Dear Church, today we come to the next of the great battles between the kingdom of God, and the Kingdom of Babylon: Between God the king of Kings who sets up kings and Nebuchadnezzar who sets up idols.
- The kingdom of this world worship man
- The citizens of the kingdom of heaven refuse to bow
- God delivers his servants through death.
The kingdom of this world worships man
King Nebuchadnezzar sets up an image of God who height was sixty cubits and its breadth six cubits, or about 28 meters high and 2 meters wide of gold. But please note the number three 6’s: 666. The number of man. Again man trying to be God.
This statue is all about king Nebuchadnezzar. Seven times in the first few verses Nebuchadnezzar’s name is used. He wanted his name to be remembered and he wanted to unify the world. This image, at heart, was an attempt to rebuild the Babel of old. To usurp God and his rule in History, and to set up the kingdom of man. As Nietzsche said, “If there is a god, how can I bear not to be that God.”
This sort of thing is clear still in countries where there is an absolute ruler. You can worship anything as long as it is second to loyalty to country. The Ruler. Whether Mao, or Stalin, or the current rulers of China or North Korea have placed magnificent statues of themselves wherever people gather. And it doesn’t matter what you worship as long as it comes second place to the state. Christianity is always a threat to the culture, because their highest allegiance cannot be to the state. Even in our society we are told to keep our beliefs private, and therefore secondary. We are told the public sphere is no place for religion. No matter how great the threat or the reward or if everyone else is doing it, it is not worth bowing down
King Nebuchadnezzar gets all his important ruling officials together. Every level of government from all over the known world is gathered, so that he could dedicate this image. It would have been quite a sight to be there on that plain, with this massive statue in the middle, and people from every nation and language. Rulers and officials. The kingdom of this world can often look at least outwardly somewhat like the kingdom of God. They have their inclusiveness, they have beautiful worship full of music. Their worship also includes a sense of awe and transcendence. The world’s kingdom also preaches inclusivity, diversity. They also want unity and oneness.
Satan and the world know what people need, and they want to fill some of those longings of people’s hearts so that they are distracted from the hearts deepest longings – to be loved by God, and life in relationship with him. Humans are made in his image and called to bow to him, they were never meant to bow down to an image they made.
But Nebuchadnezzar commands them (v. 5), “As soon as you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipes, and all kinds of music, you must fall down and worship the image of gold that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up.” Its funny they all are about to worship something that had to be set up. It was all one big grand show, a charade to induce awe in the people. There is music, there is glory, it feels awe inspiring. There is even the fear of the furnace. And everyone is doing it! Why shouldn’t we do it? Beloved when it comes to worship it is not how one feels that matters most, although it is not unimportant, but it is the object of worship that matters most. Is the one true God central, or do we worship something in our own image? Let’s not fall into the trap of worship - if it works its good. All that glitters is not gold.
This statue had to be dragged around and set up. It was dead. Lifeless. And couldn’t do anything on its own. It is a mindless, thoughtless program. Just as a robot springs into action when the power is turned on so this crowd will mindlessly perform when the music plays. So this world’s crowd mindlessly follows the culture. Those who make idols and trust idols will be like them. You become what you worship.
But it is all a charade, and our text shows that it is a joke by the way it is written. When the text would be read out loud in Aramaic it would have caused laughter because of how silly it sounds, just like idolatry is silly – With all its mindless repetition; Just doing it because everyone else is doing it. But the idol to which they are all bowing, can’t hear, can’t see, and can’t even move. This is how the Bible handles idolatry. As the biggest joke, saddest joke, ever, that Satan and our hearts have played on us. The repetitiveness of the text and automatic behavior is portrayed almost like an addiction. When you bow down to the addictions of the world you lose a part of yourself.
But the consequences of not bowing down are a big deal. He says in verse 6, “Whoever does not bow down and worship the statue will immediately be thrown into the blazing furnace.” Some might be tempted to think, just compromise here. Then you can stay in power and have influence. We need Jews in power after all! What will happen when we lose all influence, we ask ourselves, in state and church?
But the people that think this way don’t really get God’s sovereignty. That God doesn’t need anyone in power or influence to get his way. He needs obedience: If King Nebuchadnezzar demands this kind of obedience, how much more the sovereign ruler of heaven and earth.
The king of this world, Nebuchadnezzar even creates his own mini hell and sends people to it if they don’t worship him. A burning furnace. So it is safe to say that with all these motivators, the factor of awe, the fact that everyone was doing it, the fact that they would die, it looks like the best option is to quickly bow down and pretend in your heart you didn’t. But beloved what we do – our actions betray to the world and ourselves who we are. But this is the way the world motivates. Reward if we obey, threats, ridicule if we don’t.
