Pt. 18b, the Biblical Story - The Fiery Furnace

 
Pt. 2, Serving Faithfully in Exile - Daniel Pt. 18b, the Biblical Story: the Fiery Furnace By Pastor Dan Kennedy © August 17, 2014 www.pastorkennedy.com Have you ever looked for “Waldo”, in a “Where’s Waldo” book? The artist in the “Where’s Waldo” books finds ingenious ways to hide Waldo in very inconspicuous places in their drawings…but he is always there. Where’s Daniel? Today we begin with “where’s Daniel” as we look into the third chapter of the book of Daniel. He is very present in chapters 1 and 2, but somehow Daniel disappears into the shadows in chapter 3. Instead, out from the background come Daniel’s three friends, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. They were also exiles from the tribe of Judah, who had been renamed (when they were brought into Babylon) by the chief of the eunuch’s, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. Because of God’s revelation to Daniel of King Nebuchadnezzar’s dream (Dan. 2), Daniel was elevated to being “ruler over the whole province of Babylon” (Dan. 2:48). Daniel asked that his three friends also be placed in key positions of authority over the affairs of the province of Babylon (Dan. 2:49; 3:12). Though Daniel is not mentioned in Daniel chapter 3… I believe if we look closely enough we may find him! Trial by Fire: Nebuchadnezzar’s Golden Image Daniel 3:1–3 3 King Nebuchadnezzar made an image of gold, whose height was sixty cubits (90’ tall) and its breadth six cubits (9’ wide). He set it up on the plain of Dura, in the province of Babylon. 2 Then King Nebuchadnezzar sent to gather the satraps, 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. 3 Then the satraps, 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. And they stood before the image that Nebuchadnezzar had set up. These three verses are pregnant with much more than meets the eye. • A statue of Gold – 90 feet tall and 9 feet wide. Two of the “Seven Wonders of the Ancient World” were giant statues: In the early 200’s B.C., the 120 foot Colossus of Rhodes statue was cast in bronze, in honor of the sun god Helios. It took twelve years to complete and was destroyed by an earthquake only 56 years after its dedication. A 40-foot ivory Statue of Zeus seated on a throne, draped in a gold robe was commissioned to be crafted to enhance the “too simple” temple built to Zeus in the ancient Greek city of Olympia around 457 B.C. We don’t have to look too hard to find giant statues in our own culture…such as the Statue of Liberty in the harbor of New York! It is interesting, to give us a comparative idea about Nebuchadnezzar’s statue, that the Statue of Liberty has a platform or pedestal on which it stands, which is 154’ tall. The Statue itself, from its base to the top of the torch is 151’1”. Its thickness at the waist is 35’. Nebuchadnezzar’s statue was 90’ tall and 9’ wide. The proportions of this statue would be disproportionate unless the image was carved into the face of a monolith, and covered in gold, to be set up on the plains of Dura. Monoliths were typical of the day. The Argument of Silence, regarding Daniel’s Absence Where was Daniel when the Golden Image was set up on the Plains of Dura? Who we know Daniel to be? • As a young man in the king’s training, seeking to be honorable to his God? • As a man consistent in his honor to God throughout his life? • As an honorable and loyal man to the king and his administrative responsibilities? (see Daniel 5:11-14; 6:2-5. Daniel was known to be a man with an “excellent spirit”, “faithful” and “without fault”.) • Daniel was also an exile/slave to King Nebuchadnezzar, who was to do the king’s bidding or suffer the pain of death. Since Daniel was the “ruler over the whole province of Babylon and chief prefect over all the wise men of Babylon” (Dan. 2:48), then most certainly Daniel was intimately involved in many if not all of the administrative details for many months to prepare for such a momentous world/state event being put on by the king – the ruler of the then-known world. Certainly the king knew personally of Daniel’s profound dedication to his God, along with his excellent administrative skills and loyalty to the king. Everyone who worked with Daniel knew that his loyalty to God was great, so the king would have been extremely foolish to allow Daniel, his premiere administrator, to attend this required pagan event and become an instant target for death, since… • “The fiery furnace” was the central gruesome object lesson for anyone who wanted to defy the king’s command to worship his image. • Without exception, all in attendance were required to worship the golden statue set up on the plains of Dura…and if not, to suffer the pain of immediate and graphic execution in front of everyone…in the blazing, fiery furnace. • Daniel would have become an obvious target for death (just as Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego became an obvious target). • There would be no exemptions from the king’s command to worship the image, once that person was at the event on the plains of Dura. Nebuchadnezzar was smart enough to know that Daniel would not betray the God of heaven – the One to whom Daniel always paid such high allegiance, even if it cost him his life, so I believe Nebuchadnezzar found a solution. The most trusted administrator needed to