Transcript

It takes courage to stand for God and His Word in the midst of a culture that is against it. Nearly every voice around us in life says to “Compromise!” “Surrender!” “Take the easy way out!” “Go with the flow!”

And so it takes guts and determination to stand for the truth of God’s Word.

In the early 1970s, the Iraqi government arrested a group of American students on trumped-up espionage charges. The wicked regime of Saddam Hussein wanted confessions, and to elicit the desired admissions of guilt, they began torturing the students. The prisoners were told that if they confessed, they could go free.

They were urged to compromise the truth, and admit to a falsehood. The promise of freedom became irresistible. One by one, as the pressures and the pain mounted, every prisoner confessed to crimes he didn’t commit. Every prisoner except one.

For this one man, the torture intensified. The loneliness of isolation became unbearable. He came close to breaking.

Recounting his friend’s story in The Wall Street Journal, Mark Helprin writes,

“Then they announced that they were finished with his case, that he could simply confess or die. A confession lay before him as they raised a pistol to his head, cocked the hammer, and started a count down. He had heard other executions from his cell and fully expected the same.

“‘Sign your name,’ he was told, ‘and you will live.’ But he refused. He closed his eyes, grimaced, and prepared to die. They pulled the trigger. When he heard the click, he thought he was dead. The gun, however, had not been loaded.”

Helprin’s friend was eventually released. He discovered afterwards that every other prisoner who had confessed was hanged in the public square. Only he survived.

Compromise often represents a far greater risk than courage.

Our decisions, attitudes, and behavior are determined by either external pressure or internal faith, character and principle. There is a battle and struggle going on all the time in our lives between these two conflicting items.

Do we do what we do, say what we say, and act the way we act, because we have internal convictions about it or because we feel outside pressure from the world around us to do the same as they do?

This world needs believers who function on internal principle, based on faith and conviction in God’s Word and devotion to the Lord Jesus Christ.

We need to be people like Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who take a stand and remain faithful to God no matter the cost.

Daniel 3:1-7: “Nebuchadnezzar the king made an image of gold, whose height was threescore cubits, and the breadth thereof six cubits: he set it up in the plain of Dura, in the province of Babylon.

“Then Nebuchadnezzar the king sent to gather together the princes, the governors, and the captains, the judges, the treasurers, the counsellors, the sheriffs, and all the rulers of the provinces, to come to the dedication of the image which Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up.

“Then the princes, the governors, and captains, the judges, the treasurers, the counsellors, the sheriffs, and all the rulers of the provinces, were gathered together unto the dedication of the image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up; and they stood before the image that Nebuchadnezzar had set up.

“Then an herald cried aloud, To you it is commanded, O people, nations, and languages, 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 worshippeth shall the same hour be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.

“Therefore at that time, when all the people heard the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and all kinds of musick, all the people, the nations, and the languages, fell down and worshipped the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up.”

Daniel is not around when all of the things are going on in chapter 3, which is amazing in itself because this is such a massive event in the kingdom of Babylon.

With his high ranking position he may have been out of the country on important business. But we can’t say for certain.

Nebuchadnezzar was the king of Babylon, where these three Hebrew young men, Shadrach, Meschach, and Abednego, had been taken captive, along with all that was left of the nation of Judah.

In chapter 2, Nebuchadnezzar had a dream of an enormously, large statue of a man. The image was composed of 4 different metals: the head was fashioned from pure gold, the chest and arms were made of silver, the belly and thighs of bronze, and the legs of iron, with iron and clay mixed in the feet.

The metals decrease in value and glory from the top to the bottom.

Daniel interpreted the dreams and told Nebuchadnezzar that He is the head of gold. The rest of the image pictured other kingdoms which would succeed Babylon in power.

We now know those worldwide empires would be Media-Persia, then Greece, then the Roman empire, and finally in the future the worldwide empire of the Anti-Christ.

Some years later, as a result of his dream, and being identified as the head of gold and having a significant role in history, King Nebuchadnezzar ordered an “image of gold” to be built. The word “image” in the original speaks of an image in human likeness.

Nebuchadnezzar makes the image after the dream he had. The statue was not like the ones you see that are in the middle of a public park or at a sports arena.

Verse 1 says it was 60 cubits high and six cubits wide. Its dimensions were 90 ft. high and 9 ft. wide. It was a skinny looking man, a distorted human figure, and an unbalanced statue. It was an unbalanced statue portraying an unbalanced man.

Instead of the image having just a head of gold as in his dream, in his pride Nebuchadnezzar decided to make this massive statue all gold to his own glory.

It’s likely that Nebuchadnezzar was defying his dream and didn’t believe that his kingdom would or could ever fall to an inferior silver kingdom as Daniel told him it would.

