Lecture 5:
To what or to whom have you yielded your body?

You may say that there are no images today like the one in Daniel 3 but look at Rev 13 -- images today don’t look the same as Dan3--we may be called to bow to the image of Revelation 13 (Click for lecture in Revelation study).

The statue: Was 90’ x  9’- rather awkward but in 1863 Jules Oppert discovered a pedestal 6 miles SE of Babylon. The dimensions were 45’ square and 20’ in height...could this be the site of Nebuchadnezzar’s statue.

Worship is a key word in Daniel 3

(Note the furnace was open on top with a door in front to relish the roast!)

Look at the Hebrew word for WORSHIP

1). sahah (7812) = bow down; prostrate one’s self out of respect

2). asah = serve - Nebuchadnezzar was not just calling for physical bowing down but also to serve him

Why all gold? could symbolize rebellion -- he is saying the entire statue in Chapter 2 would be gold because he wanted to say that his kingdom would not pass away. King Nebuchadnezzar said if you don’t bow, you are going to burn.

The New Testament words for worship:       

1). Proskuneo (see study) = to kiss toward; to bow down to. (Ed note: click here for more detail)

2). Latreuo (see study) = to serve

When you truly  worship someone, it is not just an outward act but it is a service. So it’s not just a quick little bow but it’s saying that you are really willing to serve someone.

Worth + ship:  Worth = to look at someone’s value and honor them accordingly.

So worship is giving honor & priority to that which we deem worthy...whatever your value system determines what/who you will worship.  Adoration, respect, reverence, love and admiration-these are worship words

Worship= 3 aspects

(1) the mind-is that one worthy of worship?

(2).the emotions-not just a cold thing

(3). the will=worship leads to action...not just a statement mouthed but actions seen in your life by the choices you make.

Why would Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego not bow down?
 

They knew the truth...which had set them free, even if they might be physically bound.

THEY KNEW GOD'S CODE OF CONDUCT

Ex 20 = The "Ten Commandments" was to be the code of behavior for Israel after they had been redeemed from bondage in Egypt.

THEY KNEW GOD'S CHARACTER

Ex 34:14 = the Lord’s name is Jealous (qanna) = He is a jealous God...His jealousy is just and righteous because He is holy and set apart from all that is profane.

Watch yourself that you make no covenant with the inhabitants of the land into which you are going, lest it become a snare in your midst. But rather, you are to tear down their altars and smash their sacred pillars and cut down their Asherim, for you shall not worship any other god, for  the LORD, Whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God --lest you make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land and they play the harlot with their gods, and sacrifice to their gods, and someone invite you to eat of his sacrifice and you take some of his daughters for your sons, and his daughters play the harlot with their gods, and cause your sons also to play the harlot with their gods. "You shall make for yourself no molten gods. (Ex 34:12-17)

THEY KNEW GOD'S COMMAND

Exodus 20:5 makes it very clear what was strictly forbidden. And  these 3 Hebrews knew God’s Word and because they knew His Word they had conviction which enabled them to be strong and courageous. Thus they refused to bow down to any other god.

You shall not worship them or serve them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, on the third and the fourth generations of those who hate Me (Ex 20:5)

How do you recognize idols today?

An idol is anything that we make a substitute for God or something that takes equal billing with God. Idols keep us from seeing Who God really is and keeps others from seeing what man’s relationship to God is to be. Even loved ones can demand allegiance (like Nebuchadnezzar) to them over God.

Jesus knew we would be called to make hard choices so He gave us His wisdom:

Luke records that

great multitudes were going along with Him; and He turned and said to them, "If anyone comes to Me, and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be My disciple. Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple. (Lu 14:25-27)

The cross does not refer to a gold ornament but to an instrument of death. l Jesus' point is that when you take up your cross, you are strapped to it and in essence united with it. The question then is

Are you willing to die to every other allegiance?...your own hopes, dreams, expectations, etc?

If not Jesus said you can’t be His disciple!

Remember the context in which Jesus spoke these words:

Multitudes are following Him and so Jesus turns around and addresses the crowds...

He says in essence "I want you to know there is a cost to following Me...that’s it’s not all seeing miracles... Follow Me because I am God"

He says "I must have allegiance above every other person or thing... because I am God...I must be first...I must have your adoration...I must have your worship."

