Daniel 1-3: Psalm 133
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We’ve read in the Bible about God’s judgment against the
Israelites and how Babylon and their king Nebuchadnezzar besieged Jerusalem and
took the people captive. Now we
get to read the story of four young guys who were among those taken
captive. Nebuchadnezzar decided to
bring in some of the young Israelites men to teach and train in the way of the
Babylonians so they could enter the king’s service. The story we get is of these four: Daniel, Hananiah,
Mishael, and Azariah. Their names
(Godly names) were changed by the officials to Belteshazzar, Shadrach, Meshach,
and Abednego (names after false pagan gods).
We can learn a lot from the faith and character of these four
young men, and we can learn a lot about the way God provides for and rescues
those who are faithful to Him.
~They did not give in—and God rescued~
First, when Daniel resolved not to defile himself by following
some of the Babylonian ways opposed to God’s way, it says that “God had caused
the official to show favor and sympathy to Daniel.” The Bible also says, “To these four young men God gave
knowledge and understanding of all kinds of literature and learning. And Daniel could understand visions and
dreams of all kinds.” (1:17) The
king found them ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters in his
whole kingdom.
~They prayed and they praised—and God rescued~
When Nebuchadnezzar was going to kill all the wise men in his
kingdom because they could not tell him of a dream he had, Daniel told his
friends to plead for mercy from God to reveal the mystery of the dream. God revealed it to Daniel in a vision
that night, and he praised God.
“Praise be to the name of God for ever and ever; wisdom and power are
His.” (2:20) He gave God the
glory, telling Nebuchadnezzar that no one could know the dream, but God alone
could reveal the mystery.
~They obeyed God’s commands and they had faith—and God rescued~
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were reported to the king for
refusing to worship his image. He
makes it clear that they will be thrown into a blazing furnace if they do not. Their reply: “If we are thrown into the
blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will
rescue us from your hand, O king.
But even if he does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not
serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.” (3:15) They had faith that God would rescue
them and trusted in God and His ways so much that they vowed that even if they
were not rescued they would still obey God no matter what.
After Nebuchadnezzar has the furnace heated seven times hotter
than usual, has them tied up, and throws them into the flames, he sees that
they are walking around unbound unharmed in the fire with an additional figure
in there with them. They came out
of the fire without even the smell of fire on them, and I love Nebuchadnezzar’s
response: “No other god can save in this way.”
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