Daniel 3
Warren Wiersbe · Citado em PreceptAustin
Daniel 3
Wiersbe - Nebuchadnezzar was wise to use instrumental music because it could stir the people’s emotions and make it easy for him to manipulate them and win their submission and obedience. Throughout history, music and song have played an important role in strengthening nationalism, motivating conquest, and inspiring people to act. Music has the power so to grip human thoughts and emotions that people are transformed from being free agents into becoming mere puppets. The English poet William Congreave wrote that “music has charms to soothe a savage breast,” but music also has power to release the savage in the breast. Music can be used as a wonderful tool and treasure from the Lord or as a destructive weapon from Satan. (Wiersbe, W. W. Be Resolute) BRIEF EXCURSUS ON IDOLATRY As we consider the response of the three Hebrew boys, we need to remember that Judah was in captivity for two reasons: (1) Not keeping the Sabbath years for 490 years (2Chr 36:20, 21, Jer 25:11, 12, cp God's law Lv 25:3,4, God had prophesied their disobedience Lv 26:33, 34, 35) and (2) Worshiping and serving idols rather than being solely devoted to the living God (2Chr 36:14-17, speaking of Jeshurun = "Upright One" = Israel Dt 32:15, 16, 17, 18, 19 - Observe in v15 what predisposed Israel to pursuing idolatry). It is fascinating that the Jews wanted idols more than they wanted God and so God gave them what they wanted by giving them over to Babylon, the birthplace of idolatry, so that they might "get their fill" of their "heart's desire"! Beloved, if we as NT believers persist in pursuing what God warns us not to pursue, we run the danger (after His repeated warnings) that one day He no longer provides a remedy but gives us over to what we have been willfully, rebelliously pursuing! Woe! The 3 Hebrew boys would also know that God had commanded Israel that… You shall have no other gods before Me. You shall not make for yourself an idol (cp Nebuchadnezzar's golden image), or any likeness of what is in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the water under the earth. You shall not worship them or serve them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, on the third and the fourth generations of those who hate Me. (Ex 20:3, 4, 5) One of many dangers of idols is that in worshiping and serving them, we become like them, the psalmist declaring… Those who make them will become like them, everyone who trusts in them. O Israel, trust in the LORD; He is their help and their shield. (Ps 115:8, 9) Notice in this Psalm the "antidote" for not becoming like the godless idols is to trust in Jehovah. In another psalm the writer plainly states the danger of idols… And served their idols, which became a snare to them. They even sacrificed their sons and their daughters to the demons, and shed innocent blood, The blood of their sons and their daughters, whom they sacrificed to the idols of Canaan; and the land was polluted with the blood. Thus they became unclean in their practices, and played the harlot in their deeds. (Ps 106:36, 37, 38, 39) Idols are a snare or trap, and lure us into practices that are abominable to God, a veritable "stench in His nostrils"! Such unfaithful behavior is pictured in this psalm and throughout the OT as playing the harlot or going "a whoring" (Ex 34:15KJV, Ex 34:16KJV, Lev 17:7KJV, God's prophecy which Israel fulfilled - Dt 31:16KJV, Jdg 2:17KJV, 1Chr 5:25KJV, Ezek 33:30KJV) The subtle attraction to images is dramatically illustrated in the familiar event in Numbers 21 when the children of God sinned causing God to send fiery serpents among them So the people came to Moses and said, "We have sinned, because we have spoken against the LORD and you; intercede with the LORD, that He may remove the serpents from us." And Moses interceded for the people. Then the LORD said to Moses, "Make a fiery serpent, and set it on a standard; and it shall come about, that everyone who is bitten, when he looks at it, he shall live. And Moses made a bronze serpent and set it on the standard; and it came about, that if a serpent bit any man, when he looked to the bronze serpent, he lived. (Nu 21:7, 8, 9). Jesus referred to this OT shadow (See Study of Biblical types) as pointing to His being lifted up on the Cross… And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up that whoever believes may in Him have eternal life. (Jn 3:14, 15) In Numbers those who were bitten had to exercise faith and look (faith is an action verb) at the symbol in order to preserve their physical life. Jesus says that just as the Israelites did not die physically because of the exercise of their faith (that event did not convey spiritual rebirth), in a similar way, as men "bitten" by the sting