mexican? No-not that either, just had tacos for lunch. And what you end up revealing is that you’re really not good with whatever, even though you said you were, but you’re demanding to go where you want to go. And on a much deeper level than what kind of food to eat-we can easily do that with God-making our demands of what we’re willing to trust Him with or what we’re willing to accept or endure. And yet Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego aren’t demanding that God does what they say, they’re not dictating stipulations or requirements-unless you promise us some fireproof suits, Lord, we’re not getting inside that furnace! Instead, they are trusting in God with whatever happens. Now obviously they don’t want to face the burning fiery furnace. I’m sure they’re not too interested in getting burned up like toast-of course not-but their faith is in God, not the outcome. And that’s a huge distinction. Think about it-their faith is not in the outcome of what God will do (okay, we know He’s going to keep us safe so we can trust Him). That’s not what their faith is based on-rather their faith is in God Himself, the One who’s in control of all things, the One uses all things for good-even when it’s hard, the One who’s completely reliable and trustworthy. But they can have faith in the unknown because they know that God is in control of the unknown. And yet isn’t that what we often struggle with most in life-the unknown? Back to the question we asked at the start, if you could know one thing about the future, what would it be? And I’m sure knowing that information about the future would take all the fear and worry away. That somehow it would be easier to trust God when we know what’s up ahead. But God doesn’t do that; He doesn’t reveal the future to us. These 3 guys had no idea what was in store for them-whether it would be deliverance or death-and yet they trusted God anyway, no matter the outcome because they knew His will was perfect. That’s one of the big takeaways for me from this passage-to be able to say-Lord, I don’t know how this is going to turn out-I have no idea what’s going to happen-and yet I trust in You completely. I like what one pastor had to say about this passage-Stortz, 56.
What a powerful point-our peace doesn’t come from knowing the future-our peace comes knowing God and trusting in His will which is perfect! And it seems that with great peace these 3 guys endured Nebuchadnezzar’s wrath and faced the consequences-v. 19-21a. And they were kicking and screaming, right? They were telling the King, Sorry, we give in, we’ll bow the knee? No-it seems that with great peace and confidence in God they entered the fiery furnace-v. 21b-25. There He is! His presence couldn’t be described any clearer. Nebuchadnezzar is the one who says it-a son of the gods. Go ahead and jot down this last point-Pt4:Faith is holding onto God who never leaves us. There in the midst of the fiery trial the Son of God was with His people. Look at David how described this-Ps 23:4. God doesn’t always promise to deliver us from pain and suffering, it often comes into our lives as we experience dark places like the valley of the shadow of death, but He does promise to be with us in those places. That’s what Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego experienced-His presence in the fire-and it won’t be any different for you and me. No matter what you’re going through, no matter how hard or how painful, your God is with you. Back to Pt4. And in this case, God’s presence stood by them and brought them through this fiery ordeal, protecting them from any sort of pain or injury or burns. Look at the King’s response-v. 26-27a. They’re all just staring with curiosity and amazement at them-v. 27b. Incredible! Just think about the last time you had a campfire going or sat by the fire pit-and even flames that small will make your clothes smell like smoke. These guys were standing in the furnace itself as the flames raged around them-and not a single hair on their heads was singed; nothing was burned, they didn’t even have to get their coats dry-cleaned to get the smell of smoke out. That’s how thorough this deliverance was-making it unmistakable that God was the one who orchestrated it. I’m reminded of Isa 43:1-3. That’s exactly what happened-v. 28a-and now he summarizes it better than anybody else-v. 28b. What better demonstration of faith is there than that-3 guys who were willing to offer up their bodies in sacrifice and obedience to God rather than take the easy road of compromise. What a challenge for us!
And that’s precisely what we see in Jesus. Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego give us a glimpse of the ultimate faith Jesus would display in the garden. Remember how He prayed-Luke 22:42. Jesus prayed for God to spare Him from the Cross, just as they prayed for God to spare them from the flames. And yet this time around, God’s will wasn’t deliverance for Jesus, but death. This time around God knew this His Son had to die so that you and I could be saved. We asked the question-if you could know 1 thing about your future what would it be-Jesus knew that the cross awaited Him-Mark 10:33-34. That’s the most difficult thing a person could ever know! I can’t believe Jesus didn’t run away from that future-and yet His uncompromising faith in the Father’s plan led to our salvation. Only through His death are we delivered from our sins. We deserved the flames and punishment for our disobedience to God-we’re the ones who’ve sinned and messed up so that should have been our fate-and yet Jesus faced it for us. He endured our punishment on the cross, so that we could be forgiven and made new when we trust in Him as our Savior. We’re not saved by how good we are or hard hard we’ve tried to please God, we’re not saved by how much Bible knowledge we have or how often we’ve gone to church, we’re not even saved by growing up in a religious family or having the right upbringing. We are saved when we put our faith in the Savior who died for us so that we could live through Him. It’s when we say-Lord, I’m not trusting in myself or anything I’ve done, I’m trusting in what Jesus alone has done for me. Have you done that? Are you trusting in Him to save you? Are you trusting in Him each and every day, knowing that you have a God who never leaves you?