WEBVTT 00:00:01.120 --> 00:00:08.240 Well, this morning as we come to God's Word, we're going to be continuing in the Old Testament book of Daniel. 00:00:08.560 --> 00:00:14.240 And so it'd be helpful if you could have that in front of you as we get started, because we'll go through it together. 00:00:14.320 --> 00:00:18.079 And I'd love for you to be able to see God's Word for yourself. 00:00:18.399 --> 00:00:22.960 If you're using the church Bible, it can be found on page 878. 00:00:23.839 --> 00:00:26.320 We'll be in Daniel chapter 3. 00:00:29.120 --> 00:00:40.399 To help us get ready to hear what we're about to read, let me remind us of a couple things in regards to Daniel that this is a story about growing with God even in exile. 00:00:40.880 --> 00:00:59.200 And so this is a time in the Old Testament where the Israelites, the Old Testament people of God, they have been sent away from their home country, away from their temple, away from even their king, and they've gone, they've been conquered, and they've been gone into exile in Babylon. 00:00:59.359 --> 00:01:04.799 But part of the story of Daniel is that even though God had sent them into exile, he has not left them. 00:01:05.439 --> 00:01:14.719 That God is still with them, and often in the story of Daniel, it's God's invisible hand remaining with them in grace for whoever would trust him. 00:01:15.280 --> 00:01:32.239 But one of the surprising storylines of the book of Daniel is that God's invitation to trust him, it wasn't just given to his people, the Israelites, but this invitation is also extended to anyone who would come to know him and submit to him as Lord. 00:01:32.719 --> 00:01:36.400 And so we see this in several different ways as we go through the story. 00:01:36.560 --> 00:01:42.959 One, let me just remind you that the center portion of the book of Daniel, the part we're reading today, was not written in Hebrew. 00:01:43.200 --> 00:01:44.560 It was written in Aramaic. 00:01:44.640 --> 00:01:48.000 And so, really, all the Old Testament is written in Hebrew, except for this. 00:01:48.159 --> 00:01:53.120 It's written in the common language of the day, really meant to be a message for all. 00:01:53.680 --> 00:02:01.280 And this invitation of God to reveal himself to even those on the outside, it's there in the story of Nebuchadnezzar as well. 00:02:01.519 --> 00:02:09.520 This mighty king of Babylon, would he find himself humbled before God and thus a recipient of God's grace as well? 00:02:10.080 --> 00:02:29.759 And so last week we had a story where Nebuchadnezzar he had had this nightmare of a mighty statue, and God had revealed to him through Daniel that this was a picture of the rising and the falling of kingdoms, and yet God would rule over them all, and especially he would be preparing to establish his own kingdom, one that would never end. 00:02:30.000 --> 00:02:37.759 There was a subtle invitation there that Nebuchadnezzar should take his place under and in service to the God who rules. 00:02:38.159 --> 00:02:43.120 And the chapter ends kinda with the subtle question Will He? 00:02:43.759 --> 00:02:46.560 Will Nebuchadnezzar humble himself before God? 00:02:46.879 --> 00:02:50.080 Well, that's where we pick up the story this morning in Daniel chapter 3. 00:02:50.240 --> 00:02:52.159 We'll read verses 1 through 30. 00:02:52.400 --> 00:02:56.960 Once again, if you're using the Church Bible, it can be found on page 878. 00:02:57.599 --> 00:03:00.879 So Daniel chapter 3, beginning in verse 1. 00:03:01.280 --> 00:03:07.439 King Nebuchadnezzar made an image of gold whose height was 60 cubits, and its breadth six cubits. 00:03:07.680 --> 00:03:11.039 He set it up on the plain of Durah in the province of Babylon. 00:03:11.280 --> 00:03:26.400 Then King Nebuchadnezzar sent to the gather the satraps and the prefects, and the governors, the counselors, the treasurers, the justices, the magistrates, and all the officials of the provinces to come to the dedication of the image that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up. 00:03:26.800 --> 00:03:38.719 Then the satraps and the prefects and the governors, the counselors, the treasurers, the justices, the magistrates, and all the officials of the provinces gathered for the dedication of the image that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up. 00:03:39.120 --> 00:03:42.479 And they stood before the image that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up. 00:03:42.719 --> 00:04:00.479 And the herald proclaimed aloud, You're commanded, O peoples, nations, and languages, when you hear the sound of the horn and pipe, the lyre, the trigon, the harp, the bagpipe, and every kind of music, you are to fall down and worship the golden image that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up. 00:04:00.879 --> 00:04:06.719 And whoever does not fall down and worship shall immediately be cast into a burning fiery furnace. 00:04:06.960 --> 00:04:21.759 Therefore, as soon as all the peoples heard the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, bagpipe, and every kind of music, all the peoples, nations, and languages fell down and worshipped the old golden image that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up. 00:04:22.480 --> 00:04:27.519 Therefore, at that time certain Chaldeans came forward and maliciously accused the Jews. 00:04:27.759 --> 00:04:31.199 They declared to King Nebuchadnezzar, O king, live forever. 00:04:31.439 --> 00:04:42.319 You, O king, have made a decree that every man who hears the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, bagpipe, and every kind of music shall fall down and worship the golden image. 