Daniel 3: The Idol of Man  Ps 49; Rom 1:18-25; Matt 4:1-11; Dan 3:1-30

Introduction  https://youtu.be/AfCqYhrI2ME

Chapter three of Daniel contains one of the most memorable testimonies in scripture. Three young Hebrews, faithful to their ancestral religion, deny the demands of a pagan tyrant that they worship a statue of himself and are subsequently delivered up to and from a burning fiery furnace! Their faith is engaging, “our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king. 18 But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.”” (vv.17-18). Not only are they delivered from physical harm, but their faith in the Lord is  rewarded by the manifestation of a god-like figure sharing the flames with them (v.25). For those who follow Jesus, this is the pinnacle of this chapter.

Totalitarian Demands vv. 1-7

The image made by Nebuchadnezzar is colossal. 30m high and ten wide, but even more important than its stature, we are repeatedly told it is an image of “gold” (vv. 1,5,7,12, 14, 18). This makes clear that the king’s construction project had the goal of surpassing the meaning given to his dream by Daniel in the previous chapter, “you O king are the head of gold.” (2:36-38)[1]. Megalomania is obvious and most dangerous in men/women of power[2], but when the devil told Adam and Eve ““You will not surely die. 5 For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”” (Gen 3:6) their egos were enlarged to divine proportions[3]. Paul says it all, “Claiming to be wise, they became fools, 23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man [and birds and animals and creeping things].” (Rom 1:22-23). The stupidity, silliness and utter blasphemy of creatures play-acting the Creator is repeated every time we knowingly resist the will of God’s Holy Spirit[4]. Honestly, who here, especially as a younger person, has not day-dreamed about fame, fortune, romance or even ministry success[5] in ways that do not give glory to God. Turning inwards to think about ourselves is the essence of sin[6].

Nebuchadnezzar’s repeated command that all “peoples, nations and languages” “fall down and worship” before hid golden image at the sound of “every kind of music” (v.v.4-5,7, 10, 15) reminds us of the great worship scenes of God and the Lamb in the book of Revelation[7]. This correspondence is not coincidental, for surely it was the spirit of the coming antichrist that possessed the king[8].

Our contemporary culture detests not only dictators (Aussies are anti-authority after all) but the left wing educated/political class has a profound distaste for what it calls “metanarratives”, “big stories”. This includes the great story-line of the Bible, and of Jesus. When all these stories, which have guided societies and cultures around the globe, for millennia, are stripped away[9] the only big story left is the story of the individual person! This incredibly tragic development that inevitably leads to existential despair (depression, anxiety) with a nagging fear of losing one’s life prematurely (today, by climate catastrophe). When an acceptable social story does emerge, like the LGBTQI story, it inevitably demands the same cultural space/influence/privilege/ power as all the old stories combined!

We Must Obey God rather than Men vv.8-18

Back in Daniel, certain Babylonians creep up to the king[10] and “maliciously accused the Jews”; their accusation identifies them as being “of the devil” for all accusation is satanic (Rev 12:10). These were men jealous/envious of the supreme abilities of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, just as the Jewish leaders of Jesus and the apostles time were moved by envy to violence (Mark 15:10; Acts 5:17; 13:45) seeking to eliminate their divinely given testimony. We have arrived at the most exciting element of the story, will the real image of God, [being progressively refashioned in the divine likeness[11],] be true to its glorious future in God’s everlasting covenant with his people, or will they bow down to nothing but a self-created lie.

Inspired by Satan himself, come down to earth “in great wrath” (Rev 12:12), “mad as a cut snake”[12], the king “in furious rage” (v.13) demands immediate submission on threat of roasting in the fire[13]. The Hebrews answer quietly, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. 17 If this be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king.4 18 But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.” Whether they live or die their trust in the sovereign power of God was unmoved and they will not submit to demonically inspire threats (Matt 4:1-11; 1 Pet 5:6-11).

Let me focus for a moment on these words of sheer faith “but if not”; the power behind the testimony of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego isn’t found in themselves, but in the testimony of Jesus[14] who knew by revelation [from the Holy Father and his Spirit in Gethsemane] that he would have to suffer alone on the cross.  an “unhurt/unharmed” the fire of divine judgement[15]. The presence of the empowering s/Spirit of Jesus (Rev 19:10) has always been working in the people of God.

