Episode 70 - The Daniel Series: Standing Firm In The Fire

In this episode, we delve into Daniel 3:13–23, where Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego face King Nebuchadnezzar’s fiery ultimatum with unshakable conviction, calmly refusing to bow even without guaranteed salvation—exemplify mature faith that declares, “even if He does not.” Their courage, forged through earlier trials and remembrance of God’s faithfulness, offers a powerful model for standing firm amid modern crises like health scares or workplace pressure. As the furnace blazes hotter from pride-driven urgency, we contrast its destructive rush with the steady peace of conviction grounded in God, offering practical advice to set non-negotiables, rehearse testimonies, and lean on community. We invite you to embody this “even if” faith in your hardest moments.

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Transcript

SPEAKER_02 0:02

How many times have you seen or do we feel the need to just defend ourselves with our positions about something? Politically, spiritually, job-wise, whatever.

Welcome And Study Focus

SPEAKER_01 0:13

When you know the truth, you don't necessarily have to defend yourself.

Reading Daniel 3:13–23

Nebuchadnezzar’s Proud Challenge

SPEAKER_02 0:17

Hey everybody, this is Cheryl, and you're listening to Healing Strong's Around the Word, a podcast with a bunch of friends sitting around the table discussing God's Word. We're studying the book of Daniel, and y'all, this is the best part of the story. This is where the rubber meets the road, where our heroes of the story are truly tested. We're reading in Daniel chapter 3, verses 13 through 23 today. So join us around the word. Daniel chapter 3, verses 13 through 23. Furious with rage, Nebuchadnezzar summoned Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. So these men were brought before the king, and 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? Now when you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipe, 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. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego replied to him, King Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us from your majesty's hand. But even if he does not, we want you to know, your majesty, that we will not serve the gods or worship the image of gold you have set up. Then Nebuchadnezzar was furious with Shadrach, Meshach, and Nebednego, and his attitude toward them changed. He ordered the furnace heated seven times hotter than usual, and commanded some of the strongest soldiers in his army to tie up Shadrach, Meshach, and Nebednego and throw them into the blazing furnace. So these men, wearing their robes, trousers, turbans, and other clothes, were bound and thrown into the blazing furnace. The king's command was so urgent, and the furnace so hot that the flames of the fire killed the soldiers who took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, and these three men, firmly tied, fell into the blazing furnace. Before Angie, Marin, and I share what stood out around the word today, I want to remind you why Healing Strong exists. We're a community-supported nonprofit that helps people facing cancer or other diseases by providing hope, encouragement, and practical ways to rebuild the body, renew the soul, and refresh the spirit. And by the way, we are an international organization that has groups all around the world. And here's an encouraging word from Jesse in Canada who said, I was diagnosed with melanoma in 2014. And though I had surgery and have been going holistic for many years, I knew there was a spiritual component required for my total healing. I am grateful for healing strong. And we're grateful for you, Jesse. Now let's get back around the word. He ain't a happy camper. He is mad. And so he's summoning Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego to see him about them not bowing down. What line does he say that's just wow?

SPEAKER_01 4:02

That's that's a pretty proud statement from the king. Is it true that you do not serve my gods or worship the image of gold I have set up? That's his one one question. And his second question is one of the most stupid questions. Then what God will be able to rescue you from my hand?

SPEAKER_02 4:21

Again, we're talking about setup. If you were writing the story as a writer, you're like making mistakes. It's just funny. Like it's almost like foretelling like something bad is gonna happen to this guy. Haven't you seen the movie? And you're like, uh, he's like, hey guys, come on in here. Uh, I'm gonna give you another shot at this. I kind of heard that you weren't gonna bow down and um I just I just want to give you another shot. Why don't you just uh bow down right now and we'll be good with this? Yeah, everything's fine. You will be, but you will be back in good favor with me if you just bow down right now. We'll forget the past.

SPEAKER_00 4:56

Right. And they they say if we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us.

SPEAKER_01 5:06

But right before they said that, they said, Oh Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. That's pretty bold.

unknown 5:19

Right.

SPEAKER_02 5:19

How many times have you seen or do we feel the need to just defend ourselves with our positions about something politically, spiritually, job-wise, whatever?

SPEAKER_01 5:31

When you know the truth, you don't necessarily have to defend yourself. Now, if if if you're guilty, you may have to defend yourself, but they're standing again from a position of resolve and confidence. Yeah, and when you know the truth giver too, yeah, then you can stand on that truth.

