Escape from the Fiery Furnace

1. Read: Daniel 3:1-6

2. About the Text:

1) Scholars believe that this event took place in the 19th year of Nebuchadnezzar’s rule.

2) Some suggest that this giant idol was in celebration of his victory over Jerusalem and the destruction of the temple.

3) It was designed to show that the gods (little “g”) of Babylon were greater than the gods of all the other kingdoms and the God of Israel.

4) Worship a false god or die.

5) What would you do when faced with such a command?

3. Ref. to S, T, P, O, and A.

1. The idol.

1) It was 90 feet tall and 9 feet wide.

2) It was made of gold.

3) It was set up in the plain of Dura in the province of Babylon.

2. The people summoned.

1) Satraps, administrators, governors, counselors, treasurers, judges, magistrates, and all the officials of the provinces.

2) This was his government; his administration.

3. The command.

1) When the various instruments played.

2) They were commanded to bow down and worship the image.

3) The penalty for not worshipping was death by fiery furnace.

4. What is your fiery furnace?

1) There’s not anyone here facing death, but . . .

2) Maybe you have a boss that doesn’t sympathize with Christianity.

3) Maybe you have friends that want you to engage in immorality.

4) We face temptations of all kinds every day.

5) “Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him” (James 1:12).

6) “No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it” (1 Corinthians 10:13).

1. So, they played the music, and all the sycophants fell before the idol.

1) Some, however, did not.

2) Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego refused.

2. Some people noticed that they refused.

1) They accused these three of disrespecting the king and not worshipping his gods.

2) They made it personal.

3) Nebuchadnezzar got angry.

3. He brought them before him and gave them one more chance to obey.

1) He made the command clear.

2) He also spelled out the consequences.

3) He asked this question, “who is the god who will deliver you from my hands?””

4. They responded to the king’s command.

1) We don’t need to answer you; (our minds are already set).

2) Our God will deliver us.

3) Even if He doesn’t, we will not bow down.

5. What do we do during trials?

1) When family members are seriously ill?

2) When we are laid off from a job?

3) When death comes to a loved one unexpectedly?

4) We must continue to have faith in God.

5) “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, Nor shall the flame scorch you” (Isaiah 43:2).

6) “Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” So we may boldly say: ‘The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?’” (Hebrews 13:5-6).

1. Nebuchadnezzar executed his punishment.

1) He was furious with them.

2) He heated the furnace seven times hotter than before.

3) It was so hot that the mighty men of valor died casting them into the furnace.

4) Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were fully clothed when they were put in.

2. Nebuchadnezzar looked into the furnace.

1) No doubt he was expecting to see them burn alive.

2) Instead of seeing three men, he sees four.

3) The fourth appeared like the Son of God.

3. Nebuchadnezzar tells them to come out.

1) He saw that they were not being burned alive.

2) He called them servants of the most-high God.

3) He told them to come out of the furnace.

4) All the administration were witnesses to these events.

5) Moreover, the fire didn’t affect their hair or clothing; even the scent was not on them.

4. Nebuchadnezzar proclaims that no other God can deliver like this.

1) He blessed their God who sent His Angel.

2) He acknowledged that they trusted God.

3) They would not serve or worship any god except their God.

4) He pronounced a curse upon those who spoke against God.

5. God delivers us through trials.

1) “For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith” (1 John 5:4).

2) “But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 15:57).

3) “Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us” (Romans 8:37).

4) There is no problem that God cannot handle; and He does not need our help.

1. Escape from the fiery furnace . . .

1) We face the threat of the fiery furnace.

2) We may be thrown into the fiery furnace.

3) We may thwart the fiery furnace.

2. Invitation