Let us, with a gladsome mind, praise the LORD, for He is kind: for His mercies shall endure, ever faithful, ever sure. Opening verse of the Hymn by poet John Milton 1623, based on Psalm 136
I was reminded of the words of this old hymn this morning when I read Daniel 3; Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon erected a large golden image on the plain of Dura and demanded that everyone bow down and worship it. The three Hebrew exiles and Daniel’s close friends had to make a far reaching decision on their future. Would they obey the demands of their pagan ruler or take a stand for the Lord and perhaps lose their lives?
7 Therefore, as soon as they heard the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp and all kinds of music, all the nations and peoples of every language fell down and worshipped the image of gold that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up.
8 At this time some astrologers came forward and denounced the Jews. Daniel 3
The Jews who didn’t bow to the statue when the music played were denounced to the king. The enemy controlled Babylon and orchestrated this attack on the people of God. Taking a public stand for the Lord can come with a cost, whatever the circumstances.
13 Furious with rage, Nebuchadnezzar summoned Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. So these men were brought before the king, 14 … if you are ready to fall down and worship the image I made, very good. But if you do not worship it, you will be thrown immediately into a blazing furnace. THEN WHAT GOD WILL BE ABLE TO RESCUE YOU FROM MY HAND?’
The King would not tolerate any challenge to his authority (many leaders still react in the same way in today’s society) but these three men stood firm and didn’t buckle under intense pressure.
16 Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to him, ‘King Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. 17 If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us from Your Majesty’s hand. 18 But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, THAT WE WILL NOT SERVE YOUR GODS OR WORSHIP THE IMAGE OF GOLD YOU HAVE SET UP.’
No one wants to be put in such a position but we also live in societies which oppose the God we serve and we must stand firm for the Lord in the face of enemy harassment. May God enable us in such situations to always take our stand for Him.
25 He said, ‘Look! I see four men walking around in the fire, unbound and unharmed, and the fourth looks like a son of the gods.’
26 Nebuchadnezzar then approached the opening of the blazing furnace and shouted, ‘Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out! Come here!’
The Lord Himself came down to rescue His loyal servants and Nebuchadnezzar’s heart was completely changed towards them. God does often change’s the hearts of people who would be our enemies when we are yielded to Him. These young exiles didn’t oppose the pagan king’s authority, but they wouldn’t betray their God. God give grace to your children in difficult situations this day and may you always be glorified in our lives, no matter how great the trials we face.
May the Lord bless and keep you today. Immanuel, God is with us.