Daniel 3 August 2009.pdf - Biblical Counseling Online

I. Introduction and Review.
The God Who is Able Daniel 3:1-30 10/16/09
A. Child: home SS: > What was story about: I can’t remember: Something about 3 houses:
Your Shack, My Shack, & a Bungalo; Songs, Vegietales: Rack, Shack, Bennie
B. Book of Daniel:
1. Primary Theme: Early Chapters: How to Live While Empire of Darkness Prevails.
a. Israel in Babylon: Us in the world today. Appear weak & small > oppressed
b. Intense pressure: conform
2. Selected Events: Contests: World Power & God’s Remnant:
a. Show us how we ought to act in days such as these: Courage & conviction. Daniel
& friends: 1st opportunity: diet: > faithful: “small things” ready: bigger test.
b. Continual reminder that God is with us: Working out His purposes.
3. Sometimes you have to take a stand. College student, work, family.
II. Your Commitment to the LORD Will be Tested by the World. v. 1-7
A. What is the Meaning of Nebuchadnezzar’s Image? Isa. 46:6
1. It Appears to be a Response to his Dream. v. 1 timing not stated
a. A significant difference: This image is all gold. or at least gold plated. No silver,
bronze, iron, clay: 90 ft. high (grotesquely thin: human) 4x height Esc. Muffler man
b. Defying God’s decree that his kingdom would be replaced.
2. He is Defying God’s Kingdom by Further Establishing His Own. Gen. 11:4
a. Grand expensive image: proclaim own glory.
b. Lavish dedication ceremony. I’m worth it! Self-deification. Denial fleeting.
c. Like Babel. Let us build...make a name..
d. Men build monuments: try to perpetuate at least their memory, if not dynasty.
3. The Image is Designed to Symbolize the Greatness of Nebuchadnezzar’s Babylon
and to Promote the Political and Religious Unity of his Empire. Religious: v. 12
a. acknowledge god’s of Babylon superior: vanquished nations.
b. Invite UN heads of state: Puppet rulers: Soviet Bloc; joint session congress.
4. It is Possible to Experience Religious Convictions without being Converted! 2:47
After reading end of Daniel 2: think not far from the kingdom. People at ch: stirred...
B. Nebuchadnezzar’s Act has Eschatological Implications: The Ongoing Battle Between
The Counterfeit Kingdom of Darkness and God’s Kingdom. 7:25 Re. 13:8-18 II Th.
2:4 Prototype: final rebellion: Pattern: Human History:
1. An Anti-Kingdom Led by an Anti-Christ. v. 1
a. Contrast to true kingdom led by Christ the Rock (dream)
b. Like arrogant beast: Revelation: Demands universal worship. Rev. 13:8 All who
dwell on earth will worship him, everyone whose name has not been written from
the foundation of the world in the book of life of the lamb who has been slain.
2. An Anti-Gathering of the Nations. v. 2-4 Rev. 13:7 5:9 7:9
a. Like Babel: Neb trying to re-unite nations: his headship. > Representatives (UN)
b. All nations streaming to man’s counterfeit mountain. Festival: New Babylon
c. True gathering of nations: when Lord returns. Every tribe, tongue, nation:
3. Anti-Worship. v. 5,7 Rev. 13:8 Rom. 1:25 Ps. 150:3-5 95:6 Not all worship is good.
a. Man’s worship: counterfeit. They exchanged: truth of God for a lie and served the
creature rather than the Creator
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. There is a true worship: kneeling; instruments, song. Ps. 150:3-5 Bow down;
Come let us worship and bow down. Let us kneel before the LORD our Maker.
4. An Anti-Judgement of Fire. v. 6 Rev. 13:15 20:10,14-15
a. Revelation: Saints who won’t submit: economic persecution: even death.
b. End: true judgment of fire for those who won’t worship God.
C. What Reasons Might Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego have Considered in Favor
of Bowing Before The Statue?
1. Everyone Else is Doing it! v. 7 (Including Many Jews: idolatry widespread: Judah)
a. Picture scene: 1000s gathered: nobles: nation: finest regalia: Music, wine & food
b. Summons comes > Great majority: happily conform: Ocean of bowing figures..
c. 9997 out of 10,000 bow: 3 do not: stick out like sore thumb
d. Illus: church: 1 person not paying attention: stands while others sitting.
2. We Can Do More Good for God and His People Alive than Dead. Rom. 3:8
Let us do evil that good may come; Xn stays false church.