suffered spiritual death, they could be "healed" by "looking" (cp Isa 45:22KJV) to Jesus, by believing in Him for eternal life. (Read C H Spurgeon's miraculous testimony of the new birth when he "looked" to Jesus!) Some 700-800 years later we read the story of godly King Hezekiah of the southern kingdom of Judah (the 10 northern tribes = "Israel" had no godly kings) who… removed the high places and broke down the sacred pillars and cut down the Asherah (the places where abominable acts of idolatrous "worship" were being performed, many of these acts associated with forbidden sexual practices common to the Canaanites - see discussion of association of idolatry with immorality - From idolatry to immorality is just one short step. If man is his own god, then he can do whatever he pleases and fulfill his desires without fear of judgment.). He also broke in pieces the bronze serpent that Moses had made, for until those days the sons of Israel burned incense to it; and it was called Nehushtan (a "worthless piece of brass"). (2Kings 18:4) Thus we see the attraction of our fallen flesh to images and the perversion of what God intended to be a good thing, but which Israel had turned into idol worship for almost 800 years! And beloved, lest we be too hard on Israel for their foolish, rebellious behavior, we need to remember that Israel's behavior is often a picture of our own fallen flesh. Flesh in our modern world is just as evil as in ancient Israel. It's just that we have changed the names of our idols to things like plenty (money, wealth), possessions, pleasure (entertainment, sports, etc), people, pride (position, power, prestige), etc. We as NT believers must learn from Israel's sins (1Co 10:6, 11) and remember that… the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please. (Galatians 5:17-note) And so it not surprising that the NT gives us clear commands regarding idols… Therefore, my beloved, flee (pheugo in the present imperative = command to do this continually because we are continually prone to be ensnared by idols!) from idolatry (eidololatreia [word study]). (1Cor 10:14) Come out (aorist imperative = Command to do this now. Do it effectively. The command is urgent because the danger is great!) from their midst and be separate,” says the Lord. “And do not touch (present imperative = command to do this continually because we are continually vulnerable to touch unclean things including idols!) what is unclean (including anything that smacks of idolatry) and I will welcome you. (2 Co 6:17). Little children, guard (aorist imperative = Command to do this now. Do it effectively. The command is urgent because the danger is great!) yourselves from idols. (1Jn 5:21) Remember that anything or anyone that comes between you and God is an idol. Anything or anyone you are more devoted to than God is an idol. We need to continually do a heart check (Pr 4:23-note) because to the corrupting, destructive effects of idolatry. I think the 3 Hebrew lads had done their heart check in this chapter. What idols are you worshiping dear believer? Cast them out. Repent. Seek His face and His forgiveness and He will welcome you with intimate communion. Remember that your attitudes, choices and behavior will be determined by one of two "compasses", either external pressure or internal principle. These Hebrew lads were enabled to stand strong because they stood on internal (Biblically based) principles. And in case you think you don't have any idols, note Paul's sweeping definition of idolatry… Therefore consider (aorist imperative - Do this now! Do it effectively! It is urgent!) the members of your earthly body as dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which amounts to idolatry. (Colossians 3:5 -note) As Paul explains greed or covetousness is synonymous with idolatry because it places selfish desire above obedience to God. The individual whose life is dominated by the desire to get things has set up things in the place of God and that is the essence of idolatry. Covetousness is also the root cause of all sin, because when people sin, it is basically people doing what they desire, rather than what God desires. This in turn amounts to worship of self rather than worship of God, and this is the very essence of idolatry! Related Resources: Idolatry - Dictionary Articles Idolatry and Immorality - relationship and antidote Idols - eidolon - word study Idolatry - eidololatreia - word study Idolater - eidololatres - word study Romans 1 - Read and study Ro 1:19-32 (see notes) which explains the inevitable, inexorable spiritual devolution that ensues when one rejects the truth about God, truth He has made evident to every person. Man is made to worship and if he rejects God, he will inevitably worship false gods but not without significant