2024-09-20
Good Morning Dear Ones,
Being true to one’s faith isn’t always easy. This was surely the case when Daniel and his friends, Meshach, Shadrach, and Abednego, were commanded by their captors (along with the other Babylonians) to worship a golden statue of King Nebuchadnezzar himself [DN 3: 4-6]. Anyone who refused would be tossed into a blazing furnace. The four quietly refused to do this, and Daniel still faced toward Jerusalem praying three times every day and giving God thanks, just as they had always done [DN 6: 10]. The Babylonian astrologers noted this refusal and reported it to the king. Nebuchadnezzar was furious at their lack of response to the sound of the music to signal it. He demanded they be brought before him. At this meeting, the king repeated his threat to throw them in the blazing furnace. They told him, “We do not need to defend ourselves in this matter. If we are thrown into the furnace, the God we serve will deliver us from it. But even if He does not, we want Your Majesty to know that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up” [DN 3: 16-17]. A furious Nebuchadnezzar immediately had Daniel’s three friends thrown into the furnace! It had been heated seven times hotter than usual—so hot that it killed the servants that had bound the three before throwing them inside.
Then, the king leaped to his feet in amazement. As he peered inside, there were four men inside and the three who had been tossed inside bound were “unharmed and the fourth Man looked like a son of the gods” [DN 3: 25]. So, Daniel’s three friends stepped out of the furnace totally unharmed and no smell of fire on them. Nebuchadnezzar exclaimed, “Praise be to the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who has sent His angels and rescued His servants...Anyone who says anything against their God will be cut into pieces and their houses turned into piles of rubble, for no other god can save this way!” [DN 3: 28-29]. I relate this story because of the faithfulness, patience, courage and humility that Daniel’s friends demonstrated in it. These are gifts given to them by the Holy Spirit.
The contrast between the king’s initial behavior and theirs is remarkable and shouldn’t be missed. Jesus had had come to the temple courts. A woman who had been caught in adultery had been brought in but was deemed innocent by Jesus when the religious leaders asked for His judgment. Moreover, we can find other comparisons with our Lord Jesus that also shouldn’t be missed. Christ’s words when He was teaching at the festival of lights JN 8: 14-18 is one. The Pharisees challenged the validity of Jesus’ testimony, and He said, “Even If I testify on My own behalf, My testimony is valid, for I know where I came from and where I am going. But you have no idea where I come from or where I am going. You judge by human standards; I pass judgment on no one. But if I do judge, My decisions are true because I am not alone. I stand with the Father, Who sent Me. In your own Law it is written that the testimony of two witnesses is true. I am the One Who testified for Myself; My other Witness is the Father, Who sent Me.” When they asked Him, “Where is Your Father?” Jesus replied, “You do not know Me; if you knew Me, you would also know My Father” [JN 8: 19].
PRAYER: O Most Holy Father, snap judgments and allowing emotion to rule our thinking and behavior never brings wisdom or justice. Our Lord wants us to know Him and to understand His loving discernment. PR 3: 5-6, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on Your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make straight your paths.” We are given sage advice that needs to be understood before judgments are made. RO 12: 2, “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of Your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” We can please You by thinking carefully first, looking to Your advice, and praying before we make decisions, form ideas, and act on them. We thank and praise You for all Your wisdom that You make available to us, in the holy/mighty name of Jesus Christ. Amen
NEXT WEEK: We will look at some reasons why we shouldn’t judge others and how we can stay within God’s will. God’s power over evil will be seen from the story of DN 5, the Handwriting on the Wall. We can see why we should seek wisdom and discernment in PS 119: 125 and JAS 1: 5, “I am Your servant; give me discernment that I may understand Your statues…I any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.” Sound judgment brings God’s will to fruition and prevents injustice. These things please God. Praise and thanks be to Him!
Grace Be With You Always,
Lynn, JS 24: 15
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