He says "every other love is to seem as hatred in comparison to your love of Me."

The Scriptures teach this truth over and over that when people desire to follow Jesus they need to COUNT THE COST for HE IS GOD!

Jesus added

So therefore, no one of you can be My disciple who does not give up all his own possessions. (Luke 14:33)

Here Jesus speaks about possessions and says we must surrender all our own possessions -- not necessarily literally but in your heart and your mind. 

Matthew 10:16-39
more of Jesus’ teaching on counting the cost
 

Mt 10:16 "Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves; therefore be shrewd as serpents, and innocent as doves.
17 "But beware of men; for they will deliver you up to the courts, and scourge you in their synagogues;
18 and you shall even be brought before governors and kings for My sake, as a testimony to them and to the Gentiles.
19 "But when they deliver you up, do not become anxious about how or what you will speak; for it shall be given you in that hour what you are to speak.
20 "For it is not you who speak, but it is the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you.
21 "And brother will deliver up brother to death, and a father his child; and children will rise up against parents, and cause them to be put to death.
22 "And you will be hated by all on account of My name, but it is the one who has endured to the end who will be saved.
23 "But whenever they persecute you in this city, flee to the next; for truly I say to you, you shall not finish going through the cities of Israel, until the Son of Man comes.
24 "A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a slave above his master.
25 "It is enough for the disciple that he become as his teacher, and the slave as his master. If they have called the head of the house Beelzebul, how much more the members of his household!
26 "Therefore do not fear them, for there is nothing covered that will not be revealed, and hidden that will not be known.
27 "What I tell you in the darkness, speak in the light; and what you hear whispered in your ear, proclaim upon the housetops.
28 "And do not fear those who kill the body, but are unable to kill the soul; but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
29 "Are not two sparrows sold for a cent? And yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father.
30 "But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.
31 "Therefore do not fear; you are of more value than many sparrows.
32 "Everyone therefore who shall confess Me before men, I will also confess him before My Father who is in heaven.
33 "But whoever shall deny Me before men, I will also deny him before My Father who is in heaven.
34 "Do not think that I came to bring peace on the earth; I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.
35 "For I came to SET A MAN AGAINST HIS FATHER, AND A DAUGHTER AGAINST HER MOTHER, AND A DAUGHTER-IN-LAW AGAINST HER MOTHER-IN-LAW;
36 and A MAN'S ENEMIES WILL BE THE MEMBERS OF HIS HOUSEHOLD.
37 "He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; and he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me.
38 "And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me.
39 "He who has found his life shall lose it, and he who has lost his life for My sake shall find it.

Mt 10:18 and you shall even be brought before governors and kings for My sake, as a testimony to them and to the Gentiles

Mt 10:28  And do not fear those who kill the body, but are unable to kill the soul; but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

Shadrach et al feared God, not man -- They had determined long before to obey God. In Daniel 1:8 we recall that they had made up their mind.        

Keep standing fast in the ’small’  things, not compromising--then the ’big’  things are easy. As you stand fast, you will see God coming to your defense over and over. (He is your Covenant Defender)

Mt 10:32 Everyone therefore who shall confess Me before men, I will also confess him before My Father who is in heaven.

When they did not bow, they were confessing their faith in God...WE ARE NOT GOING TO BOW

Mt 10:34  Do not think that I came to bring peace on the earth; I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.

Jesus is not referring here to peace on earth, good will toward men but to ‘’Peace on earth with those with whom God is well-pleased’’. This the that peace which we experience when you are in right relationship with God.

What or Whom will you worship?
If you belong to Jesus, you have no choice!

DANIEL 3:

Where was Daniel? ruler over entire province...probably back at court

Note phrase "certain Jews" which is used in a derogatory fashion here. The Adversary (Satan) hates the Jews because he knows that from them comes Messiah. And so there is a demonically inspired hatred of the Jews.

Daniel 3:15 Nebuchadnezzar asked

What god is there who can deliver you out of my hands?

So here King Nebuchadnezzar threw down the gauntlet before the three Jewish men. But God picked it up!

If Shadrach et. al. had bowed, Nebuchadnezzar would not have seen their God: The fires of persecutions, trials, testings are God’s platform for us to show that we never walk in the fire alone, that God is with us and that the fire is never more than we can bear. When we yield to the temptation to avoid the fire, we have just caused others to miss the opportunity to see the reality and sufficiency of Jesus Christ.