spiritual/moral consequences - see esp Ro 1:25-note, Ro 1:26--note Torrey's Topic Idolatry Forbidden -Exodus 20:2,3; Deuteronomy 5:7 CONSISTS IN Bowing down to images -Exodus 20:5; Deuteronomy 5:9 Worshipping images -Isaiah 44:17; Daniel 3:5,10,15 Sacrificing to images -Psalms 106:38-note; Acts 7:41 Worshipping other gods -Deuteronomy 30:17; Psalms 81:9-note Swearing by other gods -Exodus 23:13; Joshua 23:7 Walking after other gods -Deuteronomy 8:19 Speaking in the name of other gods -Deuteronomy 18:20 Looking to other gods -Hosea 3:1 Serving other gods -Deuteronomy 7:4; Jeremiah 5:19 Fearing other gods -2 Kings 17:35 Sacrificing to other gods -Exodus 22:20 Worshipping the true God by an image, -Ex 32:4, 5, 6; Ps 106:19-note, Ps 106:20-note Worshipping angels -Colossians 2:18 Worshipping the host of heaven -Deuteronomy 4:19; 17:3 Worshipping demons -Matthew 4:9-10; Revelation 9:20 Worshipping dead men -Psalms 106:28-note Setting up idols in the heart -Ezekiel 14:3,4 Covetousness -Ephesians 5:5; Colossians 3:5 Sensuality -Philippians 3:19 Is changing the glory of God into an image -Romans 1:23; Acts 17:29 Is changing the truth of God into a lie -Romans 1:25; Isaiah 44:20 Is a work of the flesh -Galatians 5:19,20 Incompatible with the service of God -Ge 35:2,3; Josh 24:23; 1Sa 7:3; 1Ki 18:21; 2Co 6:15,16 DESCRIBED AS An abomination to God -Deuteronomy 7:25 Hateful to God -Deuteronomy 16:22; Jeremiah 44:4 Vain and foolish -Psalms 115:4-8-note; Isaiah 44:19; Jeremiah 10:3 Bloody -Ezekiel 23:39 Abominable -1Pe 4:3 Unprofitable -Judges 10:14; Isaiah 46:7 Irrational -Acts 17:29; Ro 1:21, 22, 23 Defiling -Ezekiel 20:7; 36:18 THEY WHO PRACTICE Forget God -Deuteronomy 8:19; Jeremiah 18:15 Go astray from God- Ezekiel 44:10 Pollute the name of God -Ezekiel 20:39 Defile the sanctuary of God -Ezekiel 5:11 Are estranged from God -Ezekiel 14:5 Forsake God -2 Kings 22:17; Jeremiah 16:11 Hate God -2 Chronicles 19:2,3 Provoke God -Deuteronomy 31:20; Isaiah 65:3; Jeremiah 25:6 Are vain in their imaginations -Romans 1:21 Are ignorant and foolish -Romans 1:21,22 Inflame themselves -Isaiah 57:5 Hold fast their deceit -Jeremiah 8:5 Carried away by it -1 Corinthians 12:2 Go after it in heart -Ezekiel 20:16 Are mad upon it -Jeremiah 50:38 Boast of it -Psalms 97:7-note Have fellowship with devils -Hosea 4:12 Ask counsel of their idols -Hosea 4:12 Look to idols for deliverance -Isaiah 44:17; 45:20 Swear by their idols -Amos 8:14 Objects of, numerous -1 Corinthians 8:5 OBJECTS OF DESCRIBED AS Strange gods -Genesis 35:2,4; Joshua 24:20 Other gods -Judges 2:12,17; 1 Kings 14:9 New gods -Deuteronomy 32:17; Judges 5:8 Gods that cannot save -Isaiah 45:20 Gods that have not made the heavens -Jeremiah 10:11 No gods -Jeremiah 5:7; Galatians 4:8 Molten gods -Exodus 34:17; Leviticus 19:4 Molten images -Deuteronomy 27:15; Habakkuk 2:18 Graven images -Isaiah 45:20; Hosea 11:2 Senseless idols -Deuteronomy 4:28; Ps 115:5-note, Ps 115:7-note Dumb idols -Habakkuk 2:18 Dumb Stones -Habakkuk 2:19 Stocks -Jeremiah 3:9; Hosea 4:12 Abominations -Isaiah 44:19; Jeremiah 32:34 Images of abomination -Ezekiel 7:20 Idols of abomination -Ezekiel 16:36 Stumbling blocks -Ezekiel 14:3 Teachers of lies -Habakkuk 2:18 Wind and confusion -Isaiah 41:29 Nothing -Isaiah 41:24; 1Co 8:4 Helpless -Jeremiah 10:5 Vanity -Jeremiah 18:15 Vanities of the Gentiles -Je 14:22 Making idols for purpose of, described and ridiculed -Is 44:10,11,12,13,14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20 Obstinate sinners judicially given up to -Deut 4:28; 28:64; Ho 4:17 Warnings against -Deuteronomy 4:15, 16, 17, 18, 19 Exhortations to turn from -Ezekiel 14:6; 20:7; Acts 14:15 Renounced on conversion -1Th 1:9 Led to abominable sins -Ro 1:26-32; Acts 15:20 SAINTS SHOULD Keep from -Joshua 23:7; 1Jn 5:21 Flee from -1 Corinthians 10:14 Not have anything connected with in their houses -Deut 7:26 Not partake of any thing connected with -1Co 10:19,20 Not have religious intercourse with those who practise -Josh 23:7; 1Co 5:11 Not covenant with those who practise -Ex 34:12,15; Deuteronomy 7:2 Not intermarry with those who practise -Ex 34:16; Deut 7:3 Testify against -Acts 14:15; 19:26 Refuse to engage in, though threatened with death -Daniel 3:18 Saints preserved by God from -1 Kings 19:18; Romans 11:4 Saints refuse to receive the worship of -Acts 10:25,26; 14:11-15 Angels refuse to receive the worship of -Revelation 22:8,9 Destruction of, promised -Ezekiel 36:25; Zechariah 13:2 Everything connected with, should be destroyed -Ex 34:13; Deut 7:5; 2Sa 5:21; 2Ki 23:14 Woe denounced against -Habakkuk 2:19 Curse denounced against -Deuteronomy 27:15 PUNISHMENT OF Judicial death -Deut 17:2, 3, 4, 5 Dreadful judgments which end in death -Je 8:2; 16:1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 