3. The Cost of Obedience is too High. v. 6 Most people have a price!
a. My job, my position of influence, and my life.
b. God can’t expect this much of me! Abraham: Sarah=sister; People: Saudi: Quit
church < risk lose high paying job.
4. It is a Small Thing. God Will Forgive One Brief Insincere Act.
a. I know that there is no such thing as an idol. > I won’t be bowing to an idol.
b. Only external compliance demanded; I won’t be worshiping in my heart.
c. Its just this one time. I will ask God’s to forgive me after it is all over. I John 1:9
5. We are in a strange land and should respect their customs. School, work,
6. We are to Obey those in Authority Over Us. Rom. 13:1-2 When in Babylon...
a. Nebuchadnezzar has really been so good to us. Disloyal & ungrateful
b. Xns: political officials: leave personal beliefs out of my service: nation. > grief!
c. Same excuse: Nazi Germany: Holocaust.
D. Believers Have Been Tested Throughout History.
1. Enforced Religious Uniformity. Religion has been used: unite nations & empires.
a. Outward only OK; can keep other beliefs too so long as subordinate.
b. Pagan Rome: Caesar is Lord; or to the arena. Emperor worship Japan/Korea/Phil.
c. “Christian” Europe: Enforce RCC by the Sword: Inquisition. > Sword & Fire.
d. Even “Reformed” Nations: Burned & Drowned heretics: Even baptists!
(1) King: leader of state & religion: Loyalty > submit fully
(2) Link Infant baptism & state church: Mark of external inclusion > punished,
banished if not baptize infants: treasonous! (WCF)
(3) Bunyan: 1660 preaching w/o license: 12 years prison; released > back to
preaching > arrested again. USA: first nation: promoting true religious freedom.
e. Our day: Islamic nations: execute converts; forbid worship by expatriates
2. Totalitarian Nations Demand Ultimate Loyalty From Their People.
a. Beast takes different forms: Claims not to be religious: yet ultimately is religious.
b. Totalitarian nations: suppress church: illegal or tightly regulated: 1000s imprisoned
c. Religion is tolerated so long as subordinate to the state.
d. Western nations: cleansing public religious expression. Pluralism.
3. We face more subtle tests. Still same beastly spirit/tendency. Periods of history: power
of anti-christ seems dormant > bursts into activity.
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a. OK to have your religion: but must be 2 nd place: keep beliefs private, conform!
b. Employer expects ultimate loyalty: ethics, life priorities:
(1) Saudi: Filipino driver: Part of job >drive: Mecca: Can’t enter: non-Muslim:
(2) Xn: told to lie/distort truth; or to put career over Lord/Family.
(3) Xn medical worker: pressured participate abortion, euthanasia.
(4) Article last Thursday: APA declared mental health professionals should not
tell gay clients they can become straight... Instead of sekking such change, the
APA urged therapists: consider options that would includ switching churches
c. Hard economic times: temptation: cut corners, sacrifice integrity: $; feed family
d. Pressure: school (Jim HS Eng.): ridicule faith: Creation, value human life, purity;
e. We are expected: bow idols: evolutionism, moral relativism, tolerance, pluralism
Story: Ch. England: Leicester: Muslims complained. John 14:6 > forced take down
f. Peer pressure: Young people: don’t want to be weird. Seek respect, popularity,
admiration: or fiery furnace of ridicule. (Lewis inner circle).
g. Glittering idols of the world: What the culture says I have to have to be happy.
Idols of pleasure, sex, romantic daydreams; fiery furnace of discontent.
h. Smallness of the idols we bow down to.
i. Fiery furnace: economic loss, rejection, slander: Called lunatic fringe, fanatics
4. Key: no matter how large the crowd, God is our audience.
Summary: You Will Be Challenged
III. Courageously Take Your Stand for the LORD! v. 8-18
A. You May not be Allowed to Quietly Live by Your Convictions. v. 8-13
1. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego Were not Seeking a Confrontation.
a. Didn’t Refuse to come when summoned.
b. Didn’t shout: REPENT OF IDOLATRY! To assembled multitude. Quietly stood
c. Nebuchadnezzar wouldn’t have noticed if not brought to attention by Chaldeans
2. The Enemies of God Would not Leave Them Alone: Charges of Treason. 6:13
Tattle: Literally ate the pieces of: chewed up
a. Professional jealousy, racial bigotry, and manipulative flattery. Should be grateful:
not killed before!; how notice? Dangerous sect: Perhaps looking for opportunity.
b. Were all of the accusations true? Yes they do not serve gods or worship image, but
not true that no regard for Nebuchadnezzar.(Anabaptists faced same charges)
c. Where is Daniel? Higher status > beyond attack?, away? Friends: Center,
3. Don’t Expect the World to be at Peace with You. II Tim. 3:12 John 15:18-19 Stage
a. Evangelical Xns today vilified as troublemakers. Don’t respect cultural norms.