The image was built and set up in an open, flat plain near the city of Babylon. Its great height and being overlaid in gold, shimmering in the sun, would have made it an awesome and imposing sight. And it would have been visible for miles.

The image symbolized Nebuchadnezzar and his glorious golden empire embodied into one reality, and he wanted everyone to bow down and worship him and his kingdom.

A guest list, consisting of the cream of the crop of Babylonian society was then prepared.

Verses 2-3 speak of the gathering and arrival of princes, governors, judges, treasurers, military commanders, civil administrators, advisers, rulers and officials from all over the Babylonian kingdom who came to the “dedication of the image.”

Everyone accepted the invitation to come. The invitation was more like come or else.

Verse 3 reads how they all were gathered and stood before the image that Nebuchadnezzar had set up. This was an example of peer pressure at the highest level.

All of these leading politicians, and the hierarchy of Babylon was willing to do whatever it took to get the approval of their ruler.

They would compromise all of their convictions, whatever other deities they may have worshiped, they would set all of that aside to do what was ever necessary for them to gain favor with this man, and also to not be killed because they failed to do it.

All the great and powerful ones of that day stand there in front of that golden image, demonstrating and picturing their compromise.

This was a great mass of intimidated people from all over the world, who were just following along with the majority and those around them, not wanting to rock the boat.

The Apostle Paul talks about the “course of this world” in Ephesians 2:2. Many often are intimidated by the world’s powerful course and the pressure of it to conform to its ways and beliefs or face the consequences, and so they just follow along.

Paul further explains in Ephesians 2:2 that to follow the course of this world is to walk “according to the prince of the power of the air” or Satan himself, the god of this world.

Believers though are called to follow the Lord, no matter the consequence. We are to take a stand and walk according His ways, His will, His truth, His instruction found for us in His Word, no matter what the world says and what it does or how it intimidates.

At the dedication recorded in verses 4-7, an edict was read by a herald with a loud voice and it rang through the plain for all to hear.

Seeking to create absolute submission to his political and religious authority in the kingdom, Nebuchadnezzar demanded worship of his image at the dedication.

They were told that at the moment when they heard the royal orchestra and musical ensemble of both wind and stringed instruments begin playing, they were all commanded by the king to immediately fall down and worship the image.

The herald then told them that failure to comply constituted an act of treason; it was to stand in opposition to the greatness of Nebuchadnezzar, and thus would result in certain and sudden death in a blazing furnace of fire.

So bottom line, the options were: worship or burn.

Following this, the royal orchestra began playing, and the crowd that is estimated to have been as many as 300,000 people from all of the vast empire of Babylon, all hit the dust and worshipped the image.

All, that is, but three! Three didn’t go down. Three took a stand. Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego were probably about 20 years of age at this time. This was tremendous conviction for men so young.

This account forces us to take stock of ourselves and to ask self-probing questions. Will we stand when the majority falls and lives like the world around them, when they compromise and turn from what is clearly right and accept and do what is clearly wrong?

Will we stand when the 300,000 falls down and denies the inspiration, truth and authority of God’s Word? Will we stand when 300,000 turn and reject Jesus Christ and who He is as God, Lord, and the only Savior?

Will we stand when the majority falls down and worships man’s wisdom, and denies the wisdom of God’s Word and regards it as foolishness.

Will we take a stand in the church when the majority falls down and denies God’s message of grace for today revealed by the risen Lord to the Apostle Paul for the Body of Christ in this age of grace?

Do we have the kind of courage like Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego to not follow the majority?

Nebuchadnezzar ruled over a vast empire and he decided to unify his empire by bringing it together religiously and have everyone bow down at once before this image.

This account foreshadows an event in the future, as things in the Old Testament often do. During the Tribulation period, the Anti-Christ will do the exact same thing.

At the midway point of the 7-year Tribulation, the Anti-Christ will set up an image in the temple in Jerusalem, an image which comes to life. Any who do not worship this idol in that day are to be slain.

Revelation 13:14,15 reads: “that they should make an image to the beast [Anti-Christ] …And he had power to give life unto the image…that the image of the beast should speak and cause that as many as would not worship the image should be killed.”

Daniel 3:8-13: “Wherefore at that time certain Chaldeans came near, and accused the Jews. They spake and said to the king Nebuchadnezzar, O king, live for ever.

“Thou, O king, hast made a decree, that every man that shall hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, shall fall down and worship the golden image:

“And whoso falleth not down and worshippeth, that he should be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.

“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.

“Then Nebuchadnezzar in his rage and fury commanded to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Then they brought these men before the king.”

Certain Chaldeans, and advisors of the king, come to Nebuchadnezzar after the bowing down of everyone to the image. These men resented the high positions held by Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.