00:04:42.560 --> 00:04:47.839 And whoever does not fall down and worship shall be cast into a burning fiery furnace. 00:04:48.079 --> 00:04:54.560 There are certain Jews whom you have appointed over the affairs of the prophets of Babylon, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. 00:04:55.199 --> 00:04:57.680 These men, O king, pay no attention to you. 00:04:57.920 --> 00:05:02.319 They do not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up. 00:05:02.959 --> 00:05:08.480 Then Nebuchadnezzar, in furious rage, commanded that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego be brought. 00:05:08.720 --> 00:05:11.120 So they brought these men before the king. 00:05:11.439 --> 00:05:20.079 Nebuchadnezzar answered and said to them, Is it true, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the golden image that I have set up? 00:05:20.319 --> 00:05:31.199 Now if you are ready when you hear the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, bagpipe, and every kind of music, to fall down and worship the image that I have made well and good. 00:05:31.600 --> 00:05:36.560 But if you do not worship, you shall immediately be cast into a burning fiery furnace. 00:05:36.879 --> 00:05:40.319 And who is the God who will deliver you out of my hands? 00:05:41.199 --> 00:05:48.639 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. 00:05:48.879 --> 00:05:57.279 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. 00:05:57.519 --> 00:06:03.759 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. 00:06:04.000 --> 00:06:10.480 Then Nebuchadnezzar was filled with fury, and the expression of his face was changed against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. 00:06:11.040 --> 00:06:22.079 He ordered the furnace heated seven times more than it was usually heated, and he ordered some of the mighty men of his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, and to cast them into the burning fiery furnace. 00:06:22.319 --> 00:06:29.600 Then these men were bound in their cloaks, their tunics, their hats, and their other garments, and they were thrown into the burning fiery furnace. 00:06:29.839 --> 00:06:36.879 Because the king's order was urgent and the furnace overheated, the flame of the fire killed those men who took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. 00:06:37.519 --> 00:06:43.920 And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, fell into the burning fiery furnace. 00:06:44.319 --> 00:06:47.920 Then King Nebuchadnezzar was astonished and rose up in haste. 00:06:48.079 --> 00:06:52.720 He declared to his counselors, Did we not cast three men bound into the fire? 00:06:52.959 --> 00:06:55.680 They answered and said to the king, True, O king. 00:06:55.920 --> 00:07:05.759 And 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 the son of the gods. 00:07:06.319 --> 00:07:10.000 Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the door of the burning fiery furnace. 00:07:10.160 --> 00:07:16.399 He declared, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, servants of the most high God, come out and come here. 00:07:17.120 --> 00:07:20.639 Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego came out from the fire. 00:07:20.879 --> 00:07:29.839 And the satraps and the prefects and the governors and the king's counselors gathered together and saw that the fire had not had any power over their bodies of these men. 00:07:30.240 --> 00:07:36.000 The hair of their heads was not singed, their cloaks were not harmed, and no smell of fire had come upon them. 00:07:36.399 --> 00:07:52.959 Nebuchadnezzar answered and said, Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who has sent his angel and delivered his servants, who trusted in him, and set aside the king's command, and yielded up their bodies rather than serve and worship any God except their own God. 00:07:53.199 --> 00:08:04.639 Therefore I make a decree any people, nation, or language that speaks anything against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego shall be torn limb from limb, and their houses laid in ruins. 00:08:04.879 --> 00:08:08.480 For there is no God who is able to rescue in this way. 00:08:08.959 --> 00:08:14.079 Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the province of Babylon. 00:08:14.319 --> 00:08:16.240 This is the word of the Lord. 00:08:16.639 --> 00:08:22.800 Well, we just read a lot, and so let's pray and ask for God's help as we seek to understand it. 00:08:23.120 --> 00:08:31.839 Heavenly Father, you say that your word is living and active and useful for our teaching and our rebuking and our correcting and even our training in righteousness. 00:08:32.080 --> 00:08:35.279 And so we ask by your Spirit you would help to do just that. 00:08:35.519 --> 00:08:38.879 They would hear you speak to us, and you would use it for our good. 00:08:39.200 --> 00:08:41.759 We ask this for your glory in Jesus' name. 00:08:42.000 --> 00:08:42.639 Amen. 00:08:43.200 --> 00:08:48.080 Well, at the end of chapter two, it had seemed like Nebuchadnezzar had gotten the message. 00:08:48.159 --> 00:08:57.919 And so if you can just look back, chapter 2, verse 47, he had praised Daniel, saying, Truly your God is the God of gods and the Lord of kings. 00:08:58.879 --> 00:09:00.639 Your God is the one. 00:09:01.679 --> 00:09:07.679 But then, beginning in chapter 3, King Nebuchadnezzar made an image of gold. 00:09:08.159 --> 00:09:12.000 And then he desperately tries to force everyone to fall down in worship. 00:09:12.080 --> 00:09:17.679 And what we're told over and over again, did you notice, the image that King Nebuchadnezzar set up. 00:09:17.919 --> 00:09:22.320 You know, we've talked before, one of the strategies of Old Testament narrative is repetition. 