WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:04.799 King Nebuchadnezzar made an image of gold whose height was 60 cubits and its breadth 00:00:04.799 --> 00:00:05.600 six cubits. 00:00:06.060 --> 00:00:09.740 He set it up on the plain of Dura in the province of Babylon. 00:00:10.700 --> 00:00:14.540 Then King Nebuchadnezzar sent to gather the satraps, the prefects, and the governors, 00:00:14.679 --> 00:00:18.800 the counselors, the treasurers, the justices, the magistrates, and all the officials of 00:00:18.800 --> 00:00:23.740 the province to come to the dedication of the image that King Nebuchadnezzar had set 00:00:23.740 --> 00:00:24.000 up. 00:00:24.699 --> 00:00:28.740 Then the satraps, the prefects, and the governors, the counselors, the treasurers, the justices, 00:00:28.739 --> 00:00:32.659 the magistrates, and all the officials of the provinces gathered for the dedication 00:00:32.659 --> 00:00:35.799 of the image that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up. 00:00:36.339 --> 00:00:40.159 And they stood before the image that Nebuchadnezzar had set up. 00:00:40.599 --> 00:00:46.140 And the herald proclaimed aloud, you are commanded, O peoples, nations, and languages, that when 00:00:46.140 --> 00:00:51.879 you hear the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, bagpipe, and every kind of music, 00:00:52.239 --> 00:00:56.820 you are to fall down and worship the golden image that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up. 00:00:56.820 --> 00:01:02.000 And whoever does not fall down and worship shall immediately be cast into a burning, 00:01:02.280 --> 00:01:02.980 fiery furnace. 00:01:03.820 --> 00:01:08.040 Therefore, as soon as all the peoples heard the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, 00:01:08.140 --> 00:01:13.200 harp, bagpipe, and every kind of music, all the peoples, nations, and languages fell down 00:01:13.200 --> 00:01:18.039 and worshiped the golden image that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up. 00:01:19.539 --> 00:01:20.359 Verse 8. 00:01:20.359 --> 00:01:26.200 Therefore, at that time, certain Chaldeans came forward and maliciously accused the Jews. 00:01:26.939 --> 00:01:30.260 They declared to King Nebuchadnezzar, O King, live forever. 00:01:31.000 --> 00:01:35.400 You, O King, have made a decree that every man who hears the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, 00:01:35.500 --> 00:01:41.200 trigon, harp, bagpipe, and every kind of music shall fall down and worship the golden image. 00:01:41.900 --> 00:01:46.799 And whoever does not fall down and worship shall be cast into a burning, fiery furnace. 00:01:46.799 --> 00:01:51.479 There are certain Jews whom you have appointed over the affairs of the province of Babylon, 00:01:51.979 --> 00:01:53.519 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. 00:01:54.140 --> 00:01:57.120 These men, O King, pay no attention to you. 00:01:57.539 --> 00:02:02.620 They do not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up. 00:02:03.620 --> 00:02:04.620 Verse 13. 00:02:05.780 --> 00:02:10.719 Then Nebuchadnezzar, in furious rage, commanded that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego be brought. 00:02:10.719 --> 00:02:13.520 So they brought these men before the king. 00:02:14.300 --> 00:02:14.979 Verse 14. 00:02:16.060 --> 00:02:17.460 Nebuchadnezzar answered and said to them, 00:02:17.580 --> 00:02:25.039 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? 00:02:25.780 --> 00:02:31.240 Now if you are ready when you hear the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, bagpipe, and every kind of music, 00:02:31.579 --> 00:02:35.860 to fall down and worship the image that I have made, well and good. 00:02:35.860 --> 00:02:41.540 But if you do not worship, you shall immediately be cast into a burning, fiery furnace. 00:02:42.420 --> 00:02:46.460 And who is the God who will deliver you out of my hands? 00:02:47.880 --> 00:02:48.660 Verse 16. 00:02:49.200 --> 00:02:52.140 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered and said to the king, 00:02:52.760 --> 00:02:56.400 O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. 00:02:57.060 --> 00:03:01.940 If this be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fire, 00:03:02.140 --> 00:03:04.460 the golden image that you have set up. 00:03:04.460 --> 00:03:06.560 Verse 19. 00:03:06.560 --> 00:03:13.379 Then Nebuchadnezzar was filled with fury, and the expression of his face was changed against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. 00:03:14.000 --> 00:03:18.020 He ordered the furnace heated seven times more than it was usually heated, 00:03:18.319 --> 00:03:23.280 and he ordered some of the mighty men of his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, 00:03:23.539 --> 00:03:25.840 and to cast them into burning, fiery furnace. 00:03:26.879 --> 00:03:31.219 Then these men were bound in their cloaks, their tunics, their hats, and their outer garments, 00:03:31.219 --> 00:03:34.099 and they were thrown into the burning, fiery furnace. 