THE FIERY FURNACE
Dan. 3:1-30
Prayer
We usually teach the story of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego to our children.
But the lessons are for everybody.
And they are well worth our time.
These three young men were captives in Babylon.
They attended Nebuchadnezzarís brainwashing school.
They graduated at the top of their class.
They received high positions in the Babylonian government.
But things changed drastically.
Iíve divided the story into five parts:
ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ 1. The crisis they faced.
ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ 2. The compromise they rejected.
ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ 3. The confidence they possessed.
ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ 4. The companionship they experienced.
ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ 5. The confession they heard.
1st---Letís look at the crisis they faced.
Verse 1 reads, ìNebuchadnezzar the king made an image of gold, whose height was ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ
threescore cubits, and the breadth thereof six cubits:î
ìHe set it up in the plain of Dura, in the province of Babylon.î (Vs. 1)
This was an incredible statue;
Made out of gold;
Taller than an eight story building;
Ninety feet high and nine feet wide.
Think about what a ninety foot high stack of gold would be worth today.
But that wasnít a problem for King Nebuchadnezzar.
Babylon was called ìthe nation of gold.î
After he built this statue, Nebuchadnezzar decided to have a dedication service.
So he commanded all the leaders in the top eight levels of his government to
assemble from all over the world.
Verse 3 reads, ìThen the princes, the governors, and captains, the judges, the ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ
treasurers, the counsellors, the sheriffs, and all the rulers of the provinces, ÝÝÝÝ
were gathered together unto the dedication of the image that Nebuchadnezzar ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ
the king had set up;î
ìAnd they stood before the image that Nebuchadnezzar had set upî (Vs. 3).
This was the greatest gathering of politicians the world had ever seen.
They traveled to Babylon;
Moved to the Plain of Dura;
And stood before the great golden statue.
ìThen an herald cried aloud, To you it is commanded, O people, nations, and ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ
languages,î
ìThat at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, ÝÝÝ
dulcimer, and all kinds of music,î
ìYe fall down and worship the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king hath set
upî (Vs. 4, 5):
Evil was in the air.
Nebuchadnezzar was establishing a one-world pagan religion.
And he intended for everyone to be a member of his one-world pagan religion ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ
whether they wanted to or not.
One of his heralds loudly proclaimed, ìWhen the music starts you are commanded
to fall down and worship the statue.î
ìAnd whoso falleth not down and worshippeth shall the same hour be cast into the
midst of a burning fiery furnaceî (Vs. 7).
This was the crisis Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego faced.
Their freedom to worship the Living God was going down the drain.
The most powerful man on earth was commanding everyone to commit idolatry.
He said everyone who refuses will immediately die.
The command was ìbow or burnî right now.
Nebuchadnezzar even had a giant furnace on site so he could quickly carry out the Ý
sentence.
Most of us donít realize how blessed we are.
We live in a society that allows us to worship the God of our choice.
But according to the Bible things will change.
The time is not far off when people will have to choose between worshiping a statue ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ
of Antichrist.
And worshiping the Living God.
Those who worship the statue of Antichrist will be cast into hell.
And those who worship the Living God will probably be killed.
There will only be two choices:
Perish in the fires of hell for worshiping the statue of Antichrist,
Or, be killed for worshiping the Living God.
2nd---Letís look at the compromise they rejected.
The music sounded.
But Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego didnít bow down to the great golden statue.
Verses 8-12 read, ìWherefore at that time certain Chaldeans came near, and Ý
accused the Jews.î
ìThey spake and said to the king Nebuchadnezzar, O king, live for ever.î
ìThou, O king, hast made a decree, that every man that shall hear the sound of the Ý
cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of music, shall fall
down and worship the golden image:î
ìAnd whoso falleth not down and worshippeth, that he should be cast into the midst ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ
of a burning fiery furnace.î
ìThere are certain Jews whom thou hast set over the affairs of the province of ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ
Babylon, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego;î
ìThese men, O king, have not regarded thee:î
ìThey serve not thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.î
Notice, that Daniel called the tattle-tales ìcertain Chaldeans.î
These ìcertain Chaldeansî were Nebuchadnezzarís master astrologers.
Their ancestors helped Nimrod build the Tower of Babel.