00:09:22.960 --> 00:09:26.240 And the repetition in this chapter is a bit monotonous. 00:09:26.399 --> 00:09:38.320 We're told over and over again about the image that the king set up, over and over again about all the people who had to gather in, over and over about the cacophony of noise and music that would force everyone to bow down and worship. 00:09:38.799 --> 00:09:41.360 Makes us ask the question: who is ruling? 00:09:42.240 --> 00:09:45.279 Who really is ruling over all? 00:09:46.559 --> 00:09:51.440 There's an old saying that says, A lesson truly learned is a lesson truly lived. 00:09:51.840 --> 00:09:56.000 And so we see Nebuchadnezzar, he hasn't really learned this lesson. 00:09:56.639 --> 00:10:02.080 You know, now that our kids have gotten older, we've been working through the Jurassic Park movies with them. 00:10:02.720 --> 00:10:06.399 And it doesn't take long, there's like many movies for you to get the point right. 00:10:06.639 --> 00:10:08.720 These guys never learn. 00:10:09.200 --> 00:10:10.080 Never learn. 00:10:10.240 --> 00:10:11.840 Same storyline over and over again. 00:10:12.000 --> 00:10:13.200 Life finds a way. 00:10:13.360 --> 00:10:16.240 You can't play God when it comes to the dinosaurs. 00:10:16.960 --> 00:10:19.759 And so it is, it seems, for Nebuchadnezzar. 00:10:20.080 --> 00:10:25.120 He had acknowledged God, but he had fallen short of worship. 00:10:25.840 --> 00:10:31.279 Really, this entire chapter is all about worship, and it's a question of what will we worship? 00:10:31.600 --> 00:10:38.000 And we might tend to think of worship as primarily a religious issue, and that's not really the case for two reasons. 00:10:38.240 --> 00:10:51.600 One is that the Bible presents that human beings are inherently worshiping people, that we inherently look for things to center our life around, to put our security in and to find our fulfillment through. 00:10:51.840 --> 00:10:54.399 And so it's natural, it's the way we're designed to be. 00:10:54.559 --> 00:11:03.600 And so Jamie Smith, the author, he says that this afternoon, as people gather around TVs and in stadiums, they will be about a worship experience. 00:11:04.000 --> 00:11:06.080 They will sing songs together. 00:11:06.320 --> 00:11:08.799 They will fall down and stand up together. 00:11:09.039 --> 00:11:12.639 They will praise and worship what's in front of them. 00:11:13.440 --> 00:11:16.639 And if you go to that end of the road, you see where it's going. 00:11:16.960 --> 00:11:20.240 That worship, we center our lives around something. 00:11:20.639 --> 00:11:26.559 And so, in that way, actually, if we think of worship as primarily a religious thing, we might actually be headed to trouble. 00:11:26.720 --> 00:11:30.559 That religion can sometimes be the worst example of worship. 00:11:30.879 --> 00:11:41.360 That we have a unique ability to give lip service to worship within religion, while really centering our lives, our hopes and our dreams, our resources around other things. 00:11:41.759 --> 00:11:44.559 And so there's that famous scene from the Godfather. 00:11:44.799 --> 00:11:49.840 Walking into church on Sunday morning only to walk out and commit murder right after. 00:11:50.159 --> 00:11:52.879 See, worship is for within that building. 00:11:53.200 --> 00:11:59.919 But what we see this morning is that true worship, it really drives and centers everything else in our life around it. 00:12:00.080 --> 00:12:10.799 And this is why the Bible claims, it makes a claim that only God should be worshiped, that He is the only one who is good enough and powerful enough and just enough, the creator and designer and ruler. 00:12:10.960 --> 00:12:13.360 He is the one who is worthy of worship. 00:12:13.519 --> 00:12:23.679 He's the only one who would actually, by worshiping him, by centering our lives around him, he's the only one who would actually center and bring life to our lives. 00:12:24.559 --> 00:12:30.080 That's why alternatively, idolatry in the Bible is just when something else takes the place of God. 00:12:30.159 --> 00:12:34.720 And so just remember, idolatry, you think of the word idol, it's a little God. 00:12:35.279 --> 00:12:40.639 And so idolatry is worshiping or serving other things as God in our life. 00:12:41.440 --> 00:12:44.720 And so this is a lesson we need to learn from King Nebuchadnezzar. 00:12:44.799 --> 00:12:50.240 You know, it is a positive note in our passage that King Nebuchadnezzar he still continues to learn. 00:12:50.879 --> 00:12:54.559 He is learning over time, and really that should give us hope. 00:12:54.799 --> 00:12:57.120 There's hope for slow learners. 00:12:57.440 --> 00:13:03.679 I think we often want to think of ourselves as quick learners, and so maybe we're quick to shake our heads at King Nebuchadnezzar. 00:13:03.840 --> 00:13:06.639 How could he have missed the point or forgotten so quickly? 00:13:06.960 --> 00:13:09.759 But in reality, I think we're more like the king than we care to admit. 00:13:10.399 --> 00:13:13.519 We're often slow to learn and quick to forget. 00:13:14.159 --> 00:13:21.039 Have you been in an experience where you call out to God in a crisis only to forget about him when life settles down? 00:13:22.000 --> 00:13:31.679 Or you're on fire for God during certain times of your life, like spiritual mountaintop moments, only to slide into kind of lukewarm inactivity when things settle back down. 00:13:32.559 --> 00:13:37.039 And so, like King Nebuchadnezzar, we need another chance to learn the lesson again. 00:13:37.519 --> 00:13:47.600 And so that's our goal this morning is to grow, to entrust ourselves to God as the only one who is worthy of our service and the only one worth serving. 