Daniel 3
Matthew Henry · Citado em PreceptAustin
Daniel 3
Henry observes that "Good thoughts of God, and a full assurance that He is with us while we are with Him, will help very much to carry us through sufferings; and, if He be for us (Ro 8:31-note), we need not fear what man can do unto us (Mt 10:28, Lk 12:4, 5, cp Acts 5:41); let him do his worst. God will deliver us either from death or in death (through death's doorway into eternal life in His glorious presence! 2Co 5:8). When you take your stand for Christ, you will not stand alone. Daniel 3:13 Then Nebuchadnezzar in rage and anger gave orders to bring Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego; then these men were brought before the king. rage: Da 3:19 2:12 Ge 4:5 1Sa 20:30-33 Es 3:5,6 Pr 17:12, 27:3, 29:22 Lk 6:11 Then: Mt 10:18 Mk 13:9 Lk 21:12 Ac 5:25-27 24:24 Daniel 3 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries Then - An expression of time which is a useful marker of the sequence of events. Rage and anger - It takes two synonyms to convey the degree of the king's fury. He clearly had an anger problem, for after all he does not even know yet whether they are guilty of the charges. Anger is like that isn't it? It's more often a mindless reaction rather than a responsible action after thoughtful consideration. King Nebuchadnezzar was a mighty general and much like Alexander the Great years later (the "Bronze" kingdom), these two great empire conquerors were sadly unable to conquer themselves (Alexander became an alcoholic and died at age 33). Solomon - He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he who rules his spirit, than he who captures a city. (Pr 16:32). Daniel 3:14 Nebuchadnezzar responded and said to them, "Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the golden image that I have set up? true: Ex 21:13,14 my gods: Da 3:1, 4:8 Isa 46:1 Jer 50:2 Daniel 3 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries Is it true - This shows that the king did not blindly accept the accusations of the Chaldeans. At first the king seems taken aback that they would have refused to bow, but his mood would soon change after they refused his "second chance" to bow. Matthew Henry reads it this way - Was it designedly and deliberately done, or was it only through inadvertency, that you have not served my gods? What! you that I have nourished and brought up, that have been educated and maintained at my charge, that I have been so kind to and done so much for, you that have been in such reputation for wisdom, and therefore should better have known your duty to your prince; what! do not you serve my gods nor worship the golden image which I have set up?’’ Note, The faithfulness of God’s servants to him has often been the wonder of their enemies and persecutors, who think it strange that they run not with them to the same excess of riot (1Peter 4:4-note). Guzik makes a cogent point noting that "This (their answer to "Is it true?") was an even greater test for Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego. It is one thing to make a stand for God; it is a greater thing to stick to your stand when pointedly asked, "Is it true?" Peter could follow Jesus after His arrest, but he wilted and denied Jesus when asked, "Is it true?" (Ref) C H
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Henry - Thus does the matter lie in a little compass—Turn, or burn; and, because he knew they buoyed themselves up in their refusal with a confidence in their God, he insolently set him a defiance: "And who is that God that shall deliver you out of my hands? Let him, if he can.’’ Now he forgot what he himself once owned, that their God was a God of gods and a Lord of kings, ch. 2:47. Proud men are still ready to say, as Pharaoh, Who is the Lord that I should obey his voice? or, as Nebuchadnezzar, Who is the Lord, that I should fear his power? What god is there who is able to deliver - Nebuchadnezzar clearly recognized the spiritual issues involved and knew full well that to bow was tantamount to submission to the Babylonian gods. The king had already learned that the God of Israel is able to reveal mysteries (Da 2:47) to His servants, but he doubted God's ability to save the three dissenters. Observe that Nebuchadnezzar is placing himself above all gods, saying in a sense "I am more powerful than the gods". He must have forgotten that earlier he had said "Surely your God is a God of