321. DAN 3:16-18. THE THREE HEBREW WORTHIES
Dan_3:16-18. The Three Hebrew Worthies
"Shadrach, Meshech, and Abednego answered and said unto the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we an not careful to answer thee in this matter If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver at from the burning fiery furnace."’97Dan_3:16-18.
The history of the Church of God has been written in the blood of the saints. fiver since man became fallen, and allied to the prince of darkness, there has been one continual scene of conflict between the seed of the serpent, and the seed of the woman. When the world was comprised of one family, that family was divided between sin and holiness, Satan and God. And in the first human family are we to find the origin of that crimson stream, which has flowed through all ages, and in all lands. Abel leads the van among the noble army of martyrs, and Cain appears as the first persecutor unto the death, of a saint of God. From that period to this, the church has been exerting its influence to subjugate the world; and the world has been laboring to destroy the church. Our text is directly connected with one out of the many instances where persecution appeared in its severest aspect, and when love to God exposes its subjects to the loss of all things. Let me,
I. Give you a History of the Circumstances of the Case.
II. The Principle by which the three Worthies were influenced, &c.
III. The astonishing Events which followed.
I. Give you the History of the Circumstances of the Case.
Among those who were carried captive to Babylon, were several of the seed royal; of these were the illustrious three worthies referred to in the text. Their original names are given, chap. Dan_1:7. Now, these on account of their learning and wisdom, were elevated above the rest of their suffering brethren. These three, together with Daniel, had sweet fellowship with each other, and they acted in holy harmony, as the witnesses of the true God of heaven and earth. The first exhibition of their holy self-denial, was evinced in refusing to defile themselves with the luxuries of the king’s table, ver. 10, &c. Afterwards, when Nebuchadnezzar had forgotten the strange dream, and required of the wise men that they should discover the dream, as well as give the interpretation, Daniel, with the three worthies, united in prayer together for God to reveal it to them. In answer to their united prayers, God did reveal it, and Daniel made it blown unto the king, as described, chap. Dan_2:29, &c. Some time after this, the king made an image of gold, and erected it in the plain of Dura, and commanded all men at a certain period, which should be announced by the sound of music, to fall down and worship. This was demanded at the peril of life, for whoso did not was to be cast into a fiery furnace. The three Hebrews regarded not the mandate of the king, and worshipped not the image. Immediately, several of the Chaldeans, no doubt from envy, informed the king of their disobedience. They are now summoned into the royal presence, and are addressed, ver. 14, 15; to which the illustrious servants of God thus replied. See text.
The fury of the king was now excited; the cruel edict must be enforced, the sentence must be immediately executed. Several of the most powerful men were selected to see it effected; the youths were thrown into it, and the violence of the flames were such, that the officers employed perished in the act. Nebuchadnezzar witnesseth the scene, and astonished at their appearance, asks, "Did we not cast three men into the fire; and lo, I see four men loose walking, and they have no hurt, and the form of the fourth is like unto the Son of God." From thence did the king call them, and then, he issued a decree that they might worship their own God, and that all should be destroyed who spake against the God of Shadrach, &c. Now. this is the history. Let us notice,
II. The Principle by which they were influenced.
Why did they thus act? Wherefore did they run the risk of sacrificing their lives? Thousands would not; perhaps few others would have acted with them. Their conduct was the result of eminent piety’97of religious principle. A half-hearted temporizing professor would not thus have acted.
1. They acknowledged the authority of God only, in matters of religion.
It is of the utmost importance to distinguish between things civil and religious. We are to "render unto Caesar," &c. Con science is God’s and God’s only. It might have been said, the king’s authority should be respected, you are bound to obey; this is granted in all acts of a temporal nature, but where religion is concerned, we must obey God rather than man. This same principle may be applied to the wife’97to the child’97to the servant. God alone must be obeyed in religious things. No authority is above his authority; no law absolute but his.
2. They dared to be singular, and to stand alone for God.
Singularity is of no value for its own sake. Persons may be singular from vanity, and to attract attention; or be singularly wicked. But there is religious singularity. "Ye are not of the world." We are to take up the cross and follow him; to come out of the world, &c. Now, they might have said, who are you to oppose the great mass of the people; you, young men’97to stand out against the great and learned, the aged, &c. Yet these young men dared to stand alone. What courage it would require!
3. They dared to risk all for the sake of a. good conscience.
Had they been willing, they might have said thus, "We will give the homage of the body, but our hearts shall not worship; we are greatly indebted to the king, we are not capable of disobeying him; it is only one act, God will overlook it." Or perhaps have reasoned as we have heard religionists, "We will go so far with them, and perhaps, in return, they will go some length with us;" no, they had one object to secure, and what was it’97a good conscience’97integrity of soul; and for it they dared to risk, what? reputation’97all temporal good’97liberty’97yea, life itself, "Counted not their lives dear."
4. They could trust all they possessed with God.
Mark their expressions; "Our God," &c.; they knew their relationship to him: "can deliver;" yes, he is almighty, none like the God of Jeshurun: "and will;" he loves us, and he has often exercised miraculous influence for those who love him; he has divided seas; caused the sun to stand still, and the moon in the valley of Aijalon. "At any rate, if we die, and are consumed to ashes, let it be so; death will be our gain, and so we will die rather than worship thy gods." Observe,
III. The astonishing Events which followed.
1. The judgment of God upon the officers who executed it.
It is probable these would rejoice to be thus employed; but mark, their service was attended with loss of life. How wretched are those who are employed to execute sinful and wicked appointments!
2. The striking interposition on behalf of the noble-minded servants of God.
The fire is restrained, and they walk in the midst of it unconsumed. Moses once beheld a bush enveloped in flames, yet unburnt; here is its antitype literally realized Isaiah had recorded the promise; "Through the waters," &c.; here it is fulfilled to the very letter. The Son of God was with them; he appeared in their extremity, and they had sweet fellowship with him in the flaming furnace.
3. The God of heaven was glorified.
Glorified he had been in the profession of these young men; glorified in their self-denials. And now he glorifies his own faithfulness and power, in delivering them from death. How illustrated is that passage, "He that loseth his life," &c. How abashed must the idolatrous multitude have been; how astonished the wise men; how struck the Babylonian monarch; how rejoiced the true servants of God
APPLICATION
Learn,
1. The demands of true religion; the consecration of all our powers to God. I demands these under all circumstances and cases; not only when it can be done without loss, but when it exposes to the loss of all things.
2. What a reproof the subject administers to all who temporize and vacillate respecting religion. One loves the idea of religion, but he cannot bear the sneers of friends; another, but he cannot forego a little gain from Sunday trading; another, but he will have religion of the most respectable kind, the religion of the mass, especially of the mass of the rich; another, but only so long as sacrifices re not demanded.
3. What encouragement to decision and consistency! "Whoso findeth his life, shall lose it." God can deliver; God will reward; eternity will compensate; give up all for Christ, and you shall inherit all things.
Autor: JABEZ BURNS