Jump Start # 905

Daniel 3:16-18  Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego replied to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to give you an answer concerning this matter. If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the furnace of blazing fire; and He will deliver us out of your hand, O king. But even if He does not, let it be known to you, O king, that we are not going to serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.”

Our study in “Profiles of Courage” takes us to the book of Daniel and the story of Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego. This lesson has been a favorite since children’s Bible classes. It is a lesson about conviction, confidence and refusing to cave into what is wrong.

Remember the setting? The Babylonians had invaded Judah. They killed many, destroyed the king’s palace and gutted the Temple. It was at this time that the ark of the covenant was taken, probably placed in a Babylonian temple. No one knows what happened to it, not even Indiana Jones. The Babylonians kidnapped several youths. They gave them Babylonian names, taught them Babylonian ways and introduced them to Babylonian religion. This is the setting for our three Jewish boys. Away from home, not off to college, not on vacation, against their will, having seen their city destroyed, they are in the land of their captors.

The king of Babylon has a huge festival and demands that all bow before the image he has created. Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego refused. They stand. They stand alone. They stand and are noticed by officials. They are taken before an enraged king who demands that they obey him. They are defiant. They refuse. There is a fiery furnace. They are thrown in there. God saves them. They do not die. They are brought before the king. They don’t even smell like smoke.

What these three young men illustrate for us is the courage to refuse to do wrong. They were the only ones it seems that refused to bow. They held God’s law higher than the king’s law. They understood that God’s law applies in Judah, as well as in Babylon. God’s law applies whether you are home or a captive in a foreign land. God’s law applies whether it is easy or gets you in trouble. They got that. I pray that we get that.

This chapter makes us wonder about the other Jewish youths that were captured. It makes us wonder about Daniel. Were they at this mass celebration too? Did they also stand? Many questions, no answers from the text. We know only of these three Jewish youths.

These three teach us that there are consequences to following God. Some of these consequences are tough. They put God before self. This is courage. They would not bend, even an inch on what God said. They would not pretend to go along with the Babylonians. They could have easily bowed and prayed to God. They didn’t. They could have bowed and tied their shoes. They didn’t. They could have half bowed. They didn’t. They did not want any to think that they were going along with what was wrong. They stood.

That defiant spirit that refused to go along with what was wrong is founded upon a faith in what is right. This was not a political statement between Judah and Babylon. This was about standing for God.

• It is that spirit for what is right that will cause a young person to leave a party that has turned into an excuse to drink alcohol. Most major universities today have serious problems with students drinking huge volumes of alcohol. Away from home, influenced by others, too many youths are bowing down to the pressure of “a good time” that is illegal, sinful and the first steps of a life long battle with addiction. Those without convictions and those without courage are those who are bowing down. Many toss away their faith at this age because Sunday morning is used to sleep off what happened Saturday night. Few are up and getting ready for worship on Sunday. They have already bowed to a false image.

• The pressures to do wrong doesn’t end with college. The corporate setting is cut throat and breeds the spirit of lying, cheating and dishonesty. Become a part of this or be left behind. It’s be one of them or be stuck with no hopes of advancement. For those without convictions or courage, it’s about bowing down to unethical, dishonest and immoral practices. They do that to survive. They do not see how keeping God’s law fits in a tank of sharks who are all trying to get a step up on the next guy. Those that bow down do not see that the dishonesty that they have sold out for begins a life long journey of lying and dishonesty that creeps into their homes and marriages. They have already bowed down to a false image.
• The pressure to do wrong is even found within churches. Sons and daughters of leaders are given a free ride when they have been caught doing wrong. Certain favorites are given  allowances even in teaching error because of church politics. The pressure to go along, accept is widely felt. Those without conviction or courage abide. The church is weakened. The influence of the leaders become more corrupt. Many bow down to a false image.

The three Jewish boys stood. The king got angry. He threatened violence. They actually were thrown into a furnace. There are consequences for standing. People know. You are noticed. There are whispers. There are those who run to the king, or boss, or church leaders to tell. There is the calling in on the carpet. There are those who get very angry and threaten. There are consequences. The loss of a job…the loss of a friendship…the reputation that has been falsely twisted. There comes pleas to join the wrong. There comes threats. There comes tears, shouts, fears.

The three Jewish boys stood. They stood with God. They stood against a nation. They didn’t try to run. They didn’t get in the mud with the king and use the occasion for violence. They remained true to God’s principles, all of them.