00:03:35.080 --> 00:03:38.439 Because the king's order was urgent and the furnace overheated, 00:03:38.800 --> 00:03:43.300 the flame of the fire killed those men who took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. 00:03:43.939 --> 00:03:49.979 And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, fell bound into the burning, fiery furnace. 00:03:49.979 --> 00:03:52.500 Verse 24. 00:04:19.980 --> 00:04:21.900 Verse 26. 00:04:21.900 --> 00:04:25.819 Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the door of the burning, fiery furnace. 00:04:26.580 --> 00:04:32.720 He declared, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out and come here. 00:04:33.640 --> 00:04:36.460 Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego came out from the fire. 00:04:37.400 --> 00:04:41.700 And the satraps, the prefects, the governors, and the king's counselors gathered together 00:04:41.700 --> 00:04:46.680 and saw that the fire had not had any power over the bodies of those men. 00:04:46.680 --> 00:04:51.319 The hair of their heads was not singed, their cloaks were not harmed, 00:04:51.800 --> 00:04:53.980 and no smell of fire had come upon them. 00:04:54.900 --> 00:04:56.300 Nebuchadnezzar answered and said, 00:04:56.439 --> 00:04:59.060 Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, 00:04:59.199 --> 00:05:03.460 who has sent his angel and delivered his servants who trusted in him 00:05:03.460 --> 00:05:08.480 and set aside the king's command and yielded up their bodies rather than serve 00:05:08.480 --> 00:05:11.819 and worship any god except their own god. 00:05:12.540 --> 00:05:16.259 Therefore I make a decree, any people, nation, or language, 00:05:16.259 --> 00:05:20.000 that speaks anything against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego 00:05:20.000 --> 00:05:23.980 shall be torn limb from limb and their houses laid in ruins. 00:05:24.560 --> 00:05:29.839 For there is no other god who is able to rescue in this way. 00:05:30.860 --> 00:05:37.259 Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the province of Babylon. 00:05:37.259 --> 00:05:44.219 I invite you to pray with me as we come to this portion of God's word. 00:05:46.120 --> 00:05:51.740 Our Father in heaven, we thank you again that you have not left us alone to figure out this world, 00:05:51.839 --> 00:05:54.300 but instead you have spoken to us through your word. 00:05:55.039 --> 00:05:57.039 We ask that you would do that this morning, 00:05:57.319 --> 00:06:01.920 that you would make clear to us your encouragement and also your instruction, 00:06:01.920 --> 00:06:06.319 that we would know you so that we can stand firm and take action. 00:06:06.759 --> 00:06:11.040 We ask these things grateful that we have not earned them or deserved them, 00:06:11.120 --> 00:06:13.240 but instead we can ask them in Jesus' name. 00:06:13.920 --> 00:06:14.140 Amen. 00:06:16.340 --> 00:06:16.780 Okay. 00:06:17.600 --> 00:06:18.560 It's test time. 00:06:19.139 --> 00:06:19.700 Set up. 00:06:19.879 --> 00:06:20.660 How many times? 00:06:22.660 --> 00:06:23.060 Amen. 00:06:23.360 --> 00:06:24.259 Thanks for shouting that out. 00:06:24.259 --> 00:06:25.259 Yeah, nine times. 00:06:25.319 --> 00:06:31.719 Nine times in verse 1, 2, twice in verse 3, verse 5, verse 7, verse 12, verse 14, and verse 18. 00:06:32.300 --> 00:06:33.860 And the point is clear. 00:06:34.959 --> 00:06:39.759 Nebuchadnezzar is setting up his own version of reality. 00:06:40.159 --> 00:06:44.000 This is not a separate story, but it is an episode, 00:06:44.199 --> 00:06:46.819 but it's connected deeply to what happened in chapter 2. 00:06:47.439 --> 00:06:52.079 Remember in chapter 2, we had this vision of the great image that had the head of fine gold, 00:06:52.079 --> 00:06:56.419 the shoulders and arms of silver, the middle and thighs in bronze, 00:06:56.500 --> 00:06:58.899 the legs were iron, the feet were iron and clay. 00:06:59.740 --> 00:07:03.279 That, we were told in chapter 2, was a great image. 00:07:03.359 --> 00:07:04.860 That's chapter 2, verse 31. 00:07:06.180 --> 00:07:10.419 Nebuchadnezzar decides he's going to set up his own image. 00:07:11.120 --> 00:07:14.500 He doesn't like the reality that was given him in chapter 2. 00:07:14.680 --> 00:07:16.819 He's going to create his own reality. 00:07:17.219 --> 00:07:20.360 He's going to build for himself what he wants. 00:07:20.360 --> 00:07:24.220 And so chapter 2, verse 31, there's a vision of a great image. 00:07:24.699 --> 00:07:26.280 What does he do in chapter 3? 00:07:26.400 --> 00:07:28.879 He decides he's going to set up his own great image. 00:07:29.020 --> 00:07:30.060 This is in verse 1. 00:07:30.500 --> 00:07:33.520 We're told that this is an incredibly tall image. 00:07:34.220 --> 00:07:37.960 And many people think this is between maybe 9 or 10 stories high. 00:07:38.819 --> 00:07:40.460 And so he's taking this dream. 00:07:40.600 --> 00:07:43.720 He's making it into reality, but he's changing some details. 00:07:43.800 --> 00:07:46.699 And there's one detail in particular that's important. 