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." (Daniel 3:16-18)
 

Kay discusses the biography of Esther Ahn Kim (click here for synopsis of her life) entitled If I Perish (click here to purchase this powerful biography) and how Esther Ahn Kim was a dramatic a modern day illustration of the principle that persecution can provide a platform for proclamation of the greatness of our God.  Kim was a Korean Christian woman who was asked to bow to the Shinto god of Japan during World War II during the Japanese occupation of her home country of Korea. Would Esther bow?  The Japanese were known for horrible torture and Esther was a weak woman. How would she remain strong and courageous? Esther Ahn Kim remembered Daniel 3...and she repeated "but if not" (Da 3:18) Many times we are willing to obey God and stand fast if we think it’s going to come out right. And then if it does not come out as we planned, we get bitter & angry at God. Nebuchadnezzar’s threats could not cause those men to bow because their ‘’heart was FIXED (PREPARED)’’...

Ps 57:7 (KJV) "My heart is fixed, O God, my heart is fixed: I will sing and give praise." (Ed note: "fixed" is the Hebrew word meaning something brought into incontrovertible existence and figuratively conveys the idea of one who is inwardly determined to stand firm and remain steadfast)

Determine to fix your heart to serve God and God alone

tribulation will come when you make that decision...
be of good cheer...for jesus said...

These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world. (John 16:33)

Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives, do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful. (John 14:27)

Jesus give us peace in the eye of the storm

"As she walked, she cried out ‘’I am so weak’’...When the gong sounded she would not bow...like a little general who declared war...She was told to go to Japanese leaders and say that if they did not repent that God would rain sulfur fire down from heaven! They put her in prison...she was released from prison the day the Atom bomb was dropped!" (from "If I Perish" the biography of Esther Ahn Kim)

Why Were The boys Bound? so they could not run out the door...

Note that the first use of the phrase MOST HIGH GOD was the use by Nebuchadnezzar when he had seen the miraculous preservation of Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego.

"Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the door of the furnace of blazing fire; he responded and said, "Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego, come out, you servants of the Most High God, and come here!" Then Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego came out of the midst of the fire." (Da 3:26)

WHAT ARE WE TO DO
WHEN MAN’S LAWS CONFLICT WITH GOD’S?

In the book of Acts we find another example of "not bowing", Luke recording that the Jewish council and high priest

gave...strict orders not to continue teaching in this Name, and behold, you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and intend to bring this Man's blood upon us." But Peter and the apostles answered and said, "We must obey God rather than men." (Acts 5:28-29)

When man’s laws clearly conflict with God’s laws, you are to obey God BUT be ready for the consequences. Peter and the apostles continued to speak the Name before the Jewish council and high priest and so

"...they flogged them and ordered them to speak no more in the name of Jesus, and then released them. So they went on their way from the presence of the Council, rejoicing that they had been considered worthy to suffer shame for His name." (Acts 5:40-41)

THE FIRE WILL NEVER DESTROY YOU

Then these men were tied up in their trousers, their coats, their caps and their other clothes, and were cast into the midst of the furnace of blazing fire....Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego, fell into the midst of the furnace of blazing fire still tied up... (Nebuchadnezzar said) "Look! I see four men loosed and walking about in the midst of the fire without harm, and the appearance of the fourth is like a son of the gods!" (Da 3:21-25)

They went in bound but they came out loosed. What can we learn from their example? God uses the fires of testing to set us free from the things which bind us. You will never go into any fire that Jesus Christ will not be in there with you. The fire can never destroy you, because the refiner always sits by the fire and never allows it to be heated more than you can bear. Count it all joy when you fall into diverse trials, knowing that gold is purified by fire. By their faithfulness Nebuchadnezzar saw God and blessed the Most High God.

They stood among their peers without compromising their God in Chapter 1. They stood before kings without compromising in Chapter 3. And thus they would stand before God without shame!

the challenge to all
who name the name of jesus as lord is:

Stand among your peers
without compromising your god.

 stand before kings
without compromising your god.

Then you  will stand before
the king of kings  without shame!!!

When you bow instead of burn, you may live (physically), but you will have to live with yourself and the torment that comes from realizing that you have compromised your faith.