When the same “crowd” who had Jesus “lynched” turned against the apostles and wanted to murder them as well, they answered, “We ought to obey God, rather than men.” (Acts 5:29). In 156 AD when the aged bishop of Smyrna, Polycarp[16], was arrested he was met by the chief of police who urged him, “What harm is there in saying ‘Lord Caesar,’ and offering sacrifice, and saving yourself from death?”, then as he headed resolutely towards the noisy arena the proconsul insisted. “Take the oath and I’ll let you go. Curse Christ.” The saint replied, “Eighty-six years I have served him, and he never did me any wrong,” “How can I blaspheme my King who saved me…You threaten with fire that burns for a short time and is soon quenched. You don’t know about the fire of the coming judgment and eternal punishment that awaits the wicked. But why are you waiting? Come, do what you will.” Finally, when they wanted to nail him to the stake Polycarp said, “Leave me the way I am. He who gives me power to endure the fire will help me to remain in the flames without moving, even without being secured by nails.” Then he prayed[17]and went on to glorious martyrdom as many thousands have since.

Trial by Fire vv. 19-25

Back in Daniel, after the 3 faithful Jews are cast into the raging inferno, “King Nebuchadnezzar was astonished and rose up in haste. He declared to his counsellors, “Did we not cast three men bound into the fire?” They answered and said to the king, “True, O king.” 25 He answered and said, “But I see four men unbound, walking in the midst of the fire, and they are not hurt; and the appearance of the fourth is like a son of the gods.” The prophets bear witness to the promises of God, “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you.” (Isa 43:2), [and later to Jerusalem, “And I will be to her a wall of fire all around, declares the LORD, and I will be the glory in her midst.’” (Zech 2:5).] how may we interpret these promises for the far End -days?

In the time of our new covenant. Peter, who knew something about persecution, [and about whom Jesus had prophesied involuntary death in old age (John 21:18-19),] testifies, “Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. 13 But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. 14 If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you.”  (1 Pet 4:12-14). Whoever was in the furnace with the Hebrews, angel or pre-incarnate Christ, we can say for sure that the glory of Christ raised from the dead was there protecting them, not primarily from incineration, but from the far more serious eternal consequences of denying faith in the one true Lord and God (John 20:28). The Jews holy fear of apostasy/denying the Truth, expelled the fear of the king and the flames. This righteous fear (I want to live in because it) was the fear that kept Jesus going to the cross and was honoured by resurrection into glory[18]. It was said by John Knox, the great 16^th century Scottish Reformer, that he feared the face of no man, because he had learned to live in the fear of the Lord[19]. We were singing some spiritual songs the other Sunday night and this line captured my attention[20]: “A wall of fire about me, I’ve nothing now to fear:” What a blessed estate: no need to fear health deterioration, financial failure, family issues, rejection…..anyhting. As usual in Daniel, the trial of faith is completed with the Jews being elevated in their secular vocation,

Promotion without Transformation vv. 26-30

Nebuchadnezzar completely reverses his opinion , the amazed king decrees absolutely that anyone who “speaks anything against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego shall be torn limb from limb, and their houses laid in ruins, for there is no other god who is able to rescue in this way.” And when he called the 3 Hebrews out of the fire calling them “servants of the Most High God” (Dan 3:26) he was using the most exalted vocabulary available to a polytheist[21], but he was not describing the one only true God. [It reminds us of the mere outward conversion of the people of Israel centuries before when fire fell from heaven on the altar of sacrifice, so they cried out ““The Lord, he is God; the Lord, he is God.”” (1 Ki 18:39) and went on to slaughter the priests of Baal. The moment Elijah’s life was threatened by Jezebel[22] he fled for his life because he knew what the human heart is really like.]

Conclusion

An anonymous author psalmist profoundly said, “For you, God, tested us; you refined us like silver. 11 You brought us into prison and laid burdens on our backs 12 You let people ride over our heads; we went through fire and water, but you brought us to a place of abundance.” (Ps 66:10-12). The fact of the matter is, like it or not, [and there are very few today that appreciate the disciplines of the Lord], the Church of Christ has been from the beginning so constituted, that the cross has been the way to victory, and death a passage to life.” (Calvin)[23]. This sort of pressure and distress is what God our Father is handing the Church in Australia over to today!

“Jesus/Christ is enough for me” is a popular Christian slogan, but “You never know God is all you need until God is all you have. x 2” (Rick Warren). This is how the testimony of the 3 young Hebrew slaves deeply challenges us today[24].

