How should we respond when the laws or decrees do not match our God or His Living Word? Answer, we turn to our Lord’s Living Word and take our example from the precious saints of old!
Today, we will revisit the story told by the precious prophet Daniel.
SKILLFUL in all WISDOM
The precious prophet Daniel records this account of his fellow brothers in Christ; their names are Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. All four men placed their faith in the One True God.
Our scripture defines each of the four men as well favored, skillful in all wisdom, cunning in knowledge and understanding of science.
“As for these four children, God gave them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom: and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams.” (Daniel 1:17 KJV)
“And in all matters of wisdom and understanding, that the king enquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers that were in all his realm.” (Daniel 1:20 KJV)
JUST like TODAY
Just like the times of today, these three men lived during a time pagan and idol worshiping. However, the idol worshiping was so bad during their time that the king made a decree. His decree was that all of the province would fall down and worship his golden image or face death!
“That at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, ye fall down and worship the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king hath set up: And whoso falleth not down and worshipped shall the same hour be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.” (Daniel 3:5-6 KJV)
This decree was fine for the ungodly; but not these precious saints! When faced with the choice to deny their God and live; they chose to follow their God to what should have been their death!
Sentenced to death
Soon it would be determined that Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego were not following this ungodly decree. Each man would soon be ushered before the king.
“There are certain Jews whom thou hast set over the affairs of the province of Babylon, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego; these men, O king, have not regarded thee: they serve not thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.” (Daniel 3:12 KJV)
“Now if ye be ready that at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, ye fall down and worship the image which I have made; well: but if ye worship not, ye shall be cast the same hour into the midst of a burning fiery furnace; and who is that God that shall deliver you out of my hands?” (Daniel 3:15 KJV)
They CHOSE to DIE
With no regard for would be formalities, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego responded:
“Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter. If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king. But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.” (Daniel 3:16-18 KJV)
These precious saints said they would not be careful in their response! These precious saints said that our God will deliver us and even if His will was to let them burn: they would NOT deny their Him!
They chose to DIE! Because they knew that their God is greater than all of the things in the Heavens, in the earth, under the earth, before the beginning of time and into eternity!
No POWER
If we follow the story to the end of the chapter; we see that the fire had no power over these precious saints.
"And the princes, governors, and captains, and the king's counsellors, being gathered together, saw these men, upon whose bodies the fire had no power, nor was an hair of their head singed, neither were their coats changed, nor the smell of fire had passed on them." (Daniel 3:27 KJV)
Remember, three men were bound and thrown into the fiery furnace but four were SEEN walking around in the fire!
"He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God." (Daniel 3:25 KJV)
Your turn
Today, we got to see an example from our Lord’s Living Word. In the face of what was ungodly, we see how these precious saints placed their faith in the creator of this world!
Now to you reader, what would you do? Would you fall in line and bow? Or, would you be like Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego and say: “Do what you feel you need to do; I will not deny my God!“
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Download my FREE eighteen day devotional titled At the Voice of the Son of God. At the Voice of the Son of God is an eighteen day devotional written to remind a generation that we must ALL stand at the Judgment Seat of Christ! Here is the link FREE 18 Day Devotional: At The Voice of the Son of God.
Read more about our God by clicking on any of the blogs on atabran.com. Here are a few quick links:
The Living God is the One True God
What if, our God was not full of MERCY and GRACE?
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