Daniel’s Devotion (Part 3)

Hello Friends!

Welcome Back! Let’s continue our study of “Daniel’s Devotion” from God’s Word…

Daniel’s Devotion (Part 3)

This chapter in the book of prophecy written by Daniel is not a prophetic passage. However, it is very practical and is one of the three very practical passages in Daniel in which we will consider in future devotional studies.

It is interesting to note that Daniel is not mentioned here in chapter 3 and there is not a definite reason that we can point to scripturally on the subject. There have been suggestions that Daniel may have been traveling during this time.

To begin with, Nebuchadnezzar, King of Babylon, had an "image of gold " erected in Babylon, most likely an "image of a man" – himself – that was “sixty cubits” (ninety feet tall) and “six cubits” (nine feet wide) at its base:

Nebuchadnezzar the king made an image of gold, whose height was sixty cubits and its width six cubits. He set it up in the plain of Dura, in the province of Babylon – Daniel 3:1

Nebuchadnezzar's wise counselors set a trap for the three Hebrew companions of Daniel – Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah – which are their godly Hebrew names. Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego are the Chaldean names for these three Hebrew boys. The trap for these three men was the royal order for everyone to bow to the "image of gold " when they heard the “sound of the horn, flute, harp, and lyre, in symphony with all kinds of music” the sound of music. Failure to bow would be met with the punishment:

and whoever does not fall down and worship shall be cast immediately into the midst of a burning fiery furnace – Daniel 3:6

The three Hebrew boys refused to bow and when brought before Nebuchadnezzar they told the King:

If that is the case, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king – Daniel 3:17

That assurance was a real blessing for the three, as it is for us today, an assurance that He can deliver us from any "fiery trial". However, look at the next verse

But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up – Daniel 3:18

If God decides not to deliver us, the boys said "we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image". That is the attitude often missing today. Often we want God to be "Johnny on the spot" to take care of us on our time-table. I love that phrase – "But if not". What God decides is best, whether I think so or not!

These three boys did not "worship" and they were thrown into the furnace where they did not "burn". They not only did not burn, even the smell of smoke was not upon their bodies nor their clothing:

And the satraps, administrators, governors, and the king’s counselors gathered together, and they saw these men on whose bodies the fire had no power; the hair of their head was not singed nor were their garments affected, and the smell of fire was not on them – Daniel 3:27

When the Lord does something, He does it right! It was Jesus Christ in a "pre-incarnate" appearance that came to rescue the three Hebrew boys:

“Look!” he answered, “I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire; and they are not hurt, and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God” – Daniel 3:25

This is a great story that ended with the three Hebrew boys being promoted in the Babylonian Kingdom:

Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego in the province of Babylon – Daniel 3:30

Though this is not actually a prophetic passage, it does have a prophetic spiritual application. In the last days God will protect the Jewish people from the "fiery Tribulation" – a period of time known as "Jacob's trouble" – that seems to be coming very soon.

Remember: The Lord will preserve the Jewish people and has a special plan for them in the future!

Thank you for reading! Don’t miss next week’s continued investigation of Daniel’s Devotion…

May the Lord Jesus Christ continue to bless you with His perfect love, mercy and grace!

Keep looking up and sharing the Gospel while there is still time… Hallelujah and Maranatha – come quickly Lord Jesus!

Blessings!

Shane <><