gods and a Lord of kings" (Da 2:47). He was like Pharaoh another prideful ruler who confronted another Jewish man Moses with the question… Who is the Lord that I should obey His voice to let Israel go? I do not know the Lord, and besides, I will not let Israel go. (Ex 5:2) Walvoord adds that "Rabshakeh made the same arrogant and blasphemous claim when threatening King Hezekiah (Isa 36:13-20)—the claim to the possession of a human power so great that there is no divine power to which the victim can turn for help. (Walvoord, J. F. Daniel: The Key To Prophetic Revelation) Guzik makes an interesting observation that "Nebuchadnezzar thinks nothing of insulting all gods with this statement. He is more of a secularist or a humanist than a theist. The god he really believes in is himself, not the gods of Babylon." (Ref) Deliver (07804) (sezab) is an Aramaic verb meaning to deliver, to rescue. It refers consistently to rescuing or delivering a person from an impossible situation. The Septuagint translates sezab with the verb exaireo which literally means to take out and so to pluck out or draw out. In the middle voice (as in this use) exaireo means to deliver, to rescue or to set free (Acts 12:11). The idea of the latter sense is to deliver someone from peril or confining circumstance, as when Jehovah delivered His chosen people from their enslavement to the oppressive Egyptian ruler (Acts 7:34, cp Moses rescue Acts 7:10). Exaireo is used of God delivering believers from this "present evil age." (Gal 1:4). Sezab - 7v - Da 3:15, 17, 28; 6:14, 16, 20, 27 Deliver - This is a key word in the second half of Daniel 3 - Da 3:15, 17, 28, 29 (Note: Da 3:29 is not sezab but nesal, used in Daniel's deliverance from lion's den). Note the effect of the steadfast (faith-filled) witness of these 3 Hebrew lads on Nebuchadnezzar's heart and mind. He goes from "what god is there who can deliver" (Da 3:15) to "there is no other god (like the Most High God) who is able to deliver in this way" (Da 3:29). Truly these three young men stand as shining examples of the charge by our Lord for us to be salt and light in our this passing world… You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt has become tasteless, how will it be made salty again? It is good for nothing anymore, except to be thrown out and trampled under foot by men. You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do men light a lamp, and put it under the peck-measure, but on the lampstand; and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven. (Mt 5:13-note, Mt 5:14, 15, 16-note) Ray Pritchard comments that "the three young men refused to bow because years earlier they had learned the Ten Commandments. The First Commandment says there can be “no other gods” before the God of Israel. (Ex 20:3) The Second Commandment prohibits all forms of image-making and worship of idols. (Ex 20:4) Simply put, these young men knew their Bible and that’s why they wouldn’t bow (Ed: Ex 20:5 says "You shall not worship them." The Lxx translated the Hebrew with proskuneo which means to bow down, to prostrate oneself in homage before another in the full sense of worship, not mere reverence or courtesy!). (A Time to Disobey- Nov, 1999) EBC - Like Sennacherib, who had derided Hezekiah's trust in God by boasting that none of the gods of the other nations had ever been able to save their people from the might of Assyria (2Kings 18:33, cp Ps 3:2-note), Nebuchadnezzar had converted his confrontation with men into a contest with the Lord God Almighty. Nebuchadnezzar's doom and fall were sure, even though he had earlier served God's purpose as a scourge to chasten God's apostate people (Jer 27:6-8). Ungratefully he had scoffed at the very God who had granted him success in battle; therefore he was to undergo one humiliation after another, till he groveled in the dust before Israel's God. Daniel 3:16 Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego replied to the king, "O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to give you an answer concerning this matter. Daniel 3 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries The righteous are bold as a lion. We do not need to give you an answer - There is nothing to say. In essence they admit their guilt and thus make no attempt to defend themselves. International Children's Bible - "Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves to you." Walvoord - Such an answer by