Refuse to conform: train kids
b. Enemies of truth are looking for confrontations: Mix truth & lies.
(1) Workplace: Xn boss >sue: religious favoritism; Employee > dismiss: express
faith or affects performance (loyalty: not lie; teamwork: not socialize/drink)
(2) Lawsuits: pro-life clinics
(3) How raise children: what teach, spank; “anonymous tip”: CPS
(4) Campus: Personal views: homosexuality, fornication:“hate speech”.
c. If you are not experiencing conflict it may be because you are compromising!
Spurgeon “Some try to travel to heaven by back lanes, skulk into glory: disguise.
B. You Will Face Intense Pressure to Conform. v. 13-16
Nebuchadnezzar is Perplexed and Enraged. Plan had seemed to be working.
1. He Can’t Believe that Anyone Would Dare to Defy his Authority. v. 13-14
a. Accustomed to flatterers. Spoils party! little stone > Crush big statue.
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. Our non-conformity shocks the world: Young person: moral purity, goes to church
&has personal relationship w/God (not just < parents say so). I Pe. 4:4,22
c. Why give up so much just for religion? Disturbs them world heaps praise:
3. He Defies God to Deliver Them. v. 15b 2:11 II Kn. 18:33 Isa. 36:18-20 37:10
a. In essence Nebuchadnezzar places himself above all gods. He should have known:
Chpt 2! Forgets it is the LORD Who raised him up.
b. A picture of all of humanity in rebellion against the LORD God.
c. Such fighting words provoke God. Like Assyrians (Goliath)
d. Nebuchadnezzaer needs to know more of Who God is: All powerful Deliverer
C. Boldly Take Your Stand for the LORD. v. 16-18
The Valient Answer of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego.
1. Why Do the Three Men Refuse Even at the Apparent Cost of their Lives?
a. Jim Adams: The tallest object: plain of Dura: Not statue, but 3 men: standing
b. Conviction & commitment to the truth. Confidence in their God.
c. God has commanded that we worship Him alone. Ex. 20:3-5
d. Same temptation Jesus faced. Mt. 4:9
e. They must obey God rather than men. Acts 5:29 Exodus 20:3-5 Dt. 5:7-9
f. They fear God more than they fear Nebuchadnezzar. Mt. 10:28
2. They Do not Try to Plead their Case or to Dispute the Sentence. v. 16 Ecc. 3:7
Luke 23:9 According to the law of the land we are guilty. Not going to beg
3. They Have Complete Confidence in God’s Power to Deliver Them. v. 17 Jer. 32:17
Ps. 115:3 Isa. 43:1ff God has acted in the past: Exod, Abraham: Their experience w/diet
4. They are in Complete Submission to God’s Perfect Purposes. v. 18a Dt. 29:29
Mt. 26:39 I John 5:14 Practical application of belief: God’s sovereignty!
a. Did their uncertainty about being delivered reflect a lack of faith in God?
b. They do not know what God’s plan is: They won’t pretend to be wiser than God
c. He may choose to bear testimony through their martyrdom. Or take to heaven.
d. Chief example: Gethsemane > Cross. Paul: Thorn: flesh
e. Application: We cannot say: God will heal: Presumptuous
f. Hear stories: people take stand for the LORD > blessed better job; not always
5. They are Willing to Die for their Convictions. v. 18b Job 13:15 Mt. Acts 20:24
Though He slay me, yet I will trust Him. Rather die than deny Lord.
a. Loyalty not dependent upon God doing what they wanted.
b. Prepared to suffer consequences of their obedience. Lose job, girlfriend
c. Heb 11:32-38 some delivered, some suffered and died for their faith Acts 7:54-60
9:23-25 This was God’s purpose. John the baptist, Jesus, Peter, Stephen, Hus
d. Their confidence is in a better life to come. Phil. 1:20-21 Heb. 11:13-16 Worst
they can do is to usher us into God’s presence.
e. Their example inspires believers for centuries to come.
f. My life is not so valuable as to deny the Lord for it
g. Luther:“TO go against one’s conscience is neither safe nor right. Here I stand. I
cannot do otherwise. God Help me.” “The body they may kill. God’s truth abideth
still. His kingdom is forever”
h. These are the kinds of friends we need!