00:13:48.080 --> 00:13:53.919 That God is the only one worthy of our service and the only one who is actually worthwhile to serve. 00:13:54.480 --> 00:13:57.919 And so to learn this lesson, we're gonna work through our story in three stages. 00:13:58.000 --> 00:14:01.519 It's just kind of the three parts of the story as it develops. 00:14:01.679 --> 00:14:06.720 And so we'll look at the setup, the showdown, and the show up. 00:14:07.600 --> 00:14:10.399 And so the setup, the showdown, and the show-up. 00:14:10.559 --> 00:14:11.759 And so, first the setup. 00:14:11.919 --> 00:14:17.440 If you notice, the the buildup of this story is really setting up the pressure of idolatry. 00:14:17.600 --> 00:14:25.679 It is a setup where idolatry is going to come face to face and force the characters in our story to make a choice. 00:14:26.000 --> 00:14:38.080 You know, this is the reality when it comes to idolatry that we often face intense pressure to serve the people and the forces around us who seem to have control and power over our lives. 00:14:38.320 --> 00:14:43.039 And so it's one of the ways we might identify where we might be tempted towards idolatry. 00:14:43.200 --> 00:14:57.600 So pay attention to the threats, the threats to ourselves and our security, where we feel threatened, or even the threats we give when we're willing to threaten other things and other people to protect what we have. 00:14:58.159 --> 00:15:03.200 And that's what we see going on at the beginning of this story: the internal pressure of idolatry. 00:15:03.279 --> 00:15:06.559 It's when King Nebuchadnezzar himself feels threatened. 00:15:06.799 --> 00:15:14.000 And so, despite God's revelation to him in chapter 2, he's still compelled to serve himself and his gods. 00:15:14.399 --> 00:15:23.840 And so think back to last week, God had described King Nebuchadnezzar and his kingdom as the head of gold in this dream he had had, that King Nebuchadnezzar was the head of gold. 00:15:24.000 --> 00:15:32.559 And apparently he was so enthralled with this position that he forgot the point of the dream, that his kingdom would not last, that its splendor was just a passing season. 00:15:32.799 --> 00:15:39.919 Or maybe he just couldn't help himself but try to resist the inevitable, like the natural urge to fight death until the very end. 00:15:40.080 --> 00:15:44.320 Either way, the king he responds to this truth that God alone rules by what? 00:15:44.559 --> 00:15:47.120 Getting to work to strengthen his own rule. 00:15:47.600 --> 00:15:51.519 And so in verse 1, if you look back, we're not told exactly what this statue looked like. 00:15:51.679 --> 00:15:54.720 And so the height of it was probably 90 feet tall. 00:15:54.960 --> 00:15:56.320 And what was it an image of? 00:15:56.480 --> 00:15:59.279 We don't exactly know, but what are we told over and over again? 00:15:59.440 --> 00:16:00.639 Who was it about? 00:16:01.600 --> 00:16:05.200 It was about the image that King Nebuchadnezzar set up. 00:16:05.519 --> 00:16:06.879 You see, the message is clear. 00:16:07.039 --> 00:16:09.919 The king's image is all about the king. 00:16:10.240 --> 00:16:18.720 And the yes men of Nebuchadnezzar's court, they get the point because when in verse 12, when they come and they accuse Daniel's Jewish companions, what do they say? 00:16:18.879 --> 00:16:21.519 These men, O king, they pay no attention to you. 00:16:21.759 --> 00:16:26.559 They don't serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up. 00:16:27.600 --> 00:16:34.320 You see, despite his great empire, Nebuchadnezzar still felt the internal pressure of idolatry. 00:16:35.200 --> 00:16:36.960 And part of his pressure was pride. 00:16:37.200 --> 00:16:42.879 And so you see, the king is incredibly addicted to approval and the worship of those around him. 00:16:43.360 --> 00:16:50.960 That's why we have the repetition of the satraps, the prefects, the governors, the counselors, the treasurers, the justices, the magistrates, all the officials. 00:16:51.200 --> 00:16:53.039 It's not just to make it hard to read. 00:16:53.200 --> 00:16:56.879 No, no, it's to prove the point that everyone had to come to his party. 00:16:57.840 --> 00:17:03.519 And you see how angry the king gets when only three teenage Jews refuse him. 00:17:04.720 --> 00:17:07.759 This is how it always is when someone has made an idol of approval. 00:17:08.079 --> 00:17:09.680 They never have enough. 00:17:10.319 --> 00:17:14.960 Everyone else can like us, but if that one person does it, it really sticks us. 00:17:15.519 --> 00:17:21.119 It's like a dictator or authoritarian who has to stamp out every last bit of opposition. 00:17:21.599 --> 00:17:23.200 You see, this is the way of idolatry. 00:17:23.279 --> 00:17:25.920 It's insatiable what it demands from us. 00:17:26.559 --> 00:17:37.279 I was reminded of a time early on when I was uh just starting out as a pastor, and so I was an assistant pastor of a church, and I had to learn a hard lesson about how much I cared about other people's approval. 00:17:37.519 --> 00:17:46.799 The lead pastor was away, and so I was in charge for the morning, and so we had a service, I thought it went really well, and after the services, I was standing at the door, kind of greeting people as they left. 00:17:46.960 --> 00:17:51.200 A visitor had come by and he gave me some pretty harsh criticism about the service. 00:17:51.839 --> 00:17:54.079 It wasn't really anything that was my fault. 00:17:54.319 --> 00:18:01.119 I had the entire church supporting me and with me, and yet one visitor ruined my Sunday. 