itself might be considered arrogant and disrespectful to the king; but coupled with the explanation, it is clear that they feel their case is not in their hands anyway. (Ibid) The three may have read Isaiah's declaration (theoretically it was available as he prophesied 740-680BC) - Behold, God is my salvation. I will trust and not be afraid, for the Lord God is my strength and song (Is 12:2) EBC notes that "The Aramaic word order of Da 3:16 places an emphasis on the pronoun "we," implying that it is the Lord Himself Who will deal with this king who thinks he is sovereign on earth. (Gaebelein, F, Editor: Expositor's Bible Commentary OT 7 Volume Set: Books: Zondervan Publishing) Remember that these three young men had not read the end of the chapter yet and thus had no idea that God was about to miraculously deliver them. They had not received any special revelation promising their deliverance. In short, as they stood before the king, they knew they might truly die. These well-trained Hebrew lads undoubtedly knew God's clear command in Ex 20:3-5, and were not prepared to bow to anyone but the Almighty. Beloved, when we know God's Word and obey God's Word, His Spirit will fortify us so that we too can be bold as a lion! God's commandments always include His enablements! Our obedience may not cost us our life, but it may cost us our job, some relationship, some possession (or desire for some possession), etc. Showers observes that "they were not being arrogant. They were not saying, “We don’t have to tell you anything.” Instead, they were admitting that the charge against them was true; therefore, no defense or apology needed to be made. (The Most High God) HOW TO STAND FIRM IN THE FIRE! How were these three young men able to resist the temptation to bow to the image and compromise their integrity and their witness? Ultimately they were enabled to stand by the all sufficient grace of God which is magnified in our times of weakness (2Cor 12:9-note, 2Co 12:10-note). Man's extremity is God's "opportunity" to show Himself mighty! Here are several factors (the list is not intended to be exhaustive!) that enabled them to stand firm against the schemes of the prideful king (cp Ep 6:11-note)… (1) They knew God's Word and His clear command against idol worship (Ex 20:1-5). Remember that God never give us a commandment that He does not also give us the enablement (Spirit, grace) to obey the command! (2) They knew that idol worship was one of the main reasons Judah was in captivity in Babylon (2Chr 36:14-16). (3) They had experienced the delivering power of God's grace in Daniel 1 when they (concurring with Daniel, the spokesman) made a choice to refuse the king's choice food which would have defiled them (Da 1:8-note). In Daniel 2 they were delivered from being torn limb from limb (Da 2:12-note) when God revealed the mystery to Daniel in the prayer meeting with his three friends. (4) They had been undoubtedly been taught God's Word including the truths of His past great deliverances such as: (1) The Passover Deliverance where Jehovah delivered Israel from Pharaoh and Egyptian bondage (Ex 12:11-14, 13:8, 9, 10); (2) The Red Sea Deliverance (problem = Ex 14:8,.9; the faith of Moses = Ex 14:13, 14, the deliverance by God = Ex 14:21-30); (3) The stones of remembrance (Josh 4:1-5, esp Josh 4:6, 7, for context see Josh 3:1-17). In summary, they were taught the truth about God and this truth was used by His Spirit to increase and stabilize their faith (cp Ro 10:17-note). In light of (3) and (4), the practical application for us as believers today is to make an effort to keep a written record ("journaling") of God's past deliverances in our life, so that we do not forget that He is able to deliver us (Da 3:17, Heb 2:18-note) when the crisis comes (cp Dt 6:10, 11, 12). Our hearts must be prepared before the crisis. The moment of crisis is too late to prepare our hearts. (5) They feared God and trusted Him, and did not fear Nebuchadnezzar's raging (cp Pr 29:25). Fear of God is the best "antidote" for neutralizing fear of man and the worst that man can do to us (cp Jesus' command in Mt 10:28) In short, when you go through the fire, cling fast to the truth you know about God, fixing your eyes on Jesus (Heb 12:2-note) - His promises (cp Isa 43:2), His past deliverances, His commandments that include His enablements, etc. When the fiery test comes, remember especially that God promises not