00:07:46.699 --> 00:07:52.500 Remember, in chapter 2, there was the stone that came at the end, right? 00:07:52.560 --> 00:07:58.319 There was a stone that knocked everything down, became a great mountain, and it filled the whole earth. 00:07:59.360 --> 00:08:02.800 And as Mark Bates explains so well, that stone is the kingdom of God, right? 00:08:02.800 --> 00:08:04.519 Which is growing and expanding. 00:08:04.659 --> 00:08:08.300 So it topples the nations that come before. 00:08:08.300 --> 00:08:12.300 Nebuchadnezzar doesn't like that, though. 00:08:13.300 --> 00:08:18.020 What, in chapter 2, what of God's image was made of fine gold? 00:08:21.920 --> 00:08:23.139 It's the head, right? 00:08:24.100 --> 00:08:26.240 Only the head was made of fine gold. 00:08:26.879 --> 00:08:27.400 Why? 00:08:29.580 --> 00:08:31.000 And what did it symbolize? 00:08:32.200 --> 00:08:34.799 Remember, the head symbolized Nebuchadnezzar. 00:08:34.799 --> 00:08:39.399 It was only the head because his kingdom would not be powerful forever. 00:08:39.519 --> 00:08:40.219 It would be toppled. 00:08:41.719 --> 00:08:44.240 Only the head in the dream is gold. 00:08:44.779 --> 00:08:47.199 Now the entire statue is gold. 00:08:47.379 --> 00:08:48.819 What is Nebuchadnezzar saying? 00:08:52.359 --> 00:08:55.719 God can say whatever he wants. 00:08:56.539 --> 00:08:58.740 Nebuchadnezzar believes he will last forever. 00:08:58.959 --> 00:09:01.839 God has said, chapter 2, you will be temporary. 00:09:01.840 --> 00:09:06.440 Nebuchadnezzar here in chapter 3 says, no, I won't. 00:09:06.780 --> 00:09:08.120 I will be permanent. 00:09:11.019 --> 00:09:13.320 Then, okay, here's another test. 00:09:14.100 --> 00:09:16.420 So Nebuchadnezzar, he's setting himself up as permanent. 00:09:16.560 --> 00:09:17.700 God said he was going to be temporary. 00:09:18.519 --> 00:09:20.340 How many times do we have the word worship? 00:09:23.340 --> 00:09:24.480 Eleven times, yes. 00:09:25.980 --> 00:09:28.840 He is not just setting up his own reality. 00:09:28.840 --> 00:09:32.840 Nebuchadnezzar demands worship. 00:09:34.500 --> 00:09:37.340 And so we see his arrogance in two ways with the statue. 00:09:37.560 --> 00:09:41.600 One, he's rejecting God's prophecy for what's going to happen. 00:09:42.980 --> 00:09:43.139 Okay. 00:09:43.360 --> 00:09:47.220 Two, he believes that he is worthy of worship. 00:09:47.879 --> 00:09:49.080 The point is this. 00:09:49.080 --> 00:09:55.040 When we live in this world, nations are temporary. 00:09:56.620 --> 00:09:58.780 But they desire to be permanent. 00:10:00.360 --> 00:10:01.960 Nations are temporary. 00:10:02.600 --> 00:10:03.960 They desire to be permanent. 00:10:04.200 --> 00:10:07.139 Nations aspire to eternal greatness. 00:10:08.200 --> 00:10:09.600 And it never happens. 00:10:09.600 --> 00:10:15.779 No nation has remained a superpower forever. 00:10:17.460 --> 00:10:19.940 I told you I was going to say that once a year. 00:10:20.040 --> 00:10:20.800 I skipped 2020. 00:10:21.080 --> 00:10:24.180 So I said it once in 2017, once in 2018, once in 2019. 00:10:24.600 --> 00:10:26.200 This is the time in 2021. 00:10:26.920 --> 00:10:30.440 No nation remains a superpower forever. 00:10:30.440 --> 00:10:40.720 Anyone who knows history knows that it's one of God's ways of showing that he is the one in charge and in control. 00:10:41.880 --> 00:10:42.760 So nations are temporary. 00:10:42.900 --> 00:10:43.740 They want to be permanent. 00:10:44.600 --> 00:10:46.440 Nations are supposed to represent God. 00:10:48.200 --> 00:10:51.000 But instead, they aspire to be God. 00:10:52.100 --> 00:10:53.940 Nations are meant to represent God. 00:10:54.060 --> 00:10:55.980 Instead, they desire to be God. 00:10:56.080 --> 00:10:59.280 So Romans chapter 13 actually calls the government ministers of God. 00:10:59.279 --> 00:11:01.339 They're here to represent him on the earth. 00:11:01.679 --> 00:11:05.779 And yet here in chapter 3, verse 5, we're told that Nebuchadnezzar wants to be God. 00:11:05.839 --> 00:11:08.600 He tells them, verse 5, to fall down and worship. 00:11:09.399 --> 00:11:11.799 Borrowing language here from Exodus chapter 20. 00:11:11.899 --> 00:11:14.839 In other words, he's asking them to violate the second commandment, 00:11:15.019 --> 00:11:17.279 which tells them not to worship any other gods. 00:11:18.319 --> 00:11:24.779 And so he's giving us here in a particular situation a general principle that applies to the nations of this world. 00:11:24.779 --> 00:11:29.059 Nations and rulers demand worship that only belongs to God. 00:11:29.279 --> 00:11:36.259 Nations and rulers sometimes receive worship that only belongs to God. 00:11:37.159 --> 00:11:45.480 We've had politicians, both Republicans and Democrats, in the last few decades who have been treated by some people as gods. 00:11:46.519 --> 00:11:49.259 And in many ways, they've aspired to be gods. 00:11:50.259 --> 00:11:53.120 And so that's a principle of the world that we understand from the Bible. 00:11:53.200 --> 00:11:54.439 We see it here in Daniel. 