I expect before the day is over, you will see things that are wrong. You may be asked to join in or at least look the other way. Don’t cause waves, you will be told. Don’t stop the fun we are having, you will be threatened. Three Jewish boys long ago, would not dilute their faith to save their own lives. God was greater than they were. God was who they followed. “We are not going to serve your gods…”

Courage. Do you have it?

Roger

Jump Start # 616

Daniel 3:16-18  Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego answered and said to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to give you an answer concerning this matter. “If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the furnace of blazing fire; and He will deliver us out of your hand, O king.”But even if He does not, let it be known to you, O king, that we are not going to serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.”

This is an amazing passage of courage, faith and conviction. Many of us grew up talking about this in our Bible classes and VBS. This wasn’t written for kids, it’s for all of us. There are several interesting things about this passage.

First, these three Jewish men were young. Chapter 1 tells us that the Babylonian king took youths from Israel. They may have been teenagers. We often don’t expect much from young people. Staying out of jail and staying awake during church is about all that most older folks hope from them. How sad. Young people are awesome. They bring great energy and enthusiasm to all that they do. They ask incredible questions. Some are challenging to answer. They bring a freshness to prayer and an eagerness to learning. Don’t sell the young people short. Expect much. They can do it.

Second, they were away from home. This wasn’t by their choice. They were captives taken to Babylon. Today we may call them hostages. Kidnapped would be another word to describe them plight. Their names were changed to Babylonian names. They were taught the Babylonian language and the Babylonian way of things. The king was trying to change them from the inside out. He didn’t bring their parents. They’d resist. The future, he hoped, were in these new Babylonians. Away from home a person is often tempted to do what he’d never do at home. Away, without parents, it’s easy to slack off and not be what you ought to. These three demonstrated that they were believers in God. Parents or no parents. In Israel or in Babylon, they were believers. College students need to take this to heart. It’s easy away from home to not connect to a congregation, to let your spiritual life die and to become “Babylonian.” Not these three. They refused. They believed in God. Great lesson for all of us.

Third, they were alone in their convictions. It’s one thing to stand with thousands, but it appears that it was just these three. I don’t know where Daniel was at this point. It seems that the entire nation was poised to bow. The pressure was on to bow. There would be serious consequences if they didn’t. Young people face things like this. It may cost them a job. It may mean not passing a class. For these three, it meant life.

Have you ever thought how these three could have easily faked it. They could have bowed at the right moment and tied their shoes. It would look like they were in compliance, when they weren’t. They didn’t do that. They could have stooped half way, not fully bowing and not fully standing. They may have gotten away with that. They didn’t do that. They could have bowed and prayed to Jehovah. They didn’t. They stood. They were defiant. They would not compromise. They would not leave any doubt.

Even if God would not rescue them, they would not bow. They knew. The 10 Commandments forbade that. It was wrong. Completely. There is no way that bow to an idol could be right. Never! Such faith. Such assurance. Such confidence.

They stood and the king fumed. They stood and the furnace burned hotter. They stood and they were condemned. That same spirit is found years later in the apostles. They were told not to preach Christ. They defiantly said, “we must obey God rather than man.”

We need more folks like that today. Folks that stand with God. Folks that are willing to take the lumps instead of bowing to the wishes of others. Stand up to wicked and corrupt bosses who feel that they are beyond the law. They are not. Stand up to those who want to water down the message of God. Stand up to those who are make wrong a sport and love to put others down. Whimpy Christians won’t make it when a furnace is blazing hot. Those who are afraid of hurting the feelings of others, will only hurt God by their compromising ways.

We are not going to serve your gods…we are not going to lie….we are not going to cheat customers…we are not going to fudge the numbers…we are not going to be abusive and rude…we are not going to take advantage of others. We are not going to…

The king could throw those three Jewish men into the furnace, but he could not make them bow. They stood with God. How about you? Who are you standing with? Have you bowed down and sold yourself to keep a job…a marriage…a lifestyle…a reputation. It’s time to stand up, first for yourself and then to God. No one can make you bow. They can put you in a furnace but they can never make you bow.

That spirit drove the flames of reformation throughout Europe and the spirit of restoration throughout early America. It is the spirit that changes hearts, families and congregations today. What those three Jewish men did was brave. It was scary. It was the right thing to do.

Roger