The powerful men and women on this planet are often upstaged by God. One of my favourite examples is when King Nebuchadnezzar of the Babylonian empire built a massive image of himself out of gold. It was way bigger than life-sized, for Daniel 3 says it towered over 27 metres high! The king summoned all the kings, governors, princes, and rulers of the provinces to attend a grand unveiling ceremony. Everyone was informed when the music was heard to play, all needed to bow down and worship the imagine. And just in case people were disinclined to obey, a lit furnace was present where any who refused would be thrown. To Nebuchadnezzar it seemed a foolproof plan to show his wealth, power as king, and and opportunity to demand loyalty from all.
When the musicians played, all present complied with the command and bowed before the image - all but three men, Jews who had been specially trained in Babylon and held positions of honour. Nebuchadnezzar was not pleased almost all bowed in compliance before his image, but was incensed any would disobey his command. In spite of his fury, he surprisingly offered the three Hebrews a reprieve. Though enraged by their rebellion, he provided them one more opportunity to obey and bow in worship when the musicians played. He said in Daniel 3:15: "Now if you are ready at the time you hear the sound of the horn, flute, harp, lyre, and psaltery, in symphony with all kinds of music, and you fall down and worship the image which I have made, good! But if you do not worship, you shall be cast immediately into the midst of a burning fiery furnace. And who is the god who will deliver you from my hands?" The challenge Nebuchadnezzar threw down would be divinely answered in the sight of all.
For the second time and to his face Nebuchadnezzar was shown up by three men who would not bow before his image, even at the cost of their lives because they trusted in the God of Israel, the God they acknowledged could protect them even from a fiery furnace. There was no guarantee God would save them from the fiery inferno Nebuchadnezzar heated seven times hotter than before, but they chose to bow only before God alone. It is in this place of humility and absolute, resolute trust in God where the believer in God is victorious. Many followers of Jesus have been slain and silenced, yet their virtue, meekness, and steadfastness continues. It is not the martyr who ought to be praised, but Jesus Christ who lives in them and will see them received into eternal glory.
Nebuchadnezzar made good on his boast, commanding the Jewish men be thrown into the furnace. The king's command had been resisted, and now he would have vengeance upon those who dared oppose him. After Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were cast into the flames Daniel 3:24-25 reads, "Then King Nebuchadnezzar was astonished; and he rose in haste and spoke, saying to his counselors, "Did we not cast three men bound into the midst of the fire?" They answered and said to the king, "True, O king." 25 "Look!" he answered, "I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire; and they are not hurt, and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God." Before all the nations the king of Babylon had been upstaged by the almighty God and His faithful servants. There, before the eyes of the king, the Son of God walked with His humble men who were made mighty through Him. What the king intended for evil God meant for good and revealed Himself to the nations on a grand stage. God didn't need Nebuchadnezzar to challenge Him to show His awesome power and authority, but He made use of the situation anyhow by preserving the lives of His people.
Daniel 3:28-29 says, "Nebuchadnezzar spoke, saying, "Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, who sent His Angel and delivered His servants who trusted in Him, and they have frustrated the king's word, and yielded their bodies, that they should not serve nor worship any god except their own God! 29 Therefore I make a decree that any people, nation, or language which speaks anything amiss against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego shall be cut in pieces, and their houses shall be made an ash heap; because there is no other God who can deliver like this." Nebuchadnezzar was wowed, but he didn't really "get" the message: since God is mighty and great, has he any need of kings' decrees to uphold His glorious name? Regardless of legislation of men, God reigns supreme and delivers like no other. Praise God for the many times He has graciously responded to the proud boasts of men and revealed Himself in power.
When the musicians played, all present complied with the command and bowed before the image - all but three men, Jews who had been specially trained in Babylon and held positions of honour. Nebuchadnezzar was not pleased almost all bowed in compliance before his image, but was incensed any would disobey his command. In spite of his fury, he surprisingly offered the three Hebrews a reprieve. Though enraged by their rebellion, he provided them one more opportunity to obey and bow in worship when the musicians played. He said in Daniel 3:15: "Now if you are ready at the time you hear the sound of the horn, flute, harp, lyre, and psaltery, in symphony with all kinds of music, and you fall down and worship the image which I have made, good! But if you do not worship, you shall be cast immediately into the midst of a burning fiery furnace. And who is the god who will deliver you from my hands?" The challenge Nebuchadnezzar threw down would be divinely answered in the sight of all.
For the second time and to his face Nebuchadnezzar was shown up by three men who would not bow before his image, even at the cost of their lives because they trusted in the God of Israel, the God they acknowledged could protect them even from a fiery furnace. There was no guarantee God would save them from the fiery inferno Nebuchadnezzar heated seven times hotter than before, but they chose to bow only before God alone. It is in this place of humility and absolute, resolute trust in God where the believer in God is victorious. Many followers of Jesus have been slain and silenced, yet their virtue, meekness, and steadfastness continues. It is not the martyr who ought to be praised, but Jesus Christ who lives in them and will see them received into eternal glory.
Nebuchadnezzar made good on his boast, commanding the Jewish men be thrown into the furnace. The king's command had been resisted, and now he would have vengeance upon those who dared oppose him. After Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were cast into the flames Daniel 3:24-25 reads, "Then King Nebuchadnezzar was astonished; and he rose in haste and spoke, saying to his counselors, "Did we not cast three men bound into the midst of the fire?" They answered and said to the king, "True, O king." 25 "Look!" he answered, "I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire; and they are not hurt, and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God." Before all the nations the king of Babylon had been upstaged by the almighty God and His faithful servants. There, before the eyes of the king, the Son of God walked with His humble men who were made mighty through Him. What the king intended for evil God meant for good and revealed Himself to the nations on a grand stage. God didn't need Nebuchadnezzar to challenge Him to show His awesome power and authority, but He made use of the situation anyhow by preserving the lives of His people.
Daniel 3:28-29 says, "Nebuchadnezzar spoke, saying, "Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, who sent His Angel and delivered His servants who trusted in Him, and they have frustrated the king's word, and yielded their bodies, that they should not serve nor worship any god except their own God! 29 Therefore I make a decree that any people, nation, or language which speaks anything amiss against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego shall be cut in pieces, and their houses shall be made an ash heap; because there is no other God who can deliver like this." Nebuchadnezzar was wowed, but he didn't really "get" the message: since God is mighty and great, has he any need of kings' decrees to uphold His glorious name? Regardless of legislation of men, God reigns supreme and delivers like no other. Praise God for the many times He has graciously responded to the proud boasts of men and revealed Himself in power.
No comments:
Post a Comment
To uphold the integrity of this site, no comments with links for advertising will be posted. No ads here! :)