Daniel 3:28
‘Nebuchadnezzar responded and said, “Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, who has sent His angel and rescued His servants whoput their trust in Him, violating the king’s command, and surrendered their bodies rather than serve or worship any god except their own God.”‘
This is the second time Nebuchadnezzar had been shown a miracle and the second time he blessed God. This one is a correction of his sin. He will be shown God’s power one more time at his second sin against God.
These three were blessed by God. They trusted Him. Earlier they said, “King, we don’t need to answer you about this. God will deliver us from the fire. Even if He doesn’t He will deliver us from your hand”, (paraphrase of 3:16-19). They were bragging about God and His power. Unashamed trust.
There were two laws here. One from the king and one from God. They both couldn’t be obeyed. Everyone is confronted with this in one way or another. The world gives it’s values which are often opposed to God’s. We are to choose one or the other. Both cannot be obeyed. The king admits that they violated his command.
When we obey God rather than the world there aren’t always consequences. This time there was. Others rarely see. These three didn’t broadcast their disobedience. They were reported by coworkers.
I Peter 4:4 says, “With respect to this, they think it strange of you not running with them into the same overflow of debauchery, speaking evil of you”. Most don’t understand that we obey God. I didn’t when I was an unbeliever. The thought that God saw my actions didn’t even register. If it did, I still don’t think I would have cared. I wanted to do what I wanted to do.
Now that I’m a christian, it’s different. I want to obey Him. True, sometimes it’s uncomfortable. I would be putting a wedge in between God and myself. There would be guilt. Here’s how David felt after sinning, “Create in me a clean heart, God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me away from Your presence, And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me”, (Psalms 51:10,11). It feels like the Spirit has left us. He hasn’t, but the sense of His presence is gone. Sinning is quenching the Holy Spirit (I Thessalonians 5:19). We don’t want to disobey Him.
I Peter 2:11 says, “Beloved, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from the desires of the flesh, which war against your soul.” When we come to Christ, we become a stranger to sin, the world and it’s ways. Something that we may not have thought twice about feels quite wrong. We don’t want to go against God.
The three Hebrews were courageous. God has built within us a means for courage. Romans 2:15 says, “They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness, and their conflicting thoughts accuse or even excuse them.” When we go God’s way, our conscience bears witness with us. That’s huge. It’s like having others stand with us. Conversely when we disobey God, our conscience haunts us.
The Holy Spirit also stands with us. Romans 8:16 says, “The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.” We feel this. It’s so comforting and encouraging. Psalm 91:7 says, “A thousand may fall at your side And ten thousand at your right hand, but it shall not approach you.” This doesn’t mean things won’t happen to us, just that He’s with us and controls events.
In Christ we are a force. We aren’t to become proud about this, as it’s Him. The superpower is love. We can love where hate reigns. We can obey even when it’s not popular. He gives us courage.
We go through different seasons. Some are difficult. Ephesians 6:13 speaks of the evil day. God prepares us and is with us.
Thank You, God, that You are with us. You’ve given us our conscience with encourages us. Your Spirit bears witness with ours, giving us courage. You are with us in the evil day. Thank You.