D. Are You Willing to Obey God at Any Cost? Mark 8:34-38 Mt. 10:37-39
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1. Times in the life of Xn: 9997 bowing: We remain standing.
2. When is it Right to Defy Authority? Acts 5:29 govt. parents.
a. S, M, & A put up w/a lot: working: govt: corrupt, idolatrous. Summoned > came.
b. Don’t go looking for trouble. Some Xns have a hair trigger.
c. Our situation is much better than theirs: by God’s grace.
d. Point=when direct challenge to ultimate loyalty to God.
3. Can You be Bought? Does Your Faithfulness have a Price?
a. How many Xns compromise > safety, earthly security, money,
b. Henry IV: Huguenot/Calvinist? Offered King of France if convert to Roman
Catholicism. “Paris is worth a mass”
c. Clergy: Nazi Germany: kept silent > do more good if keep pulpits
d. Student silent in classroom: Not want to lose grade;
e. girl afraid to stand up to pressure from boyfriend < fear losing him.
f. Gospel divides families: Unbelief/rejection parents/children: test faith.
g. The key to conquering all sin. By faith: Fear God: more real than Neb:
4. Sometimes you can’t hide or hunker down. A man’s gotta do what a man’s gotta do
5. What matters is not our ease, but God’s glory. Xnty: more than fire escape:
6. God will give you grace in the hour you need it.
a. God may not give you grace to face all situations you could imagine;
b. Saudi: Sometimes feared: getting caught: when happened > calm:
Summary: You Will be Tested: Stand Firm.
IV.
God Will Deliver You. v. 19-30 Ps. 68:20 He will never forsake you! God is to us a God
of deliverances; And to God the LORD belong escapes from death.
A. You May Not Always Be Delivered From Fiery Trials. v. 19-23
God’s answers to prayer do not always come in form we expect:
1. Why Does Nebuchadnezzar Go to Such Drastic Measures to Kill God’s Servants?
v. 19-22 Drunk with rage: will brook no rival: not even God!
a. He has conquered the world, but is unable to conquer self: anger..
b. His authority has been challenged: He has defied their god. v. 15c
Ultimately his rage is against God! Stands in way of His autonomy/dominion
c. Furnace: Smelting > metals; apparently door see in. Barbaric
d. Making extra sure nothing goes wrong: hottest possible fire (Use of number 7x:
completely: not 300 degrees > 2100 degrees), Binds up men, burly henchmen: No
escape, not just singed. Like Elijah & prophets of Baal: Every advantage. Satire
Vain attempts to stop deliverance: Just makes God’s victory all: more impressive
e. Why are the soldiers killed? Proof fire is really hot: no tricks:
(1) Neb. Doesn’t even care: On edge of seat waiting to see enemies turned: dust:
(2) Beginning of Nebuchadnezzar’s defeat. Babylonian gods/Neb can’t protect!
Irony: those who obey Nebuchadnezzar die. Wish to save live > lose it.
(3) Illus: distinguishing grace of God: same fire burns & does no harm:
2. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego are NOT Delievered FROM the Fire! v. 23
a. Neb’s heart not changed, fire not go out; At first God seems to have deserted them.
b. God could have prevented them from going through this trial. Different plan
c. They suffered: anticipation: Fiery furnace.
3. God Allows Many Christians to Enter the Fires of Affliction. I Pet. 1:6-7 4:12f
May wonder: sickness, sadness, loneliness, job, finances: Why?? Why me?
4. Even When it Appears that the Kingdom of Darkness has Won, God is Still at
Work. Supreme Example=Cross! Darkest hour: history > light of Resurrection
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B. God is With You in Your Trials. v. 24-26 Isa. 43:2 Heb. 11:34 Mt. 28:20 they knew!
1. Who was with them in the Fire? v. 28 6:22 Gen. 18
a. A Pre-incarnate Appearance of the Lord Christ?
b. Nebuchadnezzar said more than he knew. (Balaam’s ass): like: son of gods, angel
2. A Wonderful Illustration of God’s Promise. Isa. 43:1-2 Ex. 3:12 Mt. 28:20
a. Main point: God helps those who are faithful to Him. Jesus: Tempted/Gethsemane
b. Not always immediate deliverance: Martyrs: Sing, praise God: flames burn: flesh.
c. He has delivered His people through the furnace of affliction: past. Dt. 4:20
The LORD has taken you and brought you out of the iron furnace from Egypt, to
be a people for His own possession.
