You’re at school, doing English. You’re reading a play. You have to read a line. Your character swears. Uses Jesus name like a swear word. Do you read it out loud to the class?
You’re at work. Big project. The pressures on to work Sunday. You’ll miss church again. What do you do?
Or it might be sport. Either miss church or disappoint your coach. Or disappoint mum and dad.
Or its exam time. Do you study and miss meeting God’s people. It’s only one week. I remember this one time. I had said I would give my testimony at an evangelistic service on Sunday. But I panicked about a conveyancing exam. I rang up my Minister and said. ‘I can’t come today, I need to study.’ You know what he said to me. ‘That’s OK. There’s always next week. You always come to church. Going to church doesn’t make you a Christian, after all’. Not exactly. ‘Well, it’s not the unforgivable sin, but it’s close. Click!’ Now when I saw him at church he said sorry for being angry. But the thing was, he was right.
It’s hard being a Christian, isn’t it. But we aint seen nothing yet. Here is something from Voice of the Martyrs some time ago now.
READ: Bible Student Martyred (last page)
In Lahore, Pakistan, on August 2nd, a 23 year old young man called Sheraz went to work and never came back. Sheraz, from a Christian family, worked in a factory in Lahore as a shift worker to care for his parents and three sisters. He was also studying at a bible college and did evangelism among the Muslims.
On August 3, Sheraz’s church contacted the factory in search of him and learned from another Christian worker that he had an altercation with members of a militant Muslim organization. Fearing that this group had kidnapped Sheraz in retaliation, the Christians contacted the Muslim organisation, but they denied any involvement in the Christian’s disappearance. A week later, on August 9th, Sheraz’s body was discovered at the front gate of his church. A letter was with the body that read, “Stop preaching to Muslims.” (The Voice of the Martyrs, October 2001, 8)
Being a Christian in Australia may be hard. But that hasn’t happened at a church in Sydney, has it?
But it raises a question. What is our hill to die on? Where do we draw the line: this far and no more! Or when do we make a tactical withdrawal.
So far in Daniel, we’ve seen four young men. Believers in Israel’s God, Yahweh, who is called in Daniel, ‘the God of Heaven’ or ‘the God of their Fathers’. They are refugees deported to Babylon. They’ve been confronted with severe trials.
In Chapter 1, Nebuchadnezzar chooses four young Jewish teenagers. Free university. Fantastic career prospects. And they conform. They learn Babylonian wisdom better than the Babylonians. They accept their new names, though they remind them of Babylonian Gods. Conformity.
But they also show courage. They risk offending the King They refuse to eat his food. They are polite, respectful, not contemptuous. And God blesses them.
They show conformity without compromise, courage without contempt.
In Chapter 2, we meet Nebuchadnezzar again Freaking out about a dream. Condemning a fair chunk of his public service to execution. And Daniel, full of wisdom and tact (v14), risks death, goes to Nebuchadnezzar, asks for time to interpret the dream. Courage without contempt And God answers their prayers And Nebuchadnezzar praises their God. But that’s all short lived.
Now in Chapter 3, we meet Nebuchadnezzar setting up a statue. Well, really it’s an idol.
In Chapter 2, Daniel revealed that the four great world empires for the next 600 years were a statue. And that Nebuchadnezzar and his Kingdom was the head of gold. But three other Kingdoms, inferior in glory but superior in power, would come. And then another kingdom would come. Not a human kingdom. It would be God’s kingdom. And it would destroy all the human kingdoms and cover the earth forever.
Well, Nebuchadnezzar did honour to Daniel and showered him with gifts and honour. But after the gratitutde, came the realization. My time is short. I’m not going to last. And Nebuchadnezzar now takes evasive action. He doesn’t want the dream to come true. He doesn’t want to be just a head of gold. He wants to be the whole statue of gold. And so that’s what he builds. A 30 metre tall gold statue. Inspired by God’s revelation, but perverting God’s revelation. Nebuchadnezzar is in denial. Wickedly suppressing the truth.
The dream in Chapter 2 said ‘God controls everything’. But the statue in Chapter 3 sees Nebuchadnezzar saying ‘I’m in control’
So Nebuchadnezzar summons all the Babylonian leaders. To dedicate the image. An official perk. A gala event. Everyone wearing official robes. Anyone who is anyone is there, except, we notice, Daniel. Daniel is not there, in the story.
Now, we can say, ‘Where’s Daniel? Why isn’t he mentioned? Was he worshipping the statue? Surely not.