Banishment -Jeremiah 8:3; Hosea 8:5-8; Amos 5:26,27 Exclusion from heaven -1Co 6:9,10; Ep 5:5; Re 22:15 Eternal torments -Revelation 14:9-11; 21:8 EXEMPLIFIED Israel -Exodus 32:1; 2Ki 17:12 Philistines -Judges 16:23 Micah -Judges 17:4,5 Jeroboam -1Kings 12:28 Maachah -1Kings 15:13 Ahab -1Kings 16:31 Jezebel -1 Kings 18:19 Sennacherib -2 Kings 19:37 Manasseh -2 Kings 21:4, 5, 6, 7 Amon -2 Kings 21:21 Ahaz -2 Chronicles 28:3 Judah -Jeremiah 11:13 Nebuchadnezzar -Daniel 3:1 Belshazzar -Daniel 5:23 People of Lystra -Acts 14:11,12 Athenians -Acts 17:16 Ephesians -Acts 19:28 ZEAL AGAINST-EXEMPLIFIED Asa -1 Kings 15:12 Josiah -2 Kings 23:5 Jehoshaphat -2 Chronicles 17:6 Israel -2 Chronicles 31:1 Manasseh -2 Chronicles 33:15 All forms of, forbidden by the law of Moses -Ex 20:4,5 All heathen nations given up to -Ps 96:5-note; Ro 1:23,25; 1Co 12:2 Led the heathen to think that their gods visited the earth in Bodily shapes -Acts 14:11 Led the heathen to consider their gods to have but a local Influence -1Ki 20:23; 2Ki 17:26 OBJECTS OF The heavenly bodies -2 Kings 23:5; Acts 7:42 Angels -Colossians 2:18 Departed spirits -1 Samuel 28:14,15 Earthly creatures -Romans 1:23 Images -Deuteronomy 29:17; Ps 115:4-note; Isaiah 44:17 Temples built for -Hosea 8:14 Altars raised for -1 Kings 18:26; Hosea 8:11 Accompanied by feasts -2 Kings 10:20; 1 Corinthians 10:27,28 OBJECTS OF, WORSHIPPED With sacrifices -Numbers 22:40; 2 Kings 10:24 With libations -Isaiah 57:6; Jeremiah 19:13 With incense -Jeremiah 48:35 With prayer -1 Kings 18:26; Is 44:17 With singing and dancing -Ex 32:18,19; 1Ki 18:26; 1Co 10:7 By bowing to them -1 Kings 19:18; 2 Kings 5:18 By kissing them -1 Kings 19:18; Hosea 13:2 By kissing the hand to them -Job 31:26,27 By cutting the flesh -1 Kings 18:28 By burning children -Deut 12:31; 2Chr 33:6; Je 19:4,5; Ezek 16:21 In temples -2 Kings 5:18 On high places -Numbers 22:41; Jeremiah 2:20 In groves -Exodus 34:13 Under trees -Isaiah 57:5; Jeremiah 2:20 In private houses -Judges 17:4,5 On the tops of houses -2 Kings 23:12; Zephaniah 1:5 In secret places -Isaiah 57:8 Rites of, obscene and impure -Ex 32:25; Nu 25:1-3; 2Ki 17:9; Is 57:6,8,9; 1Pe 4:3 Divination connected with -2 Chronicles 33:6 Victims sacrificed in, often adorned with garlands -Acts 14:13 THE JEWS Practiced, in Egypt -Joshua 24:14; Ezekiel 23:3,19 Brought, out of Egypt with them -Ezekiel 23:8; Acts 7:39, 40, 41 Forbidden to practise -Exodus 20:1-5; 23:24 Often mixed up, with God’s worship -Ex 32:1, 2, 3, 4, 5; 1Ki 12:27,28 Followed the Canaanites in -Judges 2:11, 12, 13; 1 Chronicles 5:25 Followed the Moabites in -Numbers 25:1, 2, 3 Followed the Assyrians in -Ezekiel 16:28, 29, 30; 23:5, 6, 7 Followed the Syrians in -Judges 10:6 Adopted by Solomon -1 Kings 11:5-8 Adopted by the wicked kings -1Ki 21:26; 2Ki 21:21; 2Chr 28:2, 3, 4; 33:3,7 Example of the kings encouraged Israel in -1Ki 12:30; 2Ki 21:11; 2Chr 33:9 Great prevalence of, in Israel -Isaiah 2:8; Je 2:28; Ezek 8:10 A virtual forsaking of God -Jeremiah 2:9, 10, 11, 12, 13 The good kings of Judah endeavored to destroy -2Chr 15:16; 34:7 Captivity of Israel on account of -2 Kings 17:6-18 Captivity of Judah on account of -2 Kings 17:19, 20, 21, 22, 23 NAVE'S TOPIC IDOLATRY Wicked Practices of - Human sacrifices, Lv 18:21; 20:2, 3, 4, 5; Dt. 12:31; 18:10; 2Ki 3:26, 27; 16:3; 17:17, 18; 21:6; 23:10; 2Chr. 28:3; 33:6; Ps 106:37, 38; Is 57:5; Je 7:31; 19:4, 5, 6, 7; 32:35; Ezek 16:20, 21; 20:26, 31; 23:37, 39; Mic 6:7; practices of, relating to the dead, Dt 14:1; licentiousness of, Ex. 32:6, 25; Nu 25:1, 2, 3; 1Ki 14:24; 15:12; 2Ki. 17:30 (Succoth-benoth - “tents of the daughters” probably indicating some deity worshiped by sexual orgies); 2Ki 23:7; Ezek. 16:17; 23:1-44; Hos 4:12, 13, 14; Amos 2:8; Mic 1:7; Ro 1:24, 26, 27; 1Co 10:7, 8; 1Pe 4:3, 4; Re 2:14, 20, 21, 22; 9:20, 21; 14:8; 17:1-6. Other Customs of Offered burnt offerings, Ex. 32:6; 1Ki 18:26; Acts 14:13; libations, Is 57:6; 65:11; Je 7:18; 19:13; 32:29; 44:17, 19, 25; Ezek 20:28; of wine, Dt 32:38; of blood, Ps 16:4; Zech 9:7; grain offerings, Is 57:6; Je 7:18; 44:17; Ezek 16:19; peace offerings, Ex. 32:6. Incense burned on altars, 1Ki 12:33; 2Chr 30:14; 34:25; Is 65:3; Je 1:16; 11:12, 17; 44:3; 48:35; Ezek 16:18; 23:41; Hos 11:2. Prayers to idols, Jdg 10:14; Isa. 44:17; 45:20; 46:7; Jonah 1:5. Praise, Jdg. 16:24; Da 5:4. Singing and dancing, Ex. 32:18, 19. Music, Da 3:5, 6, 7. Cutting the flesh, 1Ki 18:28; Jer. 41:5. Kissing, 1Ki 19:18; Hos. 13:2; Job 31:27. Bowing, 1Ki 19:18; 2Ki 5:18. Tithes and gifts, 2Ki 23:11; Da 11:38; Amos 4:4, 5. Annual Feasts 1Ki 12:32; Ezek. 18:6, 11, 12, 15; 22:9 Objects of - Sun, moon, and stars, Dt 4:19; 2Ki 17:16; 21:3, 5; 2Chr 33:3, 5; Job 31:26, 27,28; Je 7:17, 18, 19, 20; 8:2; Ezek 8:15, 16; Zeph 1:4, 5; Acts 7:42. Images of angels, Col 2:18; animals, Ro 1:23. Gods of Egypt, Ex. 12:12. Golden calf, Ex. 32:4. Brazen serpent, 2Ki 18:4. Net and drag, Hab. 1:16. Pictures, Nu 33:52; Isa. 2:16. Pictures on walls, Ezek. 8:10. Earrings, Ge 35:4. Denunciations Against - Ge 35:2; Ex. 20:3-6, 23 Dt. 5:7-9. Ex. 23:13 1Co 10:7. Lv 19:4; 26:1, 30 Dt. 16:21, 22, 4:15, 16, 19, 15-23; 4:25, 26, 27, 28; 11:16, 17, 28; 28:15-68; 30:17, 18; 31:16-21, 29; 32:15-26; 1Ki 9:6-9. Dt. 12:31; 27:15 Ex. 34:17. 