BACKGROUND
In Babylonian religious culture, statues were worshiped. The image in Daniel 3 stood 90 feet high and 90 feet wide. The pressure to bow down to it must have been enormous; but like the food and wine in Daniel 1, Daniel and his three friends discerned that this would violate God's Law and refused to worship the image (Exodus 20:3). So, they suffered the furnace of fire.
The fire killed Nebuchadnezzar's soldiers but not the four men in the fire. The fourth man could have been an angel or the pre-incarnate appearance of Christ (Isaiah 43:2; Psalm 91:9-12).
Through this, they were protected from death and God was glorified among the Gentiles! Nebuchadnezzar did not turn to their God, but he did acknowledge that God is powerful and commanded his people not to speak against the God of all gods!
REFLECTION
I lived in the midst of a pretty pagan environment during college. I got pressured and condemned quite a bit for following God in the midst of it too. But women have called me and thanked me over the years. Many have turned to Him.
God richly rewards our obedience and glorifies Himself in the process!
APPLICATION
"Dare to be a Daniel" and dare to be alone!
PRAYER
Lord, glorify Yourself in how we relate to a lost world today. We ask this in Jesus' name. Amen.
1 comment:
I love that Dare to be a Daniel song!
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