But Christs rule is one of love. We worship because he loved us. We worship not because he says worship me or else you go to hell. He laid down his life and went through hell to take us out of hell, so that we might worship. He does not want your forced worship or outward worship. Worship because everyone is looking. He wants the heart. And that is something no earthly king can ever force someone to give. They may get the outward show, but you cannot truly force a love and worship from the heart, it has to be freely given.
The citizens of the kingdom of heaven refuse to bow
So anyways this cacophony goes off, and the people from every tongue, tribe and nation bow down to this beast of an idol. They all bowed as one. The peer pressure was too much. The entire culture was doing it, and it seemed to be working. There was peace and prosperity after all.
Just three people that we know off don’t bow. Three people standing awkwardly while everyone around them is bowing. Three people are willing to die in order not to worship him. They consider death a better option. They don’t make a scene, they don’t hold protest signs and chant ‘we will not bow down’. No, they simply stand.
And the astrologers notice. Maybe they were jealous after these guys got the promotion in the last chapter, chapter two. Whatever it was they are like the younger brother who can’t wait to tell on his siblings when they have done something bad. They go up to the king and say in verse 8-12, “O king live forever (By the way there is only one king that lives forever) didn’t you say that when everyone hears the sound of the instruments they must fall down and worship or die? Well, guess what? We saw three guys who paid no attention to the word of the king and did not serve your gods or worship the golden image you have set up.”
Well Nebuchadnezzar goes into one of his famous temper tantrums, and basically says in (13-15), “If you don’t listen to me this time I am going to cast you right away into the little hell I created. I am going to do the worst to you. I am going to kill you. And who is the god who will deliver you out of my hands?”
“Which god is going to deliver you out of my hands?” you see the arrogance. This man believes he has the power over life and death. In that pluralistic society, there was no god that humans could not handle. Nebuchadnezzar thought he was at least equal and often stronger than the gods. But from the Bibles perspective this is immense arrogance. Stupidity even.
And now we come to the climax of the story. Here is the climax of faith – what will happen? What will their answer be?
The answer is an astounding one. Worth memorizing, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve will be 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.” Basically, “Don’t waste your time, we won’t do it. God is God, and he will do what he wants. Your fear mongering will not overcome our faith in God. Perfect love casts out all fear. Or as John says, “This is the victory that overcomes the world, even our faith.”
Just four quick things to observe here before we move on.
First, notice their basic courtesy and respect are undiminished, however bold their words. The address him as king in every line. They confess him as sovereign. Let’s encourage each other to always speak with boldness, and respect.
Second, they are completely unwilling to apologize for their stance. They don’t say, “Sorry but we can’t do this.” They are not sorry, they simply say we can’t.
Third they do not doubt God’s ability to save them, and they say so: God is not hostage to other gods, or to human beings, emperors or otherwise. God can save absolutely. Even against the laws of nature
And fourth whether or not God will save them they cannot know— and it has nothing to do with their final answer. Faithfulness is not dependent upon an escape plan. They choose faithfulness because it is the right thing to do, even if it costs them their lives.
To sum up. The courage we need in an anti-Christian age is courteous and steadfast. It never apologizes for God. It joyfully believes that God can do anything, but it is prepared to suffer rather than compromise hearty obedience. As Job says, “Though he slay me, yet I will trust in him.”
Well if the king was angry before he is FURIOUS now! People get angry when they don’t get the approval they think they deserve. It takes away their happiness. Because they seek approval from men. They get angry and depressed when they don’t get it. His eyes fill with rage and he no longer sees them as the long term advisors that he knew, and would love to give a second chance, he just wanted to kill them. He was so angry, so full of rage that he wanted them burnt to ashes. He orders the furnace heated seven times hotter and commands the strongest soldiers to bind them so they have no chance. He is gonna show them whose gods are boss. He is not taking any chances with their god. He is going to show them the wrath of the king of the earth.
God delivers his servants through death.
The fire is so hot and he is in such a rush to kill them that the strongest soldiers are killed as they throw the three men in. The irony is that those who obey the king die, and those that disobey end up living. Do you see, the question is not if God can keep his people alive in this world even when the whole world is against them, but can the kings of the world, can the kingdom of darkness keep its citizens alive?
The whole world is looking on as they are thrown in, wondering with anticipation what would happen. Could their God save from death? Was there a God that could save from Nebuchadnezzar?