 

 

Daniel 3: The Idol of Man  Ps 49; Rom 1:18-25; Matt 4:1-11; Dan 3:1-30

Introduction

Chapter three of Daniel contains one of the most memorable testimonies in scripture. Three young Hebrews, faithful to their ancestral religion, deny the demands of a pagan tyrant that they worship a statue of himself and are subsequently delivered up to and from a burning fiery furnace! Their faith is engaging, “our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king. 18 But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.”” (vv.17-18). Not only are they delivered from physical harm, but their faith in the Lord is  rewarded by the manifestation of a god-like figure sharing the flames with them (v.25). For those who follow Jesus, this is the pinnacle of this chapter.

Totalitarian Demands vv. 1-7

The image made by Nebuchadnezzar is colossal. 30m high and ten wide, but even more important than its stature, we are repeatedly told it is an image of “gold” (vv. 1,5,7,12, 14, 18). This makes clear that the king’s construction project had the goal of surpassing the meaning given to his dream by Daniel in the previous chapter, “you O king are the head of gold.” (2:36-38)[1]. Megalomania is obvious and most dangerous in men/women of power[2], but when the devil told Adam and Eve ““You will not surely die. 5 For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”” (Gen 3:6) their egos were enlarged to divine proportions[3]. Paul says it all, “Claiming to be wise, they became fools, 23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man [and birds and animals and creeping things].” (Rom 1:22-23). The stupidity, silliness and utter blasphemy of creatures play-acting the Creator is repeated every time we knowingly resist the will of God’s Holy Spirit[4]. Honestly, who here, especially as a younger person, has not day-dreamed about fame, fortune, romance or even ministry success[5] in ways that do not give glory to God. Turning inwards to think about ourselves is the essence of sin[6].

Nebuchadnezzar’s repeated command that all “peoples, nations and languages” “fall down and worship” before hid golden image at the sound of “every kind of music” (v.v.4-5,7, 10, 15) reminds us of the great worship scenes of God and the Lamb in the book of Revelation[7]. This correspondence is not coincidental, for surely it was the spirit of the coming antichrist that possessed the king[8].

Our contemporary culture detests not only dictators (Aussies are anti-authority after all) but the left wing educated/political class has a profound distaste for what it calls “metanarratives”, “big stories”. This includes the great story-line of the Bible, and of Jesus. When all these stories, which have guided societies and cultures around the globe, for millennia, are stripped away[9] the only big story left is the story of the individual person! This incredibly tragic development that inevitably leads to existential despair (depression, anxiety) with a nagging fear of losing one’s life prematurely (today, by climate catastrophe). When an acceptable social story does emerge, like the LGBTQI story, it inevitably demands the same cultural space/influence/privilege/ power as all the old stories combined!

We Must Obey God rather than Men vv.8-18

Back in Daniel, certain Babylonians creep up to the king[10] and “maliciously accused the Jews”; their accusation identifies them as being “of the devil” for all accusation is satanic (Rev 12:10). These were men jealous/envious of the supreme abilities of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, just as the Jewish leaders of Jesus and the apostles time were moved by envy to violence (Mark 15:10; Acts 5:17; 13:45) seeking to eliminate their divinely given testimony. We have arrived at the most exciting element of the story, will the real image of God, [being progressively refashioned in the divine likeness[11],] be true to its glorious future in God’s everlasting covenant with his people, or will they bow down to nothing but a self-created lie.

Inspired by Satan himself, come down to earth “in great wrath” (Rev 12:12), “mad as a cut snake”[12], the king “in furious rage” (v.13) demands immediate submission on threat of roasting in the fire[13]. The Hebrews answer quietly, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. 17 If this be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king.4 18 But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.” Whether they live or die their trust in the sovereign power of God was unmoved and they will not submit to demonically inspire threats (Matt 4:1-11; 1 Pet 5:6-11).

Let me focus for a moment on these words of sheer faith “but if not”; the power behind the testimony of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego isn’t found in themselves, but in the testimony of Jesus[14] who knew by revelation [from the Holy Father and his Spirit in Gethsemane] that he would have to suffer alone on the cross.  an “unhurt/unharmed” the fire of divine judgement[15]. The presence of the empowering s/Spirit of Jesus (Rev 19:10) has always been working in the people of God.