stay in the city to make sure the affairs of the government were carried out in a timely way…and Daniel was the obvious choice. In my imagination, I can overhear Nebuchadnezzar telling Daniel, in the hearing of all the other governmental decision makers. “Daniel, I need an administrator to stay in the city to take care of all the regular business of the kingdom during the time that I and the rest of the leadership have all gone to the plain of Dura for the leadership extravaganza. I’m sorry, but I have decided that the person who needs to stay in the city is you.” I can also hear, in my mind, the humble response from Daniel. “As you wish, O king.” (Both of them probably sighed a sigh of relief.) What would it take to put on such an Extravaganza Event on the plains of Dura – for all the leadership of the known world? The book of Esther gives us a clearer understanding of what it would entail to issue a king’s decree during that time period. King Ahasuerus (Xerxes), being a Persian king who had inherited Babylonia from his father’s attack on Belshazzar had an expanded land acquisition over which he ruled, so the expanse was greater territory for the couriers to travel, but nonetheless vividly illustrated by the following passages. These decrees seen in the book of Esther were delivered by King Ahasuerus on behalf (at the beginning, by) Haman – who, if you remember, wanted to kill the Jews because he hated Mordecai…and later the decree sent out from the King, by Mordecai, to allow the Jews to stand up and defend themselves from the decree. The sending out of both decrees give us a greater visual picture of what it would be for King Nebuchadnezzar, some 70 years earlier, to send out the decree “to gather the satraps, 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” (Dan. 3:2). Esther 3:12, 14-15 12 Then the king’s scribes were summoned on the thirteenth day of the first month, and an edict, according to all that Haman commanded, was written to the king’s satraps and to the governors over all the provinces and to the officials of all the peoples, to every province in its own script and every people in its own language. It was written in the name of King Ahasuerus (the Biblical name for Xerxes, 486-465 B.C.) [Nebuchadnezzar II ruled the Chaldeans 605 BC – 562 BC] and sealed with the king’s signet ring…. 14 A copy of the document was to be issued as a decree in every province by proclamation to all the peoples to be ready for that day. 15 The couriers went out hurriedly by order of the king, and the decree was issued in Susa the citadel…. Esther 8:9b–10 9 … an edict was written, according to all that Mordecai commanded concerning the Jews, to the satraps and the governors and the officials of the provinces from India to Ethiopia, 127 provinces, to each province in its own script and to each people in its own language, and also to the Jews in their script and their language. 10 And he wrote in the name of King Ahasuerus and sealed it with the king’s signet ring. Then he sent the letters by mounted couriers riding on swift horses that were used in the king’s service, bred from the royal stud…. Esther 8:13–14 13 A copy of what was written was to be issued as a decree in every province, being publicly displayed to all peoples... 14 So the couriers, mounted on their swift horses that were used in the king’s service, rode out hurriedly, urged by the king’s command….. Note: To give a Biblical timeline for comparison, King Ahasuerus (the Biblical name for Xerxes), reigned over Persia 19 years, historians have determined, from 486-465 B.C., while Nebuchadnezzar II ruled the Chaldeans, some 76 years earlier, for 43 years from 605 – 562 B.C. The breadth of the nations conquered and ruled by Persia was larger, from India to Ethiopia, with 127 provinces, at the time of King Ahasuerus. The passage in Esther was most likely written some 60-70 years after Nebuchadnezzar’s reign. • A copy of the document was to be issued as a decree in every province by proclamation…. • To the satraps and the governors and the officials of the provinces from India to Ethiopia, 127 provinces, to each province in its own script and to each people in its own language… • A decree in every province, being publicly displayed to all peoples... So the couriers, mounted on their swift horses that were used in the king’s service, rode out hurriedly, urged by the king’s command… It is redundant to say that it took a massive effort, by many couriers on horseback, traveling for weeks or more, to reach the many leaders in each of the provinces with Nebuchadnezzar’s invitation to come to his required event. Preparation for Loyalty Worship on the Plains of Dura – 600 years before Christ • It would take months of administrative planning (overseen by Daniel) and a huge amount of work practically, to put on such an extravagant event, as decreed by the “king of kings” – the “head of gold” – who was over all the known kingdoms of the earth. • The invitations (required attendance) to the dignitaries would need to be sent from one end of the enormous kingdom of Babylon, to the other. • Massive quantities of the delicacies, food and wine, would be needed for the festival days of this event – all hauled by ox cart to the point of destination, set up and prepared by myriads of slaves, who themselves needed to have slave’s provisions and