00:11:54.539 --> 00:11:56.259 We see it also in the book of Revelation. 00:11:56.639 --> 00:12:03.620 That these nations are looking to have this worship and this power and this control and this permanence that belongs to God alone. 00:12:04.500 --> 00:12:07.080 So it is for us. 00:12:07.080 --> 00:12:12.220 We live in a world where nations demand worship. 00:12:12.860 --> 00:12:15.700 Where they aspire and believe that they're going to be permanent. 00:12:15.820 --> 00:12:17.700 Now, it depends on what part of the world you live in. 00:12:18.220 --> 00:12:22.160 Some parts of the world, they demand literal worship to a literal god. 00:12:22.379 --> 00:12:24.580 So we prayed earlier this morning for Nigeria. 00:12:25.400 --> 00:12:29.180 In that place, there are people who demand that you worship Allah. 00:12:29.179 --> 00:12:32.759 In the West, it doesn't quite look like that. 00:12:32.859 --> 00:12:34.419 Our gods are slightly different. 00:12:34.559 --> 00:12:37.959 So in the West, we're not asked to worship literal gods. 00:12:38.199 --> 00:12:40.399 In other words, we're not bowing down before idols. 00:12:40.739 --> 00:12:43.000 But there are still things that demand our ultimate loyalty. 00:12:43.199 --> 00:12:46.979 One of them, one of the big ones, is consumerism, materialism. 00:12:47.719 --> 00:12:50.359 There's a reason people talk about the almighty dollar. 00:12:50.360 --> 00:12:53.460 Which is that something that we love in the West. 00:12:53.539 --> 00:12:54.560 We're supposed to worship. 00:12:55.220 --> 00:12:57.480 And so we see people bowing down to this image. 00:12:57.659 --> 00:13:03.440 Businesses will overlook heinous practices around the world if it means they can make more money. 00:13:04.300 --> 00:13:10.759 There was just an editorial in the Wall Street Journal two days ago talking about China's strategy to pressure American companies. 00:13:10.759 --> 00:13:14.720 To pressure the American government to overlook their human rights abuses. 00:13:15.940 --> 00:13:17.259 So that they can make money. 00:13:17.259 --> 00:13:21.100 They're asking them to bow down right before the god of wealth. 00:13:21.220 --> 00:13:25.860 To sacrifice the dignity of human people for the sake of the almighty dollar. 00:13:26.539 --> 00:13:28.919 That's one of the great gods of Western society. 00:13:29.860 --> 00:13:36.899 The other great god we're asked to bow down before these days is the god of what might be called sexual autonomy. 00:13:37.080 --> 00:13:38.319 Or so-called sexual freedom. 00:13:38.799 --> 00:13:41.159 Probably more accurately called sexual anarchy. 00:13:42.080 --> 00:13:44.460 We're not just supposed to tolerate things. 00:13:44.500 --> 00:13:45.819 We're supposed to celebrate them. 00:13:45.820 --> 00:13:50.840 And if we don't celebrate them, we're going to be more and more that seems there's going to be punishments. 00:13:51.860 --> 00:13:55.140 Restrictions for those who don't love and glorify these things. 00:13:55.200 --> 00:13:56.440 And I can give you many examples. 00:13:56.580 --> 00:13:57.540 I'll give you just a few. 00:13:58.300 --> 00:14:00.280 In Canada, our neighbor to the north. 00:14:01.020 --> 00:14:03.300 There's more and more happening compelled speech. 00:14:03.379 --> 00:14:09.320 There's a father who was recently put in prison because he had the audacity to call his 16-year-old daughter a daughter. 00:14:09.320 --> 00:14:19.760 Here in the United States, we have pressure that's being put on Christian adoption agencies who are being asked to violate their convictions about what the family is. 00:14:20.580 --> 00:14:26.800 And so we see the same pressure that Daniel and his friends experience in Babylon here in our world in slightly different forms. 00:14:26.799 --> 00:14:32.179 We are asked to worship and bow down before the gods of our nations. 00:14:32.740 --> 00:14:34.759 And we could go on, but the point here is clear. 00:14:35.179 --> 00:14:36.740 Conflict is what's going to happen. 00:14:36.799 --> 00:14:37.479 It's inevitable. 00:14:38.120 --> 00:14:47.299 Of course, there's going to be conflict between Daniel and this kingdom, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, and this kingdom when they're asked to worship these gods. 00:14:47.299 --> 00:14:49.099 And so we see opposition immediately. 00:14:49.259 --> 00:14:52.319 Verses 5 through 7, everyone's commanded to worship. 00:14:52.459 --> 00:14:53.659 Remember the second commandment. 00:14:53.699 --> 00:14:54.899 This is a violation of that. 00:14:56.039 --> 00:15:00.079 And then verses 8 through 12, we've got some tattletales. 00:15:01.479 --> 00:15:05.219 The Chaldeans come to tattle on Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. 00:15:05.959 --> 00:15:08.759 They tell Nebuchadnezzar they're not doing what they're supposed to do. 00:15:09.139 --> 00:15:13.379 And so they receive a final threat here in verse 15. 00:15:14.179 --> 00:15:16.240 Nebuchadnezzar gives them one last chance. 00:15:16.240 --> 00:15:22.139 But if you do not worship, you shall immediately be cast into a burning, fiery furnace. 