Episode 69 - The Daniel Series: Taking a Stand When Others Bow

In this episode, we explore Daniel 3:8–12, where Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego stand firm with quiet conviction among pressure to conform, challenging a culture fixated on performance and spectacle. We examine the human dynamics of jealousy, fear, and virtue signaling that drive public denouncements then and now, emphasizing how true faith is cultivated in prayer long before crises arise. Highlighting steady courage over defiant showmanship, and drawing from Jesus’ example of silent strength, we offer practical advice to build convictions through Scripture, prepare for pressure, seek wise counsel, and remember that one faithful stand can inspire others. 

Please take advantage of our FREE resources below to help you along your health and healing journey:

The Bible App HealingStrong Bible Plans

Support Group Directory

Listen to Previous Episodes

Holistic Curriculum - Participant Guide

Refresh Your Spirit

Support Our Mission - Donate

Please visit our website at healingstrong.org to learn more about our mission and visit our groups tab to learn more about our community groups.

HELP US GROW:

Your donation enables us to continue offering this podcast and other resources for free supporting those facing cancer and chronic illness, caregivers and others. Every donation makes a big difference. Please donate here.

Transcript

Welcome And Passage Overview

SPEAKER_00 0:01

I'm sure that they had their Garden of Gethsemane time where they had prayed fervently to God to just help us to stand when the time comes. Help us to still stand, even when everybody else bows down around us because this is the decree. Help us to stand. And so when the time came, they were able to do it.

Reading Daniel 3:8–12 Aloud

Community Note From Susan

Why The Accusers Targeted The Three

SPEAKER_01 0:23

Well, hey guys, it's Cheryl, and you're listening to Healing Strong's Around the Word. We're a group of friends sitting around the table that love God's Word, and we love to talk about it and find out what's in it. Today we are studying the book of Daniel, chapter 3, verses 8 through 12. So join us around the Word. Daniel chapter 3, verses 8 through 12. At this time, some astrologers came forward and denounced the Jews. They said to King Nebuchadnezzar, May the king live forever. Your Majesty has issued a decree that everyone who hears the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipe, and all kinds of music must fall down and worship the image of gold, and that whoever does not fall down and worship will be thrown into a blazing furnace. But there are some Jews whom you have set over the affairs of the province of Babylon, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who pay no attention to you, your majesty. They neither serve your gods nor worship the image of gold you have set up. That's our reading for today. Here's a note from Susan in Atlanta, or what we like to say from Atlanta, hot Atlanta, or Atlanta. You know, when someone's not from Atlanta, they'll say, Atlanta. It's Atlanta if you're from the South. Anyway, sorry, I digress, but let's listen in on what Susan had to say. She said, Thank you so much for your investment of time and resources to do these wonderful sessions. I look forward to each evening. This has been great refreshment in this season of being a caregiver to my husband and continue to walk in health myself. I absolutely love my Healing Strong family. Glory to God, great things He is doing. And isn't that great? Healing Strong is not just for those that are actually healing themselves, but a lot of times it's for support for caregivers, people that are loving on people right now that are going through their own healing journey. And Susan represents one of them. I know Susan well, and she is an amazing part of our Healing Strong community. So shout out to you, Susan. You know who you are. I love you, girl, and uh thank you so much for all that you mean to our community. Now let's return to the table and around the word. Today's passage has a bunch of tattletales. Let's just call it what it is.

SPEAKER_00 2:58

It says the astrologers came forward and denounced the Jews. They were the ones saying these three guys aren't bowing down.

SPEAKER_01 3:07

Yeah, they're they're pointing it out. Let's go back a little bit. Why do you think these astrologers would care that these few guys, like four guys, are not bowing down? Why do you think it matters to these guys? What happened in the past? Well, I'm sure everybody's jealous of these guys because they have different ways and they have different results. Um, so everything that these three guys do and Daniel, it turns out very well. And the astrologers it makes them look pitiful. Plus, they've been promoted too.