God wouldnít accept a one-world pagan religion in Nimrodís day.
God wouldnít accept a one-world pagan religion in Nebuchadnezzarís day.
And God wonít accept a one-world pagan religion in the future when the Antichrist
ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ arrives on the scene.
God is on the throne.
Thereís no justification for anyone to dabble in astrology or idolatry;
No justification for anyone to believe the stars, or the planets, or a great statue can Ý
determine our future.
The early astrologers believed demons and gods were behind these things.
That idea comes from Satan.
God forbids it.
Anyway, certain Chaldeans (meaning not all of them, but some of them) tattled on ÝÝ
Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego.
Hereís a stark truth about a one-world pagan religion.
It will turn violent against those who love the Lord.
Today, the United Nations is pushing itís Global Ethic.
This is the beginning of the coming one-world pagan religion;
The beginning of the coming great persecution that Jesus talked about.
The Chaldeans reminded Nebuchadnezzar of his decree that all who didnít bow ÝÝÝÝ
would be cast into the fiery furnace.
They made sure he remembered what he said.
In essence, they said, ìThe three Jews have ignored you.î
ìThey have refused to serve your gods;î
ìRefused to worship your statue of gold.î
ìAND YOU SAID anyone who refuses to worship your statue will be burned ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ
alive.î
They were putting him between a rock and a hard place.
They were saying, ìIf you donít burn them alive, your words will be worthless.î
Verses 13-14 read, ìThen Nebuchadnezzar in his rage and fury commanded to bring ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.î
ìThen they brought these men before the king.î
ìNebuchadnezzar spake and said unto them, Is it true, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Ý
Abednego, do not ye serve my gods, nor worship the golden image which I Ý
have set up?î
Nebuchadnezzar was furious.
He issued an order for Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego to be brought before him.
But it appears that he didnít want to kill them.
They were valued servants.
They had demonstrated great wisdom from God.
They were personally promoted by Nebuchadnezzar at the request of Daniel.
He wanted to give them a second chance.
He acted like they didnít bow down because they werenít ready.
He said, ìNow if ye be ready that at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ
harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of music,î
ìYe fall down and worship the image which I have made; well:î
In other words, ìIím giving you a second chance.î
ìIf you will get ready and bow down, everything will be okay.î
ìBut if ye worship not, ye shall be cast the same hour into the midst of a burning ÝÝÝ
fiery furnace;î
ìAnd who is that God that shall deliver you out of my handsî (Vs. 15)?
He was saying, ìReconsider what you are doing.î
ìWe will restart the music.î
ìIf you bow down, everything will be okay.î
ìBut if you donít bow down, you will die within the hour.î
Then, he made this a competition between his god and our God.
He arrogantly asked, ìWho is that God that shall deliver you out of my hands?î
What a temptation!
Surely, God would want them to obey their government.
Surely, God wouldnít mind, if they bowed just a little bit.
Wouldnít they be more useful to God by saving their life.
And continuing to serve Him?
We can almost hear Satan say, ìItís just a little sin.î
ìDo it.î
ìItís just a little white lie.î
ìTell it.î
Two men drifted on the ocean in a life boat for several days.
They ran out of water.
Someone had said, ìDonít drink the ocean water.î
But they were very thirsty.
And one man said, ìI will drink just a little bit.î
Ocean water contains seven times more salt than our body can stand.
The man didnít drink much.
He drank just a little bit.
Then, he needed fresh water to flush the salt out of his kidneys immediately.
But he didnít get it.
He dehydrated.
And died.
Sin is like ocean water.
It looks like a little sin couldnít be all that bad.
But a little sin will kill you.
Itís easy to compromise our faith;
Easy to cut just one little corner;
Easy to break just one little rule;
Easy to miss church just one time;
Easy to say a little sin doesnít matter.
But what if Jesus had compromised with Satan in the wilderness.
And turned just one little stone into bread?
What if Jesus had compromised with Satan at the Temple.
And jumped just one time.
What if Jesus had compromised with Satan on the cross.
And come down for just a few minutes?
Donít say a little sin doesnít matter.
If Jesus had committed just one little sin, we would perish in hell.
Anyway, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego wouldnít compromise their faith.
And this is the compromise they rejected.
3rd---Letís look at the confidence they possessed.
