Stand Up!

On one occasion Frederick the Great invited some notable people to his royal table including his top-ranking generals. One of his generals, by the name of Hans von Zieten (Zeeten), declined the invitation because he wanted to partake of communion at his church.

Some time later at another banquet Frederick and his guests mocked the general for his religious principles and made jokes about the Lord’s Supper… Even though it may cost him his life, the officer stood to his feet and said respectfully to the monarch, “My lord, there is a greater King than you, a King to whom I have sworn allegiance even unto death. I am a Christian man, and I cannot sit quietly as the Lord’s name is dishonored and his character belittled.”

There is no doubt in my mind that this faithful general knew the account of 3 Jewish fellas, that stood up for their faith, even though it could cost them their lives.

Last week we talked about the Statue of Pride. This golden statue that N had built and forced everyone to worship. He made the decree that anyone who did not bow down and worship this statue would be thrown into a fiery furnace.

One commentator said that there could have been as many as 300,000 people bowing down to this golden image and just 3 people were willing to take a stand. It would have been easy for them to bow… Literally, everyone else was doing it…

These three men could have reasoned things out, they could have justified it to themselves – “Babylon’s been good to us, what harm could this do?”… Or … “We are not really worshiping, we are just following the motions of others, God knows our true hearts”… And it is possible that one or all three of these men had thoughts just like that… but those thoughts were quickly replaced with God’s Word that says…

Exodus 20:4-6 “4 “You shall not make for yourself a carved image—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; 5 you shall not bow down to them nor serve them. For I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me, 6 but showing mercy to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments.”

Their faith was in the true and living God and in the Word that He had spoken to their people. Knowing the history of the Jewish people, they were confident that the Lord was in control and that they had nothing to fear… and it was out of that confidence that they were able to…

Stand Up!

(Read Daniel 3:8-18)

There is a heavily debated subject surrounding these events and that debate has to do with where Daniel was when all of this went down. He is not mentioned in this chapter and some critics like to assume that Daniel was part of the crowd that had bowed down in worship of the statue.

Scripture does not give us any information on the whereabouts of Daniel during this ceremony… However, looking at the character of Daniel in the previous chapters and in the following chapters, the most logical conclusion that we can come to is that Daniel was not present during the dedication.

It is very probable that he was away, on official business, possibly acting as an ambassador of King N… … This is not to say that Daniel was perfect and never made mistakes, however, I don’t see Daniel as the type of person that would try to cover that up.

I say all of that to say this… Don’t let Daniel’s absence from this chapter be a main focus of your study… If you do, you will miss what God is trying to show you with the ones that are present.

In our passage today, I want to show you a few different ways in which

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego Stood Up...

Yes, I will use their Babylonian names today, as that is how they are addressed in our passage…

First of all… they stood…

1. Against the Chaldean’s Report

Look at vv. 8-12…

Daniel 3:8-12 “8 Therefore at that time certain Chaldeans came forward and accused the Jews. 9 They spoke and said to King Nebuchadnezzar, “O king, live forever! 10 You, O king, have made a decree that everyone who hears the sound of the horn, flute, harp, lyre, and psaltery, in symphony with all kinds of music, shall fall down and worship the gold image; 11 and whoever does not fall down and worship shall be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace. 12 There are certain Jews whom you have set over the affairs of the province of Babylon: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego; these men, O king, have not paid due regard to you. They do not serve your gods or worship the gold image which you have set up.””

I believe that the report these certain Chaldean’s gave to N was…

1.1 Motivated By Jealousy

Think back to chapter 2… back to the dream that N had roughly 20 years prior to this event… It was the Chaldeans who said that there was “no one on this earth who could interpret the kings dream”… Imagine their surprise and utter disappointment when God revealed, through Daniel, the dream and it’s interpretation.

Also, these Chaldeans would spend their whole lives trying to get into the higher ranked political positions of the Kingdom… but only after a few years of training and the fulfillment of the dream challenge given by N, some of the highest positions were given to 4 Jewish guys… guys that didn’t even practice the ways and traditions of Babylon were now in the positions that they were working so hard to obtain…

Y’all, I gotta tell ya… Jealousy and envy are terrible sins. They will consume you to the point of irrational thinking… they will cause you to hateful and hurtful things to others… even your friends or loved ones…

The first murder, when Cain killed Abel, was motivated by Jealousy. Joseph was almost killed, but instead was sold into slavery… because of Jealousy. The religious leaders were jealous of Jesus and had Him crucified.