3. It is Better to be in the Furnace with Christ than Outside with Nebuchadnezzar!
a. Wonder how they felt when Nebuchadnezzar said: come out: Just: little more time!
b. Do You Believe this? Poverty, sickness, loneliness/rejection: Not turn to man’s
ways to escape but look to God alone to deliver you. Trust He is with you!
C. God is Glorified by Your Faithfulness. v. 27-30
1. God’s Deliverance is Perfect. v. 27 Mt. 10:30 Only ropes burned: no smell: Fires >
smoke damage: can’t get smell out.
2. Nebuchadnezzar Admits Defeat. v. 28 Calls out , not 4 (v. 26)
a. Imagine shock/terror: see 3, no 4 men walking around in flames. He is sweating
b. S, M, A: never frightened, but Neb. Now astonished. v. 24 Hit by stone.
c. v. 28 sounds like Rom. 12:1
3. The Occasion he Intended to bring Praise to himself and his gods is Used to Display
the Glory of the One True God! Great representative assembly of nobles. All
planned by God from: beginning (His use of free acts & even sins of men for good)
4. A strange benediction. v. 29 Yet apparently didn’t destroy idol.
5. God Will Bless You for Your faithfulness. v. 30
a. Not necessarily here and now: Read rest of Scripture: Heb. 11:13-16
V. Concluding Applications: Where do we see Christ in this text?
A. We do not suffer in the furnace of our affliction alone. God has sent One to be with us.
1. Jesus has entered: our suffering. Took on our humanity. Incarnation. Immanuel
2. Was tempted to bow down; Chose to worship God alone > cost Him His life.
3. Went alone through the lake of fire for us: no deliverance; abandoned by God..
a. God condemned Him unto fiery judgment
b. Died that we, who had bowed down to idols might not go through the flames
4. Because He was with us in our greatest affliction we can trust that He is with us in
our other tribulations. Touched lepers; sympathizes w/us.
5. One Day what Neb. Tried to achieve He will accomplish: Gather nations
a. Accomplish true unity
6. Those who reject Jesus > Fiery furnace. v. 4-6 Luke 12:4-5 Rev. 20:15
7. Don’t be like Nebuchadnezzar: Conviction w/o Conversion. I Th. 1:9
a. We have seen many like this: weep: sermon: or personal crisis > fall away
b. Neb still not confessing LORD alone is God. Doesn’t smash his image.
c. Miracles alone don’t convert! True conversion: I Th. 1:9 turn
B. How will you respond?
1. Neb: compelled to give praise.
2. Bow down before Jesus: true King. Positive: worship God (not just avoid idols)
3. Greater miracle: God will save you from judgment: Transform you.
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C. Have You Taken Your Stand for the Lord? Mark 8:34-38
1. Baptism/Membership. Afraid of what friends/families may think: Ashamed of me..
2. At School/Work? Fly Your Banner. Not ashamed of Christ.
3. When World plays flutes & harps: expect you to bow: Dare to be different!
4. People are watching us
D. Will You Trust Him to be with You Even in Fiery Trials?
1. You Have Nothing to Fear because He is With Us. Heb. 13:5 4:16
2. Offer Yourself Whole to God. Rom. 12:1-2 Man visited: asking about our church:
Don’t want a church too serious: goes to extremes: “ little religion” or moderate!
3. Christ takes you through no darker rooms: He has already passed through. Trust Him!
4. He has a purpose! Rutherford: How dangerous it is for the believer to try to read God’s
messages through the envelope.
5. When you Obey: You Choose Fellowship with the Son of God.
Discussion questions
1. What was the purpose of Nebuchadnezzar’s great statue?
2. What in our culture serves a similar purpose?
3. Why did the young men refuse to bow to the statue?
4. What trials might we face which resemble what these three young man went through?
5. Can we assume that if we just have enough faith God will deliver us from our trials?
Why or why not?
6. How does Nebuchadnezzar’s gathering resemble last times events described in Scripture?
7. Where in this text do we see Christ?
How does this help us?
Read: Isa. 43 Ex. 20: Rev. 13 Ps. 91
A mighty fortress; When through fiery thy pathway shall lie; My grace all sufficient shall be thy
supply. The flame shall not hurt the. I only design thy dross to consume and thy gold to refine.
