Setting - Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego where speared from the fire
Content – The pivotal statement is in verse 15 “What god will be able to rescue you from my power then?” Nebuchadnezzar sets up an idol for everyone to worship, but Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego refused (v. 12 NLT) “But there are some Jews--Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego--whom you have put in charge of the province of Babylon. They have defied Your Majesty by refusing to serve your gods or to worship the gold statue you have set up.” The consequence for this choice, (v. 6 NLT) “Anyone who refuses to obey will immediately be thrown into a blazing furnace.” Nebuchadnezzar gave them one more chance to bow down, but their response (v. 17-18 NLT) “If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God whom we serve is able to save us. He will rescue us from your power, Your Majesty. But even if he doesn't, Your Majesty can be sure that we will never serve your gods or worship the gold statue you have set up.” This infuriated the king and he commanded (v. 19b NLT) “He commanded that the furnace be heated seven times hotter than usual.” But God saved them from the furnace (v. 25 NLT) “’Look!’ Nebuchadnezzar shouted. "I see four men, unbound, walking around in the fire. They aren't even hurt by the flames! And the fourth looks like a divine being!” God did save them as though they were never around fire (v. 27 NLT) “Then the princes, prefects, governors, and advisers crowded around them and saw that the fire had not touched them. Not a hair on their heads was singed, and their clothing was not scorched. They didn't even smell of smoke!” The kings response to this (v. 28 NLT) “Then Nebuchadnezzar said, ‘Praise to the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego! He sent his angel to rescue his servants who trusted in him. They defied the king's command and were willing to die rather than serve or worship any god except their own God.’” The king made a decree that no one can speak a word against God; otherwise they would be torn limb from limb. In addition, (v. 30 NLT) “the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego to even higher positions in the province of Babylon.”
Application – God spared them and proved to Nebuchadnezzar that He was greater than he and debunked his statement “What god will be able to rescue you from my power then?” Because God proved Himself, the king stated “’There is no other god who can rescue like this!’”
This is so true today as well; there is no other god who can rescue like this. The three men weren’t sure if God was going to save them “But even if he doesn't, Your Majesty can be sure that we will never serve your gods or worship the gold statue you have set up.”, but they remained committed to God regardless. We often look to God to perform miracles for us today, like saving us from a fiery furnace. But He has. God has saved us from the eternal furnace forever. We shall never taste death, just like Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah were never touched by the fire.
Content – The pivotal statement is in verse 15 “What god will be able to rescue you from my power then?” Nebuchadnezzar sets up an idol for everyone to worship, but Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego refused (v. 12 NLT) “But there are some Jews--Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego--whom you have put in charge of the province of Babylon. They have defied Your Majesty by refusing to serve your gods or to worship the gold statue you have set up.” The consequence for this choice, (v. 6 NLT) “Anyone who refuses to obey will immediately be thrown into a blazing furnace.” Nebuchadnezzar gave them one more chance to bow down, but their response (v. 17-18 NLT) “If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God whom we serve is able to save us. He will rescue us from your power, Your Majesty. But even if he doesn't, Your Majesty can be sure that we will never serve your gods or worship the gold statue you have set up.” This infuriated the king and he commanded (v. 19b NLT) “He commanded that the furnace be heated seven times hotter than usual.” But God saved them from the furnace (v. 25 NLT) “’Look!’ Nebuchadnezzar shouted. "I see four men, unbound, walking around in the fire. They aren't even hurt by the flames! And the fourth looks like a divine being!” God did save them as though they were never around fire (v. 27 NLT) “Then the princes, prefects, governors, and advisers crowded around them and saw that the fire had not touched them. Not a hair on their heads was singed, and their clothing was not scorched. They didn't even smell of smoke!” The kings response to this (v. 28 NLT) “Then Nebuchadnezzar said, ‘Praise to the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego! He sent his angel to rescue his servants who trusted in him. They defied the king's command and were willing to die rather than serve or worship any god except their own God.’” The king made a decree that no one can speak a word against God; otherwise they would be torn limb from limb. In addition, (v. 30 NLT) “the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego to even higher positions in the province of Babylon.”
Application – God spared them and proved to Nebuchadnezzar that He was greater than he and debunked his statement “What god will be able to rescue you from my power then?” Because God proved Himself, the king stated “’There is no other god who can rescue like this!’”
This is so true today as well; there is no other god who can rescue like this. The three men weren’t sure if God was going to save them “But even if he doesn't, Your Majesty can be sure that we will never serve your gods or worship the gold statue you have set up.”, but they remained committed to God regardless. We often look to God to perform miracles for us today, like saving us from a fiery furnace. But He has. God has saved us from the eternal furnace forever. We shall never taste death, just like Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah were never touched by the fire.
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