to test us beyond what we are able to endure (1Cor 10:13-note). God had prepared the Hebrew lad's hearts for "such a time as this" (cp Esther 4:14)! Matthew Henry - It was a matter of life and death, and one would think they might have considered awhile before they had resolved; life is desirable, and death is dreadful. But when the sin and duty that were in the case were immediately determined by the letter of the second commandment, and no room was left to question what was right, the life and death that were in the case were not to be considered. Note, Those that would avoid sin must not parley with temptation. When that which we are allured or affrighted to is manifestly evil the motion is rather to be rejected with indignation and abhorrence than reasoned with; stand not to pause about it, but say, as Christ has taught us, Get thee behind me, Satan. They needed no time to contrive how they should word it. While they were advocates for God, and were called out to witness in his cause, they doubted not but it should be given them in that same hour what they should speak, Mt. 10:19. They were not contriving an evasive answer, when a direct answer was expected from them; no, nor would they seem to court the king not to insist upon it. Here is nothing in their answer that looks like compliment; they begin not, as their accusers did, with, O king! live for ever, no artful insinuation—to put him into a good humour, but every thing that is plain and downright
Daniel 3
Henry - Their believing confidence in God and their dependence upon him, Da 3:17. It was this that enabled them to look with so much contempt upon death, death in pomp, death in all its terrors: they trusted in the living God, and by that faith chose rather to suffer than to sin; they therefore feared not the wrath of the king, but endured, because by faith they had an eye to Him that is invisible (He 11:25-note, He 11:27-note) Jesus taught His disciples "make (aorist imperative - A command we carry out but only by the enabling power of the Spirit) up your minds (more literally "place it upon your heart) not to prepare beforehand to defend (apologeomai - speak in your own defense against charges presumed to be false) yourselves (Why? How is this possible?) for (term of explanation) I will give you utterance (stoma = literally mouth) and wisdom which none (ou = absolute negation!) of your opponents (antikeimai) will be able (dunamai) to resist (anistemi) or refute. (Lk 21:14,15) I love the phrase "He is able" and it is especially poignant in the book of Hebrews where we read… For (term of explanation = What is he explaining? Heb 2:17) since He Himself (Jesus) was tempted (perfect tense = past completed action, ongoing effects, it behooves us to study how Jesus fought temptation! Note role of Spirit and Word in Mt 4:1-10) in that which He has suffered (Lk 22:44), He is able (dunamai in the present tense = continually has the inherent ability) to come to the aid (boetheo - to run to us on hearing our cry and to give assistance) of those who are (peirazo in the present tense = continually being) tempted (tested). (Heb 2:18-note) Hence, also, He (Jesus) is able (dunamai - in the present tense = continuously able) to save forever (What is the "condition?") those who draw near (proserchomai) to God through Him (Our Great High Priest, the one mediator between God and man - Heb 4:14, 1Ti 2:45), since (You could substitute "because" - he explains Jesus' ability to save us forever) He always lives to make intercession for them. (Heb 7:25-note) See related study - GOD IS ABLE - preceptaustin Come Ye Sinners Poor and Needy Weak and wounded, sick and sore; Jesus ready stands to save you, Full of pity, love, and power; He is able, He is able, He is willing, doubt no more. —J. Hart Honest doubt, if properly handled, can become the vestibule of faith! Chuck Smith writes about the importance of commitment in the daring decision by the lads… We shall each face the fiery furnace. God never promised us immunity from trials, quite the opposite, "and they that live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted" (2Ti 3:12-note). To pray "not my will, Thy will be done" (Lk 22:42, cp Mt 6:10-note) can sometimes involve a cross. My human nature would seek the easy path, but the easy path usually leads to nowhere. We observe some who have fallen by the wayside. "Ye did start well, what did hinder you?" (Gal 5:7) Some are