00:15:22.279 --> 00:15:26.100 And who is the God who will deliver you out of my hands? 00:15:27.000 --> 00:15:29.639 And of course, that's the important question of this entire chapter. 00:15:29.940 --> 00:15:32.100 Who is the God with real power? 00:15:32.440 --> 00:15:34.840 Who is the God with real authority and control? 00:15:35.240 --> 00:15:39.500 Nebuchadnezzar has set himself up with this statue as the one who's actually in charge. 00:15:39.600 --> 00:15:42.100 He's defied God and his prophecies and his decrees. 00:15:42.100 --> 00:15:47.779 He's forgotten what he said near the end of chapter 2 when he praised God as being the one who is powerful. 00:15:50.940 --> 00:15:53.000 Daniel and his friends then... 00:15:53.000 --> 00:15:54.180 I shouldn't say Daniel. 00:15:54.259 --> 00:15:55.139 He's not in chapter 3. 00:15:55.379 --> 00:16:00.960 Daniel's friends have to experience the question and tension of this chapter. 00:16:01.200 --> 00:16:04.019 Who is the God who will be able to rescue them? 00:16:04.240 --> 00:16:06.080 Are they willing to stand firm? 00:16:06.080 --> 00:16:08.680 And of course, we see here that they are. 00:16:09.259 --> 00:16:11.580 Verses 17 and 18, they confess their faith. 00:16:12.860 --> 00:16:17.780 If this be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning, fiery furnace. 00:16:17.879 --> 00:16:20.560 And he will deliver us out of your hand, O king. 00:16:21.780 --> 00:16:23.740 Our God is able and he will. 00:16:23.900 --> 00:16:24.480 Verse 18. 00:16:24.600 --> 00:16:31.540 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. 00:16:31.539 --> 00:16:36.000 And so they make this bold move and we find out quickly what happens to them. 00:16:36.079 --> 00:16:39.879 They're thrown into the fire with all their clothes on so that they'll quickly catch flame. 00:16:41.519 --> 00:16:44.559 And yet Nebuchadnezzar is surprised, shocked. 00:16:45.759 --> 00:16:53.740 Because as he looks into the furnace, he sees not three men burned up, but four men walking. 00:16:53.740 --> 00:17:03.680 In other words, God is with these three men and God delivers these three men. 00:17:04.620 --> 00:17:09.839 He is with these three men and he delivers these three men. 00:17:10.680 --> 00:17:13.279 Now I'll just make a quick note here about verse 25. 00:17:13.559 --> 00:17:16.460 There's this fourth person who's like a son of the gods. 00:17:17.700 --> 00:17:20.579 Some people argue that this is an appearance of Jesus. 00:17:21.359 --> 00:17:22.859 Some people believe it's just an angel. 00:17:22.859 --> 00:17:25.799 I tend to believe it's probably an angel. 00:17:25.959 --> 00:17:28.240 It's not a pre-incarnate appearance of Jesus. 00:17:28.939 --> 00:17:32.099 Either way, the point is the same. 00:17:32.299 --> 00:17:34.319 God is present with his people. 00:17:36.359 --> 00:17:42.639 God is present with them in their suffering and their persecution as they live in a foreign land, 00:17:42.719 --> 00:17:49.000 surrounded by a foreign culture, indoctrinated in the ways that we saw in chapter 1 as they were given new names, 00:17:49.079 --> 00:17:50.759 as they were educated for three years, 00:17:50.759 --> 00:17:53.759 as they were instructed in the literature and language of the Babylonians. 00:17:54.960 --> 00:17:58.900 As they were given the daily portion of the king's food and wine, 00:17:59.099 --> 00:18:01.000 God has not abandoned them. 00:18:02.559 --> 00:18:04.980 He is with them in the fire. 00:18:04.980 --> 00:18:14.720 And so just as we also experience this call, this temptation to worship the nations around us, 00:18:14.779 --> 00:18:19.120 so also we, like Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, stand firm. 00:18:19.119 --> 00:18:27.079 Remember last two weeks ago, we talked about negotiation as a strategy. 00:18:28.379 --> 00:18:32.159 Unfortunately, negotiation is not always going to work. 00:18:32.739 --> 00:18:36.619 There are times when we choose not negotiation, but defiance. 00:18:38.059 --> 00:18:41.659 There are times we have to choose not negotiation, but defiance. 00:18:41.660 --> 00:18:43.920 In that, though, I want you to notice something. 00:18:45.060 --> 00:18:49.600 Remember verse 12, the Chaldeans are the ones who come and tattle on them. 00:18:50.420 --> 00:18:53.960 In other words, they are not making a big show out of this. 00:18:55.500 --> 00:18:59.180 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego are not running around, waving their arms, 00:18:59.540 --> 00:19:01.440 telling everyone how righteous they are. 00:19:01.880 --> 00:19:04.100 They're not posting on social media. 00:19:04.920 --> 00:19:06.680 They're just being righteous. 00:19:07.140 --> 00:19:08.480 They're trying to fly under the radar. 00:19:08.480 --> 00:19:11.099 They're just doing the right thing. 00:19:11.740 --> 00:19:15.299 And I mention that because there's this strain of thinking right now in the American church 00:19:15.299 --> 00:19:18.360 that somehow we need to be loud and obnoxious all the time. 00:19:19.599 --> 00:19:25.220 And yet, we don't see Daniel or his friends be loud or obnoxious at any point in the book of Daniel. 