Idol: What society says matters most: sports, food, sex, romance, education. Entertainment
Sermon preached when Fire and flood composed
Whoever wishes to save his life will lose it.
Only chapter in Daniel when he is not mentioned.
Neb distorts God’s Word. 2 Pe. 3:16
Ascribe power to statue? Heal, war, rich
Wearing court attire
I Co. 13:3 yield body to fire.
Many of Calvin’s students yielded teir bodies to the flames for Christ’s sake.
Gold plated?
Colossus of Rhodes: 70 feet
Babylonians sexagesimal system
MUSIC NOT ALWAYS TRUE WORSHIP: perhaps emotional experience. All that glitters is not
gold: What matters in worship is object of worship.
Furnace: Jews.
People don’t gather out of love for Neb. Idol
Luther: Here I stand. “TO go against one’s conscience is neither safe nor right. Here I stand. I
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cannot do otherwise.
Movie: Indecent Proposal: Gallop: What do for $10 million: 7% kill stranger; 25% abandon ch.
Barna Data: How few believe: hold to essentials.
Isa. 43: for people destined for exile.
Heb. 4:16 God will give us grace in our time of need.
Sometimes Jesus spoke and others He was silent.
All they lost there was their bonds
Decisions external pressure or internal principle
Sing: How Firm a Foundation (Final Hymn!), I Surrender All, A mighty fortress.
Irresistible force & immovable objects. v. 13-18 the trial.
Examples: Fox, Fish
Nebuchadnezzar: Picture of all men w/o Christ!
Church Compromise: RCC Images, Worship “Do what I like.”
Nebuchadnezzar should have tried a rock to do homage to.
Illus: Stay in False Church. Attend funeral/wedding: Asked to participate in false worship;
Church: entertainment, soften preaching of wrath, biblical authority.; Not allow fornication:
houseguests
Illus: Navy: Take condom from boat; School Sex-ed/role play homosexual.
Gold plated Ex. 39:38 40:5 37:25-26
This is why Anabaptists refused to serve in human government: Oath of loyalty.
Excuse: this time no Daniel to lead them.
Most High God. Gen. 14:19 Num. 24:17
Edwards Resolutions
Pro-millennialist: Whatever God has planned, I’m for it!
N: US think our Eco & military success < superior philosophy/system (our gods) Pride.
Ps. 148:8 Fire praises God: Under His control
Nietzche “If there is a God, how can I bear not to be that God.
Dedication: Religious II Kn. 8:63 Ez. 6:16 Pr. 22:6
Rom. 1:23 Ps. 137:3 Idolatry: pitiful Isa. 44:15ff
Megalomaniac
Many parallels w/chpt 6: Lion’s den: Cast in, deliverance, jealousy
Compromise: Henry IV “Paris is worth a mass”
Many of worst persecutors: once religious: Freud
Outward similarities: instrumentation: worship Woodwinds, percussion, brass
* Hate life, Take up cross on not worthy. Count the Cost.
World like Neb expects us: follow its customs & obey its rules.: Flute harp sound for you in vain
Fear the face of no man because live in fear of the LORD
Jn. 12:24 Grain of wheat falls into ground & dies > bears fruit.
Spurgeon: Your duty is to do the right. The consequences are with God.
Lost boyfriends, off sports team, out of college.
Chrysostem: You can’t hurt me!
Heb. 7:3 Like the Son of God. Ps. 91:9-12
Angel of the Lord: delivers Gen. 48:16
Hair of head. Luke 21:18 Acts 20:24 love God > life I Cor. 13:7 yielded body...
v. 28-30 God’ doesn’t need Neb or any other pagan to guard his reputation
Occasionally world impressed by your faithfulness: wife home
No evidence Neb curses his gods & destroys statue: keeps building
Ultimately heathen will be forced to give God glory.
Grace in time of need Heb. 4:16 Ps. 66:10-12
Neb dumb: 7x: slow fire > suffer more.
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Sense in which God is not able: martyrs, etc..: Character, our unbelief, His plans; Cross:
Father if you are able... But He was able to deliver Him from the grave
Athanasius.
3 men don’t blast Neb. Even after they are vindicated.
Long while: not like fire walkers scurry across quickly.
6. You may once get such a dramatic opportunity: Don’t waste it!
a. Calvin: God’s glory ought to be more precious to us than 100 lives.
b. Call us intolerant > Absolute intolerance for our intolerance!
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