For these men did not narrowly escape death, they passed the point of no return. They were given over to the consuming flames as all Israel was given over to Babylon. They crossed the line from life to death, they fell into the pit, they were lost. Or so it seemed, but it was here in the fire that God was most visible, it was in Babylon that God was still working. It is in a world that seems to reject the church and give them over to death that God’s love is holding on. Yes, our God is a god that delivers from DEATH! He delivers through death! We must die with him to live with him. We see here a sign of the defeat in death, a motif which reaches its climax in chapter 12
We also learn here again what is the cost of discipleship. The Gospel offers all things, but it requires everything. We may never have to give our life, but are we willing to say no to ourselves. In the day to day battles do we trust God completely? These tests are the purifying furnace. Will you lose your life in order to gain it? This is what the Lord requires of all his disciples, are they his totally and completely or is there something in life that they value more than Him.
As one commentator quotes, “This is the Faith of principle; when we remember their comparative youth, that they were captives in a distant land, and that they stood before the most powerful absolute monarch of the earth, with no powerful friends to support them, and with the most horrid kind of death threatening them, we may well admire the grace of God who could so amply furnish them for such a trial, and love that religion which enabled them to take a stand so noble and so bold. “
The most powerful man has a front row seat to the show, and he jumps off his throne in amazement. He is not so regal now, he can’t contain himself, and he looks at his advisors and says “didn’t we throw three men in?” They replied, “Certainly, o king.” Then you can see him pointing fearfully and in amazement, “LOOK, I see four men walking around the fire, unbound and unharmed, and the fourth looks like the Son of the Gods.” Many people believe this fourth person to be the pre-incarnate Christ. If this is so, this man had no idea how close he was to the truth when he said he looks like a son of the gods. He was not a son of the gods, he was the SON of God. That walked with these people, that protected these people from the fire. And he will protect all those who put their trust in Him.
As he says in Isaiah 43, “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine…. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. For I am the Lord you God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.”
The king, he approaches the entrance, and now it is no longer a command of rage, but a command of fear, wonder and amazement. “He calls these servants of the most High God to come out.” As they come out they are immediately surrounded by the world as they want to witness this miracle. These three have been saved from deaths jaw, in a sense even resurrected, brought back from the dead. All the important officials crowd around them, and find there is even no smell of fire on them, and not even a hair was touched by the fire.
God can save from the wrath of the mightiest king and culture, but no one can save from the wrath of God, except Jesus. Our God is a consuming fire. As 2 Thessalonians 1 says, “He will punish those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. They will be punished with everlasting destruction and shut out from the presence of the Lord and from the majesty of his power.”
It is Jesus and Jesus alone that saves from the fire. It is his name alone, because he walked through the fires of hell and they tried to consume him, but they ended up being consumed of their power. In His almighty strength we are given the strength to stand! So be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power! And stand firm! He will save you not just by the skin of your teeth, but whole, clean, just as these men were. Not a hair of your head will be singed even though you pass through deaths door.
But Nebuchadnezzar’s response is not one of repentance or true worship. He speaks of the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, but not of his God. Nevertheless he is forced to give him praise. The world may often be impressed with the church - Its power, its willingness to suffer, its courage, but until they see the grace of God for themselves there is no conversion. Nebuchadnezzar was impressed with Gods power. And he wants people to be afraid of this God and respect him, so he threatens them with destruction of their homes. But God does not want peoples’ fear but love. Christianity does not work by force. That is how the world works. And Nebuchadnezzar is using worldly power.
And then he ends with giving them another promotion. Time after time they are persecuted, time after time God exalts them. Just as the world keeps coming at Gods people so God is relentless in honoring his people through suffering. As one scholar says, “the sufferings are the pruning knife he uses to produce yet more lavish fruit. Death is the way to live, the cross the path to victory.”
The king says these men were willing to give up their lives rather than serve or worship any God except their God. This is the lesson for us today. Do you think God wants what is best for you more than you even do? He wants your ultimate joy more than you do? That he loves you more than you do? That you can trust him to infinity and beyond no matter if the entire world says otherwise? How far does our trust go? Do you doubt this? Do you doubt he can save from death? That he can save while in the minority. Do you feel small church? Take courage for your God is with you!
So, don’t worry about the future, ask God for the grace to win the daily battles. For it is there where life is won or lost. Put on the armor my dear brothers and sister, and stand firm this week in the Lord and in his power. God gives grace in the time of need.
Amen.