When the same “crowd” who had Jesus “lynched” turned against the apostles and wanted to murder them as well, they answered, “We ought to obey God, rather than men.” (Acts 5:29). In 156 AD when the aged bishop of Smyrna, Polycarp[16], was arrested he was met by the chief of police who urged him, “What harm is there in saying ‘Lord Caesar,’ and offering sacrifice, and saving yourself from death?”, then as he headed resolutely towards the noisy arena the proconsul insisted. “Take the oath and I’ll let you go. Curse Christ.” The saint replied, “Eighty-six years I have served him, and he never did me any wrong,” “How can I blaspheme my King who saved me…You threaten with fire that burns for a short time and is soon quenched. You don’t know about the fire of the coming judgment and eternal punishment that awaits the wicked. But why are you waiting? Come, do what you will.” Finally, when they wanted to nail him to the stake Polycarp said, “Leave me the way I am. He who gives me power to endure the fire will help me to remain in the flames without moving, even without being secured by nails.” Then he prayed[17]and went on to glorious martyrdom as many thousands have since.

Trial by Fire vv. 19-25

Back in Daniel, after the 3 faithful Jews are cast into the raging inferno, “King Nebuchadnezzar was astonished and rose up in haste. He declared to his counsellors, “Did we not cast three men bound into the fire?” They answered and said to the king, “True, O king.” 25 He answered and said, “But I see four men unbound, walking in the midst of the fire, and they are not hurt; and the appearance of the fourth is like a son of the gods.” The prophets bear witness to the promises of God, “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you.” (Isa 43:2), [and later to Jerusalem, “And I will be to her a wall of fire all around, declares the LORD, and I will be the glory in her midst.’” (Zech 2:5).] how may we interpret these promises for the far End -days?

In the time of our new covenant. Peter, who knew something about persecution, [and about whom Jesus had prophesied involuntary death in old age (John 21:18-19),] testifies, “Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. 13 But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. 14 If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you.”  (1 Pet 4:12-14). Whoever was in the furnace with the Hebrews, angel or pre-incarnate Christ, we can say for sure that the glory of Christ raised from the dead was there protecting them, not primarily from incineration, but from the far more serious eternal consequences of denying faith in the one true Lord and God (John 20:28). The Jews holy fear of apostasy/denying the Truth, expelled the fear of the king and the flames. This righteous fear (I want to live in because it) was the fear that kept Jesus going to the cross and was honoured by resurrection into glory[18]. It was said by John Knox, the great 16^th century Scottish Reformer, that he feared the face of no man, because he had learned to live in the fear of the Lord[19]. We were singing some spiritual songs the other Sunday night and this line captured my attention[20]: “A wall of fire about me, I’ve nothing now to fear:” What a blessed estate: no need to fear health deterioration, financial failure, family issues, rejection…..anyhting. As usual in Daniel, the trial of faith is completed with the Jews being elevated in their secular vocation,

Promotion without Transformation vv. 26-30

Nebuchadnezzar completely reverses his opinion , the amazed king decrees absolutely that anyone who “speaks anything against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego shall be torn limb from limb, and their houses laid in ruins, for there is no other god who is able to rescue in this way.” And when he called the 3 Hebrews out of the fire calling them “servants of the Most High God” (Dan 3:26) he was using the most exalted vocabulary available to a polytheist[21], but he was not describing the one only true God. [It reminds us of the mere outward conversion of the people of Israel centuries before when fire fell from heaven on the altar of sacrifice, so they cried out ““The Lord, he is God; the Lord, he is God.”” (1 Ki 18:39) and went on to slaughter the priests of Baal. The moment Elijah’s life was threatened by Jezebel[22] he fled for his life because he knew what the human heart is really like.]

Conclusion

An anonymous author psalmist profoundly said, “For you, God, tested us; you refined us like silver. 11 You brought us into prison and laid burdens on our backs 12 You let people ride over our heads; we went through fire and water, but you brought us to a place of abundance.” (Ps 66:10-12). The fact of the matter is, like it or not, [and there are very few today that appreciate the disciplines of the Lord], the Church of Christ has been from the beginning so constituted, that the cross has been the way to victory, and death a passage to life.” (Calvin)[23]. This sort of pressure and distress is what God our Father is handing the Church in Australia over to today!

“Jesus/Christ is enough for me” is a popular Christian slogan, but “You never know God is all you need until God is all you have. x 2” (Rick Warren). This is how the testimony of the 3 young Hebrew slaves deeply challenges us today[24].