1Sa 15:23; Job 31:26, 27, 28; Ps 16:4; 44:20, 21; 59:8; 79:6; 81:9; 97:7; Is 42:17, 45:16. Joel 3:12; Jonah 2:8; Mic. 5:15; Hab 1:16; Ac 15:29, 20; 1Co 8:1-13. Ac 17:16; Ro 1:25; 1Co 6:9, 10; 1Co 10:14, 20, 21,22.; 1Jn 5:21; Re 21:8, 22:15. Warnings Against, and Punishments of - Dt. 17:2, 3, 4, 5; 2Chr. 28:23; Neh. 9:27-37; Ps 78:58-64; 106:34-42; Is 1:29-31; 2:6-22; 30:22; 57:3-13; 65:3-7; Jer. 1:15, 16; 3:1-11; 5:1-17; 7; 8:1, 2, 19; 13:9-27; 16; 17:1-6; 18:13, 14, 15; 19; 22:9; 32:35; 44; 48:8; Ezek 6:1ff; 7:19; 8:5-18; 9; 14:1-14; 16; 20; 22:4; 23; 44:10, 11, 12; Hos. 1:2; 2:2, 3, 4, 5; 4:12-19; 5:1, 2, 3; 8:5-14; 9:10; 10; 11:2; 12:11-14; 13:1-4; 14:8; Amos 3:14; 4:4, 5; 5:5; Mic. 1:1-9; 5:12-14; 6:16; Zeph 1:1ff; Mal. 2:11, 12, 13. Prophecies Relating to - Ex. 12:12 Nu 33:4. Is 2:18, 20, 31:7, 17:7, 8; 19:1; 27:9; Je 10:11, 15; 51:44, 47, 52; Is 21:9. Ezek 43:7, 8, 9; Hos. 10:2; Mic. 5:13; Zeph 2:11; Zech 13:2 Folly of - Dt 4:28; 1Ki 18:27 Jdg. 6:31; 1Sa 5:3, 4. 2Chr 25:15 1Sa 12:21; 2Ki 3:13; Is 16:12; 36:18. 2Chr. 28:22, 23; Ps 115:4, 5, 8, 96:5; 135:15, 16, 17, 18; Is 2:8, 40:12-26; 41:23, 24, 26-29; 44:19, 9-20; 45:20; 46:1, 2, 6, 7; 47:12, 13, 14, 15; 2Ki 19:18; Isa. 37:19; Zech 10:2. Is 57:13; Je 2:28 Dt. 32:37, 38; Jdg. 10:14. Je 10:5, 3-16; 48:13; 51:17; Hab 2:18, 19. Je 11:12; 14:22; 16:19, 20; Ho 8:5, 6 Ex. 32:20; Ps 106:20. Ac 14:15; 17:22, 23, 29; Ro 1:22, 23; 1Co 8:4, 5; 10:19, 12:2; Gal. 4:8; Re 9:20 Dt 4:28; Da 5:23 Daniel 3:2 Then Nebuchadnezzar the king sent word to assemble the satraps, the prefects and the governors, the counselors, the treasurers, the judges, the magistrates and all the rulers of the provinces to come to the dedication of the image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up. sent: Ex 32:4, 5, 6 Nu 25:2 Jdg 16:23 1Ki 12:32 Pr 29:12 Rev 17:2 Daniel 3 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries King sent word to Assemble - All the leaders in Babylon were required to be present and by some estimates the number was in the thousands (or even much higher). This was a call for these leaders to publicly acknowledge their absolute loyalty to the King by bowing to the image (possibly an image of the King himself). Satraps - This is a Persian loan word meaning "protector of the realm." These were governors of main provinces. Daniel 3:3 Then the satraps, the prefects and the governors, the counselors, the treasurers, the judges, the magistrates and all the rulers of the provinces were assembled for the dedication of the image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up; and they stood before the image that Nebuchadnezzar had set up. Es 3:12, etc., satrap. Ps 82:1-8 Ac 19:34,35 Ro 1:21-28 3:11 1Co 1:24-26 Rev 13:13-16 Rev 17:13,17 treasurers: Ezra 7:21 Daniel 3 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries The stood before the image - When the "king of kings" (Da 2:37, Ezek 26:7) called, all obediently responded, even the three Hebrew boys. In contrast to the false accusation in Da 3:12, they did not disregard Nebuchadnezzar's commands which did not call for compromising their faith or God's truth. There is a time to disobey the king, and it would be when his commands clearly contradicted God's commands to not worship images. Here in Daniel 3 and in Acts 5:27, 28, 29 Scripture presents the clear guideline for when believers should not obey the authorities, Peter declaring "We must obey God rather than men." We need to be very careful in the "gray areas" but idol worship is certainly not one of those areas. So the 3 boys were on good grounds and God honored their honoring of His law (Da 3:30). However, remember that when we have good grounds to disobey the authorities, we must be prepared to accept the consequences as were the 3 boys (cp flogging in Acts 5:40, 41, 42). Daniel 3:4 Then the herald loudly proclaimed: "To you the command is given, O peoples, nations and men of every language, loudly: Da 4:14 Pr 9:13, 14, 15 Isa 40:9 58:1 command: Ho 5:11 Mic 6:16 peoples: Da 4:1 6:25 Es 8:9 Daniel 3 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries Herald loudly proclaimed - No one could say "I didn't know". As clear as this pagan herald was regarding his call to false worship of dead gods, so should we be as God's heralds of the gospel of grace which leads to true worship of