Where is Daniel? We aren’t told. And while I would like to know where Daniel is too, that question really misses the point. Because the Book of Daniel is not just the book of Daniel. It’s also about the three friends, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah, and their faithfulness in a foreign land. In chapter 3, the three friends come out from Daniel’s shadow. Their story is not just a footnote to Daniel’s. Oh yes, and there are Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah, as they always are, in the background, always singing in the chorus, never with the starring role. No. Here in chapter 3, they take centre stage, the spotlight is on them, and Daniel graciously moves off stage so their story can be told. And Daniel tells their story for them, without bringing himself into it.
For the three friend’s faith doesn’t depend on Daniel. They depend on God. And Daniel’s absence from chapter 3 makes that clear.
At the tower of Babel, God scattered proud nations because they wanted to be like God, and so they built a tall tower. Now again in Babylon, Nebuchadnezzar gathers all nations because he wants to be like God, and so has built a tall statue. Here is world power demanding allegiance on pain of death. And the band was there Because they were going to have a ‘worship time’.
Read Verses 4-6 with me:
4This is what you are commanded to do, O Peoples, nations and men of every language: 5As 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. (NIV)
The command is Worship the image. But not just any image. It is the image that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up Because when the King says ‘worship my idol’ He’s really saying ‘worship me’.
Humans who won’t let God be God end up worshipping themselves. It’s the story again and again, from Lenin, Stalin, Pol Pot, Hitler. Once they dethrone God, they all set themselves up to be worshipped.
You cannot be a conscientious objector. There is no freedom of religion or tolerance. Only the furnace.
When you put it that way, maybe I could justify a little genuflection. I could think of some arguments to vindicate a little bowing.
“Maybe I could fall over, you know, trip, when the music goes off. Everyone was going down, and I fell down. You know what its like in the mosh pit.
"It doesn’t mean anything, falling down. It’s just the position of your body. I lie down all the time. Once more won’t hurt. It’s only a game, really. Sit, lie down, roll over, good boy!
"Anyway, God knows it’s under duress. They’re forcing us. They might make me bow, but not in my heart.
"Sometimes you’ve got to compromise a bit Not be too fundamentalist.
"Imagine the good I can do if I keep my job as a satrap. I can help people.
"God gave me the job, after all. He wouldn’t want me to throw it all away now.
"And everyone’s doing it. It can’t be that bad.”
We don’t know what they were all thinking, how they justified it to themselves. But this we know: As soon as they heard the music They worshipped it. Verse 7:
All the peoples, nations and men of every language fell down and worshipped the image of gold that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up. (NIV)
Nebuchadnezzar’s got the worship that he wanted.
Well, not quite. Not everyone. There were three left standing Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego. Three Jewish refugees. They couldn’t worship. The first two commandments. You shall have no other gods before me. You shall not make an idol … you shall not bow down and worship it, for I the LORD am a jealous God. They had to obey God rather than men.
And the local Astrologers knew it. Perhaps this dilemma was exactly what they wanted. Like in Chapter 6, where jealous rivals framed Daniel for the Lion’s den. Despite their devoted worship of Nebuchadnezzar’s idol, they find some time to note who didn’t go down. And there’s Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego, still standing. Gotcha!
We don’t know what everyone else thought. Maybe it was something like this:
"Too good to bow. We scrape, they stand tall. These refugees. They don’t assimilate. They do their different religion. Then the government brings them here Into our country. They go to our universities. They get their fees paid. They take our jobs. And then they rule over us."
So the astrologers do the loyal, patriotic thing. They dob them in to Nebuchadnezzar Verse 12:
But there are some Jews whom you have set over the affairs of the province of Babylon (NIV) (And whose employment decision was that!) Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego (You might name them after your gods, but they don’t serve them) who pay no attention to you, O King They neither serve your gods nor worship the image of gold you have set up (This isn’t just religious difference, its treason! Come on Nebuchadnezzar. What are you going to do about it?)
What’s Nebuchadnezzar’s response? Not happy Verse 13-15:
13Furious with rage, Nebuchadnezzar summoned Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. So these men were brought before the king. 14and 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? 15Now 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?
An ultimatum. If you don’t worship my statue., I’ll kill you. You’ve got another chance. This isn’t religion, it’s personal.
Then what god will be able to rescue you from my hand? No God can save you from me.
The God of Heaven can’t save you from me. Nothing will save you from me. I am the man. I am the greatest!
Neitzsche said ‘If there is a God, how can I bear not to be that God?’[1] Nebuchadnezzar agrees.
And Nebuchadnezzar has a point. The God of Israel didn’t save Jerusalem when Nebuchadnezzar came against them? Plenty of Jews died then. What’s three more?