 

 

Chapter three of Daniel contains one of the most memorable testimonies in scripture. Three young Hebrews, faithful to their ancestral religion, deny the demands of a pagan tyrant that they worship a statue of himself and are subsequently delivered up to and from a burning fiery furnace! Their faith is engaging, “our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king. 18 But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.”” (vv.17-18). Not only are they delivered from physical harm, but their faith in the Lord is  rewarded by the manifestation of a god-like figure sharing the flames with them (v.25). For those who follow Jesus, this is the pinnacle of this chapter.

Totalitarian Demands vv. 1-7

The image made by Nebuchadnezzar is colossal. 30m high and ten wide, but even more important than its stature, we are repeatedly told it is an image of “gold” (vv. 1,5,7,12, 14, 18). This makes clear that the king’s construction project had the goal of surpassing the meaning given to his dream by Daniel in the previous chapter, “you O king are the head of gold.” (2:36-38)[1]. Megalomania is obvious and most dangerous in men/women of power[2], but when the devil told Adam and Eve ““You will not surely die. 5 For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”” (Gen 3:6) their egos were enlarged to divine proportions[3]. Paul says it all, “Claiming to be wise, they became fools, 23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man [and birds and animals and creeping things].” (Rom 1:22-23). The stupidity, silliness and utter blasphemy of creatures play-acting the Creator is repeated every time we knowingly resist the will of God’s Holy Spirit[4]. Honestly, who here, especially as a younger person, has not day-dreamed about fame, fortune, romance or even ministry success[5] in ways that do not give glory to God. Turning inwards to think about ourselves is the essence of sin[6].

Nebuchadnezzar’s repeated command that all “peoples, nations and languages” “fall down and worship” before hid golden image at the sound of “every kind of music” (v.v.4-5,7, 10, 15) reminds us of the great worship scenes of God and the Lamb in the book of Revelation[7]. This correspondence is not coincidental, for surely it was the spirit of the coming antichrist that possessed the king[8].

Our contemporary culture detests not only dictators (Aussies are anti-authority after all) but the left wing educated/political class has a profound distaste for what it calls “metanarratives”, “big stories”. This includes the great story-line of the Bible, and of Jesus. When all these stories, which have guided societies and cultures around the globe, for millennia, are stripped away[9] the only big story left is the story of the individual person! This incredibly tragic development that inevitably leads to existential despair (depression, anxiety) with a nagging fear of losing one’s life prematurely (today, by climate catastrophe). When an acceptable social story does emerge, like the LGBTQI story, it inevitably demands the same cultural space/influence/privilege/ power as all the old stories combined!

We Must Obey God rather than Men vv.8-18

Back in Daniel, certain Babylonians creep up to the king[10] and “maliciously accused the Jews”; their accusation identifies them as being “of the devil” for all accusation is satanic (Rev 12:10). These were men jealous/envious of the supreme abilities of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, just as the Jewish leaders of Jesus and the apostles time were moved by envy to violence (Mark 15:10; Acts 5:17; 13:45) seeking to eliminate their divinely given testimony. We have arrived at the most exciting element of the story, will the real image of God, [being progressively refashioned in the divine likeness[11],] be true to its glorious future in God’s everlasting covenant with his people, or will they bow down to nothing but a self-created lie.

Inspired by Satan himself, come down to earth “in great wrath” (Rev 12:12), “mad as a cut snake”[12], the king “in furious rage” (v.13) demands immediate submission on threat of roasting in the fire[13]. The Hebrews answer quietly, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. 17 If this be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king.4 18 But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.” Whether they live or die their trust in the sovereign power of God was unmoved and they will not submit to demonically inspire threats (Matt 4:1-11; 1 Pet 5:6-11).

Let me focus for a moment on these words of sheer faith “but if not”; the power behind the testimony of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego isn’t found in themselves, but in the testimony of Jesus[14] who knew by revelation [from the Holy Father and his Spirit in Gethsemane] that he would have to suffer alone on the cross.  an “unhurt/unharmed” the fire of divine judgement[15]. The presence of the empowering s/Spirit of Jesus (Rev 19:10) has always been working in the people of God.