Remembering God’s Past Deliverance

SPEAKER_00 5:49

Yeah, when you're standing on the truth, then you can stand. We had a discussion before they um when Daniel had to stand, um that crossed their mind, I'm sure. Will he deliver us? But even if he doesn't, we're not gonna bow down to this king because we know where where we'll go.

SPEAKER_02 6:11

I yeah, I figure they've they've they've been putting into practice what they're talking about because the first test was with the food that they weren't gonna eat. And then God delivered them. He said he he he provided for them. They were 10 times better than everybody else. Second problem comes along with the the dream that needs to be interpreted and they're gonna be executed otherwise, because they were sitting there with Daniel all praying about that, and then God literally delivered. So, why did they have the resolve and the confidence? Because they thought about what God did in the past for them and they remembered it in that situation, and they thought if he did it then, he can do it today.

SPEAKER_00 6:52

That's right. So you have to remember when you're standing on the truth, what he has done to bring you to this point. Where, how time and time again, what has he done for you? And then you can stand.

Even If He Does Not

SPEAKER_02 7:08

Uh, this this is so key to me, too. The God we serve is able to save us from it and he will rescue us from your hand, oh King. But 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. They were so resolved that even if it didn't go the way they expected or hoped or believed, they still weren't going to do it.

SPEAKER_01 7:34

Yeah, and and that's just emphasizing the importance of know where you stand and stand. You know, like in the New Testament, it says, let your yeses be yes and your no's be no's. Um know what you believe and stand on it and don't waffle on it and make it clear to folks. So um again, pretty bold statement here. Look, you're looking into the eyes of the king, the furnace is not very far away. Um, and you're saying, even if he doesn't rescue us, um, we're not going to follow you.

unknown 8:05

Right.

SPEAKER_01 8:05

That reminds me of the time in the New Testament where um I think it was Peter or it could have been John that said, Lord, where else would we go? When when the Lord looked at them and said, Are you gonna leave me too? And they said, Where else would we go? Um, that's the thought here. There's nobody else but God. We're gonna follow God and whatever he does, that's what we're gonna go with. There's no uh plan B.

SPEAKER_00 8:33

Yeah, but that ticks off King Nebuchadnezzar.

SPEAKER_01 8:36

Oh my goodness.

SPEAKER_02 8:38

Makes it work. It literally said his attitude changed. I think he kind of liked these guys. He did.

Furnace Intensifies And Stakes Rise

SPEAKER_00 8:43

I mean, obviously they set him up for success with um He had put him over all the nations, you know. They were they were the rulers basically basically.

SPEAKER_02 8:52

So he's super enraged.

SPEAKER_00 8:55

Yeah, he ordered the furnace heated seven times hotter than usual.

SPEAKER_02 9:00

Oh, and he got his strongest men to tie them up. And again, this is like a movie plot, you know, we're we're putting there, we're making the stakes much higher for our heroes here. And um, he's in such a rush and he's so mad at them that he's just gonna throw them in with all their clothes on and stuff, turbans and everything. Which again, I think it's the details in this because later on when we see their fate, if they didn't have the clothes, the clothes are one of the first things that's gonna like literally get burnt up and flame even faster than them, the clothes would have gone.

SPEAKER_00 9:36

Right. So I just think that's it was so hot that the soldiers were killed by the fire, but um I picture that they had to push them in as they were getting burned to death because have you ever stood by a hot, like a big bonfire?

SPEAKER_02 9:52

It's crazy. Have you gotten really close to it before?

SPEAKER_00 9:55

And that's not this was seven times super hot.

Into The Fire And Modern Parallels

Closing And Community Resources

SPEAKER_02 9:58

I mean, this was meant to kill people. And and um the last line and these three men, firmly tied, firmly tied, um, fell into the blazing furnace. Lots of good stuff in today's discussion. And yeah, it's getting hot for our heroes. They're literally in the fire. And I bet many of you listening can identify with this too, either in a past fire that you've been in or one that you're currently in. So I'm excited for us to listen to the next episode where we get to see what happens in the fire. Thank you so much for joining us for Healing Strong's Around the Word podcast. Go ahead, click subscribe, click like, review us, tell your friends, and check out healingstrong.org. That's where you're gonna find some wonderful resources and people to surround you if you are on your own healing journey. Until next time, remember faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.