But Nebuchadnezzar has a short memory. The God of Heaven interpreted Nebuchadnezzar’s dream. Chapter 2 verse 47 Nebuchadnezzar said:
Surely your God is the God of gods and the Lord of kings and a revealer of mysteries, for you were able to reveal this mystery (NIV)
But he has forgotten this.
Now what would you do faced with a homicidal meglomaniac? Hands up. Is this high enough? Do what he says. No heroics. Give him the money. What are these three men going to do? Verses 16-18:
16Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. If we are thrown in the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand, O king[2]. 18But 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.’
What a comeback. Potentially fatal, but brilliant. Courage without contempt
We don’t need to defend ourselves. You’ve picked a fight with our God. We’ll let you and him sort this one out.
If he wants, he is able to save us If it is a matter of power, our God can do it. We’ve got no promise he will. He doesn’t always decide to rescue his people from death. But if he wants to, he can.
They don’t promise more than God promises. Not like the posters I used to see on the way to church. An American tele-evangelist, Joyce Meyer promising ‘God will heal you everywhere you hurt’.
Will he? Does he say he will do that? I remember a lot about suffering producing character, and trials sent to test our faith. I remember the wages of sin is death. Not promises about health and wealth in this life. Yes, God heals. Praise him for it. But he also strikes down, too. Just ask Job.
The three friends don’t presume to know God’s will in this matter. They don’t put words in God’s mouth. Like: If we believe and not doubt, God will rescue us from the fire. No If it’s a matter of power, God can do it. But if it’s a matter of will, God is free. He will do as he pleases. He might choose to save us. But if not, we want you to know, O King, we’re not going to do it. read our lips. No N-O How many ways is there to spell NO? We would rather die than deny our Lord. We must obey God rather than men (Acts 5:29). Whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord (Phil 1:20).
Friends, can we say that. I would like to think we could. But I don’t know. I know my own cowardice. May God strengthen us, for that day is coming, at some point. Everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted (2 Timothy 3:12)
Only God knows the challenges we will face in Australia in the coming years. Maybe from people who think we discriminate against active homosexuals in our desire to adhere to the bible. Maybe from Islam, that denies Jesus died, and rose again. That denies Jesus is God, or the Son of God. Or maybe from the materialism and hedonism of our culture. The more insidious drip drip that we have already absorbed. May we be found ready for the day of testing.
Then Nebuchadnezzar completely loses it. He hates Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego.. His words and actions only show his hatred towards them. The fires of the furnace are exceeded only by Nebuchadnezzar’s fury. A fury that consumes even his soldiers as collateral damage.
Nebuchadnezzar challenged Then what god will be able to rescue you from my hand? Well, he is about to find out. Verse 25:
[Nebuchadnezzar said, “Look! I see four men walking around in the fire, unbound and unharmed, and the fourth looks like a son of the gods’. (NIV)
His strongest soldiers tied the three up. But they are incinerated, and the three walk free. And the fourth? Their rescuer. A mystery fourth man. And yet not quite a man. Nebuchadnezzar says he ‘looks like a son of the gods’ He also calls him an ‘angel’ (v28). The God of Heaven was able to save.
Is it Jesus? Why not? We are not told, and it is a guess, but it makes sense that the one who is the stone not cut by human hands of chapter 2, and the Son of Man of chapter 7, and Messiah of Chapter 9, is the one like a son of the gods in Chapter 3.
And the three’s faith elicits praise from Nebuchadnezzar. Verse 28:
Praise be to the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abdenego, who has sent his angel and rescued his servants! They trusted in him the king’s command and were willing to give up their lives rather than serve or worship any god except their own god. (NIV)
How did they stand firm? They trusted God. By faith they quenched the fury of the flames (Hebrews 11:34). Both the flames of the furnace, and the flames of the King’s anger. They were happy to die. And their faith extracted from Nebuchadnezzar’s praise for their God. Nebuchadnezzar saw their good deeds and glorified their father in heaven.
May it be the same for us. May the people around us see our determination to follow Jesus, and say Wow. They really believe it. They’re not just playing church. They really believe Jesus matters. Jesus makes a difference to them. I want to know more about this Jesus.
Conformity with compromise. Courage without contempt. May we have this. May we show this. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
[1] Sinclair Ferguson, 71
[2] So the NIV. Some translate with the condition as God’s existence, not saving intention: ‘If there is a God able to save us, such as our God whom we serve, he will save us’: Hartman, Anchor Bible, 155; Cf Goldingay, 66. This would then be for the sake of argument: Goldingay, 71. Cf Read, 71. In which case, they are assured of God’s salvation. But this is inconsistent with what follows.