the living God (cp Jn 4:24). Daniel 3:5 that at the moment you hear the sound of the horn, flute, lyre, trigon, psaltery, bagpipe and all kinds of music, you are to fall down and worship the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king has set up. horn Da 3:10,15 Daniel 3 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries The horn, et al - The fact that some of these instruments have Greek names does not necessarily support a late date for the authorship of Daniel, because Greek products and trading cities existed through much of western Asia as early as the sixth century B.C. Such instruments were common in Babylon at this time. In fact notice that the king's proclamation (Da 3:4) also acknowledged other languages in Babylon. Fall down - An act of submission. Worship - (Aramaic = cegid; Hebrew = cagad = to prostrate one's self in homage). The Septuagint translates cegid with the Greek verb proskuneo which means to bow down, to prostrate oneself in homage before another in the sense of worship, not mere reverence or courtesy! Note that worship is a key word in Daniel 3 occurring some 10x in in 9v (Da 3:5; 3:6; 3:10; 3:11; 3:12; 3:14; 3:15; 3:18; 3:28 - all are translated in Greek with proskuneo). The call to worship indicates this is not just a command to show political allegiance but clearly has religious or spiritual overtones. The image - Idolatry is image worship. Note the role of music in the practice of idolatry. Smith writes that idolatry "strictly speaking denotes the worship of deity in a visible form, whether the images to which homage is paid are symbolical representations of the true God or of the false divinities which have been made the objects of worship in his stead. (Smith's Dictionary) Daniel 3:6 "But whoever does not fall down and worship shall immediately be cast into the midst of a furnace of blazing fire." fall: Da 3:11,15 Ex 20:5 Isa 44:17 Mt 4:9 Rev 13:15-17 shall be: Da 2:5,12,13 Mk 6:27 furnace: Ge 19:28 Jer 29:22 Eze 22:18, 19, 20, 21, 22 Mt 13:42,50 Rev 9:2 14:11 Daniel 3 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries BOW OR BURN! COMPROMISE OR CONFLAGRATE! Immediately - No "due process" here, which is interesting because he did give the 3 Hebrews a "second chance" (Da 3:13, 14, 15). One has to believe God is behind the scenes, orchestrating the scenes He is behind! Cast into the midst of a furnace - In short "Bow or Burn"! Compromise or conflagrate! Daniel 3:7 Therefore at that time, when all the peoples heard the sound of the horn, flute, lyre, trigon, psaltery, bagpipe and all kinds of music, all the peoples, nations and men of every language fell down and worshiped the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up. when: Da 3:10 all the peoples: Jer 51:7 Ac 14:16 1Jn 5:19 Rev 12:9 13:3,8,14 17:8 19:20 Daniel 3 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries Therefore - term of conclusion When all the peoples heard -
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Wiersbe - The difference between the true believer and the unbeliever isn’t the presence of faith, because everybody lives by faith in something. The difference is in the object of that faith. The crowd believed the herald and the king, and therefore they obeyed. The three Hebrew men believed the commandment of God, so they disobeyed. The crowd had credulous faith, but the Jews had confident faith. (Ibid) Daniel 3:8 For this reason at that time certain Chaldeans came forward and brought charges against the Jews. charges: Da 6:12,13 Ezra 4:12-16 Es 3:6,8,9 Ac 16:20, 21, 22 17:6, 7, 8 28:22 1Pe 4:3,4 Daniel 3 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries For this reason - Always pause and asked "What reason?" Brought charges against (NIV = denounced) - The NAS rendering is not as strong as the Aramaic which literally means "ate the pieces of", a vivid idiom for slander (although 2 of their 3 charges were true - see Da 3:12). The RSV is better - "maliciously accused." What was their motive? Jealousy, the "jaundice of the soul" and it was a sin which quickly pounced on Abel (cp Ge 4:7) motivating him to murder his brother. Jealousy (Ge 37:11) led Joseph's brothers to sell him as a slave to the Midianite traders (Ge 37:26-28). Indeed as someone has well said jealousy is the raw material of murder. And of course the most horrendous crime motivated by envy was the betrayal and crucifixion of our Lord, Matthew recording… For he (Pilate) knew that because of envy they had handed Him over. (Mt 27:18) (Comment: Thomas Manton said "There are two sins which were Christ's sorest enemies, covetousness and envy. Covetousness sold Christ and envy delivered Him.") He that looks through a green glass sees no other color. - Thomas Adams As a moth gnaws a garment, so does envy consume a man. - John Chrysostom Envy eats nothing but its own heart. The Puritan Thomas Brooks gives perhaps the best synopsis of this horrible "cancer" writing "Envy, it tortures the affections, it vexes the mind, it inflames the blood, it corrupts the heart, it wastes the spirits; and so it becomes man's tormentor and man's executioner at once. C H