like seed on the stony ground (Mk 4:5, 6, 16, 17). What is the problem? Lack of deep commitment. Their commitment came from their confidence in God… They knew He could deliver from… He will deliver us from your hand." One way or the other. Even if we burn in your fire we will be delivered from you. (Daniel 3:16-17 Commitment) Years earlier another young Hebrew lad took a bold stand in the face of overwhelming odds, a stand that was based upon his past experiences with Jehovah… And David said, "The LORD (Jehovah) Who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear, He will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine." And Saul said to David, "Go, and may the LORD be with you." (1Sa 17:37, cp 1Sa 17:46) In some of his last written words the apostle Paul testified that our God is able declaring… For this reason (Always pause and ask "What reason?" - See context = 2Ti 1:10, 11-note - ultimately for the Gospel) I also suffer these things, but I am not ashamed; for I know Whom I have believed and I am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him until that day. (2Ti 1:12-note) I Know Whom I Have Believed (play) (Acappello) by Daniel Whittle But I know Whom I have believed, And am persuaded that He is able To keep that which I’ve committed Unto Him against that day. The psalmist puts it beautifully "The LORD (Jehovah) will protect you from all evil; He will keep your soul. The LORD (Jehovah) will guard your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forever. (Ps 121:7, 8 - notes) Out of your hand - Remember that in Da 1:2, the Lord (Adonai) had delivered Judah into Nebuchadnezzar's hand and so He is fully capable of delivering out of the king's hand (hand speaks of power and authority). O king - Notice that even in their refusal to obey the king, they were still respectful, which is a good lesson for us when we disagree with our pagan adversaries. So while they respected the king, they were not afraid of what he might or could do to them. These three young men clearly had a healthy fear of God which is the best antidote against the fear of man, for he that fears God fears nothing else (cp Pr 29:25). As Charles Bridges says the fear of the LORD "is that affectionate reverence, by which the child of God bends himself humbly and carefully to his Father's law (in this case His prohibition against idol worship). John
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Henry observes that the Hebrew boys may have had another reason to believe that God might deliver them explaining that "partly because, in such a vast appearance of idolaters, it would be very much for the honour of his great name to deliver them, and partly because Nebuchadnezzar had defied Him to do it (Da 3:15b). God sometimes appears wonderfully for the silencing of the blasphemies of the enemy, as well as for the answering of the prayers of His people, Ps 74:18, 19, 20, 21, 22; Dt 32:27. Chuck Smith writes that their "commitment came from dedication of purpose… They committed themselves to worship and serve only God. They like Daniel in Da 1:8 had purposed in their heart not to be defiled by the king's command to worship idols… How can you stop these kind of men?… God did not deliver them from the furnace… God delivered them in the furnace (cp the similar truth of 1Co 10:13-note). (Daniel 3:16-17 Commitment) Oswald Chambers in his often somewhat enigmatic manner of stating things adds "The fiery furnaces are there by God’s direct permission. It is misleading to imagine that we are developed in spite of our circumstances, we are developed because of them. It is mastery in circumstances that is needed, not mastery over them. BEWARE OF BOWING LEST YOU BECOME BOUND! Notice that what you "bow" to (fall down and worship) will eventually be what you are "bound" to, for it will become your master and you will serve it (like a slave). God alluded to this spiritual dynamic when He encouraged Elijah… Yet I will leave 7,000 in Israel, all the knees that have not bowed to Baal and every mouth that has not kissed him. (1Kings 19:18) When are we to make the choice not to obey man? In the book of Acts we find an example of "not bowing", Luke recording that the Jewish council and high priest gave… strict orders not to continue teaching in this Name, and behold, you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and intend to bring this Man's blood upon us." But Peter and the