When the same “crowd” who had Jesus “lynched” turned against the apostles and wanted to murder them as well, they answered, “We ought to obey God, rather than men.” (Acts 5:29). In 156 AD when the aged bishop of Smyrna, Polycarp[16], was arrested he was met by the chief of police who urged him, “What harm is there in saying ‘Lord Caesar,’ and offering sacrifice, and saving yourself from death?”, then as he headed resolutely towards the noisy arena the proconsul insisted. “Take the oath and I’ll let you go. Curse Christ.” The saint replied, “Eighty-six years I have served him, and he never did me any wrong,” “How can I blaspheme my King who saved me…You threaten with fire that burns for a short time and is soon quenched. You don’t know about the fire of the coming judgment and eternal punishment that awaits the wicked. But why are you waiting? Come, do what you will.” Finally, when they wanted to nail him to the stake Polycarp said, “Leave me the way I am. He who gives me power to endure the fire will help me to remain in the flames without moving, even without being secured by nails.” Then he prayed[17]and went on to glorious martyrdom as many thousands have since.

Trial by Fire vv. 19-25

Back in Daniel, after the 3 faithful Jews are cast into the raging inferno, “King Nebuchadnezzar was astonished and rose up in haste. He declared to his counsellors, “Did we not cast three men bound into the fire?” They answered and said to the king, “True, O king.” 25 He answered and said, “But I see four men unbound, walking in the midst of the fire, and they are not hurt; and the appearance of the fourth is like a son of the gods.” The prophets bear witness to the promises of God, “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you.” (Isa 43:2), [and later to Jerusalem, “And I will be to her a wall of fire all around, declares the LORD, and I will be the glory in her midst.’” (Zech 2:5).] how may we interpret these promises for the far End -days?

In the time of our new covenant. Peter, who knew something about persecution, [and about whom Jesus had prophesied involuntary death in old age (John 21:18-19),] testifies, “Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. 13 But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. 14 If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you.”  (1 Pet 4:12-14). Whoever was in the furnace with the Hebrews, angel or pre-incarnate Christ, we can say for sure that the glory of Christ raised from the dead was there protecting them, not primarily from incineration, but from the far more serious eternal consequences of denying faith in the one true Lord and God (John 20:28). The Jews holy fear of apostasy/denying the Truth, expelled the fear of the king and the flames. This righteous fear (I want to live in because it) was the fear that kept Jesus going to the cross and was honoured by resurrection into glory[18]. It was said by John Knox, the great 16^th century Scottish Reformer, that he feared the face of no man, because he had learned to live in the fear of the Lord[19]. We were singing some spiritual songs the other Sunday night and this line captured my attention[20]: “A wall of fire about me, I’ve nothing now to fear:” What a blessed estate: no need to fear health deterioration, financial failure, family issues, rejection…..anyhting. As usual in Daniel, the trial of faith is completed with the Jews being elevated in their secular vocation,

Promotion without Transformation vv. 26-30

Nebuchadnezzar completely reverses his opinion , the amazed king decrees absolutely that anyone who “speaks anything against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego shall be torn limb from limb, and their houses laid in ruins, for there is no other god who is able to rescue in this way.” And when he called the 3 Hebrews out of the fire calling them “servants of the Most High God” (Dan 3:26) he was using the most exalted vocabulary available to a polytheist[21], but he was not describing the one only true God. [It reminds us of the mere outward conversion of the people of Israel centuries before when fire fell from heaven on the altar of sacrifice, so they cried out ““The Lord, he is God; the Lord, he is God.”” (1 Ki 18:39) and went on to slaughter the priests of Baal. The moment Elijah’s life was threatened by Jezebel[22] he fled for his life because he knew what the human heart is really like.]

Conclusion

An anonymous author psalmist profoundly said, “For you, God, tested us; you refined us like silver. 11 You brought us into prison and laid burdens on our backs 12 You let people ride over our heads; we went through fire and water, but you brought us to a place of abundance.” (Ps 66:10-12). The fact of the matter is, like it or not, [and there are very few today that appreciate the disciplines of the Lord], the Church of Christ has been from the beginning so constituted, that the cross has been the way to victory, and death a passage to life.” (Calvin)[23]. This sort of pressure and distress is what God our Father is handing the Church in Australia over to today!

“Jesus/Christ is enough for me” is a popular Christian slogan, but “You never know God is all you need until God is all you have. x 2” (Rick Warren). This is how the testimony of the 3 young Hebrew slaves deeply challenges us today[24].