00:19:26.019 --> 00:19:27.660 They're actually just quiet and faithful. 00:19:28.620 --> 00:19:30.000 And sometimes they get in trouble. 00:19:31.279 --> 00:19:33.779 Okay, so it's important to note that as we talk about defiance. 00:19:33.779 --> 00:19:42.180 We, too, like Daniel and his friends, are going to face the consequences of refusing to bow down 00:19:42.180 --> 00:19:44.019 before the idols of our culture. 00:19:45.700 --> 00:19:51.579 There's a pastor many of you know of named Tim Keller who's a big name in our denomination. 00:19:51.759 --> 00:19:53.500 He was interviewed recently, and he said this. 00:19:53.500 --> 00:19:58.799 Ten years from now, if you have evangelical convictions about sex and gender, 00:19:59.339 --> 00:20:05.180 you may not be able to work for a major university or for the government or for a big corporation. 00:20:06.299 --> 00:20:09.140 And I mention Keller in part because he's known for being an optimist. 00:20:09.720 --> 00:20:11.519 So he's not a sky is falling kind of guy. 00:20:12.140 --> 00:20:15.559 And yet here he is saying in ten years, this might be what we're facing in this country. 00:20:16.880 --> 00:20:20.900 And so that's the kind of persecution we're probably going to be thinking about and talking about. 00:20:20.900 --> 00:20:25.500 Now, I'm guessing most of you aren't going to be threatened to be thrown into a fiery furnace. 00:20:27.080 --> 00:20:30.800 But there are places and times in the world where if you are a Christian, 00:20:30.920 --> 00:20:33.820 you're going to face social isolation and ostracization. 00:20:34.680 --> 00:20:37.880 You're going to face the loss of potential job opportunities. 00:20:38.660 --> 00:20:41.620 You're going to face the loss of educational opportunities. 00:20:42.860 --> 00:20:45.820 It is not cool to be part of the church anymore. 00:20:45.819 --> 00:20:50.659 Maybe in the 1980s or the 70s, it was a positive. 00:20:51.159 --> 00:20:52.919 It is not a positive anymore. 00:20:53.720 --> 00:20:56.359 Our culture will not applaud you for being part of the church. 00:20:57.460 --> 00:20:57.559 Okay. 00:20:59.000 --> 00:21:01.299 This was true, by the way, for Christians under communism. 00:21:01.500 --> 00:21:02.919 Remember when we went through 1 Peter, 00:21:03.139 --> 00:21:06.579 I told you multiple stories from this book called Candles Behind the Wall. 00:21:07.639 --> 00:21:12.039 In that book, it talks about multiple instances of Christians who remained faithful, 00:21:12.039 --> 00:21:16.139 who refused to bow down before communism, this state that demanded worship, 00:21:16.539 --> 00:21:18.819 and they lost educational opportunities. 00:21:19.379 --> 00:21:20.500 They lost job opportunities. 00:21:21.899 --> 00:21:24.440 Now, I don't say this to be alarmist. 00:21:25.319 --> 00:21:26.720 I don't say this as a prophet. 00:21:26.940 --> 00:21:28.279 I don't know what's going to happen in the future. 00:21:28.379 --> 00:21:29.519 It's important we remain hopeful. 00:21:29.899 --> 00:21:32.460 For all we know, we might be on the cusp of a great revival. 00:21:32.599 --> 00:21:33.299 I have no idea. 00:21:34.379 --> 00:21:34.539 Okay. 00:21:34.539 --> 00:21:37.779 So it's important to keep hope and keep perspective. 00:21:38.539 --> 00:21:40.480 It's also important to be wise as serpents. 00:21:41.480 --> 00:21:43.480 It's important to think about these things. 00:21:43.579 --> 00:21:45.480 It's important to have a theology of these things. 00:21:45.559 --> 00:21:48.460 It's important to look at these things, to know what might be coming, 00:21:48.539 --> 00:21:51.240 and to be people who are wise and prepared. 00:21:52.279 --> 00:21:56.799 Not only is it popular in the American church for people to want to be loud and obnoxious sometimes, 00:21:57.339 --> 00:22:01.180 it's also popular for people in the American church to have a martyr complex. 00:22:01.180 --> 00:22:06.160 And so I'm hesitant sometimes to talk about persecution because I don't want to feed into it. 00:22:06.920 --> 00:22:08.500 So we have to have a balance here. 00:22:09.160 --> 00:22:12.700 What we would probably face is something that people refer to as soft persecution. 00:22:13.380 --> 00:22:15.539 In other words, no one's trying to kill you. 00:22:17.000 --> 00:22:18.360 But you might have less money. 00:22:19.200 --> 00:22:22.480 And I'll give you an illustration in this way, a way of keeping perspective. 00:22:23.640 --> 00:22:26.279 As someone who lives in Colorado, when I first moved here, 00:22:26.820 --> 00:22:30.000 happens less and less, but I would have people tell me, 00:22:30.000 --> 00:22:33.920 Wow, Matthew, you really have a southern accent. 00:22:36.099 --> 00:22:37.299 And you know what I would think? 00:22:38.660 --> 00:22:40.900 Wow, you really need to get out more. 00:22:43.079 --> 00:22:47.299 Wow, you have never actually traveled to the southeastern United States, have you? 00:22:48.559 --> 00:22:51.980 You probably need to take a trip to Alabama if you think I have a southern accent. 