Verses 16-18 read, ìShadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, answered and said to the
king,î
ìO Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter.î
ìIf it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery ÝÝÝÝÝ
furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king.î
ìBut if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ
worship the golden image which thou hast set up.î
Nebuchadnezzar had asked the Jews two questions.
So they gave a two-fold answer.
First, ìWe are not careful to answer thee in this matterî means we wonít use
carefully chosen words to deceive you.î
ìWe wonít try to hide our faith in God.î
Donít you wish our politicians would be this honest?
Donít you wish they would stop trying to deceive us with carefully chosen words?
Because many times carefully chosen words are an effort to avoid the truth.
Some church members use carefully chosen words.
Some are a little squeamish when it comes to talking about Jesus.
Some lack the confidence of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego.
If it embarrasses you to talk about Jesus, something might be wrong.
Second, Nebuchadnezzar had asked, ìWho is that God that shall deliver you out of ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ
my hands?î
They answered, ìOur God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning ÝÝÝ
fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king.î
ìWho is that God?î
ìOur God;î
ìThe God we serve.î
ìWe believe He will deliver us.î
ìBut if He doesnít, we still wonít bow even a little bit.î
Notice, two things here.
First, Godís people donít always know Godís will.
But Godís people always know that we shouldnít sin.
Second, Godís people arenít always delivered.
But He is able;
Able to heal;
Able to remove the thorn in our flesh.
He doesnít always do it.
And thatís tough.
But itís important to remain faithful.
Polycarp was Bishop of Smyrna.
The Romans arrested him.
They wanted him to curse Jesus.
They promised to release him, if he obeyed.
Polycarp replied, ìEighty-six years have I served Him.î
ìAnd He has done me no wrong.î
ìHow can I blaspheme my King who saved me?î
A Roman officer replied, ìUnless you change your mind, I will have you burned.î
Polycarp said, ìYou threaten a fire that burns for an hour and after awhile it is ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ
quenched.î
ìYou are ignorant of the judgment to come and of the everlasting punishment ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ
reserved for the ungodly.î
ìDo what you wish with me.î
Donít go back on your commitment to Jesus.
Donít be ignorant of the judgment to come.
Verses 19-23 read, ìThen was Nebuchadnezzar full of fury,î
ÝìAnd the form of his visage was changed against Shadrach, Meshach, and ÝÝ
Abednego:î
ìTherefore he spake, and commanded that they should heat the furnace one seven Ý
times more than it was wont to be heated.î
ìAnd he commanded the most mighty men that were in his army to bind Shadrach,
Meshach, and Abednego, and to cast them into the burning fiery furnace.î
ìThen these men were bound in their coats, their hosen, and their hats, and their ÝÝÝÝ
other garments, and were cast into the midst of the burning fiery furnace.î
ìTherefore because the king's commandment was urgent, and the furnace exceeding ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ
hot, the flame of the fire slew those men that took up Shadrach, Meshach, and ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ
Abednego.
ìAnd these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, fell down bound into the ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ
midst of the burning fiery furnace.î
Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego had great faith.
But their great faith didnít keep them out of the fiery furnace.
Your great faith may not keep you from getting sick or whatever.
Nebuchadnezzar blew his top.
The expression on his face even changed.
He furiously commanded his soldiers to heat the furnace seven times hotter than ÝÝÝÝ
normal.
He wanted to be sure Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego roasted in the fire;
So he commanded his strongest soldiers to tie them up.
And throw them into the fire.
The strong soldiers responded so fast Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego didnít ÝÝÝ
even have time to remove their clothes.
The furnace was so hot the strong soldiers died the instantÝ they shoved Shadrach,
Meshach and Abednego into the fire.
Because of the intense heat and what happened to these strong soldiers, everyone ÝÝ
would expect the three Jews to die in the blink of an eye.
4th---Letís look at the companionship they experienced.
Verses 24-25 read, ìThen Nebuchadnezzar the king was astonied, and rose up in ÝÝÝ
haste, and spake, and said unto his counsellors,î
ìDid not we cast three men bound into the midst of the fire?î
ìThey answered and said unto the king, True, O king.î
ìHe answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, ì
ìAnd they have no hurt;î
ìAnd the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.î
Nebuchadnezzar was seated far enough from the furnace to be safe.