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Wiersbe - The three men could have compromised with the king and defended their disobedience by arguing, “Everybody else is doing it,” or “Our office demands that we obey,” or “We’ll bow our knees but we won’t bow our hearts.” They might have said, “We can do our people more good by being officers in the king’s service than by being ashes in the king’s furnace.” But true faith doesn’t look for loopholes; it simply obeys God and knows that He will do what is best. Faith rests on commands and promises, not on arguments and explanations. (Ibid) Pritchard - So many Christians want to make deals with God. “Lord, I’ll stand up for you as long as (pick one) A) I don’t lose my job, B) my friends don’t make fun of me, C) I still get that promotion, D) I don’t get in trouble with my boss, E) I can still have a successful career.” But God doesn’t make deals with anyone. He calls us to be faithful and we are called to leave the results with him. He doesn’t promise us an easy road if we decide to be faithful to him. And that’s why these three young men said, “But if not.” They knew God could save them but they knew he might have higher purposes in mind that would require their death. Therefore, they didn’t try to back God into a corner by demanding that the Almighty work a miracle on their behalf. They accepted God’s will in advance without knowing how things would work out. (A Time to Disobey- Nov, 1999) C H Spurgeon (Morning and Evening)… The narrative of the manly courage and marvellous deliverance of the three holy children, or rather champions, is well calculated to excite in the minds of believers firmness and steadfastness in upholding the truth in the teeth of tyranny and in the very jaws of death. Let young Christians especially learn from their example, both in matters of faith in religion, and matters of uprightness in business, never to sacrifice their consciences. Lose all rather than lose your integrity, and when all else is gone, still hold fast a clear conscience as the rarest jewel which can adorn the bosom of a mortal. Be not guided by the will-o’-the-wisp of policy, but by the pole-star of divine authority. Follow the right at all hazards. When you see no present advantage, walk by faith and not by sight (2Co 5:7). Do God the honour to trust Him when it comes to matters of loss for the sake of principle. See whether He will be your Debtor! See if He doth not even in this life prove His word that “Godliness, with contentment, is great gain,” (1Ti 6:6) and that they who “seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, shall have all these things added unto them.” (Mt 6:33) Should it happen that, in the providence of God, you are a loser by conscience, you shall find that if the Lord pays you not back in the silver of earthly prosperity, he will discharge His promise in the gold of spiritual joy. Remember that a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of that which he possesseth (Lk 12:15). To wear a guileless spirit, to have a heart void of offence, to have the favour and smile of God, is greater riches than the mines of Ophir could yield, or the traffic of Tyre could win. “Better is a dinner of herbs where love is, than a stalled ox and inward contention therewith.” An ounce of heart’s-ease is worth a ton of gold. Daniel 3:17 "If it be so, our God Whom we serve is able to deliver us from the furnace of blazing fire; and He will deliver us out of your hand, O king. our God: Da 4:35 6:20, 21, 22,27 Ge 17:1 18:14 1Sa 17:37, 1Sa 17:46 Job 5:19 34:29 Ps 27:1,2 62:1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 73:20 115:3 121:5, 6, 7 18:10,11 Isa 12:2 26:3,4 Isa 54:14 Lk 1:37 Ac 20:24 21:13 27:20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25 Ro 8:31 Heb 7:25 Daniel 3 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries OUR GOD… HE IS ABLE If it be so - That is if they are thrown into the blazing fire. Our God… is able (cp Da 4:37) - They affirm their confidence (faith, trust) in God's ability to deliver. Of that they were confident, but the "how" was less clear (they had not yet read the rest of the chapter!) THOUGHT - When you are faced with the furnace, fix your face on the Father! Now play "Our God" by Chris Tomlin. Able (03202)(yekel - Aramaic) means to be capable to perform or carry out. The Lxx translates yekel in this passage with dunatos, which means capable or competent. In general sense dunatos means able, capable, powerful and is an attribute of God (Ro 9:22 "to make His power known"), Who is called "the Mighty One" (Lk 1:49). Yekel - 11v - Dan 2:10, 27, 47; 3:17, 29; 4:18, 37; 5:16; 6:4, 20; 7:21. Nebuchadnezzar used yekel to describe Daniel's ability to interpret the dream, but he did give the glory to Daniel's God which is interesting - "Surely your God is a God of gods and a Lord of kings and a revealer of mysteries, since you have been able to reveal this mystery.” (Da 2:47) (Luke 1:37) “For nothing will be impossible with God.” (Literally - No word of God is devoid of power) Matthew