quarters. • The construction of the palatial tents and/or finest accommodations of the day for the hundreds, if not thousands of dignitaries. The king’s pride would be at stake. • Travel arrangements and language interpreters would need to be arranged for “all the peoples, nations, and languages” (Dan. 3:7) to make sure everyone arrived in a timely way and responded as the king demanded, for this stellar event. • The crafting of the “golden image”, and its safe transportation to the site, along with the seating arrangements for the extreme crowd of dignitaries. • The bringing together of the musicians, composition and arrangement of the music, practice, and presentation. (Was it an international orchestra?) • The construction plans for, and the casting of the massive iron or stone structure, with the wagon transport of the tonnage, to be forged together as an intimidating volcanic furnace – meant to be the unspoken, terrifying centerpiece on the plains of Dura, in front of the king’s dramatic platform…to soberly impress anyone foolish enough to defy the king’s decree, who would not fall down and worship the image, as demanded. What did God want to teach Daniel from this event…his necessary participation, and his obvious absence? Where was Daniel? He was doing what he was required to do in service of the king. • Whatever the case, God delivered Daniel from attending the king’s heathen, loyalty, idol worshipping event. How Would This Parallel in Our Lives Today? Sometimes life forces us to work in situations, which would not be our preference, which are a pain to us, and which may not be beneficial to priorities that we would normally choose. In the New Testament, Paul instructs believers in Jesus Christ to respond, as “Servants of Christ” in whatever walk of life they may find themselves. Colossians 3:17–4:1 17 And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. 18 Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. 19 Husbands, love your wives, and do not be harsh with them. 20 Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord. 21 Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged. 22 Bondservants, obey in everything those who are your earthly masters, not by way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord. 23 Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, 24 knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ. 25 For the wrongdoer will be paid back for the wrong he has done, and there is no partiality. 4 Masters, treat your bondservants justly and fairly, knowing that you also have a Master in heaven. (See also Eph. 5:19-6:9) Now back to Daniel Chapter 3:3-7 Nebuchadnezzar’s Golden Image 3  3 Then the satraps, 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. And they stood before the image that Nebuchadnezzar had set up. 4 And the herald proclaimed aloud, “You are commanded, O peoples, nations, and languages, 5 that when you hear the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, bagpipe, and every kind of music, you are to fall down and worship the golden image that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up. 6 And whoever does not fall down and worship shall immediately be cast into a burning fiery furnace.” 7 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 worshiped the golden image that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up. The Climax of Nebuchadnezzar’s Heathen-Idol-Worshipping-Event…with the Cynical Observations and Incriminating Chaldean Accusations (from the ethnic relatives of Nebuchadnezzar) • How long did it take for the orchestra to play their dramatic fanfare alerting the nation’s representatives standing before the golden image, to fall down before the idol to offer their allegiance? How long did this take? One minute, two…five minutes? • For the energy and expense of the occasion – bringing all the primary leadership from all the provinces in the known world… • For all the preparations to make the golden image and construct the fiery furnace – setting them up on the plains of Dura so that the huge entourage of representatives from all the peoples, nations and languages could submit to the will of the king and worship his idol… What was the real reason for Nebuchadnezzar’s extravaganza? • Demonstration of Nebuchadnezzar’s Power? For King Nebuchadnezzar was this event for the visible wielding of his enormous power and the possibility of exposing the naysayers and malcontents of his world kingdom? • Political Hobnobbing? Had the king wanted to hobnob with his underlings and screed out more loyal leadership teams to control the dominions under his reign? • World-class Performances? Had the nations of the world brought their world-class performers to light up the stage with acts of wonder and musical delights in the tedious hours before the main event, while the camel trains continued to slowly bring in the dignitaries, together with their expensive gifts to dazzle and bribe Nebuchadnezzar? What was the real reason for this World-Class Event? Let’s continue reading in Daniel chapter 3 verse 8. Daniel 3 8 Therefore at that time certain Chaldeans came forward and maliciously accused the Jews. 9 They declared to King Nebuchadnezzar, “O king, live forever! 10 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. 11 And whoever does not fall down and worship shall be cast into a burning fiery furnace. 