Let me ask you this… When N gave the dream challenge, to all the wise men of the kingdom, in chapter 2… What was the punishment if they couldn’t do what N asked?? - Death…

Ok, who was the one that told that captain of the guards to hold off on carrying out that order and also asked N to spare the lives of the other wise men that couldn’t reveal or interpret the dream?? - Daniel… and his friends could be included in that as well…

The same Chaldean officials, whose lives had been spared 20 years earlier by the request of Daniel and his 3 friends, are now so full of jealousy that are trying to have them killed!

Folks, jealousy will consume you and make you do things that you never thought you’d do… These Chaldean’s had been letting their jealousy stew for 20 years and as soon as they saw an opportunity to get rid of these guys, they took it…

They brought 3 allegations against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego…

v. 12 has the list… they told King N that these Jewish men…

Have disregarded you - Meaning: they pay no attention to the decree that you have given.

They do not serve your gods

They do not worship your golden image (or statue).

Here’s what I don’t want you to miss about these allegations…

1.2 The Charges Were True

These men did not pay attention to the decree that N had given, they did not worship the false gods of Babylon and they did not bow down to the statue that N had built.

All of these charges were true and they stand as an amazing testimony of 3 men remaining faithful to the One True God even though it may cost them their lives.

Pastor Thompson makes this statement in his notes… “Satan is out to report any disobedience to God as quickly as he can… ” - Meaning that: Satan is just looking for any opportunity to tell God “Hey, you see what Tom did there… Ohh he messed up big time”… Satan can’t wait for us to give in to sin so that he can accuse us before God.

Pastor Thompson goes on to say “But remember this - Obedience to God can be reported as well” - and this is so evident in our world today… There may come a time (and it very well could be soon), that we are punished for standing on the principles of Scripture that speak out against homosexuality and transgenderism.

There have already been some Christian owned businesses that have been affected by this and I believe it is just a matter of time before Churches start to be targeted as well.

And it doesn’t only have to be about those issues… Maybe you don’t get the promotion at work because you are unwilling to fudge a few numbers or cut some corners in a dishonest way… Maybe you loose your job because you refused to do something that goes against Biblical principles…

Obedience to God may cause the world to see us in a negative way… but that is ok, because we are not of the world. God is the One that we are accountable to, He is the One that we need to please… not the world.

Secondly, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego Stood Up...

2. In-spite Of The King’s Anger

Look at v. 13…

Daniel 3:13“13 Then Nebuchadnezzar, in rage and fury, gave the command to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego. So they brought these men before the king.”

Daniel uses 2 words to describe how N felt after he recieved the report from the Chaldeans… Rage and Fury, some translations may use the phrase “Furious Rage” or “Violent Anger”

It makes me think of the older cartoons when someone would get mad, their face would turn red hot, their forehead would start to swell and then just when you figure it couldn’t get any bigger, steam would start shooting out both of their ears… … That is furious rage…

If the aim of the Chaldeans was to stir up the king’s anger, then they succeeded.

Everything that we learn about N shows that he was a man of violent passions, and that he was easily excited. This whole situation made his blood boil. He could see the jealousy of the Chaldeans and the enjoyment that would get out of watching these men burn, but he was also severely offended that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego wouldn’t bow.

His command to worship the statue was non-negotiable and their refusal was an act of blatant disobedience.

Just like jealousy, the sin of anger can consume you and make you do or say things that you will regret later.

Solomon says in Proverbs 16:32

Proverbs 16:32 NKJV

32 He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, And he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city.

N was not slow to anger… however, it would seem that he had a few minutes to cool off before the guys got there… or it is very possible that N had a bit of a soft spot for these 3 men… Because, they are…

2.1 Offered Another Chance

Daniel 3:14-15 “14 Nebuchadnezzar spoke, saying to them, “Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the gold image which I have set up? 15 Now if you are ready at the time you hear the sound of the horn, flute, harp, lyre, and psaltery, in symphony with all kinds of music, and you fall down and worship the image which I have made, good! But if you do not worship, you shall be cast immediately into the midst of a burning fiery furnace…”

We are not told exactly why they were given a second chance. Again, it is possible that Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego had a closer relationship with N than the rest of the wise men… I say that because he did not order them to be killed immediately, as he did the magicians who could not interpret his dream, back in chapter 2.