00:18:01.359 --> 00:18:03.519 I couldn't get it out of my mind. 00:18:03.920 --> 00:18:05.279 What is his problem? 00:18:05.519 --> 00:18:06.720 What did I do? 00:18:07.599 --> 00:18:08.640 Crushed me. 00:18:09.519 --> 00:18:10.720 What about you? 00:18:11.359 --> 00:18:18.160 If you want to start to identify where the idols might be forming from within, look at where and why you feel threatened. 00:18:19.119 --> 00:18:21.839 You know, sometimes the golden image is our career. 00:18:22.400 --> 00:18:25.920 And so we're happy being a Christian and kind of doing the church thing. 00:18:26.160 --> 00:18:28.160 But what we're really serving is our career. 00:18:28.240 --> 00:18:33.039 That's where we're hard at work building our security and respect or even just our self-esteem. 00:18:33.359 --> 00:18:35.599 How do you know when your career doesn't go well? 00:18:36.000 --> 00:18:37.839 The threat can feel crushing. 00:18:38.720 --> 00:18:41.119 Or even sometimes our family can be like this. 00:18:41.359 --> 00:18:43.279 Are we most insecure? 00:18:43.839 --> 00:18:49.200 Quickest to overreact when our family's reputation or performance is a threat. 00:18:50.799 --> 00:18:53.839 You see, it could be our time or our comfort or our security. 00:18:54.000 --> 00:18:59.440 You see, the pressure of idolatry, it starts from within, but it also then goes out externally. 00:18:59.759 --> 00:19:13.359 You see, the king says internal pressure of idolatry, then it leads to external pressure for others, from his own internal sense of threat, to then being willing to threaten others to answer the insatiable desire. 00:19:13.680 --> 00:19:16.160 That's another way to identify your idols. 00:19:16.480 --> 00:19:19.119 When and where are you driven to make threats? 00:19:19.920 --> 00:19:21.440 This or else. 00:19:22.640 --> 00:19:25.759 For Nebuchadnezzar, it starts there in verse 4 if you look down. 00:19:26.079 --> 00:19:34.480 You notice for all of Nebuchadnezzar's power and influence, he's the most powerful man in the world at his time, he still has to resort to threats to get his way. 00:19:35.599 --> 00:19:40.559 Verse 4, the herald proclaimed aloud, You're commanded, O peoples, nations, and languages. 00:19:40.799 --> 00:19:50.079 When you hear the sound of the horn and the pipe, the lyre, the trigon, the harp, the bagpipe, and every kind of music, you're to fall down and worship the golden image that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up. 00:19:50.319 --> 00:19:56.799 And whoever does not fall down and worship shall immediately be cast into a burning fiery furnace. 00:19:57.200 --> 00:20:01.839 And again and again we're told about this drumbeat of the music of conformity. 00:20:02.000 --> 00:20:04.960 A diverse orchestra, a cacophony it must have been. 00:20:05.200 --> 00:20:10.480 It was meant to represent the scope of the kingdom, and yet all commanding uniformity. 00:20:10.960 --> 00:20:24.720 And again, again, we're told of all the people who were invited to the party, every people and language and nation and empire gather together, all the most powerful and intelligent people of the kingdom, practically falling over themselves in their rush to serve the king's image. 00:20:25.039 --> 00:20:26.160 It's absurd. 00:20:26.880 --> 00:20:29.759 And I think it's exactly what the writer wants us to realize. 00:20:30.000 --> 00:20:33.359 We're meant to see the absurdity of idolatry. 00:20:34.079 --> 00:20:40.400 The absurdity of what it demands from us, the absurdity of who we become when we serve these lesser things. 00:20:40.799 --> 00:20:43.759 But you know, often it doesn't feel absurd in the moment, right? 00:20:44.319 --> 00:20:48.960 External pressure, we feel that we have to give more and more to the images of success. 00:20:49.680 --> 00:20:52.480 The images that are more like caricatures of reality. 00:20:52.720 --> 00:20:55.680 Easy to see in others, but hard to see in ourselves. 00:20:56.480 --> 00:21:04.480 You know, the Bible says that as people cave to the pressure of idolatry, whether internal or external, they slowly become like the idols they serve. 00:21:04.640 --> 00:21:08.640 And so it's like the story of the Midas, King Midas and his golden touch. 00:21:08.880 --> 00:21:10.480 We become what we serve. 00:21:10.640 --> 00:21:13.839 And that's exactly what's happening with these Babylonian officials. 00:21:13.920 --> 00:21:24.480 They're falling down before the king's image, they're becoming lifeless robots, almost like statues themselves, automatically responding to the mantra of conformity. 00:21:26.240 --> 00:21:33.519 You know, I think in the in the Western world, in our experience, we don't often face the pressure to bow down and to worship something or someone else. 00:21:33.920 --> 00:21:38.000 But we still do have external pressure, and the truth is still the same. 00:21:38.160 --> 00:21:41.039 We eventually become like what we serve. 00:21:42.079 --> 00:21:46.480 People don't set out to be dominated by their idols, it's just what happens over time. 00:21:46.880 --> 00:21:51.440 I think it's easiest to see in the extreme, and so you can see it with people who struggle with addiction. 00:21:51.680 --> 00:21:55.200 You see the end result of losing control and becoming less. 00:21:55.759 --> 00:21:59.359 But the road there, the road is the same for every idol. 00:22:00.480 --> 00:22:05.839 And so if your idol is the approval of other people, eventually you will lose your own identity. 00:22:06.400 --> 00:22:09.599 Happy and working to please everyone else around you. 00:22:10.720 --> 00:22:18.880 If the idol is appearance, we can become plastic, increasingly fake, like the image of beauty we're trying to achieve. 