SPEAKER_00 3:40

Like, you know. That's what I was gonna say. It's actually only talking about the three guys right here because Daniel's at the, you know, he's royalty.

SPEAKER_01 3:48

He's at the he's at the court. And and and we always like to say in this whole passage, now uh Daniel chapter three, we don't know where Daniel is. Like we don't have a quote from Daniel or anything like that. So I I always want to make that known that we don't know where he is in this part. We're now focusing on Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.

Promotions, Jealousy, And Court Politics

SPEAKER_00 4:08

But I think the important part is these three guys are in the trenches. They are over different territories, and they're running the show in the people's local area.

Silent Conviction Over Speeches

Modern Parallels To Calling Out

Standing Visible In A Bowing Crowd

SPEAKER_01 4:21

So they've been promoted, most likely over some of these astrologers and other people. They were chosen over them. That's the reason why they're mad. Yeah. So they're they're they're gonna point it out that, oh yeah, so and so's not doing what you said, King, you know. I'm just I'm just saying I'm just being a good, I'm just being a good uh astrologer and letting you know we got some people that aren't doing it. I hate to say it, no matter the cause, don't you see virtue s signaling a got a lot this day and age when it comes to social media or whatever? Uh look what I'm doing or look what they're not doing right now. That's a hot potato topic. I'm just saying that you know, sometimes people like to point out what they are doing. Um what they're not doing, and then casting judgment on people who don't do the same things they do. That's a the age-old problem. Wouldn't it have been wouldn't it have been interesting if these astrologers took the three guys aside and said, Hey, I see you're not bowing down. I just want to know why. I mean, what's what's the deal? What an amazing opportunity for the three of them to talk about their real God. You know, right. Instead, they say they they neither serve your gods, nor you know. By the way, do do we ever see anywhere in the passage here, at least in this first part, where it says Dan um uh Shatterak, Meshach, and Abednego made a speech why they're not doing what they're doing to everybody. They just did it. It's just who they were, it's what they believed and how they carried out their lives, spoke volumes. Right. It didn't say they were trying to convince everybody else to not bow down at that time, they just stood. Picture the scene. Let's say you're at the um the outside mall or something, suddenly some music starts playing, and then everyone starts bowing down to the ground, but then you have three guys standing, they're left standing. You can't help but be seen whenever you take a stand. What can we learn from the magicians or whatever in our lives that are pointing out things? What can we learn how to handle that? Just stay silent and live the way you know you're supposed to live. You know, the scripture said that Jesus remained silent. Oh, that's against his accusers, yeah. He just stood there because he could have been like, Y'all, I'm the son of God. He didn't. He could have done, he could have called down a legion of even Satan knew that when he was tempting him in the desert. You can call down a legion of angels right now. He didn't. They spoke their actions. That's what spoke louder than any words they ever could have said.

unknown 7:04

Right.

Jesus’ Silence As A Model

SPEAKER_00 7:05

I'm sure that they had their Garden of Gethsemane time where they had prayed fervently to God to just, you know, help us to stand when the time comes. Help us to still stand, even when everybody else bows down around us because this is the decree. Um, help us to stand. And so when the time came, they were able to do it.

Blessings Of Obedience And Closing

Prepared By Prayer To Stand

Listeners Reflect On Taking A Stand

SPEAKER_01 7:28

Have you ever had to take a stand for something like Shadrach, Meshach, and Bednego? When everybody else was bowing down, you had to stand. How'd it make you feel? What was it like? Did you have anyone standing with you? It can be very lonely standing by yourself, especially when you're standing on something that God has asked you to do. But there are blessings that come from that obedience. That ends it for another episode of Healing Strongs Around the Word podcast. I hope you have been encouraged today. And if you like our podcast, consider clicking like, subscribe, or writing a review, letting others know about this podcast. We do this all out of our love for God's word, and we hope it is making an impact in your life. If you're curious about Healing Strong, just check out our website, healingstrong.org, where you're going to find all kinds of resources and ways to connect with people in our community. Until next time, remember, faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.