Daniel 3 (4)

Introduction
Nebuchadnezzar was becoming increasingly hot under the collar, and he knew how to make it hot for others. As much as he may have hated to do it, he decided to burn Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego in the fiery furnace. And he made it seven times hotter than usual. But fiery furnaces were nothing new for faithful Israelites.

Review Deuteronomy 4.15-20.

Read Daniel 3.19-23.

Think it through
1.  We note that Nebuchadnezzar heated the fiery furnace “seven times more than it was usually heated.” This furnace must have been a permanent fixture in Nebuchadnezzar’s realm – perhaps like the guillotine in revolutionary France? Or the rack in the Tower of London in 17^th century England? It was an instrument of terror. How did Nebuchadnezzar use this furnace? The fiery furnace did not terrorize Shadrach, Meshach, or Abed-Nego. Did they have Deuteronomy 4.15-20 in mind? Were they counting on God’s Word to deliver them through their own fiery furnace? What “fiery furnace” are you likely to face on any given day? Are you prepared to go through it? Explain.

2.  Nebuchadnezzar “was full of fury.” Clearly, he was angry at not being obeyed by Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego. But do you suppose he might also have been angry at the Chaldeans? At himself? At God? Explain. Do people get angry at God in our day? Why? How do people who are angry at God respond when someone bears witness to Him? Should that happen to us, what can we do (Prov. 15.1, 2; Col. 4.6)?

Meditate
“It falls to the one who has been perfected to sustain nature’s common lot with courageous spirit, to bring it to better things and not to give way before those experiences that most people consider fearful and frightening. Instead, like a brave soldier, one must withstand onslaughts of the most severe calamities and undergo conflicts; like a pilot of foresight, he must steer his ship in the storm, and as he meets the mounting waves, he must avoid shipwreck by plowing through such waters rather than by turning away from them.” Ambrose of Milan (333-397 AD)

Letyour speech always bewith grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one. Colossians 4.6

Others may not like to hear my witness for You, Lord, but I…

Pray Psalm 115.17, 18.

Psalm 115.14-18 (Plainfield: Nothing But the Blood of Jesus)
Grant us, Savior, great increase – ever to Your Name be glory!
Bless us with eternal peace – ever to Your Name be glory!
Heaven and earth are yours, let every soul adore
and bless You evermore: Ever to Your Name be glory!

T. M Moore

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Except as indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. All psalms for singing adapted from The Ailbe Psalter. All quotations from Church Fathers from Ancient Christian Commentary Series, General Editor Thomas C. Oden (Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2006.