00:22:20.240 --> 00:22:24.240 Or think about the pressures that many of our families face, even in youth sports. 00:22:24.480 --> 00:22:31.039 You know, if we treat youth sports with the pressure and expectation and commitment of a professional, what are we becoming? 00:22:31.440 --> 00:22:35.599 Agents instead of parents, training commodities instead of children. 00:22:36.960 --> 00:22:49.200 The Bible tells us that this is the end game of every idol, to dehumanize us, because it replaces a good and glorious God in whose image we were created and instead replaces it with less. 00:22:51.039 --> 00:22:55.599 You see, ultimately, idolatry leads to a showdown. 00:22:56.079 --> 00:22:58.079 Serve me or else. 00:22:59.119 --> 00:23:01.279 That's the second part of our story here. 00:23:01.599 --> 00:23:03.039 The showdown. 00:23:03.279 --> 00:23:09.440 The setup leading to the showdown that eventually idolatry will lead to a showdown. 00:23:09.680 --> 00:23:17.279 I just want to say it's of course perfectly appropriate for us to be involved in many things, personally, politically, culturally. 00:23:17.440 --> 00:23:22.960 It's great to have goals and careers, things to be working for and enjoying giving our time to. 00:23:23.279 --> 00:23:30.640 But the key for knowing when any of these things can become an idol, when it becomes the center of who we are, is that it leads to a showdown. 00:23:30.880 --> 00:23:34.319 There is a showdown ultimately between who will call the shots in your life. 00:23:34.480 --> 00:23:41.680 Would it be God and his plans and promises and his demands, or would it be the plans and promises and demands of an idol? 00:23:42.319 --> 00:23:46.079 And the showdown in our story comes in the form of an ultimatum. 00:23:46.799 --> 00:23:52.640 And so in verse 8, we have these classic enforcers of whatever the cultural idolatry is. 00:23:52.880 --> 00:24:00.240 These are the guys who keep everyone else in line, and so they repeat word for word the command of the king because, of course, they know the rules. 00:24:00.480 --> 00:24:02.000 Everyone agrees. 00:24:02.319 --> 00:24:05.039 And then in verse 12, they make the accusation. 00:24:05.359 --> 00:24:10.480 There are certain Jews who you have appointed over the affairs of the province of Babylon. 00:24:10.799 --> 00:24:12.880 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. 00:24:13.440 --> 00:24:15.599 These men, O king, pay no attention to you. 00:24:15.759 --> 00:24:19.440 They do not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up. 00:24:21.279 --> 00:24:27.839 What's interesting is that the previous chapters, they've already established that these three were wise and effective administrators. 00:24:28.000 --> 00:24:31.440 It says they were wiser than all the other wise men of Babylon. 00:24:31.759 --> 00:24:35.359 When it came to being a good Babylonian, they were the top. 00:24:36.000 --> 00:24:39.039 Surprising considering that they were captives in exile. 00:24:39.359 --> 00:24:42.960 But when it came to the idolatry of Nebuchadnezzar, it's all or nothing. 00:24:43.119 --> 00:24:47.440 If you don't serve and worship fully, you're disloyal to the king. 00:24:47.680 --> 00:24:56.640 It's a point of consideration that if your attachments, perhaps our political leanings, if they require complete loyalty, we might be in danger. 00:24:58.720 --> 00:25:02.799 Verse 13, the king responds, it says, furious rage. 00:25:03.279 --> 00:25:09.920 Furious rage, our anger, it often tells us more about the disorder within than the disorder outside of us. 00:25:10.400 --> 00:25:13.119 And then the ultimatum comes, verse 13. 00:25:13.519 --> 00:25:22.960 If you're ready now when you hear this cacophony of music, if you're ready to fall down and worship the image I have made, well and good, we can put this behind us. 00:25:23.440 --> 00:25:28.559 But if you do not, you'll immediately be cast into a burning, fiery furnace. 00:25:28.880 --> 00:25:31.359 Serve me or else. 00:25:32.480 --> 00:25:35.519 This is what often we hear when our idols are threatened. 00:25:36.079 --> 00:25:42.799 And so think about it, if we're if work is an idol, then whenever you try to take a step back, you'll be flooded with fear. 00:25:43.119 --> 00:25:46.079 Fear about what could be wrong, go wrong if you're not involved. 00:25:46.319 --> 00:25:51.039 Fear about how your career could be limited if you don't give everything that's demanded. 00:25:51.519 --> 00:25:59.519 If influence and approval are our idols, we'll be threatened with exposure if we ever let our guard down, if we truly let somebody see who we really are. 00:26:00.000 --> 00:26:02.480 You see, our idols always demand more from us. 00:26:02.640 --> 00:26:04.559 Serve me or else. 00:26:05.599 --> 00:26:10.079 But you notice for Shadrach, Mesha, and Akednego, they see another option. 00:26:10.640 --> 00:26:13.920 In response to the ultimatum, they make a clear commitment. 00:26:14.160 --> 00:26:15.839 Look down, verse 18. 00:26:16.400 --> 00:26:20.799 We will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up. 00:26:21.359 --> 00:26:24.000 You see, they had learned the lesson of chapter 2. 00:26:24.240 --> 00:26:25.279 God alone rules. 00:26:25.440 --> 00:26:27.599 He is the God of gods and ruler of kings. 00:26:27.680 --> 00:26:32.400 And so if it's God or King Nebuchadnezzar, they know how to demonstrate their knowledge by their life. 00:26:32.559 --> 00:26:35.519 If God rules, they would serve him alone. 00:26:36.559 --> 00:26:46.319 And in response to their commitment, we're told in verse 19 the king Nebuchadnezzar, he was filled with fury, and the expression of his face was changed against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. 