apostles answered and said, "We must obey God rather than men." (Acts 5:28, 29) When man’s laws clearly conflict with God’s laws, you are to obey God BUT be ready for the consequences. Peter and the apostles continued to speak the Name before the Jewish council and high priest and so they flogged them and ordered them to speak no more in the name of Jesus, and then released them. So they went on their way from the presence of the Council, rejoicing that they had been considered worthy to suffer shame for His name." (Acts 5:40, 41) What if a law is passed that says we can’t share our faith on the job or with a classmate during lunch? What if all public evangelism is prohibited by law (cp Acts 5:28, 29)? What if proclaiming Christ becomes a “hate crime"? If these situations arise in our lifetime, then we need to recall the principles in Daniel 3. We need to remember that while God promises to take care of us, that doesn’t guarantee that standing up for what is right will turn out the way we might prefer. Our charge is not to guess what will happen but to be faithful to God's clearly revealed will (and law), allowing Him to take care of the results. Yes, sometimes God does protect us from the fire but other times He protects through the fire. God may intervene to deliver us but he is not obligated to do so. STAND WITH JESUS AND JESUS WILL STAND WITH YOU When we stand for Jesus, the world will stand against us but He will stand with us, even as Paul experienced in his last recorded words… At my first defense no one supported me, but all deserted me; may it not be counted against them. 17 But the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me, in order that through me the proclamation might be fully accomplished, and that all the Gentiles might hear; and I was delivered out of the lion's mouth. 18 The Lord will deliver me from every evil deed, and (here is our ultimate deliverance) will bring me safely to His heavenly kingdom; to Him be the glory forever and ever. Amen. (2Ti 4:16, 17, 18-note) Stand Up, Stand Up for Jesus (play) by George Duffield, Jr Stand up, stand up for Jesus, ye soldiers of the cross; Lift high His royal banner, it must not suffer loss. From victory unto victory His army shall He lead, Till every foe is vanquished, and Christ is Lord indeed. Stand up, stand up for Jesus, the solemn watchword hear; If while ye sleep He suffers, away with shame and fear; Where’er ye meet with evil, within you or without, Charge for the God of battles, and put the foe to rout. Stand up, stand up for Jesus, the trumpet call obey; Forth to the mighty conflict, in this His glorious day. Ye that are brave now serve Him against unnumbered foes; Let courage rise with danger, and strength to strength oppose. Stand up, stand up for Jesus, stand in His strength alone; The arm of flesh will fail you, ye dare not trust your own. Put on the Gospel armor, each piece put on with prayer; Where duty calls or danger, be never wanting there. Stand up, stand up for Jesus, each soldier to his post, Close up the broken column, and shout through all the host: Make good the loss so heavy, in those that still remain, And prove to all around you that death itself is gain. Stand up, stand up for Jesus, the strife will not be long; This day the noise of battle, the next the victor’s song. To those who vanquish evil a crown of life shall be; They with the King of Glory shall reign eternally.
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Henry notes that the three boys… know they must obey God rather than man; they must rather suffer than sin, and must not do evil that good may come. And therefore none of these things move them; they are resolved rather to die in their integrity than live in their iniquity. While their brethren, who yet remained in their own land, were worshipping images by choice, they in Babylon would not be brought to it by constraint, but, as if they were good by antiperistasis, were most zealous against idolatry in an idolatrous country. And truly, all things considered, the saving of them from this sinful compliance was as great a miracle in the kingdom of grace as the saving of them out of the fiery furnace was in the kingdom of nature. These were those who formerly resolved not to defile themselves with the king’s meat, and now they as bravely resolve not to defile themselves with his gods. Note, A steadfast self-denying adherence to God and duty in less