12 There are certain Jews whom you have appointed over the affairs of the province of Babylon: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. These men, O king, pay no attention to you; they do not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.” 13 Then Nebuchadnezzar in furious rage commanded that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego be brought. So they brought these men before the king. 14 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? 15 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. But if you do not worship, you shall immediately be cast into a burning fiery furnace. And who is the god who will deliver you out of my hands?” 16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered and said to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. 17 If this be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king. 18 But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.” 19 Then Nebuchadnezzar was filled with fury, and the expression of his face was changed against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. He ordered the furnace heated seven times more than it was usually heated. 20 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. 21 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. 22 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. 23 And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, fell bound into the burning fiery furnace. 24 Then King Nebuchadnezzar was astonished and rose up in haste. He declared to his counselors, “Did we not cast three men bound into the fire?” They answered and said to the king, “True, O king.” 25 He answered and said, “But I see four men unbound, walking in the midst of the fire, and they are not hurt; and the appearance of the fourth is like a son of the gods.” 26 Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the door of the burning fiery furnace; he declared, “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out, and come here!” Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego came out from the fire. 27 And the satraps, the prefects, the governors, and the king’s counselors gathered together and saw that the fire had not had any power over the bodies of those men. The hair of their heads was not singed, their cloaks were not harmed, and no smell of fire had come upon them. 28 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. 29 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, for there is no other god who is able to rescue in this way.” 30 Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the province of Babylon. What was the real reason for Nebuchadnezzar’s extravaganza? • Demonstration of King Nebuchadnezzar’s Power? • Political Hobnobbing? • World-class Performances? No! The real reason for this event was God’s Revelation of Himself! Had God orchestrated this world-class event to reveal Himself, through His Son, as the fourth Man in that fiery furnace, to all the nations of the world? Absolutely! The experience of seeing four men (one being like “the Son of God”) walking around a blazing inferno and three coming out untouched was the most profound and unforgettable experience that anyone had ever seen and would never forget! The Revelation of God’s Power would overshadow any other experience of this kingdom-wide gathering meant to extol King Nebuchadnezzar. Nebuchadnezzar’s Declaration Nebuchadnezzar himself acknowledged the undisputed power of God before everyone! This simply shut down the worship of his Golden image on the spot and nullified and shattered the original intent of the king’s event. The God of heaven was glorified alone, in front of all the leaders of the known world! “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… for there is no other god who is able to rescue in this way!” - Nebuchadnezzar, King of Babylon Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego’s Deliverance God revealed Himself to the world through the testimony of His faithful servants, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego as they simply and without wavering, expressed their faith in God and God alone – no matter what the cost. Daniel’s Deliverance I can imagine Daniel, servant of the Most High God, shaking his head and smiling to himself in wonder and awe, after he had struggled all those months with his own intense internal conflict, in overseeing the extravagant heathen event for the king, when the report came back from everyone who returned to the city from the plains of Dura, about the amazing power of the God of heaven – Daniel’s God – and how this God was able to rescue those who believed in Him, from the wrath of the king himself and from the blazing flames of the fiery furnace! God’s Honor was Proclaimed Everywhere! The Honor of the God of heaven, and the Revelation of His Power, from this event, would be bought back to all the provinces of the nations of the world! In those solemn and awe-inspiring moments in and around the Fiery Furnace, the Creator God of heaven was magnified, glorified and worshipped! *** Does God reveal Himself in our world today through the events – even potentially catastrophic events – that happen in the lives of His Children, as we simply and faithfully hold true to His Word and express our faith in Him? http://www.pastorkennedy.comshapeimage_1_link_0