00:26:47.680 --> 00:26:51.680 Literally, the wording there is that the image of his face changed. 00:26:52.240 --> 00:26:59.359 That Nebuchadnezzar he has become like his image, like his statue, lifeless, hard, hideous. 00:26:59.680 --> 00:27:01.279 He's lost complete control. 00:27:02.000 --> 00:27:09.359 So what happens when our idols are threatened, when the things we serve in addition or instead of God comes under threat, we become angry and irrational. 00:27:09.599 --> 00:27:10.880 Another idol test. 00:27:11.039 --> 00:27:13.839 Follow the trail of your anger and defensiveness. 00:27:14.079 --> 00:27:18.799 And so King Nebuchadnezzar, he is just grasping harder and harder to try to control. 00:27:18.880 --> 00:27:21.680 And so look at the absurd details he tries to control. 00:27:22.240 --> 00:27:25.599 He calls on the mighty men to bind the three teenagers. 00:27:25.839 --> 00:27:27.759 Call out the navy SEALs. 00:27:28.000 --> 00:27:31.599 He binds them in their cloaks and their tunics and their hats and their other garments. 00:27:31.839 --> 00:27:34.559 Do they really need to be bound to be thrown into a fire? 00:27:34.799 --> 00:27:38.799 In his irrational rage, he orders the furnace to be heated seven times hotter than normal. 00:27:38.960 --> 00:27:40.960 This is normal fire is not enough. 00:27:41.200 --> 00:27:43.519 Only at the cost of his own soldiers. 00:27:44.240 --> 00:27:47.200 And then in verse 23, we have the matter-of-fact statement. 00:27:47.440 --> 00:27:53.279 And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, fell bound into the burning, fiery furnace. 00:27:53.680 --> 00:27:54.960 Should be the end. 00:27:55.359 --> 00:27:56.640 Showdown over. 00:27:58.079 --> 00:27:59.680 But here's a turning point. 00:28:00.240 --> 00:28:08.319 When the idols in our life call for a showdown, when the moment of crisis comes, it's a great opportunity for God to show up. 00:28:09.920 --> 00:28:13.759 Notice the key question, end of verse 15, if we missed it. 00:28:14.079 --> 00:28:17.839 Who is the God who will deliver you out of my hands? 00:28:19.119 --> 00:28:20.240 Who will deliver you? 00:28:20.400 --> 00:28:21.839 Who will show up? 00:28:22.880 --> 00:28:28.319 And so as we come to our third point here, the question of idolatry is ultimately a question of faith. 00:28:28.640 --> 00:28:31.119 Who will show up in your life? 00:28:31.680 --> 00:28:41.119 You know, sometimes the trouble, we have trouble, I think, being comforted by stories like this because we don't, we kind of discount them as either exceptional or extreme. 00:28:41.759 --> 00:28:43.680 And so it seems a little extreme to us. 00:28:43.759 --> 00:28:49.920 And so we're dealing with things that are special or an extreme situation, not like the ordinary real life trouble we face. 00:28:50.079 --> 00:28:52.960 And so we wonder, can God show up in the ordinary? 00:28:53.440 --> 00:28:56.960 It also seems exceptional that this is the exception. 00:28:57.119 --> 00:28:59.839 What about all those times God doesn't seem to show up? 00:29:00.240 --> 00:29:04.079 It doesn't seem to save from death or suffering or conflict. 00:29:04.480 --> 00:29:10.000 I want to acknowledge those things, and hopefully, as we go through this point, we'll find how God can answer them. 00:29:10.640 --> 00:29:15.680 To start, let's just notice how ordinary the faith of these three characters really was. 00:29:16.240 --> 00:29:27.680 Not ordinary in the sense that they were facing intense pressure, but ordinary in the sense that their faith was similar to the faith we need in Christians often display. 00:29:28.480 --> 00:29:29.759 Because consider their position. 00:29:29.839 --> 00:29:35.599 They have become convinced that God is the true ruler, the one who is alone worthy and worth serving. 00:29:35.839 --> 00:29:40.640 Basically, the foundation of the Christian faith, and really the foundation of any religion or expression of faith. 00:29:40.880 --> 00:29:45.359 Be convinced of something, a conviction of truth, and then a confession to live accordingly. 00:29:45.759 --> 00:29:47.519 In that way it is ordinary. 00:29:47.759 --> 00:29:49.279 And then what does their faith look like? 00:29:49.440 --> 00:29:53.359 Well, on the one hand, confidence, but also humility. 00:29:53.759 --> 00:29:55.680 Faith without presumption. 00:29:56.160 --> 00:29:57.920 Verse 17, look down. 00:29:59.039 --> 00:30:07.759 If this be so, Nebuchadnezzar, if you throw the show down, if this be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us. 00:30:09.599 --> 00:30:16.960 But, if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image you have set up. 00:30:17.279 --> 00:30:18.960 You see how ordinary their faith was? 00:30:19.119 --> 00:30:23.359 A confidence in God's ability, but a humble reliance on the if not. 00:30:23.759 --> 00:30:26.720 They wouldn't demand how God would work out his plans. 00:30:26.880 --> 00:30:32.400 Neither did they presume that God was only worthy of their faith if he came through in the way they wanted. 00:30:32.720 --> 00:30:34.079 Sounds very realistic. 00:30:34.319 --> 00:30:37.200 Very ordinary of faith we're often struggling with. 00:30:37.599 --> 00:30:39.519 The faith of the if-not. 00:30:40.640 --> 00:30:42.559 You know, growing and lasting faith. 00:30:42.720 --> 00:30:45.680 At times it has to come to grips with the if-not. 00:30:46.240 --> 00:30:51.920 If God doesn't come through the way I want or expect, can I still trust him to do good? 00:30:53.680 --> 00:30:58.559 And if not, I wonder if we've given up the fight to idolatry. 