After the music played, they come to Nebuchadnezzar and “accused the Jews.” The word “accused” means “to devour, to tear in pieces.” It’s not a legal term, like making an accusation in court. It’s a malicious, hating desire to tear someone to shreds.

Out of their envy, they accused the Jews hoping to have the worst done to them. Hypocritically, they speak to the king as if they were defending him.

They accused the Jews as if they were really concerned about aiding the king in finding out if everybody had obeyed.

In verse 9, they kowtow to the king and say “O king, live forever.” In verses 10-11, we read how they remind him that he had ordered everyone to bow down at the sound of the music and whoever didn’t should be cast in the fiery furnace.

In verse 12 they reveal the real issue behind their accusation. They say, “there are certain Jews whom thou hast set over the affairs of the province of Babylon.”

This is what really ate at them, that these captive Hebrews would be given such a high ranking place in the Babylonian government. Slaves, imported hostages, foreigners, and you’ve made rulers out of them, and they rule over us. That’s what really bothered them.

They really didn’t care whether they bowed or not. Proverbs 14:30 says, “A sound heart is the life of the flesh: but envy the rottenness of the bones.” This account reminds us how far the sin of envy can take a person, to even want someone to die.

The Chaldeans tell the king Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego “have not regarded thee: they serve not thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.”

The Chaldeans tell the king of their act of treason. They make 3 accusations:

(1) They tell him they have not regarded you, or they haven’t respected you or responded to your direct command.
(2) They refuse to serve or worship your or any of the Babylonian gods.
(3) They did not worship the image which you commanded to be set up.

This enrages Nebuchadnezzar and in his fury he orders that these 3 Hebrew young men appear before him. And immediately they are brought before the king.

Daniel 3:14-18: “Nebuchadnezzar spake and said unto them, Is it true, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, do not ye serve my gods, nor worship the golden image which I have set up?

“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?

“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.”

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego knew the Law of God regarding idolatry, and they knew it was to wrong set up graven images or to bow down to them.

Exodus 20:4,5 reads, “Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them.”

Knowing what God’s Word said, knowing its authority over their lives, and living by it with faith and conviction, in their minds there was no option for them. They knew what God said about bowing down to images, that it was unacceptable, and they believed it and obeyed it. They put the Word first.

Almost in unbelief, the king asks them himself, “Is it true?” And because of the high esteem he held these three, Nebuchadnezzar even gives them a second chance to obey.

He tells them that he could strike up the band again, and if they bowed, then they would be delivered and all would be “well.”

But in his pride, feeling himself to be above all, Nebuchadnezzar goes further and too far when he claims that not even God could circumvent his authority and be able deliver them out of his hands if they disobeyed.

He goes to the point in his pride of actually pitting himself against God, and pitting his power against the power of almighty God. When you pit yourself against the eternal, infinite God, you have met your match, and he meets his match in this chapter.

And as Job 33:12 says, but man often forgets: “God is greater than man.”

When Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego speak, they don’t give him all the “long-live-the-king” junk. They simply say, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter.” This basically means, “We don’t have anything to say.”

It isn’t arrogant. There just was nothing to say. They didn’t deny their guilt. It’s like they were saying, “We have nothing to say to you by way of a denial, and we have nothing to say to you by way of an explanation which wouldn’t make a difference anyway, and we just are not concerned about giving you an answer at all. We’re standing, we’re not bowing, and that’s just the way it is.”

They had faithfully served Nebuchadnezzar as far as they could. This was too far. And then comes a true, sublime, beautiful statement of faith in God in verse 17:

“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.”

End of speech. No rationalization, no dialogue, no, “Could we bend down half way?” None of that.

It’s just, “We don’t have any defense. We have absolutely nothing to say, except our God whom we serve is greater than you. And He can deliver us out of your burning, fiery furnace. But even if He doesn’t, we’re still not going to bow.”

Even if God did not grant their deliverance, they had faith in knowing that God is still good. He is always good and does what is right.

That’s courageous faith. Obeying God was more important than life to them. Their testimony was unwavering and their faith held true in the toughest moment.

They had been taught the Word of God and their conviction in their hearts based on the truth of God led to a decisive response. They did not change their internal convictions on the basis of external circumstances.

They would not compromise no matter what the external pressure was. And that’s virtue and integrity. And it wasn’t dependent on whether or not they got their miracle. They would accept God’s will even if it meant death rather than bow to an idol.

God calls us to an uncompromising commitment to Him. He wants us to take a stand for Him. In Exodus 32:26 Moses asked the camp of Israel, “Who is on the Lord’s side?”

How about you? How would you answer that question? If the world ever needed believers who stand strong on the Lord’s side, it is now.