00:22:51.980 --> 00:22:56.860 And there's also a little bit of truth. 00:22:57.440 --> 00:23:00.360 My mom has an East Tennessee accent, grew up in North Carolina. 00:23:00.599 --> 00:23:02.079 I went to school in North Carolina. 00:23:02.440 --> 00:23:06.940 There are times you might hear me say something that's sort of slightly, almost kind of southern. 00:23:09.339 --> 00:23:12.740 I want you to think about persecution in the United States in that way. 00:23:13.380 --> 00:23:15.980 Wow, you think you're really persecuted here in the U.S.? 00:23:15.980 --> 00:23:18.839 You really need to get out more. 00:23:20.140 --> 00:23:21.900 You need to visit Nigeria. 00:23:22.720 --> 00:23:24.920 Then you can see what real persecution looks like. 00:23:25.880 --> 00:23:27.420 Also, there's a little bit of truth to it. 00:23:27.900 --> 00:23:30.279 Yeah, there's some ways in which you might experience soft persecution. 00:23:30.779 --> 00:23:31.460 Both are true. 00:23:31.559 --> 00:23:33.019 So I want us to keep this perspective. 00:23:33.240 --> 00:23:35.099 I'm telling you about potential persecution. 00:23:35.720 --> 00:23:38.680 The goal is not for us to become alarmist. 00:23:39.000 --> 00:23:41.980 The goal is not for us to get worked up and have a martyr complex. 00:23:41.980 --> 00:23:45.440 The goal is for us to be wise as serpents. 00:23:46.200 --> 00:23:47.680 The goal is for us to be prepared. 00:23:48.099 --> 00:23:49.839 The goal is for us not to be surprised. 00:23:50.680 --> 00:23:52.660 Okay, Daniel and his friends stood firm. 00:23:53.079 --> 00:23:56.019 They faced suffering for remaining firm in their faith. 00:23:56.420 --> 00:23:57.860 We also will face suffering. 00:23:58.480 --> 00:24:01.200 It will not look as bad, most likely. 00:24:03.440 --> 00:24:04.420 Know what's coming. 00:24:04.799 --> 00:24:05.380 Think through it. 00:24:05.779 --> 00:24:06.339 Be prepared. 00:24:07.700 --> 00:24:08.660 Okay, motivation. 00:24:08.660 --> 00:24:12.700 Why is it that they are able to stand so firm? 00:24:12.779 --> 00:24:15.700 Remember, we've talked before about what it means to dare to be a Daniel. 00:24:16.240 --> 00:24:17.320 Now, Daniel's not in this chapter. 00:24:17.420 --> 00:24:20.960 So what does it mean to dare to be a Shadrach, a Meshach, and an Abednego? 00:24:21.759 --> 00:24:25.500 Well, if we mean by that that we're going to pull ourselves up by our bootstraps 00:24:25.500 --> 00:24:27.800 and we're just going to be these people of bold confidence, 00:24:28.340 --> 00:24:30.500 that is something we want to stay far away from. 00:24:30.540 --> 00:24:31.279 That's moralism. 00:24:31.279 --> 00:24:37.220 But if by that we mean we want to be like Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego 00:24:37.220 --> 00:24:41.940 as they trusted in God's power and deliverance, yes and amen. 00:24:42.960 --> 00:24:45.920 And we see that here clearly in verse 17. 00:24:46.460 --> 00:24:49.180 We see why it is that they're willing to stand firm, 00:24:49.299 --> 00:24:51.940 not because they're people with this inherent willpower, 00:24:52.279 --> 00:24:54.599 but because they have so much confidence in God. 00:24:54.599 --> 00:24:59.839 Verse 17, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us. 00:24:59.839 --> 00:25:03.740 Their confidence is not in themselves. 00:25:03.879 --> 00:25:05.679 Their confidence is in God. 00:25:07.819 --> 00:25:11.199 That is what gives them the motivation and the ability. 00:25:11.480 --> 00:25:14.679 That's what empowers them to stand firm and take courage, 00:25:14.779 --> 00:25:17.539 not because of their strength, but because of God's strength. 00:25:18.559 --> 00:25:21.299 To put it another way, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego 00:25:21.299 --> 00:25:24.799 are incapable of delivering themselves from the fiery furnace. 00:25:24.799 --> 00:25:32.559 God, however, is powerful and is capable of delivering them from the fiery furnace. 00:25:34.480 --> 00:25:38.659 And the same is true for us as well. 00:25:40.180 --> 00:25:44.139 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego had confidence in God and his power. 00:25:44.379 --> 00:25:46.460 We have confidence as well. 00:25:46.619 --> 00:25:51.319 We actually have even greater confidence for at least two reasons. 00:25:51.319 --> 00:25:54.059 One of them, Pastor Mark Bates talked about last week. 00:25:54.519 --> 00:25:59.519 We have seen that the prophecy of Daniel chapter 2 has and is coming true. 00:26:01.279 --> 00:26:04.240 We have seen that the stone is becoming a mountain. 00:26:04.779 --> 00:26:07.679 We see the kingdom of God spreading and expanding. 00:26:08.159 --> 00:26:09.899 The proof, as they say, is in the pudding. 00:26:10.579 --> 00:26:14.279 We can see even many more centuries of God's faithfulness 00:26:14.279 --> 00:26:16.000 than Daniel and his friends were able to see. 00:26:16.000 --> 00:26:22.519 What they trusted, we now are able to see as we look back over history. 00:26:23.859 --> 00:26:27.359 We can know even more that Isaiah chapter 40 is true. 00:26:27.720 --> 00:26:29.539 The nations are like a drop from the bucket. 