instances will qualify and prepare us for the like in greater. And in this we must be resolute, never, under any pretence whatsoever, to worship images, or to say "A confederacy’’ with those that do so. Daniel 3:19 Then Nebuchadnezzar was filled with wrath, and his facial expression was altered toward Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego. He answered by giving orders to heat the furnace seven times more than it was usually heated. was: Da 3:13 Pr 21:24 Isa 51:23 Lk 12:4,5 Ac 5:33 7:54 facial expression: Da 5:6 Ge 4:5,6 31:2 answered: Ex 15:9,10 1Ki 20:10,11 2Ki 19:27,28 Ps 76:10 Pr 16:14 27:3,4 seven: Da 6:24 Lev 26:18,21,24,28 than: 1Ki 18:33, 34, 35 Mt 27:63, 64, 65, 66 Daniel 3 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries Then - This is an expression of time which marks sequence of events - always take note of this word as it will help you decipher the "dynamics" of the passage. This word is often very instructive in prophetic passages, marking events that follow other events, etc. Filled with wrath - What fills a person, controls a person as it controlled the king and resulted in certain actions consistent with the wrath with which he was filled. The lesson for us is to be very aware of the danger of making declarations and decisions which impact others when we are controlled by our emotions (be they anger, fear, grief, etc). Solomon warned about the anger of kings - "The king's wrath is like the roaring of a lion, but his favor is like dew on the grass. (Pr 19:12) Nebuchadnezzar was playing the fool for Solomon says that… He who is slow to anger has great understanding, but he who is quick-tempered exalts folly. (Pr 14:29) Do not be eager in your heart to be angry, for anger resides in the bosom of fools. (Ec 7:9) Matthew Henry - How little was it the honour of this mighty prince that he had rule over so many nations when at the same time he had no rule over his own spirit, that there were so many who were subjects and captives to him when he was himself a perfect slave to his own brutish passions and led captive by them! How unfit was he to rule reasonable men who could not himself be ruled by reason! The following cross references with the phrase "filled with" make an interesting study on the importance of the concept of "being filled" -- Lk 1:15 referring to the John the Baptist, Lk 1:41, 42, Lk 1:67, 68ff, Lk 4:28, 29 [context = Lk 4:24, 25, 26, 27], Lk 5:26 [context = Lk 5:24, 25], Lk 6:11 [context = Lk 6:7, 8, 9, 10], Acts 2:4, 4:8, 9, 10, 4:31, 32, 33, Acts 5:17, 18, Ac 9:17, 13:9, 10, 11, 12, Acts 13:45 [jealousy], Ac 13:52, Ac 19:28, 29 [context = Ac 19:26, 27], Ro 1:28, 29, Ro 15:14, 2Co 7:4, Ep 5:18, see the effects/evidence in Ep 5:19, 20, 21, Col 1:9). Here is the complete (Old and New Testament) list of passages in the NAS that have the phrase "filled with" - Gen 6:11, 13; Ex 1:7; 16:12; Num 14:21; Deut 34:9; 1 Kgs 7:14; 2 Kgs 3:17, 20; 2 Chr 5:13; 16:14; Esth 3:5; 5:9; Ps 38:7; 71:8; 72:19; 78:59, 62; 107:9; 123:3f; 126:2; Prov 3:10; 5:10; 12:21; 20:17; 24:4; Eccl 1:8; Isa 2:6ff; 30:27; 34:6; Jer 13:12; Lam 3:30; Ezek 9:9; 10:4; 23:33; 28:16; 36:38; Da 3:19; Amos 2:13; Mic 3:8; Hab 2:14, 16; Zech 8:5; Matt 22:10; Luke 1:15, 41, 67; 4:28; 5:26; 6:11; John 12:3; Acts 2:4; 3:10; 4:8, 31; 5:17; 9:17; 13:9, 45, 52; 19:28f; Rom 1:29; 15:14; 2 Cor 7:4; Eph 5:18; Phil 1:11; Col 1:9; 2 Tim 1:4; Rev 15:8; 19:21 Facial expression was altered - Imagine his face! Bright red! Nostrils flaring. Features distorted. Anger is an ugly thing not to mention that a distorted face (from anger) usually results in distorted judgment. The only thing hotter than his face for the superheated furnace! Seven times - This is probably not literal but figurative language conveying the idea that the fire was to be made as hot as was physically possible. The number seven is frequently used in Scripture to speak of completion or perfection (Ge 2:2, 3, Pr 24:16; Pr 26:16, Re 3:1-note, Re 4:5-note). His order shows the irrationality of one who is angry, because a lower temperature fire would have actually prolonged their agony! To heat the furnace even hotter would have lengthened their time on "death row" at least a few minutes. It is difficult to imagine what was going through their mind and I look forward to asking them in eternity future. I would not be surprised to hear them say something like Psalm 23:4-note or Psalm 27-note! Related Resource: Tony