Its entirely possible that N is giving them the benefit of the doubt… Maybe they misunderstood the instructions to bow down to the image. Maybe they hadn’t heard the music. Certainly they wouldn’t disobey me to my face…

So N puts it simply for them to understand – when the music plays you bow, if you don’t then you burn… Again, the three men could have easily compromised with the king and justified their bowing down to the image. They could have said, “Everyone is doing it, we are just obeying orders… We can do our people more good as officers in the king’s court than ashes in the king’s furnace… God knows our true hearts...”

They didn’t say anything like that… They just stood there in faith…

Warren Wiersbe says this “True faith doesn’t look for loopholes; it simply obeys God and knows that He will do what is best. Faith rests on commands and promises, not on arguments and explanations.”

After N reminded these men of the punishment for disobedience, he asks this question at the end of v.15… “… who is the god who will deliver you from my hands?”

this is better phrased as “What god can deliver you from my hands?”… out of his prideful and angry state of mind, N believes that he is currently stronger than any god… In essence…

2.2 Nebuchadnezzar Mocks God

N has gone from stating that Daniel’s God (Our God) is the God of gods in chapter 2… and now he is saying that there is no god that can save these men from his wrath. He is mocking God…

So often when people want make fun of us as Christians… they are not throwing insults at us they are really insulting and mocking God, through us.

“How can you believe in something that you cannot even see?” or “If your God is so good, why doesn’t He remove all the evil in the world?”… “because He is merciful and wants to give you every chance to see that.”

I don’t know if N was trying to get a rise out of these fellas by mocking God… and if he was, he is about to be sorely disappointed...

because Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego Stood Up...

3. For What They Believed In

Daniel 3:16-18 “16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego answered and said to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. 17 If that is the case, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king. 18 But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up.””

They didn’t go off on a tangent… they didn’t yell at the king and tell him how he was going to burn in hell for his actions…

Again, Warren Wiersbe says “Their only concern was obeying the Lord and giving a faithful witness to all who were watching and listening. Their attitude was respectful and their words were few and carefully chosen.”

They did not know what God’s will was for their situation; they just trusted Him for it. They said that God was able to deliver them, if it was His will, but even if God did not save them from the position they were in, they still would not break God’s Law and bow to this image.

So often people forget that its “God’s will be done”… and they want it to be “My will be done”.

It is sad to say but we have many people today who will serve God if He does this that and the other for them. They are willing to obey God if they get rewarded for it.

These three Jewish men believed that God could deliver them, but if He didn’t they would trust Him anyway.

Shadrach Meshach and Abednego were not thinking of themselves, they weren’t afraid of the king’s fury; they simply wanted to obey the Lord and they stood up for what they believed in.

As a result of their stand, they would be a witness to all those who were watching. There may have been other Jews who had fallen to the ground and bowed down to this image. Maybe through the testimony of these three, others would see the error of their ways and would turn back to the true and living God.

Closing:

I started this message with an illustration about “Frederick the Great”. After his general stood up for what he believed in and confronted Frederick about mocking God…

The other guests at the event trembled in silence, knowing that Von Zieten might be killed. But to their surprise, Frederick grasped the hand of this courageous man, asked his forgiveness, and requested that he remain. He promised that he would never again allow such a travesty to be made of sacred things.

Lord willing, next week, we will see N’s response to these three men standing up for what they believed in… spoiler alert... his is the complete opposite of Frederick.

Before we close, I want to leave you with this…

3.1 If You Stand Up, You Will Stand Out!

If you live out the principles of Scripture faithfully for God, then you will most assuredly stand out from the rest of the world… and guess what… the world isn’t gonna like it…

2 Timothy 3:12 NASB95

12 Indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.

Lastly this morning…

3.2 Our Obedience To “THE KING”, May Require Disobedience To A King.

At some point you will be put to the test.... The question is…

Will you do what is right and Stand Up for God?

Or will you go along with everyone else, so that you don’t offend anyone??

God has chosen for you to live at such a time as this and these are pivotal moments in our faith. If we purpose to what is right, if we stand up for what we believe in and live out what we say we believe, then we can rest assured that God, in His Sovereignty, will work out His plan through us and that we will be led to a great victory…

A victory that starts with a relationship with Jesus Christ… It is through His strength and His strength alone that we are able to Stand Up!