00:26:29.900 --> 00:26:31.740 They are counted as the dust on the scales. 00:26:32.740 --> 00:26:35.500 Behold, he takes up the coastlands like fine dust. 00:26:36.480 --> 00:26:38.619 The nations are nothing compared to God. 00:26:40.380 --> 00:26:41.740 And so we can have confidence. 00:26:41.740 --> 00:26:45.720 We can have confidence that God is the one who's in charge, who has control. 00:26:46.700 --> 00:26:52.500 Some of you who are real old-timers remember all the way back to the summer of 2017. 00:26:54.660 --> 00:26:57.900 August of 2017, we were in Matthew chapter 13. 00:26:58.519 --> 00:27:01.900 This was my month of preaching while our pastor was on sabbatical. 00:27:02.839 --> 00:27:05.200 I won't tell you the whole story, but remember I told you the story 00:27:05.200 --> 00:27:09.059 about how I was on a study abroad program and I had to take an archaeology test. 00:27:09.059 --> 00:27:13.039 One of the questions on the test was, what would you do if you were a building 00:27:13.039 --> 00:27:16.799 and you wanted to survive from antiquity to the present? 00:27:17.799 --> 00:27:22.240 And the answer was, you would have to find a Christian church to adopt you. 00:27:22.240 --> 00:27:24.200 Why? 00:27:25.400 --> 00:27:29.039 Because that's the institution that lasts beyond nations. 00:27:30.839 --> 00:27:32.640 That's the institution that continues. 00:27:33.559 --> 00:27:37.099 And so there's a building in Trier, I think in Germany, that continued. 00:27:37.440 --> 00:27:38.660 The Pantheon in Rome. 00:27:38.779 --> 00:27:39.400 There's a few others. 00:27:39.859 --> 00:27:41.099 Those are the ones that actually lasted. 00:27:41.180 --> 00:27:42.480 They found a community to worship. 00:27:42.900 --> 00:27:46.539 A worshiping community that lasted longer than any nation. 00:27:46.539 --> 00:27:49.819 So we have confidence in God for that reason. 00:27:49.940 --> 00:27:52.379 We've seen his track record even more than these people did. 00:27:53.779 --> 00:27:59.079 We also see God's power and his presence even more than Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. 00:28:00.220 --> 00:28:02.720 Remember, there's the fourth man who's with them. 00:28:04.200 --> 00:28:10.180 We have seen God's presence with us, not just in an angel in a furnace, but in Jesus Christ. 00:28:10.180 --> 00:28:17.259 Remember, Matthew chapter 1, verse 23 tells us his name is Emmanuel, which means God with us. 00:28:18.500 --> 00:28:24.259 God is with us even more and in a greater way now because of Jesus Christ. 00:28:24.360 --> 00:28:27.060 Remember, Jesus tells us the scandalous thing in the Gospel of John, 00:28:27.140 --> 00:28:31.400 that it's better for him to go away so that the Holy Spirit could be with us. 00:28:32.680 --> 00:28:34.860 And so we've seen God's power. 00:28:35.279 --> 00:28:37.680 We also have God's presence. 00:28:37.680 --> 00:28:40.700 And so Jesus teaches us himself. 00:28:40.820 --> 00:28:47.720 He makes a promise to us that he is going to do what's already been done in this chapter here. 00:28:47.799 --> 00:28:54.460 Remember, when they came out, what was amazing besides the fact that they weren't burned? 00:28:57.420 --> 00:28:59.039 Couldn't smell fire on them. 00:29:00.400 --> 00:29:02.259 Their hairs weren't singed. 00:29:03.860 --> 00:29:07.620 Now, we already stated this together in our Confession of Faith, 00:29:07.680 --> 00:29:08.140 this morning. 00:29:09.140 --> 00:29:10.019 We said, 00:29:10.820 --> 00:29:16.000 He watches over me in such a way that not a hair can fall from my head. 00:29:17.840 --> 00:29:22.259 It's our Lord Jesus who tells us the same thing, not once, but at least twice. 00:29:22.420 --> 00:29:27.200 In Luke chapter 12, verse 7, we're told even the hairs of our head are numbered. 00:29:28.080 --> 00:29:31.740 And in Luke chapter 21, Jesus is telling his disciples about persecution. 00:29:31.740 --> 00:29:32.559 And he says this, 00:29:32.559 --> 00:29:37.440 You will be hated by all for my name's sake, but not a hair of your head will perish. 00:29:38.180 --> 00:29:41.079 By your endurance, you will gain your lives. 00:29:42.240 --> 00:29:45.359 And so, brothers and sisters, the kingdom of God has come in part, 00:29:45.680 --> 00:29:48.500 and it will one day come in full. 00:29:48.500 --> 00:29:54.859 And so, we live in the tension now as kingdoms and nations demand our allegiance and our worship. 00:29:56.220 --> 00:30:00.519 But we stand firm because we know our God. 00:30:00.819 --> 00:30:06.200 We know our God even more than Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego did in Daniel's day. 00:30:06.200 --> 00:30:09.880 We know even more what he has done in Jesus Christ. 00:30:10.380 --> 00:30:15.140 And so, we refuse to worship the gods of the nations. 00:30:16.580 --> 00:30:19.380 And instead, we are able to say, 00:30:20.460 --> 00:30:22.500 with Nebuchadnezzar in verse 29, 00:30:24.120 --> 00:30:28.700 there is no other God who is able to rescue in this way. 00:30:30.240 --> 00:30:31.319 Please pray with me.