But he was close enough to see inside.
He jumped to his feet.
ìDidnít we tie up three men and throw them into the furnace?î
ìYes,î was the reply.
ìLook!î
ìTheyíre not tied up anymore.î
ìTheyíre not even hurt.î
ìAnd thereís a fourth man in the fire.î
ìHe looks like the Son of God.î
Who was this fourth Man in the fire?
We believe He was Jesus.
And Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego were safer in that fire with Jesus thanÝ those ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ
strong soldiers were on the outside with Nebuchadnezzar.
Perhaps, youíre in a crisis today.
Perhaps, it looks hopeless.
I canít promise that you will be delivered.
But I can promise that youíre better off in that crisis with Jesus than you would be Ý
out of that crisis without Jesus.
The faithful Bishop Polycarp wasnít delivered from the Roman fire.
But heís better off today than the Roman soldiers who burned him to death.
5th---Letís look at the confession they heard.
Verses 26-29 read, ìThen Nebuchadnezzar came near to the mouth of the burning ÝÝ
fiery furnace, and spake, and said,î
ìShadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, ye servants of the most high God, come
forth, and come hither.î
ìThen Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, came forth of the midst of the fire.î
ìAnd the princes, governors, and captains, and the king's counsellors, being
gathered together, saw these men, upon whose bodies the fire had no power,
nor was an hair of their head singed, neither were their coats changed, nor
the smell of fire had passed on them.î
ìThen Nebuchadnezzar spake, and said, Blessed be the God of Shadrach,
Meshach, and Abednego, who hath sent his angel, and delivered his servants
that trusted in him, and have changed the king's word, and yielded their bodies, ÝÝÝÝÝ
that they might not serve nor worship any god, except their own God.î
ìTherefore I make a decree, That every people, nation, and language, which
speak any thing amiss against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego,
shall be cut in pieces, and their houses shall be made a dunghill: because there is ÝÝÝÝ
no other God that can deliver after this sort.î
Weíre looking at the confession they heard.
The king said,Ý ìThere is no other God that can deliver after this sort.î
He even issued a threat, ìIf you say even one bad word against this God, I will cut
you in pieces and make your house a dung heap.î
In closing, the theme of this story is commitment.
And thereís no doubt that we need more commitment in the Church today.
I know a 27 [2003] year old woman who has gone to church all her life.
She started dating a fellow who was taking drugs.
Her parents and pastor tried to get her to break it off.
She didnít.
Her boy friend wound up in jail.
She went out with another fellow she hardly even knew.
He was taking drugs too.
It was a date-rape.
She got pregnant.
She wasnít married.
When one or both of the parents are taking drugs, thereís a terrible risk that the baby ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ
wonít be normal.
Her baby was born with some minor abnormalities.
Then, the first fellow got out of jail.
The girl went back to dating him.
She gave birth to a second child out of wedlock.
Now, she has to work hard.
Sheís struggling to support two children without a husband.
My point is, what happened to the 27 years of Church attendance?
Itís obvious she had a lack of commitment.
But sheís not alone.
Her story can be repeated millions of times.
Our young people have grown up in a society that constantly talks about freedom ÝÝ
and self-expression;
The sexual revolution;
Do your own thing;
If it feels good, it is good.
Our young people are the product of a society thatís changed.
But God hasnít changed.
He still wants people who will stand up and say, ìThis is wrong because the Bible Ý
says itís wrong;î
Or, ìThis is what I will do because the Bible tells me to do it.î
How should we characterize a lack of commitment anyway?
As willful sin?
As being lukewarm?
Is there any doubt what the Bible says about that?
Will you make a commitment?
Will you renew your commitment?
Will you say, ìI havenít been keeping my vows to support my church with my ÝÝÝÝÝÝ
prayers, my presence, my gifts and my service.î
ìIím going to do better.î
Will you say, ìI pledge to keep the commitment Iíve already made?î
Will you young people learn something from this girl who was dating boys on ÝÝÝÝÝÝÝÝ
drugs?
Drugs can ruin your life.
Drugs can harm your children.
Drugs can get you in jail.
Itís better to make a commitment to Jesus and stick to it.