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Wiersbe adds that "Faith means obeying God regardless of the feelings within us, the circumstances around us, or the consequences before us… True faith isn’t frightened by threats, impressed by crowds, or swayed by superstitious ceremonies. True faith obeys the Lord and trusts Him to work out the consequences. These three Jewish men know the law of God—“You shall have no other gods before Me … You shall not bow down to them nor serve them” (Ex. 20:3, 5). Once the Lord has spoken on a matter, the matter is settled and there’s no room for discussion or need for compromise. To bow before the image even once, no matter what excuse they might give, would have destroyed their witness and broken their fellowship with God. The tense of the Greek verb in Matthew 4:9 indicates that Satan asked Jesus to worship him only one time, and the Savior refused. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego would not bow down to the golden image even once because it would lead to serving Nebuchadnezzar’s false gods for the rest of their lives. (Ibid) In Hebrews 13 God promises… I WILL NEVER (absolutely never by no means - see comment) DESERT (I will not let go of you. I will not relax my hold on you.) YOU, NOR WILL I EVER FORSAKE YOU," so that we confidently say, "THE LORD IS MY HELPER, I WILL NOT BE AFRAID. WHAT SHALL MAN DO TO ME?" (He 13:5b, He 13:6) Comment: Note in He 13:5b we have the promise of God's presence and in He 13:6 the promise of His power in our hour of need. Note also the incredibly strong negation using five Greek words that each convey negation. And so more literally God emphatic promises "I will never, never desert you. I will never, no, never leave thee." A SON OF THE GODS… THE SON OF GOD Like a son of the gods - By using the term of comparison "like" the king was saying that there was something different, even something divine about the fourth figure. A son of the gods - The KJV renders it "the Son of God" but the more literal translation is "a son of the gods". The Septuagint (Theodoret's version) renders it "Son of God." While not everyone agrees, most conservative commentators interpret the fourth figure as more than a created angelic messenger, and that this was a Christophany, a visual manifestation of the Creator Himself (Jesus was the Agent of Creation - Jn 1:2-3, Col 1:16, Heb 1:2), designated elsewhere in the OT as the Angel of the LORD (see discussion of OT appearances of Christ), the Son of God, the Lord Jesus Christ. Christophanies (appearances of Christ) were not uncommon in the OT, one of the most dramatic occurring to Hagar who had been banished from Abram's family and was met by the "Angel of the LORD" in the wilderness… 7 Now the Angel of the LORD found her by a spring of water in the wilderness, by the spring on the way to Shur. (Comment: "Angel" = Hebrew mal'ak = one who is sent = a messenger) 8 And He said, "Hagar, Sarai's maid, where have you come from and where are you going?" And she said, "I am fleeing from the presence of my mistress Sarai." 9 Then the Angel of the LORD said to her, "Return to your mistress, and submit yourself to her authority." 10 Moreover, the Angel of the LORD said to her, "I will greatly multiply your descendants so that they shall be too many to count." (This is not a promise a created angel would make!) 11 The Angel of the LORD said to her further, "Behold, you are with child, and you shall bear a son; and you shall call his name Ishmael, because the LORD has given heed to your affliction. 12 "And he will be a wild donkey of a man. His hand will be against everyone, and everyone's hand will be against him; and he will live to the east of all his brothers." 13 Then she called the name of the LORD Who spoke to her, "Thou art a God Who sees" (See study of El Roi: God Who Sees); for she said, "Have I even remained alive here after seeing Him?" 14 Therefore the well was called Beer-lahai-roi; behold, it is between Kadesh and Bered. 15 So Hagar bore Abram a son; and Abram called the name of his son, whom Hagar bore, Ishmael. 16 And Abram was eighty-six years old when Hagar bore Ishmael to him.