00:30:59.359 --> 00:31:05.359 That we're treating God like a system that if we work it just the right way, God should respond the way we want. 00:31:06.480 --> 00:31:12.880 But thankfully, the story, it does illustrate how God responds, shows up for those with humble faith. 00:31:13.359 --> 00:31:16.559 Well, first, he literally does show up in this story. 00:31:16.799 --> 00:31:22.640 And so, verse 23, matter of fact, our three friends, they have fallen bound into the furnace. 00:31:22.880 --> 00:31:25.599 But from there, the story takes an astonishing twist. 00:31:25.920 --> 00:31:30.240 Verse 24, then King Nebuchadnezzar was astonished and rose up in haste. 00:31:30.400 --> 00:31:34.240 He declared to his counselors, Did we not cast three men bound into the fire? 00:31:34.400 --> 00:31:37.759 And they answered and said to the king, True, O king, yeah we did. 00:31:38.319 --> 00:31:44.640 And he answered, verse 25, and said, But I see four men unbound walking in the midst of the fire, and they're not hurt. 00:31:44.799 --> 00:31:47.839 And the appearance of the fourth is like a son of God's. 00:31:50.319 --> 00:31:55.039 Now we need to admit that we're not told the identity of the fourth figure in the fire. 00:31:55.519 --> 00:31:58.559 But we can understand some things from Nebuchadnezzar's description. 00:31:58.720 --> 00:32:05.519 It's clear that either this is an angel, as the king says later in verse 28, or maybe this is even God Himself showing up. 00:32:05.599 --> 00:32:10.000 If so, it's a pre-incarnate form of Jesus, the second person in the Trinity. 00:32:10.160 --> 00:32:11.119 Either way, the point is clear. 00:32:11.279 --> 00:32:12.960 Nebuchadnezzar knows what has happened. 00:32:13.119 --> 00:32:16.240 God has shown up for his servants, just as he promised. 00:32:17.039 --> 00:32:19.200 Anyone reading Daniel would have understood as well. 00:32:19.279 --> 00:32:26.079 It's a clear fulfillment to God's promise to them in Isaiah 43, a promise meant for them in exile. 00:32:26.559 --> 00:32:31.920 In Isaiah 43, 1 through 3, it says this: It says, Fear not, for I have redeemed you. 00:32:32.160 --> 00:32:34.079 I have called you by name, you are mine. 00:32:34.319 --> 00:32:38.960 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you, and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you. 00:32:39.279 --> 00:32:42.799 When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you. 00:32:42.960 --> 00:32:46.559 For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior. 00:32:47.920 --> 00:32:50.720 You see, God had promised His presence. 00:32:51.279 --> 00:32:56.720 Not necessarily the prevention of the trial and the trouble, but His presence through it. 00:32:57.599 --> 00:33:06.480 And so as we evaluate this miracle and kind of wonder about our place in it, can we just be honest and realize that God could have saved these three by simply taking them to heaven? 00:33:06.799 --> 00:33:08.160 It could have just been the end. 00:33:08.240 --> 00:33:10.240 And for them it would have been better. 00:33:10.480 --> 00:33:18.319 That's an expression of faith that God actually, if death would take me into eternity and perfection with you, then wouldn't that be great? 00:33:18.559 --> 00:33:19.759 But notice why he doesn't. 00:33:19.839 --> 00:33:21.839 It's because he had a greater purpose. 00:33:22.079 --> 00:33:25.920 Because when God shows up, he's also showing up the king. 00:33:26.240 --> 00:33:29.599 He is showing up the false gods who would threaten his people. 00:33:29.839 --> 00:33:38.240 And the writer of our story is a really wonderful way of kind of rewinding or reversing all the tension and the pressure of the story up until this point. 00:33:38.880 --> 00:33:40.240 And so look at verse 26. 00:33:40.400 --> 00:33:44.160 Nebuchadnezzar, he comes again to the door of the burning fiery furnace. 00:33:44.319 --> 00:33:47.359 The same situation that we've just been threatened with all throughout. 00:33:47.599 --> 00:33:50.400 But notice there is a reversal of the threat. 00:33:50.799 --> 00:33:59.119 The king who had sent them in now declares, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, servants of the most high God, come out, come here. 00:33:59.920 --> 00:34:03.839 And then verse 27, all the nobles and officials of Babylon, they draw near. 00:34:04.000 --> 00:34:08.400 Those who were meant to see the glory of Nebuchadnezzar and his image, what did they see now? 00:34:08.719 --> 00:34:10.800 The glory of God's salvation. 00:34:11.280 --> 00:34:15.199 They saw that the fire had not had any power over the bodies of these men. 00:34:15.440 --> 00:34:20.320 The hair of their heads had not been singed, their cloaks were not harmed, and no smell of fire had come upon them. 00:34:20.480 --> 00:34:24.320 Notice the kind of close and intimate inspection they must have done. 00:34:24.800 --> 00:34:25.840 Gathering around. 00:34:25.920 --> 00:34:27.599 Really, can it be true? 00:34:28.559 --> 00:34:30.639 You know, there's no question the king has a lot to learn. 00:34:30.800 --> 00:34:38.000 Verse 29, he kind of goes with his typical playbook, all right, threatening violence and treating God as if he needs to be defended. 00:34:38.239 --> 00:34:45.599 But Nebuchadnezzar, he is making progress because, end of verse 29, God alone is worth serving. 00:34:45.920 --> 00:34:49.199 There is no other God who is able to rescue in this way. 00:34:49.840 --> 00:34:54.400 Once again, we get the clearest lesson from King Nebuchadnezzar himself. 00:34:56.239 --> 00:34:58.639 He realizes that this is what it was all about. 00:34:58.800 --> 00:35:00.480 The battle line was clear. 00:35:00.800 --> 00:35:06.079 God had shown up and shown that no other God or king was worth serving. 00:35:06.480 --> 00:35:08.400